MGoBoard Preview: Michigan State
It's Friday afternoon, I'm bored and dying for some more football discussion. I thought we could do our own MGoBoard version of Brian's "Cheap Thrills" from the preview column.
Submit your "Worry if..." moment(s) and your "Cackle with knowing glee if..." moment(s) for MSU. Here are mine.
Worry if...
- Devin Bush gets ejected for targeting
I'm worried the refs will be overly anxious with targeting calls in this game and because of the speed and intensity at which Bush plays the game, I could see him getting hit with a targeting and ejection.
I think we would see a drop off with the defense if Bush gets ejected. I would really hate to see this, mostly because I want to see Bush terrorize Lewerke and the Spartans.
Cackle with knowing glee if...
- O'Korn hits DPJ deep on more than one occasion.
I think if O'Korn can hit a deep ball or two to DPJ (or Gentry), we could really see MSU change what they do on defense and really swing momentum in our favor. I think their defense is vulernable to a player like DPJ getting behind them.
Prediction: Michigan, 27-13
October 6th, 2017 at 3:36 PM ^
but isn't it mainly the center's job to correctlty identify the situation and make sure the line has their assignments right? (I may be wrong, I am a mere blog commenter)
October 6th, 2017 at 3:58 PM ^
The center is making the line calls, but the RBs have to identify the blitz and block accordingly. Can they even hear the center? I wonder how that coordination happens.
Speaking of centers, my friend played center in high school. He recently posted this link to his facebook page:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2736505-the-legend-of-swamp-ass-and-…
Money quote:
"The sweatiness of the center's butt is important," former NFL quarterback and B/R NFL analyst Chris Simms said, somehow without giggling. "It goes overlooked, but when you're a quarterback and you're making your money throwing the football, swamp ass takes things to a whole new level. "Our center when I was in Tampa Bay, John Wade, his nickname was actually Swamp Ass. In the Tampa heat, in games in August and September, it was torture. There were games I'd take the snap and get sprayed in the face by his butt sweat."Here's another interesting one:
"The biggest threat a center can give to a quarterback is he's going to fart on your hands," Fouts said. "And they always do that once a year. But just once. Because a quarterback's comeback for that is to call a play on two and pull out on one, so the center's snapping it up into his balls. They never do it again."
October 6th, 2017 at 4:30 PM ^
October 6th, 2017 at 2:57 PM ^
Outside of the first play against Florida, has Bush even been close to a targeting call all year? His hits/tackles on QB's have all been heads up good/clean plays, which is where you would think his most likely opportunity for targeting would come in with such a focus on QB protection.
I really hope we don't get the O'Neil crew. I don't think he's out to get Michigan, but it is almost a guarantee that crew will dissapear for long stretches of the game and let a bunch of stuff slide and then assert themselves 4-5 plays in a row and have a huge influence on the game. The only thing you can really ask from a crew is consistancy - if you're going to let them play then let them play, if you're going to call everything, well, call EVERYTHING. O'Neil's crew is consistantly inconsistant.
I think this game will be a lot like Purdue even though MSU is better. One or two early drives for MSU get points, then they stall out for a good portion of the rest of the game. UM will have a good stretch and score most of their points in a bunch, and have several drives stall out or amount to not much. High chance for a Moral Victory for MSU (#MV4MSU) patented late touchdown to make this one seem closer than it was.
UM 26 MSU 17
October 6th, 2017 at 3:06 PM ^
Posted this on the WTKA roundtable comments:
Seriously, John O'Neill and his crew shouldn't be reffing. In addition to the ridiculous mistakes his crew made in the MSU game two years ago, he was also responsible for:
--Oregon State 2015 -- I know, we won big. But remember when their punter was a mile outside of the tackle box and was scrambling and O'Neill still hit us for a roughing the kicker call? This was the first real blowup by Harbaugh--threw his clipboard in disgust. Lots of discussion afterwards that the punter shouldn't be protected if he's threatening to run.
--Iowa, 2016 -- Same problem as the Oregon State game...hit us with a BS call for roughing the kicker when the dude was well outside of the tackle box and seemingly running. Also hit Devin Bush for a targeting call when their punter tripped on a fake. And then there was the late facemask call that gave Iowa the winning FG.
Ugh...
At least this is the same crew that screwed MSU in 2015 when the Nebraska receiver went out of bounds on the game-winning TD.
October 6th, 2017 at 3:01 PM ^
Is the hardest part.
October 6th, 2017 at 3:57 PM ^
appropriate.
October 6th, 2017 at 3:04 PM ^
Staee decides they need to double Winovich.
October 6th, 2017 at 3:16 PM ^
Worry if:
- Dollar bills fall from referee pockets as they leave the MSU sideline
- Ineligible receiver penalties are called on goal line run plays
- The clock operator is wearing an ugly shade of green
Cackle with knowing glee if:
- Harbaugh is cackling with knowing glee
- Don Brown's mustache is cackling with knowing glee
- Sparty is looking a little pudgy from a lack of touchdown pushups
Finally, three opportunities for me to look stupid:
- I will be disappointed at the announcing of this game
- I will be disappointed at the officiating of this game
- I will be disappointed at the outcome of this game
Big Brother 23, Little Brother 13
October 6th, 2017 at 3:17 PM ^
I don't see us losing this game. It's a matter of comfort.
If OKorn hits a couple long pass plays early - not tunnel or bubble screens that break - we will be able to move the ball at will and win by 20 pts.
If MSU gets home on their blitzes and we dial back the offense to the stoneage, we probably win but not by much.
October 6th, 2017 at 3:27 PM ^
unrelated but does anyone know if an alumni can get into the student section (student ticket) with an alumni card? I don't have my student card anymore since i lost it (graduated in 2015)
October 6th, 2017 at 3:33 PM ^
Worry:. Don't rush for 100 yds
Glee: okorn leads Michigan to victory against our rival
October 6th, 2017 at 7:28 PM ^
October 6th, 2017 at 3:39 PM ^
October 6th, 2017 at 3:59 PM ^
Wind in the 4th quarter may be an important factor. plus I want to see Nordin try from 60+ right before half. So how do you guarantee having the wind in the 4th quarter?
If you defer, you may end up having to kickoff twice if you want to choose direction in the second half, correct? I think Ferentz did this recently.
And if you choose to kickoff or receive, you do not get a say in the direction.
Can you choose the direction and then the other team has to choose to kickoff or receive?
I tried googling and found some confusing answers.
October 6th, 2017 at 4:24 PM ^
Channelling your inner Marty Mornhinweg and taking the wind?
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2010/11/15/1816345/top-five-…
The most misguided coaching call of all-time does, in fact, belong to former Lions head coach Marty Mornhinweg.
With the Lions and Chicago Bears deadlocked at 17 and heading into overtime, the Lions won the OT coin toss, giving them the choice of playing defense or offense. With the NFL's sudden death rules, 99 times out of 100 the team that wins the coin toss will take the ball. Mornhinweg was that one exception.
The Windy City was living up to its nickname on that chilly November day, and Mornhinweg thought that Hanson, one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, would be better off with the wind at his back. Mornhinweg took the wind and let the Bears have the ball.
Paul Edinger hit a 40-yard field goal on the Bears' first try with the ball. Bears 20, Lions 17.
October 6th, 2017 at 4:48 PM ^
Trying to avoid channeling my inner Texas.
https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/9/13/6145893/texas-forgets-how-coi…
If you win the coin toss, the correct answer is always to defer until the second half. There's pretty much no difference between opening the first or second half with the ball, but if you defer, there's a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny chance that the opponent will be so massively stupid that they will choose to kick off, forgetting that you will certainly choose to receive in the second half, thus giving you the ball twice.
Texas was that massively stupid.
October 6th, 2017 at 3:45 PM ^
October 6th, 2017 at 3:58 PM ^
- Guest appearance from Borges in a 29 for 29 poopfest
- Lewerke is actually good and our secondary isn't as good as we thought
Cackle with knowing glee if:
- O'Korn to TEs is a real thing
- 5 wide sets keep pressure off O'Korn
- The Spartans are who we thought they are
October 6th, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^
Worry if:
It's 6-3 M at halftime and the whole second half is 20mph winds and raining, and yea we get indiana o'korn, and that could spell upset
Cackle with knowing glee if:
it doesnt rain, the wind calms down, and its 17-3 M at half. I like M's coaching in the second half over state's to turn it into a comfortable win.
Shit other than that i dont really know what to think of this game i just cant stand state and M just needs to win i dont care score
October 6th, 2017 at 4:01 PM ^
Bush learned from the close call. He will not get ejected for targeting.
October 6th, 2017 at 4:03 PM ^
October 6th, 2017 at 4:05 PM ^
Bush n Winovich meet at Lewerke at least 4 times.
October 6th, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^
October 6th, 2017 at 4:29 PM ^
Can't think of a thing that could "worry" me that wouldn't also enrage me. I plan to spend the whole game cackling with glee.
All alternate input will simply produce rage. Hopefully temporary range that is quickly replaced by the standard cackling.
October 6th, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^
Michigan has another incredibly sluggish first half and we have to do something offesively with the impending deathstorm that is set to take place some time around the 3rd/4th quarter.
Cackle with glee if:
Michigan executes offensively and hits the deep ball.
We have a strong first half and put this team away early.
I think we hit it all on tihs one.
Michigan 31, MSU 13
Shock and awe, baby......
October 6th, 2017 at 4:54 PM ^
Close game sadly. 20-17 Blue.
October 6th, 2017 at 5:08 PM ^
October 6th, 2017 at 5:21 PM ^
Worry if ...
MSU has anything resembling a running game.
Cackle with knowing glee if...
The Michigan secondary is repeatedly tested downfield and is up to the task.
October 6th, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^
October 6th, 2017 at 5:48 PM ^
tired of getting ragged on for 4 weeks comes out mad angry and efficient..Michigan 42 MSU 19
October 6th, 2017 at 6:21 PM ^
I am with you on the 42. But I don't think they get 19.
UM 42
MSU 9 (FG with late TD - 2pt conv stopped)
Worry: Nothing.
October 6th, 2017 at 7:13 PM ^
UofM 28
MSU 10
October 6th, 2017 at 11:08 PM ^
October 6th, 2017 at 8:43 PM ^
October 6th, 2017 at 8:56 PM ^
I don't know about you guys, but this game terrifies me. Everything about it feels... not great.
October 6th, 2017 at 11:06 PM ^
October 7th, 2017 at 7:19 AM ^
October 6th, 2017 at 9:31 PM ^
I think the D will shutout MSU, only way MSU may score points is if the offense turns the ball over deep in their own territory. I think you will see a lot of roll out type throws from O'korn who will deliver good 10 to 20 yard passes with a lot of YAC from our WR, TE and RB. If this happens the run game will eventually open up for a nice 45-3 win.
October 6th, 2017 at 11:04 PM ^
October 7th, 2017 at 8:58 AM ^
October 6th, 2017 at 11:25 PM ^
Under the lights in the big house.
October 6th, 2017 at 11:31 PM ^
WHAT ASSHOLES! Seriously Staee? Who does this?