MSU vs Minnesota victory = Fire Roushar

FIRE ROUSHAR. PART II.

Congrats to getting to a miserable 6-6 record by beating lowly Minnesota, 26-10.  Michigan State CRUSHED Minnesota 421-96 in total yards, but the play calling on offense and the poor execution by QB Maxwell really made things far more difficult than necessary today. Thanks to LeVeon Bell, and his 266 yards rushing on 35 carries.  Unbelievable performance by Bell.

My first thoughts, on reading the quote from coach Dantonio: ""I thought the game plan to run the football against what they did was very effective. I thought our offensive line played very effectively. It's good to see. ...When you look and you see some of the statistics, you wonder why the game isn't a little bit more lopsided. But you've got to score touchdowns in the red zone. We've kicked a lot of field goals this year, and those are things that we've got to work on as we go into bowl season."

1) You wonder???? Duhhhh.... why in Jesus' name do you PASS the ball on first down early in the game when LeVeon is running through and destroying defenses?  POOR COACHING, outthinking yourselves.  Jesus the ES was yelling through the third quarter trying to figure out what was going on.
2) Then, Maxwell throwing (13-of-29 or 44%) for the game was AWFUL, especially in the Red Zone. He over and under threw receivers all day long, if he didn't throw an INT. Instead of leading the team Maxwell was a liability, not adding ANYTHING.
3) Maxwell did not add value to the team today.
4) THE SPARTAN DEFENSE IS INCREDIBLE.  Holding Minnesota to under 100 total yards, and this offense can barely muster 27 points?  Pathetic, really.

What does all of this mean:

1) Fire Dan Roushar.  His play-calling in this game was as bad as it was all year long.  Throwing the ball on first down when Bell is running wild is.... STUPID. Just total dumb-ass.  I know MSU needs to mix up the play-calling, but not on first down with a sub-par QB in Maxwell.... umm... The ES figures the change in calling plays later in the game was because of Dantonio (or someone Spartan in the stands yelling loud enough for him to hear) demanding that every play be run to LeVeon Bell (funny how it worked). The passing calls were stupid, dumb, moronic the entire game.
2) Bench Andrew Maxwell.  He is awful. Anyone who thinks this guy is any good is high as a kite.  Maxwell can't throw the deep ball well, throws the out pattern short, or just makes very very poor decisions (note the pick-six).  Maxwell can't audible, he telegraphs his passes, and he can't execute in the toughest positions. Mawelll is NOT  a play maker.  He is not.
3) Run Bell.  Just run him.  Find different ways (not a screen play) to get the ball in his hands.  Don't pass the ball.  Just give the goddam thing to him, preferably in the deep-I formation.
4) Where the hell was Dion Sims?  The best receiver on the team, and just one catch for four yards?

I hate this offense because the talent is so great but the coaching and Maxwell's play are AWFUL.  It is really a shame for the defense.

ES Game Day: MSU at Minnesota. 'Tis the end of Roushar, Lord have mercy.

Wow, didn't expect to be here.  The ES is gonna give kudos to both the Sloth and to CHock for their pre-season picks on MSU.  Both guessed 8 wins, and were closest to the prediction of MSU winning AT BEST 6 games in the regular season. CHock called it best: "But we will lose at least one because of inexperience by our rookie QB. Cousins was really, really good and we’ll miss that." 

Looks like this is the buffoon's last game - offensive coordinator Dan Roushar may be a goner.  We will all toss some salt over a shoulder, kiss a rabbit's foot, and say a Hail Mary or three that it is the end for the dolt calling the plays for MSU.  When an assistant coach apologizes to the faithful - he's on the chopping block.

That said, tomorrow is THANK GOD the season finale.  This is the final preview of the season.

Time: 3:30 ET.
TV:  BTN
Weather: 34 and partly sunny
Spread:  MSU favored by 8

Sagarin Rankings: MSU #42, Minny #66


Predictions: 

• CFN/Scout MSU 20-13
• Freep Rexrode MIN 17-16, Sharp MIN 24-14, Seidel MSU 27-17
• BTN.com Tom MSU 27-14, Brent MSU 19-16
• ESPN.com  Ritteberg MSU 20-16, Bennett MSU 24-17

ES sez:  How dumb can the Spartan coaching staff be?  Is MD trying to instill confidence, or is he instead misdiagnosing his team when he sez: "When we win Saturday -- and I'll say when -- we'll be a 6-6 football team."  Why in god's name would the Doctor give the Gophers bulletin board material, especially after watching the MSU buffoonery on the sidelines and the poor decision-making on the field ALL YEAR LONG? 

OK, this is easy.  Let's predict this real quick.  #1 - Is Maxwell starting on Saturday at QB?  YES.  #2 - Is Roushar still the offensive coordinator for MSU on Saturday?  YES.

'Nuff said.  Each will find a way to screw it up in as stupid, maddening, and unnecessary way as possible.  The ES hopes a nor'easter or a massive blizzard from the Yukon swipes over Minneapolis to make life miserable tomorrow.  Lord have mercy.  ES sez:  Minnesota 26, Michigan State 24.  

Fire Dan Roushar

Today's loss against Northwestern was unacceptable and inexcusable.  This one is on the coaches. Roushar's incompetence and Dantonio's belief in Maxwell's abilities that he doesn't have cost MSU yet another game.  Not sure when these guys will get it through their thick heads and wake up.

Roushar has GOT to be fired.  He was nothing short of AWFUL, and demonstrated he is in over his head.  What a waste of a great defense this year.    I don't have enough fingers or toes to count the numerous coaching mistakes today.  That's sad, and I feel bad for the players, especially the defense, for the incompetence of the Spartan coaching staff.

Below, I have copied my second half Facebook posts to the Sloth today as we fumed during the game.  It says enough.

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4 hours ago via mobile ·

    I hate this football team on offense. Just absolutely loathe them.
    Like · · Unfollow Post
        50 of 56
        View previous comments
         You should see them live-Eesh!
        3 hours ago via mobile · Like · 1
         I'm turning it off now. that last drive with Roushar calling nothing but passes is it for me. time to catch up on a couple episodes of Mad Men...
        3 hours ago · Like
         13-13 now! Go Burbridge!
        2 hours ago via mobile · Like
         If it wasn't so embarrassing it would be funny. I am so goddam upset with this coaching staff for handcuffing the players. It is flat-assed unacceptable. Period. A bunch of incompetent morons, lead by the head dolt himself for hiring these jokers.
        2 hours ago · Like
         Walk in TD. Ugh
        2 hours ago via mobile · Like
         What is Roushar doing with this all-pass crap? Putting Maxwell back with no blindside protection on a first down is suicide, RUN THE GODDAM BALL.
        2 hours ago · Like
         What an embarrassment.
        2 hours ago · Like
         Dantonio needs to own up to this. He is failing his team.
        2 hours ago · Like
         Narduzzi needs to get his ass OUT OF THE PRESS BOX AND DOWN ON THE FIELD
        2 hours ago · Like · 1
         These referees are terrible.
        2 hours ago · Like
         Unbelievable. Thank God for hoops
        2 hours ago via mobile · Like · 2
         If the defense doesn't score, we don't have a chance.
        2 hours ago · Like
         Hopefully Dantonio will do the right thing and get rid of Roushar after the season is over
        2 hours ago via mobile · Like · 1
         Can't blame Maxwell for the dropped balls
        2 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 2
         What I hate is the percentages on throwing on first down for MSU are just poor. So, if they don't get it, it is a guarantee we will thrown on 2nd down. Roushar just doesn't have a good feel for how to mix things up.
        2 hours ago · Like
         If this were a chess match, it would already be checkmate. If it were war, our conceptual playbook is the Maginot line. Completely static and predictable, and reactionary. It sucks. I'd give the coaching a F.
        2 hours ago · Like
        Can't blame Maxwell for the bad offensive line and piss poor play calling. I feel bad for him. I think he gets a bad rap.
        2 hours ago via mobile · Like
         But when Maxwell does have a shot, he can't make the play. He is not dependable. That's the problem.
        2 hours ago · Like
         Thank God we ran it on first down, even if we only gained a yard.
        2 hours ago · Like
        ...who is the back up Connor Cook, right? Don't know much about him...is he good?
        2 hours ago via mobile · Like
         Put in Cook. Right on queue, Maxwell telegraphs his floater to the NW safety.
        2 hours ago · Like
        , this season was over 5 weeks ago. it's an indication of our resilience as Spartan faithful that we still bother, especially with basketball season here.
        2 hours ago · Like
         Maxwell has no moxie. He CANT GET IT DONE. You know that Gatorade ad, "is it IN you?" Not for Maxwell. He does not have the grit and lacks the smarts of Cousins - it isn't fair to make the comparison, but Maxwell IMHO isn't half of Cousins. To add to it, this coaching staff is so incompetent, they are handcuffing him.
        2 hours ago · Like · 1
         Hey Haskin, don't you have any eligibility left?
        2 hours ago via mobile · Like · 1
         Sloth - I loathe loving my allegiance as a Spartan football fan, and there isn't anything I can do about it for the rest of my life.
        2 hours ago · Like · 1
         The score right now should be 27-20 Michigan State. The fact that the turnovers are 4-0 in favor of NW demonstrates the strength of our defense.
        2 hours ago · Like
         Who is dependable? BELL. Funny, they give him the ball and he just piles up yardage. A total no-brainer.
        2 hours ago · Like · 1
         Keep feeding it to the horse.
        2 hours ago · Like
         bet you a beer this is a pass
        2 hours ago · Like
         Of course, now Narduzzi gets his butt down to the field. The coaches are finally waking up. Too bad they took off the first three quarters.
        2 hours ago · Like
         Keep feeding it to Bell. Give him THE GODDAM BALL
        2 hours ago · Like
         Roushar just killed this drive
        2 hours ago · Unlike · 1
         Fire Roushar.
        2 hours ago · Like
         That pass call was so incompetent.
        2 hours ago · Like
         Sims bailed out Roushar. He should still be fired.
        2 hours ago · Like · 1
         it's an absolute miracle. I should have watched a 2nd episode of Mad Men.
        2 hours ago · Like
         Roushar should be fired - even if we score 100 points in the next five minutes, he needs to be given the pink slip. Let him coach at Mankato State.
        2 hours ago · Like
         seemingly right on cue, our Top 5 defense rips a fart.
        about an hour ago · Like
         Go figure. But they stiffened at the end. Let's see if Maxwell has moxie.
        about an hour ago · Like
         Dantonio has no pulse on this team. He should know by now that the defense checks out late in the game; is this the 3rd or 4th game where we punted late and couldn't get the ball back? Shoulda gone for it on 4th down.
        about an hour ago · Like · 1
         Fitz passing the ball was a dumb move. Stopped the clock. Helped us out.
        about an hour ago · Like
         Dantonio needs to block this kick. It's our only chance. Offense can't do shit.
        about an hour ago · Like
         dropped pass. shocking.
        about an hour ago · Like
         Let's see if Maxwell can make a believer out of me. I doubt it.
        about an hour ago · Like · 1
         another dropped pass. not shocking.
        about an hour ago · Like
         What an AWFUL play call on third down. Why in gods name are you running a 5 YARD SLANT??????? We need 80 yards
        about an hour ago · Like
         GAME OVER. MSU SEASON OVER.
        about an hour ago · Like
         NEED TO GO TO MY PRESENTATION. I hate this season.
        about an hour ago · Like
    

S.O.S.: Dan "Three Stooges" Roushar has got to go

I'm putting this one on the coaches, and mainly Offensive Coordinator Dan Roushar.  The 19-16 double OT loss to Iowa that was dominated for 58 minutes by MSU really is the last straw.  Even the Iowa fan at the Harrison Roadhouse called it "a miracle, We couldn't move the ball all game."  OK, the Michigan State defense should have made a stop on the last drive of regulation, as they had all game long.  But, let's get to the real problem.

Let's try MSU offensive confusion. Say, the botched field goal try at the end of the first half (umm, we never even got that far, running on and off the field in utter Three Stooges confusion reminiscent of John L Smith vs Ohio State).... or, the unbelievably stupid incomplete passes which stopped the clock with 5 minutes left at the end of the game and give Iowa a chance to come back... or, the even dumber call in double-OT for a pass on second and short in the driving rain across the middle in OT is high-risk at best... or, the wasted opportunity with confusion running guys in and out for a wildcat on the 5 yard line, only to call a time out and then settle for a field goal... or, all of the other confusion with substitutions in-between... Roushar has got to go. 

The guy, Roushar, was clueless about what to call all game long, and actually he's been clueless all year. 

The ES has realized that it was Kirk Cousins, BJ Cunningham and the unbelievable skilled talent that bailed out Roushar since former OC Treadwell left.  With the rawness at the skill levels this year, Roushar's questionable play calling is being exposed. The most frustrating part is that the one guy who can help the Spartans, Le'Veon Bell, is a guy Roushar doesn't turn to when we - and he - can use him most... like in double-OT yesterday.

Note to Roushar:  Knock off the John-L-Smith-like outsmarting yourself, and use the talent that works, especially at the most challenging times. And, KISS - keep it simple, stupid.  Your wild guesses and inopportune pass calls sure are making it harder on yourself, and especially the team.

If I wasn't so drenched in cold rain, I would have laughed.  In what started out as a season of hope, Andrew Maxwell staring blinding into space at the end of the game says it all:  what a waste.  With a murderers row coming up next of Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Northwestern... I'm not so sure if this Spartan team can win half its games by year's end and qualify for the Meineke Car Care Bowl.  

What a waste.  Congrats to Iowa - you've got what the Spartans don't: moxie.  This year's Spartans are searching for an identity. This year's Spartans look to be another chapter in the never-ending saga of Same Old Spartans