Official 2013 Enlightened Spartan Preview: 8-5/4-4 The Enlightened Spartan: Official 2013 Enlightened Spartan Preview: 8-5/4-4

Monday, August 26, 2013

Official 2013 Enlightened Spartan Preview: 8-5/4-4

WELCOME! Since 2001 - the oldest college FB blog in the Big Ten and among the oldest in the nation - this is the 13th annual Enlightened Spartan Football Preview, featuring your favorite opines: Big Bob, ChiSpartan (now Swiss Spartan), Chock, SpartyMSU, and of course the ES.

To see what the pundits think about Michigan State University football across the nation (a consensus pick at #23 and #3 in the B1G Legends), link to Chris Stassen's website and his excellent history of pre-season magazines.

Below, the ES leads off with his own discussion and predictions before guest opinions. Each of the following questions were asked of guests, and their answers follow.

1.  How many wins by MSU overall, and in the Big Ten?
2.  How many games will State win by less than 5 points?
3.  Who is better at QB?  A. Andrew Maxwell; B. Connor Cook; C. Your Mom.
4.  Will we beat ND in that dump of a town in Indiana? Score?
5.  Will we beat Michigan here in EL? Score?
6.  Is the Spartan defense better this year than last?  Why or why
not?  Name names....
7.  Other than QB, which player is the key to MSU season?
8.  If we win more than lose, name our bowl and who we shall play... why?
9.  Your overall grade (A, B, C, D, F) of Dantonio as head coach since
he took over:  and why?
10. Best spot to tailgate in East Lansing????


ENLIGHTENED SPARTAN

Coach Mark Dantonio (the Doctor, Mr. MD) has a philosophy that is true to his "game of inches" speeches.  He isn't conservative, but is rather a minimalist who plays to the margins.  His emphasis on defense keeps his Spartans in close games. His pro style offense, with a power running game, is highly dependent on playmakers in skill positions for any success.
 
As we have found out, a Cousins-Cunningham-Bell trio put plenty of points on the board and outmaneuvered errors.  Quite simply, with so much talent, the offense could find and cross the margin even if they screwed up.

But, we have also witnessed what happens with a lack of talent.  Anointed starter Andrew Maxwell, an East-West quarterback, lacks confidence, leadership, and can't make the extra play needed to win close games provided by the defense.  It did not help last year that MSU wideouts couldn't separate from defenders, and when they could, they often dropped passes. But, let the ES rate the QBs from the official roster:

1.  Damion Terry
2.  Connor Cook
3.  Your Mom
4.  Andrew Maxwell
5. Tyler O'Connor

Even with wideout errors... we need more risk from Maxwell to make plays.  Our team, and the Dantonio philosophy, depends on it.  It is a game of inches, and Spartan QB's need to get us those inches.  That takes risk and play-making ability.  Unless MSU can find that play-making ability on offense, they will have an average season.  Or, as Swiss Sparty told the ES: "really, our punter can be the MVP like when Greg Montgomery was at State.  Punt that shit so far back that it gives our offense a chance by making their offense travel such a long field against our great defense."  WARNING:  IF YOU PLAY DEFENSE FOR MSU, you may have a lot of long games this fall.

Where Dantonio has played to the margins is where he uses his bag of tricks on offense - in the right situation, at the right time.  The tricks did not work so well in 2012; a lack of confidence and talent put the opportunities to rest.  Will there be the talent in 2013?  God only knows, and hopes.

The ES #1 Prediction?  By the time the Spartans play at Notre Dame, MSU will be trailing by 20 points at halftime.  It will be then that the reality will hit the Doctor, Mr.. MD, straight in the face, and Connor Cook (or Damion Terry) will be named the starter from that point forward for the rest of the year. 

I'm with Sloth last year:  it is worth going to Spartan Stadium just to watch this great defense play.  But expect many games 17-16, 13-12, or lower in scoring.  It will be like watching the Germans and Russians fight in the trenches every single week:  hardnosed, bloody, and a shark-fight over a piece of meat.  In other words: FUN. 

1.  How many wins by MSU overall, and in the Big Ten?
ES: 8-5, 4-4.  (Wins: WMU, USF, YSU, @Iowa, Purdue, Michigan, Minny, Gator Bowl.   Losses: @ND, Indy, @Illinois, @Nebraska, @NW)

2.  How many games will State win by less than 5 points?
ES: Five.

3.  Who is better at QB?  A. Andrew Maxwell; B. Connor Cook; C. Your Mom.
ES: Your Mom.

4.  Will we beat ND in that dump of a town in Indiana? Score?
ES: No.  ND 27-13

5.  Will we beat Michigan here in EL? Score?
ES: Yes.  MSU 17-16.

6.  Is the Spartan defense better this year than last?  Why or why not?  Name names....
ES: Yes.  Because it has never been so deep and so well schooled at every position.  Can't we have them play offense, too?

7.  Other than QB, which player is the key to MSU season?
The receiving corps.  They just need to catch more balls.  Arnett,  Burbridge, and Mumprhey MUST find separation deep, and they are are key and need to hang onto the ball in tight quarters.  But, maybe the TE is just as key - we have no starters returning in this area, and as an outlet (or savior) for the QB when pressured, we need these folks to move the chains.  Look for either  #92 Andrew Gleichert (6-5, 256, Jr) or # 83 Paul Lang (6-5, 247, So) to make an impact here.

8.  If we win more than lose, name our bowl and who we shall play... why?
TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl:  MSU vs. South Carolina. 

9.  Your overall grade (A, B, C, D, F) of Dantonio as head coach since he took over:  and why?
B.  Dantonio needs to get over the hump. 

10. Best spot to tailgate in East Lansing????   Behind Morrill Hall. 

CHOCK

Another fine D will keep us in every game, but our O will be even worse than last year so I put us at a 7-5 overall record and 4-4 in the B1G.  Why will the O be worse?  No one to run the ball, the same receivers that dropped balls left and right last year and a starting QB who has already hit his ceiling (he’s a senior for crisssakes, it’s not like he’s going to take a magical Fr to So season leap).  Reports are our OL should be good.  But for us, that simply means we’ll be able to get 5 people on the field who don’t have cancer, a broken ankle, or some other injury that will force them to “retire” from football at the ripe age of 19.  But the real kicker for why our O will be worse? Absolutely no Tight-End.  When was the last time MSU did not have a decent TE?  Even in the crappiest of seasons for our O (see 2012) we could still count on a good chunk of our first downs coming from our TEs.  The only positive about the O from this year to last: at least our play calling can’t get worse.

Western_Mich, W for MSU by less than 5
So_Florida, W for MSU by less than 5
Youngstown_St, W for MSU by more than 5
at Notre_Dame, L
at Iowa, L
Indiana,  W for MSU by less than 5
Purdue, W for MSU by less than 5
at Illinois, W for MSU by less than 5
Michigan, L
at Nebraska, L
at Northwestern, L
Minnesota, W for MSU by less than 5

2.  How many games will State win by less than 5 points?

chock>>>  all of their wins, except Youngstown St., will be by less than 5 points.  When the offense can barely score more than 5 points in a game, you can’t have a lot of wins by more than 5.

3.  Who is better at QB?  A. Andrew Maxwell; B. Connor Cook; C. Your Mom.

chock>>>  chock nailed it last year when he said that we were going to miss Cousins a lot more than we realized.  We’ll still be missing a top notch QB this year and it will show in the W-L columns.  As the season goes on Connor Cook will earn the majority of reps.  In fact, the only reason Maxwell will see reps late in the year is because Cook will do some bonehead play like taking a sack for a 20 yard loss or fumbling the ball deep in our territory which will force coach to put Maxwell back in.  Our QB situation won’t improve until 2015 and Damion Terry coming off a redshirt Fresh year starts to get some serious reps.

4.  Will we beat ND in that dump of a town in Indiana? Score?

chock>>>  Unfortunately not.  We’ll lose 17-10, our offense will score no TDs (defense gets a pick 6) and we’ll long for the days of Bob Davies and Charlie Wiess.  Brian Kelly is the real deal.

5.  Will we beat Michigan here in EL? Score?

chock>>>  We lose another close one:  13-14.  UM’s D gets TD off a Conner Cook mistake and we can’t overcome that because it’s hard to win when you don’t have an offense.

6.  Is the Spartan defense better this year than last?  Why or why not?  Name names....

chock>>> About the same. Which is to say, they’ll be very good.  Want names as to why they’ll be good?  Here goes:  Jones, Gordon, Worthy, Robinson, Pickleman) … but you’re saying hey, these guys aren’t on the team any more.  They left already.  Right, that’s the beauty of it.  Nardog and Coach D are in the process of building a program based on D.  Athletes, depth, and attitude at each level.  You don’t even need to don’t need to name specific player’s names to prove why the D will be good.  They’re ALL good on D, even in the second and third strings.

7.  Other than QB, which player is the key to MSU season?

chock>>>  The as of yet unidentified starting running back and tight-end.

8.  If we win more than lose, name our bowl and who we shall play... why?

chock>>>  My pick last year (MSU vs. LS coached Arkansas in the Outback Bowl) was actually a fantastic selection.  Too bad our O wasn’t good enough to get us enough wins to make that bowl and I should have guessed a JLS coached team couldn’t get enough wins to get there … although, to my defense, they started the season ranked in the top 10.  Thankfully we don’t have JLS as HC any more.  That said, an interesting thought – how about bringing slappy back to run the offense?

This year’s pick will follow in the same vein:   MSU vs. Brett Bielema’s Arkansas Razorbacks in the Gator Bowl.

9.  Your overall grade (A, B, C, D, F) of Dantonio as head coach since he took over:  and why?

chock>>>  B+.  He gets his A when he wins the B1G Championship.

10. Best spot to tailgate in East Lansing????

chock>>>  Since I’m three time zones away from EL, I’ll be doing my tailgating and game watching at the Pittsburgh’s Pub a block and a half down the street here on the west side of SF.

SWISS SPARTAN (FORMERLY CHI SPARTAN):

1.  How many wins by MSU overall, and in the Big Ten?   7-5

2.  How many games will State win by less than 5 points?   5

3.  Who is better at QB?  A. Andrew Maxwell; B. Connor Cook; C. Your Mom.    Those are the only options?   Ugh.

4.  Will we beat ND in that dump of a town in Indiana? Score?      17-13 MSU

5.  Will we beat Michigan here in EL? Score?   13-10 MSU

6.  Is the Spartan defense better this year than last?  Why or why     
not?  Name names….   About the same, but it's not the names, it is longevity.   Lots of depth.

7.  Other than QB, which player is the key to MSU season?   Mike Sadler.   If he can kick the ball deep, allows our defense to keep them pinned back and have a lower score for our miserable QB.

8.  If we win more than lose, name our bowl and who we shall play... why?    Texas Bowl vs. Kansas State.     Who knows why!

9.  Your overall grade (A, B, C, D, F) of Dantonio as head coach since  
he took over:  and why?   B-.   Won the last two Bowl Games and took us to inaugural Big Ten Championship.    Knocks for no Rose Bowl and believing in Andrew Maxwell.

10. Best spot to tailgate in East Lansing????     Harrison Roadhouse.

BIG BOB:

1. How many wins by MSU overall, and in the Big Ten? 6, 3

2. How many games will State win by less than 5 points?  2

3. Who is better at QB? A. Andrew Maxwell; B. Connor Cook; C. Your Mom.  My mom’s mom; she got game my momma lacks.

4. Will we beat ND in that dump of a town in Indiana? Score?  No.  24-17.

5. Will we beat Michigan here in EL? Score?  No.  17-16

6. Is the Spartan defense better this year than last? Why or why not? Name names....  Yes, Pat Narduzzi, Max Bullough, Marcus Rush, Darqueze Dennard, Pat Narduzzi.  MSU can’t move the ball but it can stop you.  Unfortunately; however, the offense will be worse.

7. Other than QB, which player is the key to MSU season?  Mike Sadler, without question

8. If we win more than lose, name our bowl and who we shall play... why?  The Little Ceasars Pizza bowl in beautiful Deeetroooiiit, Michigan because we will have earned it.     

9. Your overall grade (A, B, C, D, F) of Dantonio as head coach since he took over: and why?  B-, While he embarrassed Brian Kelly badly with the fake field goal against ND he also kept an inept Offensive Coordinator around too long.  His loyalty to a QB that can’t move the team downfield is also disappointing.

10. Best spot to tailgate in East Lansing????  The Peanut Barrel

Thanks! Go BIG GREEN!

SPARTY MSU:

Happy Football Season from SpartyMSU.com…

ES sent over some questions to start us all thinking about the season. From our SpartyMSU fan opinion, from up in row 63, here you go…

The season summary is above.  We are projecting a 9 – 2 seasons, with a 6 and 2 B1G record. The closest game will be with the team from AnnArbor.  The Spartans should win, a close battle, as it always is.. I do think we will see 2 quarterbacks platooning in the game. This will be the 5th  win in the last 6 years for the Spartans, and how well be celebrating in East Lansing… Spade is a spade, we will rejoice, don’t kid yourselves… Some Spartans say, “Oh its just another win, don’t treat it any different”..  but for SpartyMSU, who grew up in AnnArbor.. it will be one more time to put a beat down on the ArrogAnt weenies from AA. Growing up as a Spartan fan in AA.. For all the crap I took for years..  I saw the faith, the truth and the light and went to MSU.. Oh yeah, I will rub it in. I can’t get enough victories over the Blue team.

Q: Who is better at QB?  A. Andrew Maxwell; B. Connor Cook; C. Your Mom

    Quarterback: My heart say Connor Cook or Tyler O'Connor, my wallet says Maxwell gets the     start. So, I will go with Maxwell. Simple, make quick reads, pitch and catch.

Q: Is the Spartan defense better this year than last?  Why or why not?  Name names....

    Spartan Defense: they are better than last year.. oh yeah baby.. They will rock. Max Bullough is a     stud. I would like to see Tyler Hoover make a big statement, been waiting since he was     recruited. Darqueze Dennard will make people think twice throwing his way. The entire unit is     solid. 

Q: Will we beat ND in that dump of a town in Indiana? Score?

    When we travel to South bend, I think we will come away with a win from under     Touchdown Jesus.. Score Prediction: 34 – 20.  The Spartan Defense will be a BEAST this game..      Spartans have an easier set up for the one.. Notre Dame will have already played at Michigan     and at Purdue, so this will be their first home game. Purdue is always an emotional game for     the Irish, and scUM will try to kick the crap out of them in AnnArbor.  2012, Spartans lost by     17  points. In 2013  the Green Machine will put pressure on the inexperience at Irish QB, and the     inept Domer running game. Spartans take the Victory Bus back to East Lansing.

Q: Other than QB, which player is the key to MSU season?

    This is an easy one.. RECIEVERS.. Catch the damn ball. For two years I have sat in the stands     slapping my head, time after time,  like John L. Smith.. I couldn’t believe the drops.. I saw so    many balls sail right threw the catchers hands.. Again, I’m a fan who sits in the stands drinking     my Coke, eating popcorn.. OMG.. Catch the damn ball this year.. PLEASE..


Q: If we win more than lose, name our bowl and who we shall play... why?

    We will probably head to the Capital One Bowl.. That’s right, another Sunny destination.. I realize     its been since 1988 since we went to Pasadena, just don’t see it in the cards this year. I have not     made hotel reservations yet, but will do so soon for Orlando.. I want to drink from the Big Green     fire hose, and say Rose Bowl or Bust.. but, that’s not reality this year..

Q: Who will we play –

beats me.. don’t care..  Some SEC puke.. Go Green !

Q: Your overall grade (A, B, C, D, F) of Dantonio as head coach since he took over:  and why?

    Easy question ES.. Dantonio gets an A+  !
    Why you ask: We were looking for a culture change, someone who was willing to recreate the     foundation of a program which could launch us back into prominence. He has done that. He has     developed a perceived culture that focuses on fundamentals, family, accountability and follow-    through. Again, this is looking at the program from row 63, but this is what I see. Also, the     recruitment is picking up, and I have learned not to rely on the “star” system you see published.     Dantonio has created and formed a solid foundation, its time in the next 3 years to take the next     step, I plan to see a Rose bowl at a minimum. Much in the mold of BBall God and Coach     Mr.     Tom Izzo, I think Dantonio is building long term structure. I’ve waited 40 some years, I can wait a     couple more.

    So to answer the question: Yes, he has exceed my expectations.. and delivered us from the     depths of 1994 through the John L. Smith era.

Q: Best spot to tailgate in East Lansing????

    Best place is with SpartyMSU and my Peeps at Guiltner Hall on Football Saturdays, the grills are     hot, MSU Alum having a great time,  the food menu is delicious, beer is cold, and this year the     MSU dance team will stop by. Harrison Roadhouse for BBall pregame festivities, and then     Dagwoods to power up for MSU Ice Hockey..     Go Green !

Hope to run in to you again this year ES !
Sparty On !


3 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:50 AM

    Shlocky! ES why don't you post your predictions over the last 13 years, and we'll decide if you are a credible football analyst? Seems to me this is amateur hour.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous - it IS amateur hour. Thanks for recognizing! You can also type in "predictions" into the search engine. Should be some pretty good info there. Let me know if you need more, as if it really matters.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Who caught the passes Damien Terry threw in the scrimmage where he ran up 240 yards or so? And, where are they?

    ReplyDelete