alum96

October 26th, 2013 at 5:01 PM ^

Well the Spartans of yesteryear would have lost this game - on the road against a bad team, its a stypical Sparty loss.  Without that play there this is 10-3 at halftime agains a very bad team. 

EDIT: the 2 sacks of Cook actually put them out of FG range...it would have been 7-3.

Mr. Yost

October 26th, 2013 at 4:59 PM ^

Cook always rolling to his right.

He's AWFUL when you force him left.

I'd blitz off his right side damn near every down. It's almost the equivalent of forcing the guy youre guarding to use his off hand in basketball.

snarling wolverine

October 26th, 2013 at 5:13 PM ^

Illinois is not out of this game.  Connor Cook went 10-11, which he's not likely to duplicate, and MSU converted 7-8 3rd downs (which again, they are unlikely to duplicate) and still MSU didn't put them away.

ND Sux

October 26th, 2013 at 5:03 PM ^

had a chance to intercept that pass, total failure.  NOT as much fail as the announcer though, who thinks Connor Cook is the next Joe Montana, and wants an autograph, or perhaps a game-worn jock.

 

I Have A Gnarly Face

October 26th, 2013 at 5:07 PM ^

It's OK, guys. M will defeat MSU next week. Let MSU and their idiot fans get confidence because it will hurt that much more when we beat them.

ND Sux

October 26th, 2013 at 5:17 PM ^

we don't turn the damn ball over.  That means mixing it up and not making Devin throw on 3rd and long all the time.  We are a PASS FIRST team.  This should be obvious by now, especially against a defense like MSU's. 

alum96

October 26th, 2013 at 5:17 PM ^

My thoughts on MSU is there is a lot of denial on this board.  They purposely are playing Tressel ball ...with a lower level of athlete on the offense.  People higher on the thread saying there is no chance they go to ILL and lose are rationalizing.  (p.s. the game is not over - they can still lose) Plenty of teams go on the road in the Big 10 and cough it up against lesser teams.  A lot of Carr's teams did it.   MSU played quite possibly the worst game of offense this year in the Big 10 last week and still won 14-0.  They have a very good defense which makes plays and gives their offense great field position constantly, and one of the top 3 punters in the country who likewise dictates field position.   They have not faced great competition but neither have we.  They are boring as hell to watch, by design.  It is Tressel ball. 

 

The fact they went to Iowa and aside for 7 minutes in that game when they gave up 2 TDs dominated for 53 minutes, and now is making Illini offense which scores at least 20+ on everyone, have 3 whopping points is impressive.  You can poo poo the competition all you want but going on the road and shutting down teams in the Big 10 with your defense, even bad teams is not what a lot of teams can do - this year or most years.    I expect a nail biter next week and if UM does not win, I do expect MSU to lose at Nebraska and a dogfight at NW but they would be the clear favorite in the division if they win today.  Hence a loss today is needed to "equal" our PSU loss and give us some breathing room with a tough OSU game at end of the year.  

 

This is EXACTLY the type of game the Spartans of yesteryear would have gone into and lost by 20.

Mr. Yost

October 26th, 2013 at 5:22 PM ^

If this was Minnesota or Iowa...I can see your point. Those are those "sleepy games" that OSU/MSU seem to win 16-13.

This Illinois team is AWFUL.

Also don't think this MSU team is great. I think they have a GREAT defense and a GREAT punter and that makes it look like TresselBall. OSU teams back then always played great defense and their kicking game was top notch.

This MSU offense is horrible. It's not that they're playing safe and playing the field position game like TresselBall does...it's that they're simply not that good.

Michigan will be fine IF, and it's a HUGE IF...they can win the turnover battle and punt the ball well. And yes, they need to do both.

alum96

October 26th, 2013 at 5:30 PM ^

And 2 weeks ago people were saying Minn was awful.  Playing at home is diff than playing on road.  Purdue is awful but put up 30 or whatever on Notre Dame.  Wiscy gave up 32 to Illinois.  Wiscy is not awful.  Etc.  Everyone likes to rationalize what they are doing because for the first time in a long time (since the early 60s) there is a constant feel we can lose to MSU each year.  It's reality.  I dont like it any bit but its reality.  Going on the road and dominating teams - whatever caliber - is not easy.  Especially what tire fire offense they have.  I never said their offense is great or good. It can be average. MSU lacks individual playmakers on offense - that is where their recruiting level hurts.  This is why its not playing "like OSU" - they dont have that level of offensive skill player.  Same Tressel style without the dynamic offensive playmakers and in this conference its good enough to win a lot of games over the years.  They overcome it on defense.   An average offense is good enough with how good the defense is, especially in a very bad conference. 

aiglick

October 26th, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^

Yeah this Illinois game is not over but we need to beat Sparty next week to have a chance. I do think Nebraska and Minnesota can give them trouble. Also at this point we control our own destiny. Win out and there are no problems. Nebraska losing today is huge. It would be great for Sparty to blow this but not absolutely necessary. Just have to take care of our own business.