There are threads for most of what I'll say here, but instead of going through and posting in each and every one, I figure I'll just compose it all in one place.
1. Like RR said, it was not a fake punt. Zoltan had the read (as he did many times last year), and he just made the wrong one.
2. I don't have a problem giving Zoltan the option, but I didn't like the playcall on 3rd down before that. I'm just not a fan of giving the ball to our 190 pound (I'm being generous) QB and having him run into a mass of humanity. Give it to a RB.
3. I also wasn't thrilled with Denard getting a series early in the 4th. I guess I can see the attempt at creating a spark, since the offense wasn't doing anything, but it was just ugly. -18 yards in three plays.
4. If Tate Forcier is our MVP, David Molk is 1A (or 1B to Brandon Graham). His absence was enormous today, and it creates a domino effect on the OL with guys shifting around.
5. While I thought the defense did a decent enough job down the stretch (with a little help from Dantonio playing Lloydball), they really changed the whole complexion of the game by allowing MSU to march the field and bleed 10 freaking minutes off the clock even when they committed THREE personal fouls. That drive was just nauseating, and it allowed MSU to set the tempo for the entire game. In that sense, Dantonio "outcoached" RR today.
6. There is no quick fix for what ails the defense. Mouton and Ezeh are unspeakably bad right now. The DBs, save for Warren, have zero awareness. There really is nothing Greg Robinson can do to fix that this year. There's only one solution to the D: recruiting. And to be frank...the coaches need to step it up bigtime in that regard. And I'm not "stargazing" when I say that, either.
7. So disappointing that it took 3 and a half quarters to finally break MSU's secondary. That is a really bad unit.
8. Going for two was never an option. No timeouts, Tate was spent, and it's just generally a low percentage play.
9. With that said...I knew we were in trouble when MSU won the toss in OT. Like I said, Tate was shot. Completely exhausted, and we couldn't run the ball. We needed to go on defense first to give him a breather. Didn't happen.
10. Agonizing to watch the replay of the INT in OT, not only because Odoms was completely covered, but because Koger had a clear step on Denson on an underneath crossing route at the first down marker. If Tate sees him, that's an easy first down, and maybe a touchdown. But at that part...there was nothing left in the tank.
11. So many missed opportunities today. Stevie Brown randomly cutting back on the INT return, not jumping on one of Caper's fumbles, Moosman's bad snap that killed our drive near the redzone in the 2nd quarter Stonum's fumble when the offense was finally moving in the 4th...we left a lot of points and opportunities for points on the field.
12. A silver lining from a very up and down day with a really sour ending: our quarterback is an absolute warrior. He will make freshman mistakes (as he did today), but that final drive, I hope everyone realizes the magnitude of that. Yes, we lost...but a freshman QB in his first road game drove 92 yards with no timeouts and threw the tying touchdown with two seconds left. That shit just isn't supposed to happen. There is no "ceiling" for Tate Forcier. Plain and simple. Denard is faster, Devin is bigger (and faster)...but nothing is impossible with Tate as our quarterback. If Devin Gardner somehow beats Tate out for the starting job before his eligibility is up, then we are RIDICULOUSLY blessed.
That's all I got for now...how bout you guys?