ES Preview: Kalamazoo Broncos

#15 Michigan State Spartans (0-0) vs Western Michigan Broncos (0-0)

September 2, 2022. 7 pm

East Lansing, MI.  Spartan Stadium.

TV: ESPN

Weather: 81 and cloudy

Line Outta Vegas:  MSU favored by three touchdowns (-21)

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #42, WMU #73

It’s Game Day!  Time to kickoff the season along the banks of the Red Cedar.  You want details from a Kalamazoo or MAC perspective?  Tune into this good preview from The Hustle Belt (MAC Blog)...  But seriously, until they play, what do we know about these teams?  Read the ES Season Preview, or listen to Sgt. Schultz: 

Prognostications:

CFN:  MSU 34-20
Spartan Nation:  Matt, MSU 41-17; Aedan, MSU 34-13
Freep: Carlos, MSU 36-21; Rainer, MSU 42-17; Jeff, MSU 45-20; Chris, MSU 42-17
Athlon Sports:  MSU 34-10

LSJ (Couch):  MSU 34-13

ES sez:  MSU 32, WMU 21

MSU Spartans vs Kalamazoo Broncos

Michigan State (#19/20, 1-0/0-0) vs waterlogged Western Michigan (1-0/0-0)

Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
Saturday, September 7, 2019.  7:30 pm ET
TV: Big Ten Network
Weather:  70 & cloudy, wind 10 mph WNW

Vegas Line:  MSU by 16

Jeff Sagarin Ratings/Line:  MSU #23, WMU #75.  MSU by 16

Are the Broncos or the Spartans under water?

The Enlightened Spartan has decided the permanence of the Spartans' offensive futility agAinst anyone!  This truly is Sparta 300.  Defend until the death.  Wait to be attacked.  Do not go on offense.  Prepare for Battle! The best thing for the Spartans?  Get the offense OFF the field.  They suck so bad - the defense can score more than the offense.

FYI - Top 5 rush defenses in the NCAA after week 1:
5.  Penn State = 4 ypg
4.  Central Florida = 4 ypg
3.  Maryland = 1 ypg
2.  Syracuse = -4 ypg
1.  Michigan State = -73 ypg

Prognostications:

• MLive:  MSU 34-7
• Freep: MSU 27-7/MSU 17-7/MSU 24-10
• DetNews: MSU 31-13/MSU 24-6/MSU 34-14/MSU 27-13
• Big Joe and Phantom 309: MSU 21-6.
• GVSU Gregger: MSU 35-10.
• RGM3:  MSU 34-13
• Chef Tom: Spartan Defense outscores Western 16-3.
• Sloth: WMU wins, 2-0, when Salem calls a jet sweep out of his end zone.
• Big Bob's prediction:  MSU 15-14.  "Ok. Enough of this retirement gibberish. My prediction for the game tomorrow: MSU kicks five FGs and wins 15-14. A pathetic way to win. Matt Coghlin goes on to score all of MSU’s points for the rest of the season and wins the Heisman trophy... If I had to sit in the stadium and watch this offense struggle to keep up with a MAC team, I’d gouge my eyes out. Better to watch it on TV, so when that happens, I can turn it off and walk away.
• Kat:  MSU 17-3.
• Australia Paul: 21-17 MSU

ES sez:  Spartan defense does its thang, and nearly pitches a shutout.  Offense struggles again, gives up a pick 6 - talk is cheap.... prove it!   MSU 24-10.

ES Preview: Spartans to Buck the Broncs or Play Patty-cake?

Time for some Kentucky Fried Horse on Saturday

Michigan State (1-0, 0-0) vs. Western Michigan (0-1, 0-0)

Sagarin Ratings: MSU #32, WMU #68

September 9, 2017.  3:30 ET

Spartan Stadium

East Lansing, MI

Weather:  65 sunny

TV:  Big Ten Network

Line:  MSU favored by 7-1/2

Depth Charts:  MSU, WMU

WEAR WHITE ON SATURDAY!!!!  The Spartan gridders will be sporting an all-white uniform, including a white helmet (first time with a white helmet at home since 1954???? In 1954, MSU was 3-6 overall, 1-5 Big Ten with victories over Indiana, Washington State, and Marquette.  Ahem!) 

Predictions:  

• Big Bob, WMU 31-28.  Did you see the wmu-usc game?  MSU will get its ass kicked if it can't stop fumbling.  WMU 31-MSU 28. Sorry to rain on yer parade but, remember, Bob Wills is still the king regardless of the outcome.


• Sloth, MSU.  I predict LJ Scott will fumble away 2 TD's.  Malik McDowell will show up on an ATV and limp around on the sidelines all game, same as he did last season.  The good news is that WMU is less than great on defense, our biggest defensive weakness is pass coverage and WMU is less than great in the passing game.  So long as we keep WMU to less than 150 yards rushing, State wins this game going away.  Otherwise, it will be a loooooooooong Saturday afternoon and it will feel like 1983 all over again.
  
• RGM3: 24-21 msu. Game winning fg
  
• Ronnie: 28-17 bog green

Chew 'em up, Cole!

• ES sez:  Did anyone see LJ Scott this week around campus?  Was he carrying pigskin to class?  Was he going to class?  
  
  Well, the ES met Cole Chewins (OL, 6-8, 284) today at the Mark Dantonio show at Reno’s East.  ES said, “Damn, you are tall!  Go get ‘em buddy.”  Good kid. Coach D said he came MSU at 232 pounds - so he added 52 pounds in 2 years!  Chewins said all he does in eat (he’s CHEWIN!) all day long, and in class, etc.  Hopefully, Lewerke doesn’t hit him in the back of the head with some passes.   More impressively?  He’s a Finance major.  Nice, the ES could use him come tax season...  
  
  Dantonio provided his usual coaching insight, blah blah blah, that you or I or any other person who watches football could say in their sleep:  “We will need to keep on our toes.  They have an athletic, mobile quarterback with dangerous running backs.”  As if the stats don’t lie with the Broncos’ performance vs Southern Cal.  The problem is what coach D also said, in response to a question from a caller: “one of our goals on defense is to create turnovers. When we win the turnover battle we are 52-9, when we don’t we are 25-25 in our 10 years here.”  Well, Big Green had a pick-six vs Bowling Green, but gave up three turnovers to lose the TO battle at -2.  This must change.  

Roly Poly... Average age & weight in attendance at the MD show at Reno's?  78 y/o and 295.

Problem with WMU is their defense gave up over 280 yards to 10 receivers from SC.  Now, the Spartans don’t have the depth at receiver as do da Trojans… but the Big Green better figure it out.  While MSU hit 10 receivers last week (as did SC), only five had more than one catch, and, the ES is noting several drops.  Derrell Stewart (impressive) and Felton Davis (acrobatic despite drops) seem to be the go-tos to take advantage of a weak WMU secondary.

Enuff said.  Methinks the Spartans, with Hartbarger, at worst can punt MSU into good field position on the day.  Stop fumbling!  Any field goal kicking?  Naah.  Move to 2-0 and next week bring on the Firkin Irish stumbling into EL with their bruises after a loss to UGA.

FINAL SCORE: Chewin' Finance Major 35, Dangerous Running Backs with No Secondary 28.

Winning B1G is fun

YES!

There are few things better in life than a convincing win from your alma mater on the gridiron.  That was exactly the case yesterday, as our Big Green Touchdown Machine dispatched Bowling Green in easy, simple fashion.  The ES wuz surprised at how well the MSU defense played - and there were certainly some pluses and minuses.  

Looking to next week:  MSU is favored by a TD over Western. 

Beyond all of this - WOW - the B1G Ten (11-3 in week one) looks by far to have the best conference top to bottom in the land.  Maryland beating Texas… in Texas????  Who dominated in the Big Ten? Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, MARYLAND, Michigan, Penn State, Iowa. Even Purdon’t (loss to Louisville) hung around.  Wow. This was easily the greatest opening weekend of college football in what remains of my memory.  Big Ten schools that struggled: Nebraska, Northwestern, Illinois, Minny, and of course, Rutgers (loss).

A fairly full house on a beautiful Saturday for football!

Ahem.  Pretty!

The ES breaks down our win over Bowling Green:

Biggest surprise:  The defense.  Other than the bomb on BGSU’s first drive, the Spartan defense controlled the game.  First downs: MSU won the battle, 25-9. Only 9 FDs!  And, MSU gave up just 212 total yards, 67 on the ground - 2.8 average per carry.  The defense was stout - surprisingly very good.  

Best play: In the third quarter, with MSU up 21-3, LB Chris Frey busted around the right end, threw the tackle aside, and hit the BGSU quarterback straight up.  It was - WOW - a great, athletic play.  Almost a safety - that was when you knew the game was over.  

Biggest disappointment:  LJ Scott.  If Coach D doesn’t make LJ carry a football around campus all week - and sleep with it - then he should be fired.  Scott had a fumble on the one yard line - a NO-NO -and then BGSU’s only TD was off another Scott fumble.  That guy needs to get a GRIP.  He has too much talent to be afflicted with fumble-itis. 

Best stat: MSU 8-of-15 on third downs.  This was a real problem area for MSU all season last year.  No problem against BGSU - MSU looked comfortable on third downs for the balance of the game. 

Not on the bandwagon:  Felton Davis (#18) made some GREAT catches.  He also dropped a few.  He can’t drop those passes if we are going to beat Michigan or Ohio State.  You wanna keep those dreadlocks?  Fine, CATCH THE BALL. 

On the bandwagon:  Chris Frey (#23) and Jake Hartbarger (#2).  Frey was flying around the field (5 tackles), as the field general of the defense he looked good!  Harbarger punted a 57 yarder that had great hang-time… that can be a potential deadly weapon in tight games.  

Crowd:  It was 12 o’clock on a Saturday.  The regular crowd shuffled in. There was an old man sitting next to me.  Bitching about tonic and gin.  It was GREAT to see the usher (for 50+years) up in section 125, and of course, Dieter.   About 71,500+ - pretty good for Bowling Green.  

A comment from my Italian friend, Joe: “First half sloppy offense, too many fumbles, second half they pulled their shit together like I expected:” 

 Total Yards: 465-212, another Spartan victory.  Stats are what they are: 

Team Statistics (Final) 
The Automated ScoreBook 
Bowling Green vs Michigan State (Sep 2, 2017 at East Lansing, Mich.)

Team Totals	BGSU	MSU
FIRST DOWNS	9	25
Rushing	3	13
Passing	6	11
Penalty	0	1
NET YARDS RUSHING	67	215
Rushing Attempts	24	46
Average Per Rush	2.8	4.7
Rushing Touchdowns	0	1
Yards Gained Rushing	78	244
Yards Lost Rushing	11	29
NET YARDS PASSING	145	250
Completions-Attempts-Int	10-31-1	22-36-0
Average Per Attempt	4.7	6.9
Average Per Completion	14.5	11.4
Passing Touchdowns	0	3
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS	212	465
Total offense plays	55	82
Average Gain Per Play	3.9	5.7
Fumbles: Number-Lost	0-0	4-3
Penalties: Number-Yards	4-20	4-25
PUNTS-YARDS	8-369	6-294
Average Yards Per Punt	46.1	49.0
Net Yards Per Punt	44.2	40.7
Inside 20	3	3
50+ Yards	2	3
Touchbacks	0	2
Fair catch	1	3
KICKOFFS-YARDS	3-161	6-367
Average Yards Per Kickoff	53.7	61.2
Net Yards Per Kickoff	34.0	41.5
Touchbacks	1	1
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD	1-10-0	3-15-0
Average Per Return	10.0	5.0
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD	5-93-0	2-34-0
Average Per Return	18.6	17.0
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD	0-0-0	1-38-1
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD	2-76-1	0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards	0	0
Possession Time	21:59	38:01
1st Quarter	5:06	9:54
2nd Quarter	4:13	10:47
3rd Quarter	5:19	9:41
4th Quarter	7:21	7:39
Third-Down Conversions	2 of 13	8 of 15
Fourth-Down Conversions	0 of 2	0 of 0
Red-Zone Scores-Chances	1-1	4-5
Touchdowns	0-1	4-5
Field goals	1-1	0-5
Sacks By: Number-Yards	0-0	1-10
PAT Kicks	1-1	5-5
Field Goals	1-1	0-0
Points off turnovers	10	7

ES thoughts on #5 MSU win at Western

Initial thoughts about the Big Green's 37-24 victory over WMU in Kalamazoo.  Before I look at the stats:

1.  Coach D brought vanilla, and it showed.  No wrinkles on offense (no trick plays, no reverses, etc), no wrinkles on defense (did we blitz?  ES couldn't tell).  He's keeping his cards close to his vest for the Oregon game.  So, what you saw basically was a high school scheme - line up, and play straight up.  The better talent won.  Nothing more.  Yawn.  ES should have stayed home and saved $150. 

2.  DB concern.  Re #1 above, WMU figured it out at half and adjusted.  The Broncos couldn't run the ball worth a crap (see #4 below), so they figured they had to pass to compete.  It worked.  Two wideouts one side, another on the other, and always someone in motion to isolate one-on-one coverage on a Spartan DB.  Zach Terrell, the WMU QB, (33-50, 365, 2-2) started to hurl the ball on isolation the entire second half.  MSU had no pass rush, so the DBs were on an island and... quite honestly... did not fare well.  This needs work

3.  MSU OL played great.  Noone laid a hand on Connor Cook, and we ran for 196 yards on 40 carries (4.9 ypc); as the ES said before the season, my dead grandma could run behind that line and make 5 yards a carry.  

4.  MSU DL awesome against the run (WMU: 23 carries for 18 yards) but the Big Green seemed to lack any emphasis (or interest?) as the game wore on with the Bronco's focus on the pass.  Spartans had 7 sacks, but the sacks were early and the Broncos were able to change their game plan (per #2 above) to make it work to close the gap vs Big Green (but not close it enough). 

5.  We have a RB.  LJ Scott ran very, very well when inserted later in the game.  While London (13-59) and Holmes (9-54) were serviceable and helped to move the chains... it was Scott (13-77) that really showed promise with some shiftiness and running over Broncos - the Spartan way.  You had to be there to see his impact; the dude is a big brick.  Scott = Pound Green Pound.  This is the other Delton Williams.  Scott is a Big Boy, with wheels, and he is a train wreck.  Love him, start him.  Period. 

Stat Crew!  Here are the basic stats from the game: 

                                    MSU      WMU
FIRST DOWNS...................       26       22
  Rushing.....................       11        2
  Passing.....................       13       18
  Penalty.....................        2        2
NET YARDS RUSHING.............      196       18
  Rushing Attempts............       40       23
  Average Per Rush............      4.9      0.8
NET YARDS PASSING.............      256      365
  Completions-Attempts-Int....  15-31-0  33-50-2
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS...........      452      383
  Total offense plays.........       71       73
  Average Gain Per Play.......      6.4      5.2

The ES will embed some video from his experiences in this week's video episode... but, here are a few shots below:

Stadium thoughts?  Waldo Stadium is boring.  Rarely any PA to fire up the fans, the signage is terrible (same letters/numbers for rows as columns & seats...  what????), etc.  They shut off any wireless and cell phone service, which is anti-2015.  That's basically very, very stupid.   ES guesses Western wants nobody to learn or participate in their football experience?  It is very backward.  Unfortunate, because Waldo is just a beautiful stadium that is being minimized.  That's another conversation for another day.  At the end, it was an OK experience, not sure if it was worth my money either for the game experience or the town experience.  Ho hum.  

Spartan Defense Outscores Its Offense in Ugly Win over Western

OK, Michigan State beat Western Michigan, 26-13 (box score), in the season opener... but, OMG that was ugly.  The gods almost gave us salvation from the Spartan offense.  When the lightning storm came and the heavens opened up, and the game delayed (first game delay in MSU history)... the ES was sitting there in the upper deck thinking... can we just end this game at 7-0?  Do we have to witness any more of this agony we call the Michigan State "passing game"?

I don't know if we should 1) shoot any and all MSU wide receivers; 2) install a wishbone offense; or 3) let the defense play on offense.  Maybe all of the above. 

Keith Mumphery dropped a touchdown pass.  Hit him right in the hands. On third down. We kicked a FG instead.

Bennie Fowler dropped a post pattern on a beautifully thrown ball by Andrew Maxwell.  Hit him right in the hands.  On third down. We punted.

And on.  And on.

Connor Cook proved little better than Maxwell in relief.  He ran the ball well (4 carries, 35 yards), his best asset.  But, on a beautifully executed play action roll out with our TE wide open downfield, Cook sailed it over his head.  Incomplete. On third down.  We punted.

MSU finished the day 5-of-19 (26.3%) on third downs.  As a result, punter Mike Sadler got a workout:  11 punts, six downed inside the 20.  26.3% against Western Michigan. 

And, as the ES predicted, our defense scored more TDs than our offense; a beautiful interception from Jairus Jones and pitch to Kurtis Drummond moved MSU to a 7-0 lead; the defense ended MSU scoring for the day with a beautiful hard hit by Marcus Rush knocking the ball loose for Shilique Calhoun to pick up and take to paydirt in what completed an eventual 26-13 victory. 

The Good:  Defense. 2 TDs, 4 turnovers, 5 sacks, 8 QB hurries, 11 passes knocked down... and giving up just 11 rushing yards to WMU.  For the Broncos, 56 of their 204 total yards came on their final possession of the game against MSU's backups.  Max Bullough had 9 total tackles, 2.5 for loss.  Marcus Rush, Denicos Allen, and Taiwan Jones were in the Bronco backfield for much of the game. 

The Bad: Michigan State had 181 yards rushing on 42 carries; it was ugly looking for much of the game, but Jeremy Langford (20 carries, 94 yds) did look better as the game wore on.  Unfortunately, the long run on 18 yards pales in comparison to the havoc caused by Le'Veon  Bell last year... this looks to be serviceable at best this season.

The Ugly: The passing game was, well, awful.  A combined 17-of-37 (46%) for 116 yards.  The ES lost count of the number of drops, other than identifying that every Spartan receiver dropped a pass. Said Dantonio after the game, "We've got to catch the football. (Dropped passes) aren't something we've seen in summer camp, so it can be straightened out. As we move through it, we can't make mistakes and beat ourself. The thing you worry about in the first game are unforced errors, and we had them."

Bottom line:  It is going to be a LONG YEAR on offense.   The ES sees no improvement in the passing game... and, without Le'Veon Bell running the ball:  this offense is actually a step down from last year's 108th ranked scoring offense, and 95th ranked total offense.  As the ES told Sloth during the game: watching that offense was like watching paint dry.  It was boring and underwhelming.

Against WMU, Michigan State proved what we already knew: the Spartans have the BEST defense in the country.  Unfortunately, the Spartans also have the WORST offense in the country.

Now that's ugly.  At least we're 1-0.  Photos below:

At kickoff, with hope

  

After the storm, stadium emptied sick of the rain and the Spartan offense

Lineup for eventual dropped TD pass by Mumphery

Peanut Barrel predicts MSU over Western

Got some predictions from the Peanut Barrel today:  Joe (owner), MSU 28-0; Rod, MSU 38-20; Scoos, MSU 31-13.  Downtown EL is already hopping (2 pm)!

ES Preview: MSU will shutout Western

Time:  8 pm
Location:  Spartan Stadium, EL
Weather:  76 and sunny. PERFECT.
TV:  Big Ten Network

Predictions:  Det News: Charboneau MSU 34-13, Niyo MSU 38-7, Wojo MSU 23-10; ESPN.com: Bennett MSU 28-6, Rittenberg MSU 31-10; LSJ:  Calloway MSU 31-3, Couch MSU 45-10, Solari MSU 49-3, Rexrode MSU 33-3; CFN/Scout: MSU 41-10. MLive: MSU 48-7

Line: MSU by 28

ES sez:  It's been 240 days since the last Spartan football game, a 17-16 squeaker over TCU.  That's 239 days too long.  GAME DAY IS HERE!!!!

The ES ain't buying the interview of Andrew Maxwell on WILX-TV Thursday nite. In other words, let's be ecstatic from his positive vibes, but I fail to believe it until I see it translating to the playing field.  The ES' lack of confidence also is intended for Maxwell's receivers.  Against WMU, maybe the passing game can show moxie and get the job done.  But we still won't know Maxwell's true colors for a few weeks.  Both Maxwell and Connor Cook will play tonite.

Nevertheless, what I do believe in is the MSU defense, and they won't allow an inch to Western Michigan's offense.

WMU is predicted to be in the middle of the MAC; MSU is predicted to be in the middle of the Big Ten. That's a big advantage to MSU overall.  Give this one easily to Bullough and the Spartan Defense, which will outscore the Spartan Offense: 2 TDs by the defense, 1 TD by the offense.  

ES prediction: MSU 24, WMU 0.