MSU starting S RJ Williamson Out for UM Game
Huge blow. The presumed star of the secondary true SO Montae Nicholson has been pulled repeatedly this year as he is not progressing and RJ Williamson was their veteran presence and playmaker back there. The MSU defense is predicated on safeties making tons of plays, and CBs out on an island. Looks like Cox will have to move back to safety and MOAR true youngsters will have to be corners.
Dantonio said RJ Williamson had surgery on a torn bicep this morning. Out indefinitely, possibly back for last game/bowl game.
— Mike Wilson (@MikeWilson247) October 4, 2015
Backup OT (who was starting for injured Conklin vs Purdue) also gone for year - Finley from Cass Tech. They had to pull their All American center out to tackle for the Purdue game halfway thru.
MSU now up to three season-ending injuries (Davis, Copeland, Finley) and one long-term (Williamson).
— Mike Wilson (@MikeWilson247) October 4, 2015
Once Narduzzi left it seems their "secret" sauce to avoid injuries left with him!
Dear Rudock, take advantage of the "weird guys".
http://michiganstate.247sports.com/Bolt/Williamson-has-surgery-on-torn-…
The Spartans have already played true freshmen safeties Khari Willis and Grayson Miller in addition to redshirt freshmen Matt Morrissey and Jalen Watts-Jackson.
Dantonio said Miller “will become more active in there” with Williamson out.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:54 PM ^
Fine with me. As long as they lose.
October 4th, 2015 at 10:06 PM ^
Dantonio has already said injuries are no excuse for losing. You're probably the first Michigan fan to ever say something ignorant about Dantonio.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:01 PM ^
Never will wish injury on a kid, and I hope has a speedy recovery, but I'm not sorry that Michigan won't have to gameplan and account for him.
Would obviously rather he not be injured, but injuries are part of the game. If this gives Michigan a better chance at executing a good passing game, then so be it.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 5th, 2015 at 7:44 AM ^
for Sparty..we've had our share of injuries too, including a couple of key ones this year.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:01 PM ^
What's the status on Conklin? I feel like strength of MSU's offense is their oline so any edge our front seven can get I'll take. (I'm not looking past NW, and even if I am it's fine cause I'm just a fan and not a player or coach who are definitely prepping for NW right now).
October 4th, 2015 at 8:09 PM ^
I whizzed on RCMB... err I mean I whizzed by RCMB and searched on his name and it sounds like no one really knows. Kieler (their other tackle who was hurt v Oregon) is on crutches still per the commentary so doubtful for UM. Conklin is more of an open question. But Finley was the 3rd OT so now they will be down to 4th unless they move their All American center at 6'1 out to tackle full time as they did vs Purdue (they subbed in a RS FR guard to fill the open hole in the line and moved SO Brian Allen to center).
I guess that could be permanent until Conklin gets back? We did something similar with Glasgow at times in spring. Conklin should be rusty and not 100% if nothing else.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:10 PM ^
I think he was out for the year, wasn't he?
October 4th, 2015 at 8:12 PM ^
Nope they lost only Ed Davis, Finley (last week), and one of their corners who they were high on for the year. Both starting tackles are expected back at some point but open question when.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:21 PM ^
Those pop out of nowhere.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 4th, 2015 at 8:37 PM ^
Time for Temporary Insanity III, it looks.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:56 PM ^
Could be permanent.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:12 PM ^
I guess the No Fly zone has been canceled, then?
October 4th, 2015 at 8:13 PM ^
+1 for the weird guys reference!
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 4th, 2015 at 8:17 PM ^
The comments on this thread are weak. We've gotten our butts kicked by MSU for a solid five or six years. Kinda lame to start this chest thumping before we've even done anything noteworthy on the field against them recently.
On a related note, I feel like the MGoBoard has taken a decided turn toward RCMB-ish commenting lately. Too popular perhaps?
October 4th, 2015 at 8:19 PM ^
There are plenty of obscure blogs out there man.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:23 PM ^
This post is weak.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 4th, 2015 at 8:32 PM ^
Dude go away.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:41 PM ^
Dude, no.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 4th, 2015 at 9:00 PM ^
So where is it, dude?
October 4th, 2015 at 9:11 PM ^
Dude, what's your tattoo say?
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 5th, 2015 at 9:11 AM ^
Hit the bricks pal
October 4th, 2015 at 8:25 PM ^
I agree, it's just been a while since all the slappies have had something to yell about. Unfortunately they'll keep it up until Michigan loses a big game, which will happen sooner than later this season.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 4th, 2015 at 8:56 PM ^
who used to troll MLive with multiple personalities?
October 4th, 2015 at 9:18 PM ^
Seriously? You would rather M lose so you can prove a point on internet? Switch your fandom.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:29 PM ^
The MGoBoard has been garbage for a few years now. Ever since they stopped moderating the complete morons.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:54 PM ^
Then leave.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 4th, 2015 at 9:10 PM ^
I pretty much have.
October 4th, 2015 at 9:22 PM ^
So, then, you haven't?
October 4th, 2015 at 9:20 PM ^
I don't see many people saying we are going to beat them. Everyone seems to be cautiously optimistic. If we just have to talk on the field, then why have a blog. Kind of meaningless don't you think? Including your comment and my response to yours?
October 4th, 2015 at 9:35 PM ^
I can actually hear you turning into your father, pining for earlier days that never were
October 5th, 2015 at 4:36 AM ^
Michigan did beat them the last time they actually had a home game. After the win on 10/17 Michigan will be 2-2 in the last four.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:53 AM ^
There's no such thing as being too popular.
But there are too few negbangs.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:30 PM ^
I wish for a speedy and healthy recovery for all their injured guys....with that said its time to find out about all this elite depth their fan base claims they have. this is the first time I can remember that dantonio had to deal with non jail time related issues.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:31 PM ^
Poor kid. MSU has lost a lot a guys this year. It sucks for college football.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:59 PM ^
Yes, all the snark aside it has been a devestating year for CFB injuries.
I fear for the very survival of the sport at this rate. It can not continue like this.
October 4th, 2015 at 9:51 PM ^
You fear for the survival of the sport because of something that has always happened?
Teams get banged up. Some more than others. MSU has actually been remarkably healthy the past few seasons. They just seem to be getting hit hard this season for whatever reason.
October 4th, 2015 at 10:20 PM ^
Injury rates are rising. Youth participation in the sport is dropping and rightly so. Parents no longer put their kids in pee wee football after school.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 4th, 2015 at 10:25 PM ^
Little kids should not be playing the sport. At least not tackle football.
October 4th, 2015 at 9:25 PM ^
Yeah, I genuinely feel for the them. They have been field really damn good teams for the last couple seasons and between who they had on their roster and the fact that they could have marque wins against Oregon and a top OSU on their resume if things went well, this might have been the best shot they'll have for a while for an NC. I feel a little the same for ND, I'm happy to see rivals crap the bed, but not lose because hard working kids got injured.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:33 PM ^
So we can't talk about an important player on a rival team being injured? What the fuckever
October 4th, 2015 at 8:36 PM ^
difference in MSU's physicallity on defense. Not quite as big or as fast as recent versions. Seemed suseptible to misdirection. In person they certainly look pretty good, just not great. Purdue was a boring opponent for them and they and everyone else lost interest at halftime because it was so miserable.
Also that broken leg injury to their offensive linemen really seemed to take some wind out of their sails. Several players were visibly broken up and maybe even shaken up. It was a pretty gruesome injury, probably the fastest I've ever seen medical staff get a kid into an aircast and off the football field. The medical staff looked very worried.
To be honest they looked like a team that didn't prepare well for Purdue and with Rutgers next week it would not shock me if MSU is alreay spending a significant amount of perparation on Michigan.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:36 PM ^
Narduzzi took something with him, cause that defense is not the same without him..
October 4th, 2015 at 10:08 PM ^
Probably the thing Bullough had to sit out the Rose Bowl for.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:41 PM ^
WVU passed for 300 yds and 4 TDs against Maryland. We passed for 180 yds and 1 TD.
Let's be real. MSU could start 4 walk-ons back there and maybe we'd break 300 yards passing. Maybe.
October 4th, 2015 at 9:21 PM ^
it's not even so much the passing, but the run defense. if you watch the Purdue highlights, that Nicholson came up and completely whiffed on their long TD run. it's exactly the type of thing that led to his benching, after an offseason of puffing him up as the next Ed Reed.
But they can be hurt in the pass game as well. M has been awful close on a lot of deep balls, it's just a matter of time. as Brian's said, don't overthrow it and give them a chance. but the TEs can hit big plays as well, as the Sparty safeties are tasked with picking up intermediate routes left open by hyper aggressive LBs. Rudock can hit those.
October 4th, 2015 at 9:27 PM ^
Harbaugh game plans for opponents. Stop putting down M. You are talking like WMU is better than M. M will stuff them. This is not Hoke's team. MSU should worry. Even Hoke beat them at home.
October 4th, 2015 at 9:37 PM ^
WMU might have a better downfield passing attack than we do right now. Rudock is not a real threat to complete passes 10+ yards downfield. It's why we're running into 8 or 9 man boxes all season long