Spartans Week 3 Review
By Editorial Staff
Spartans Analysis: MSU 13 Notre Dame 31
What Happened:
Well I can cancel my trip toPasadenathat I had planned. This was a reality check that Spartans needed, including myself. We were outmatched and outcoached. All levels of our team can take equal blame. Offensively our OL was completely over whelmed. Kirk Cousins once again shows that if the OL and the run game are not rolling, he cannot carry a team. That’s like saying you are a good card player when you have 4 aces. Defensively the Spartans could not get off the field. Their flanks were exposed. ND simply ran outside and passed on the flanks and the Spartans were helpless to defend it. ST allowed a return for a score and failed on a fake FG. ST was our biggest weapon last season and appears to be a weakness this season. That could be the difference between 9-3 and 7-5. However, I have failed to talk about our biggest failure yesterday, coaching. We did not get up for this game. Offensively our play calling continues to be vanilla and predictable and our defense failed to counter what ND was doing all game long. This was a long day in Notre Dame for yours truly.
What We Learned:
- Kirk Cousins does not have to worry about the draft anymore. Any NFL scout who watches him against elite competition will see a variety of warning signs: happy feet, lack of processing information quickly, lack at athleticism, and horribly inconsistent mechanics. Cousins might have fallen out of the draft on Saturday. The potential he showed on his sophomore year was never fulfilled if it was ever there to begin with.
- William Gholston and Max Bullough, at least at this point in their careers, have not shown the ability that was warranted by their scouting grade. Gholston appears to have no knowledge of playing DE and is very awkward in his movements. His 6-7 and 280 pound body seems to lack any agility and quick, explosive movement. Bullough appears to lack the confidence to react quickly and too often is nowhere near the action. On a positive note he has great seats to view a football game.
- On a non-football related note: MSU fan base needs to get it together. We have become an embarrassment. The vulgarity of the student section, the drunken induced riots after both football and basketball games, as well as our constant fighting both at home and on the road has led me to believe that Dantonio or Athletic Director Mark Hollis really needs to address this behavior. It reflects on all of us and I am embarrassed to call myself a Spartan fan if that is what our general behavior reflects. Step your game up people.
Questions Arisen:
- 1. What is our coaching staff doing with the TE personnel. Dionne Simms is 6-6, 280 pounds whose size and speed are an asset in the run game as well as being a huge weapon in the passing game. He has Sunday potential, so why does he rotate with clearly inferior players? Put your best players on the field Dantonio.
- 2. The offensive line once again shows that their inability to open holes in the run game and allow the defense to harass Cousins will be our undoing. Can they gel in a hurry so that the Spartans can compete in the Big Ten?
- 3. Jerel Worthy is a stud. He has risen his game this season and consistently pushes his man back and has two sacks so far this season. When the season started Worthy, Adams, and Robinson were the only returning starters. We have talent but besides Worthy, do we have any one that can bring it week to week?
Next Week
Spartans once again play an inferior opponent inCentral Michigan. We have looked explosive against inferior opponents. Last week we showed what kind of team we actually are and that is one that is mediocre. I expect us to get to 3-1 but that is a sham if the OL, defense, and our supposed leader Kirk Cousins don’t get it together. Does anyone have Greg Jones number, if not signal the Greg Jones sign on the sky, he is needed.