Nate Sudfeld Out for Year
Sudfeld had a reported 'separated shoulder' Saturday and today Kevin Wilson in his presser said he will have surgery and be out for the year.
Chris Covington - a freshman - will take his place.
Takeaways:
- MSU will now have a bye week/light scrimmage on Saturday to prepare for UM
- That Indiana home game just got a lot less daunting; adjust/allow for Tevin Coleman pulling a Cobb
October 13th, 2014 at 2:37 PM ^
I think your two takeaways are spot on. Increases both the likelihood that we lose to MSU and win against IU.
October 13th, 2014 at 2:42 PM ^
Based on our inept offense, MSU was a likely loss regardless of who QBs Indiana this weekend.
But, agree re: our chances of beating IU.
October 13th, 2014 at 3:06 PM ^
Now Sparty's third-stringers will start the 2nd half, as opposed to the 4th quarter.
October 13th, 2014 at 5:33 PM ^
I think Dantonio is looking at this as another chance to impress the voters with a blowout win. I think the starters will be in until they are blowing out IU.
October 13th, 2014 at 3:15 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 4:20 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 4:35 PM ^
Even in the years when Sparty was putrid (not so long ago) ask any MSU fan who would win the game and they were sure it was their team no matter what the record. Now that the records and recent histories are reversed, you'd think that the attitude of fans would be as well.
Nope.
October 13th, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 7:41 PM ^
I think people are just realistic. I was in EL during much of the JLS era, and listening to those fans talk up MSU beating UM despite ALL evidence to the contrary wasn't proof of undying devotion to the team (they could barely fill that stadium most games), but just an illogical hatred for UM. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but being realistic doesn't mean you are giving up. It just means you are looking at the program in a different light.
October 13th, 2014 at 8:27 PM ^
To be fair, MSU took us to overtime twice under JLS. Only the 2006 game was lopsided.
October 13th, 2014 at 9:06 PM ^
That they did, but those teams were wrecks for most of his time at MSU. I absolutely believe UM will be competitive with MSU; I just don't think they'll win unless they play a perfect game or (more likely) MSU makes some dumb decisions. They definitely have looked beatable this year; you just need Cook to make a couple bad decisions and this game can get interesting.
October 13th, 2014 at 10:26 PM ^
This game gets interesting if our offense shows up and our run defense looks alive. When we show up, we're can be the best damn team in the conference. I wanna see that fire that Gardner had throughout the entire match. I want them to be angry. I want to believe we can win.
October 13th, 2014 at 4:37 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^
Every Sparty that I know has developed a huge case of assholedness.
October 13th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 5:02 PM ^
...and I agree. In their minds it won't even be close. I just let them speak and politely nodded at times because at the moment I can't back up any thoughts or hopes I may have for a win in that game. One of them was fighting back a huge smile while they both agreed that State will "easily" score 50+ points on Michigan and will win by more than four touchdowns. We'll see. No matter, if Michigan wins, I will be the one fighting back the smile two weeks from today. No, forget that, if Michigan wins I will be smiling all week at my job, especially in front of the Sparties!
October 13th, 2014 at 6:52 PM ^
They scored 27 on Nebraska, whose defense is about as good as ours is if not slightly worse. I'm expecting 27-10 or so their way.
October 14th, 2014 at 7:53 AM ^
I like our chances. If we really, really, really try I think we can score 27.
Really, really, really.
October 13th, 2014 at 3:29 PM ^
Indiana gave up 38 to Iowa. In the first half. So even we are going to score on them. The danger was we would give up 40 or so but with a freshman QB I can't see that happening anymore.
October 13th, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^
I wouldn't put it past Kevin Wilson to get that offense going with Covington. I like Wilson as a coach.
October 13th, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^
Covington was really bad in relief Saturday. Like, Bellomy vs. Nebraska bad. Wilson's a good coach and will get him at least competent eventually, but in two weeks, one of which will be Sparty beating his brains in? Rough.
October 13th, 2014 at 2:52 PM ^
You can probably just say, like Bellomy. No further clarification is needed at this point, unfortunately.
October 13th, 2014 at 2:59 PM ^
Went with the larger sample size. I still have hope*!
*Well, mostly that he'll never see another meaningful snap and I won't have to find out.
October 13th, 2014 at 3:28 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
I appreciate him for sticking with the program and getting his degree, and I'm sure he helps the team in many other ways. Also, my Dad's name is Russ so I appreciate that too.
October 13th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^
You mean impossible to catch?
October 13th, 2014 at 6:32 PM ^
We tied it up with him in there, remember.
October 13th, 2014 at 2:54 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 2:55 PM ^
4-8 HERE WE COME!
October 13th, 2014 at 3:05 PM ^
5-7. Maryland's passing game would be scary to face in September, but if we get a bunch of snow November 22nd when we play them, I have to think we're favored in that one. Then, it's getting by Northwestern to get to bowl eligibility. They are a hard team to figure out, but we've had their number recently.
October 13th, 2014 at 3:33 PM ^
I wouldnt count on that. Stefon Diggs v Blake Countess is not a matchup anyone is looking forward to. Or Blake Countess v Deon Long.
Maryland QB is no different than Gary Nova.
I guess we can root heavily for snow but that's usually not a great strategy to win football games. Snow will also affect Devin Gardner's already not so accurate passing, and we can't run on almost any defense now. Plus who knows what shape Devin will be in by the 2nd to last game of the year. We don't have a functional backup QB...so sad.
October 13th, 2014 at 5:08 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^
I don't care how good Northwestern looks or how bad Michigan looks. I will never predict us to lose to Northwestern. That said, they don't look that good (despite a few decent wins) and we are improving (plus our losses may not have been as bad as we think - Utah, Minny looking solid). Me personally, I will buy us at 6 wins. Whether we beat MSU or OSU is a different story, but if we can pull out one of those plus a bowl game I think Brady Hoke may have saved his job for another year.
Whatever your opinion is on him being back for another year - I will never ever cheer for Michigan to lose just for a coaching change. Therefore, I guess I'm still cheering for Hoke to save his job until he actually loses it.
October 13th, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^
Anytime a rookie QB gets inserted its Defense 101 to stuff the box, and blitz the everliving hell out of him, there is literally no downside. If he's in there to handoff the ball, then you stuff the run between the tackles. if he's in there to pass then there's an overwhelming onslaught of defenders that can result in a sack, a poorly calculated throw, etc.
I'd say its an offensive coach's job to recognize this and try some stuff to avert that kind of pressure. With weeks to prepare I'd think they could shift gears from previous tendencies.
October 13th, 2014 at 3:05 PM ^
Tevin Coleman is much more frightening than David Cobb, but now he'll be the sole focus of the defense.
October 13th, 2014 at 3:19 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 5:51 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 13th, 2014 at 8:58 PM ^
Brandon saves a lot of $$$$$$$$$$ by sticking with Hoke one more year- if its a close call I think he will keep him.
October 14th, 2014 at 9:14 AM ^
Michigan pretty much has to go 5-7 w/ no bowl eligibility for Hoke to be an automatic out.
I don't trust Brandon to eat the 5th year of Hoke's contract if they go 6-6 and make it to some fourth-tier bowl that puts them up against a MAC team that they might actually beat to finish with a "winning" record of 7-6.
October 13th, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^
October 13th, 2014 at 5:32 PM ^
This this this. So this.
October 13th, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^
Hell, I forgot; thanks for reminding me. That better not happen again...
October 13th, 2014 at 3:37 PM ^
never heard of this guy
October 13th, 2014 at 3:50 PM ^
We actually flipped on some projections like Massey to being a slight favorite against Indiana just based on the update to the data, but the revelation about Sudfeld definitely makes this game even a little less concerning than it had been even this morning. Coleman is a scary good rusher, but yeah, I think the run defense can at least give us an opportunity to get something going on offense.
October 13th, 2014 at 5:28 PM ^
At least we'll have 4 wins now.
October 13th, 2014 at 7:12 PM ^
Indiana will still have a pretty good offense to go up against. Don't know too much about their receivers, but I'm assuming they're solid. That Coleman kid will be tough to deal with, though. One of the better running backs that no one is talking about. Hopefully Mattison dials up the blitz big time that day. Best way to rattle a freshman QB.
October 13th, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
Changing QBs makes a huge difference in how an offense runs. They don't have a viable back up. Receivers are only good if the QB can get them the ball and a running back is only good if there is some run/pass balance. If we can stack the box against them, they won't do much.