Michigan State lost it's first fooall game of the season today against the University of Wisconsin, 34-37. This was a very entertaining game to watch, despite the disappointing outcome. Both teams made a lot of big plays, and I'm pretty sure that they combined for over 1000 yards of offense.
Defensivley was a different story. I love our D-line. We get a lot of pressure on the QB. But our linebackers struggled to contain PJ Hill (Which is hard for any team I know, but still) Our secondary gave too many plays as well. We did hit though, Jesus Christ did we hit. There was a huge helmet-to-helmet hit late in the second quarter that knocked out a Wisconsin receiver, and I'm sure Wisconsin's QB Donovan will be feeling some buises tomorrow.
But in the end, it came down to execution and penalties. (I know, shocking right?) Tied 34-34 early in the fourth quarter, MSU had the Badgers backed up on third and 15 from Wisconsin's own 20. The defense held, but a roughing-the-passer call gave Wisconsin the automatic first down. It was a good call by the refs, just a stupid mistake by Kellen Davis. The announcer's said it best, that play was just like a turnover. It should have been MSU ball, but instead, Wisconsin gets a first and 10. Wisconsin proceeds to drive down the field for what turns out to be the game winning field goal.
MSU had the ball with a chance to win. I guess that's all you can ask for at the end of a game. On 4th and 2 from Wisconsin's 40, we tried to hit a little roll-out to Ringer in the flat. This had worked all game, but probably for that reason, Wisconsin was ready for the play. Hoyer was forced to throw an off-balance pass over the middle that was incomplete. I can't criticize Dantonio too much for that call, but I'll just say that if it were me, I would have run Caulcrick up the gut. We had over a minute at that point, and a first down would have stopped the clock, so running it was definitely an option. (Of course if this was Madden, I would have had the QB roll out and run for the first down himself)
All in all, it was a decent performance by the Spartans. We hung in there against a top-10 team on the road, and gave them all they could ask for. What worries me the most is the lack of disipline in the fourth quarter. Not only the roughing call, but there were several other penalties that hurt us. We have a lot of work to do, but we are much better than I thought we would be. Let me put it this way: Last year's team literally made me stop caring about Spartan football, and this year's team has re-made me into a fan.
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2 comments:
Thank you for writing this.
I wouldn't worry too much about the defense. It'll come around. It's a young group, but last year we were awful at rushing the passer, and this year we're one of the nation's best. That's a good sign! So is the hard hitting. I was happy to read that. I think Dantonio is putting his stamp on his team, and it's beginning to show after four games.
I am extremely happy with this performance (from what I hear, didn't see it...). I'm surprised with how many points were scored, but I was thinking it'd be a 23-10 Wisconsin type game, but with the Badgers fully in control. We gave them a run for their money, and that's good. Teams can't take us lightly!
If it were Madden, and I was Wisconsin, I'd have a corner specifically hunt down your QB and destroy him. Just don't hit the A-Button. Then I'm fucked.
I watched the whole game too, which was extremely nice since we were celebrating my sister's b-day and she didn't pull a bitch move on me. I was pleased with the penalty situation (first one didn't come until the beginning of the second). Davis' late hit was the whole game... as the announcer said "it is a little bit of the old MSU football creeping through". There was one thing that I noticed was different about this team - we held our own and even lead through much of the first 3 quarters. Then, we couldn't stop Hill and they went up by 10 in the 3rd or 4th. That would have been the end of our team in the last few years. This team battled back quickly through good offense and a few defensive stands.
Stat I love: going in to last week, we lead the nation in sacks.
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