UM vs MSU: Who is the X-Factor?
Since I am sick and tired of seeing people pick Devin Gardner as the X-factor of the game because DUHHHHHHH!!! I decided to give it more thought...
My choice is none other than MATT WILE. This will be a good ol' fashioned field position game. We need him to boot them back behind their own 25 all game. With their below average offense we will be in great shape if he does that.
Which player do you guys see whose production will swing the game one way or the other (Besides DG)?
November 1st, 2013 at 5:13 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^
What is the word on Dileo is he playing? I might have missed it.
November 1st, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^
Taco Pants.
November 1st, 2013 at 7:53 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^
Tommorrow we will see the emergence of Jehu. 100+ yds. receiving
November 1st, 2013 at 5:17 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 5:18 PM ^
me. i'm the x-factor.
November 1st, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
I'd love to see our running game going tomorrow. I hope Fitzgerald Toussaint is the X-factor.
November 1st, 2013 at 5:21 PM ^
The Uniformz that State is bound to trot out onto the field wearing.
November 1st, 2013 at 5:22 PM ^
I feel like this is one of those games where everyone is going to play pretty solid, it's just going to be a big play here or there that makes the difference.
So I dont know if I really see any "key players" per se. Everyone just needs to play within their abilities, secure the ball and not give up the big play.
November 1st, 2013 at 5:25 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 5:33 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 5:34 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 5:35 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 5:39 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 5:39 PM ^
One or two times in this game, our defensive backfield is going to get an opportunity. Raymon Taylor, Desmond Morgan, Tom Gordon......someone. Someone will see a ball. A ball rolling on the ground, a duck floating in the air.
The X-Factor is our guys grabbing it and housing it.
November 1st, 2013 at 5:40 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 5:41 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 5:51 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 6:04 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 6:03 PM ^
And brunettes? Two years in a row?
November 1st, 2013 at 6:45 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 6:47 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 6:51 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 8:48 PM ^
That is some of the hardest damn trollin' I've seen in a long time.
Troll so hard, Sparty.
November 1st, 2013 at 6:11 PM ^
Special teams is the X-factor. As this is likely to be a close game, a play on special teams could sway the outcome. For Michigan, this means breaking a big return, and converting field goal opportunities.
For Michigan State, yes field goals, and also don't be surprised to see them try to block a couple of punts.
My own view on this 'Garnder being the difference maker' stuff is that, yes, that's true, but I suspect that Michigan will reign him in a bit. I really do not see Borges opening it up unless Michigan is down at halftime (as he did at Penn State). If all goes well, he will not have a monster game, because he did not need to. (I would like to see an aggressive approach from the outset, challenging Sparty over the top and down the field, but that is not what we are likley to see.)
November 1st, 2013 at 6:12 PM ^
It won't be A.J. Williams as he is suspended for one game. This seems to be the standard punishment for being arrested for drunken driving (see Fitz Toussaint last year). Williams ran a stop sign and almost crashed into another car.
He wasn't drinking at a private party, he went out to the Brick Street Bar & Grill, which means he used a fake I.D. I don't think he should be reinstated until he give up his fake I.D.
November 1st, 2013 at 6:48 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 11:38 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 12:08 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 2:37 PM ^
Informative. Also, interesting.
November 1st, 2013 at 6:17 PM ^
I'm thinkikng that Brady Hoke's ability to poop out golden poops will be the x factro tomorrow
November 1st, 2013 at 6:17 PM ^
Frank Clark
November 1st, 2013 at 6:22 PM ^
Let's count up the criminals in the starting line up.
Two drunk drivers (Williams & Toussaint)
One arrested for rape (Gibbons)
One home invasion robber (Clark)
November 1st, 2013 at 6:48 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 6:49 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 2:39 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 8:16 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 6:31 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 6:35 PM ^
Jake Butt
I think that the short to intermediate range passing game will be key to moving the ball. I thought Butt had a chance for a breakout before the AJ Williams suspension, now I think his blocking will be depended upon and he will get a good bit of playing time.
November 1st, 2013 at 6:36 PM ^
Either Frank Clark or Jake Ryan (maybe both on the same play) blowing up a trick play called Big Midgets.
November 1st, 2013 at 6:43 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 6:45 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 6:45 PM ^
Jake Butt because I like butts, especially when they are a tight end.
Seriously though, when I think of an X-Factor, I usually believe that means that it is someone under the radar. I'd stretch the Gardner DUH thing out to some of the other key guys for Michigan like Funchess, Gallon, and Jake Mother F'n Ryan. Those guys are counted on to make the plays regardless of the opponent. For me, it's gotta be a lesser mentioned player. I think it's gotta be someone of the DL. Moreso with the way Michigan State runs, it's gotta be a guy on the inside. Q or Jibreel. We need them to plug holes and to get penetration. They've got to make it easier for the linebackers to get clean to the Langford and they need to be disruptive in the passing game. I'd love to see them force a Cook fumble. They've got to be difference makers.
November 1st, 2013 at 6:49 PM ^
...the officials. If they let MSU's defensive backs play aggressively, it will be a loooong day for M fans.
November 1st, 2013 at 7:02 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 7:18 PM ^
November 1st, 2013 at 7:24 PM ^