MSU injuries NOT an excuse
According to Mark Dantonio, MSU injuries are not going to be used as a crutch (i.e., excuse) for their poor play. To paraphrase:
"Injuries are not an excuse. To be clear though, we do have a lot of injuries. So if we were to lose this week, we should be allowed to claim injuries as the main reason, but we won't, because that would be excusing the loss because of injuries, which we don't or won't do, becuase we don't use injuries as excuses...but we have tons of injuries."
Link below; It's Drew Sharp and its drivel. FL;DR (freep link; didn't click): Michigan State is very injured but not going to use injuries as an excuse (Spoiler: They are setting up the injury excuse).
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/drew-sharp/2015/10/12/drew…
This has been the common narrative throughout the last two weeks. Not an excuse, but we are super injured. Just to pull some quotes from the linked to drivel:
"Pardon the pun," coach Mark Dantonio said Saturday night following the Spartans' 31-24 win, "but we can't use it as a crutch."
"He was hurting out there, and everybody recognized it," Dantonio said about Kieler's determination. "We tried to get him out a little bit, but I know that he wound up playing at the end as well. He's a tough guy, and he just kept playing."
"You keep thinking to yourself that it can't get any worse, and then it does," said middle linebacker Riley Bullough.
IMO I can see it getting worse next week. But to be clear, if it does, it has nothing to do with injuries.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:17 AM ^
I don't care.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:27 AM ^
Mark Dantonio:
"Pardon the pun, but we can't use it as a crutch."
"[RT Kieler] was hurting out there, and everybody recognized it. We tried to get him out a little bit, but I know that he wound up playing at the end as well. He's a tough guy, and he just kept playing."
"Things happen. Football's a tough game. You're going to lose some guys. But you have to play through those things, and it makes the guys around you more experienced. We'll get some guys back next week, and we'll see how it goes."
Conner Cook:
"Obviously, anyone who's watched us this year knows we've had our fair share of injuries, but that's not going to stop us. We've got guys who aren't as experienced playing O-line, and the protection wasn't all that great. But it's stuff you have to deal with."
Riley Bullough:
"You keep thinking to yourself that it can't get any worse, and then it does. Injuries are going to happen in football, but you would think that we would start getting some better luck at some point. But there's nothing you can do except say, 'Next guy up,' because you have to find way to work through the injuries."
October 12th, 2015 at 9:31 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 9:37 AM ^
There is a reason he was not voted captain as a Jr or a Sr despite being the starting QB.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:50 AM ^
Wow, that is very interesting, and I did not know that. That really does say a lot about the guy. Starting QB, all-time winningest QB in the program, future NFLer, etc., etc., etc., but not team captain.
October 12th, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
without the arm.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:51 AM ^
I think the "disrespect" culture that Dantonio has established there just doesn't lend itself well to developing real leadership. That is something that you just can't have both ways.
October 12th, 2015 at 1:19 PM ^
and pancaking Cook ala Kovacs. That would give me joy.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:49 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 12:42 PM ^
are just a bunch of schmucks. Need to kick em right now this Saturday then if they are so down and out. The best of the best never make excuses because they don't need to. Time to open up the good old fashioned can of whoop ass on these creme puffs.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^
I'm surprised Cook's quoted about his own O-line hasn't blown up in the media. If this were to become a focus by the press, I could see it causing some serious internal issues on the team.
Cook has built his resume on the back of a very solid OL at MSU over the last few years. Unfortunately they only have a couple legit defenses on their shedule because it would be interesting to see if his stats would suffer this year behind just an average line, resulting in a drop in his draft status.
October 13th, 2015 at 12:14 AM ^
The press could also spin it as Cook challenging the young guys to get better. During the Rutgers' game they were using their 4th-string LT(?), backup LG, backup center, 1st-string RG, and backup RT. 3/5 of those guys are guys Cook never sees, so he was either super critical of them, or telling them to step it up.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^
Riley Bullough:
"You keep thinking to yourself that it can't get any worse, and then it does..."
It's about to get much worse, Mr. Bullough.
October 12th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 9:32 AM ^
Just win. Nothing else matters.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:17 AM ^
Straight from Izzo's playbook. Bring on the wierd guys.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:18 AM ^
Love the old setup a week before.
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October 12th, 2015 at 9:29 AM ^
on preaching my brother. The Chuck(ie)Wood(son(s)) only speak the truth.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:34 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 10:37 AM ^
I don't know why, but Mark's "we are not going to use injuries as an excuse, but we have them," just made me think of this quote from a great Wizard...
"I assure you, Wikileaks is anything but stupid, except when he said I made that teenage fish perform ass to trout. That was stupid and untrue. Did I say ass to trout? I meant to say bass to mouth, though I guess it's basically the same thing, not that I did it."
October 12th, 2015 at 5:54 PM ^
Sounds like Dantonio is already resigned to losing the game.
Good. Saves time.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:18 AM ^
The only thing that matters is the final score.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:28 AM ^
Just win, Baby!
They don't ask how, they just ask how many!
If "if's" and "but's" were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas!
Whoo Hoo, I'm on a cliche roll here.
A Sparty stitch in time . . .
October 12th, 2015 at 10:13 AM ^
A Sparty stitch in time . . ....saves one second on a spike.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:33 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 9:34 AM ^
The first of many annual condolences.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:20 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 9:31 AM ^
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October 12th, 2015 at 9:20 AM ^
How many horrible injuries to starting players has our program suffered over the past few years? Countess, Ryan, Morgan, Peppers, Green, etc. And now Ojemudia and Mone. I don't see Dantonio or Sharp putting asterisks next to any of their wins because of that either.
Also, Sharp is the worst.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:34 AM ^
I can't remember a time when Michigan was as depleted as MSU is now. It's like all their injuries were being held back for the last 2-3 seasons, and now the dam broke.
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RJ Williamson (starting S)
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Ed Davis (starting LB)
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Vayante Copeland (starting CB)
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Jack Conklin (starting LT)
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Kodi Kieler (starting RT)
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Josiah Price (starting TE)
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Dennis Finley (backup LT)
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Madre London (co-starting RB)
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Jack Allen (starting C)
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Darian Hicks (backup CB)
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LJ Scott (co-starting RB)
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Lawrence Thomas (starting DE)
Maybe, my memory is foggy, but has there ever been a time where Michigan was missing potentially half of their 2-deep?
October 12th, 2015 at 9:45 AM ^
and Allen are the two most impactful injuries on that list. Our defensive line is very good and those are their two best lineman. If neither of them play it is going to be hard for them to give Cook enough time especially against a solid secondary.
I guess I don't see a team identifying a lot of injuries as using it as an excuse. It looks like most of these statements are direct responses to questions about injuries. I like Dantonio's response better than Hoke's famous "we don't talk about injuries." It looks like he basically said "yeah we got a bunch of guys out but it is not an excuse for our poor play." So he stated the obvious and then went politically correct. He could not have said "I am not aware of that many injuries" or "we have a lot of injuries and if we lose that is why." Looks like he just gave a throw away answer.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:54 AM ^
Jack Conklin injured his knee, but MSU hasn't really released any more details other than it is not a season ending injury.
Jack Allen was actually playing in the Rutgers' game, but looked like he rolled/sprained his ankle and had to leave to get it taped up. Allen came back the next series and a Rutgers defender looked like he dove purposefully at Allen's ankles when he was engaged in a block. It was pretty shady looking on the replay. Anyways, Allen left the game after that happened.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^
I addressed Allen's injury below. I don't think he will play, that looked gruesome when he was coming off the field. I am expecting Conklin to play.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:16 AM ^
Looks like he was shoved into him by an MSU double team
October 12th, 2015 at 10:21 AM ^
"shoved into him" you mean "dove head first toward Allen's ankle with his head up to make sure the impact acheived optimal damage" then I completely agree with you.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:54 AM ^
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October 12th, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^
Yes it is.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^
Watch #75 (MSU) and his right arm specifically. You can very clearly see him throw the DT/NT into Allen.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 12:41 PM ^
From that, it doesn't look like anything but a coincidence. It would probably be best to see the full play instead going based on the two seconds before impact.
October 12th, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^
I've looked at this countless times and agree with you, He's moving right on the snap and then gets double teamed with his momentum. Many Sparty fans seeing this differently but several looking at this without the green and white glasses believe that the injury looks like an unfortunate football thing. Wishing him a speedy and full recovery.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:09 PM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 10:53 AM ^
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October 12th, 2015 at 9:44 AM ^
Maybe MSU's strength and conditioning guys aren't up to par?
October 12th, 2015 at 9:46 AM ^
same way that Manny Pacquios strength and conditioning guys fell on hard times after Mayweather started asking for random drug tests during training.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:37 AM ^
October 12th, 2015 at 9:45 AM ^
Is Gary Patterson whining about the 8 starters he lost on ONE SIDE OF THE BALL ALONE this year every week? I don't follow TCU close enough but yeah shit happens. Especially to MSU which somehow has avoided a single significant injury in 2 entire years in a brutal sport. Law of averages.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:01 AM ^
I guess it depends on what you consider whining. Patterson has said very similar things to what Dantonio said in this article...
Gary Patterson:
"Sometimes you lose players. Last year, we didn't. Sometimes you're lucky. I don't know if I've ever been in a situation where it's specifically starters."
"It's like going home and you have to sleep in a different bed every night. Couch, mother-in-law's bedroom, loft bedroom."
"The bottom line is everybody's got injuries. You just have to do what you need to do, and it is what it is. The next guy's got to step up. We need to grow up."
"We lost three linebackers from last year. Now you lost one and two this year. So, you're on linebackers six and seven. You don't look at it that way, but from the knowledge standpoint, it's sixth and seventh."