MSU vs. NU: Offense vs. Defense

YOU THE MAN NOW RODKY!

We keep going around and around about this, but UCLA and tOSU run systems completely different than MSU's . Nebraska's scheme tails very nicely to MSU's O.

There are good and bad match-ups for every defensive and offensive scheme out there. IU's short passing game in the flats wrecked havoc on MSU's base Cover 4. Does that mean that MSU's D is bad? No, it just means that there's an area that can be exploited.

For Nebraska, they give up QB runs and crossing routes. Neither of those are particular strengths of MSU's D. They also force running plays to the outside, something MSU is not good at capitalizing on. If you watch the game vs. UCLA, James Franklin is able to beat the Nebraska LBs to the edge. Franklin is much faster than Bell; MSU cannot replicate those plays successfully.

Nebraska is also blitz happy, and that's not exactly something the OL has handled well this year. NU has speed rushers to the outside, something France has struggled with, and their physical man to man coverage takes away a lot of the short routes.

What match-up would you give MSU an "even" edge on (I don't think you'd go so far as to give MSU the edge on any O category)? The passing O vs. passing D is a bad match-up in terms of scheme, MSU has a RB who can't bounce the ball outside and the Spartan OL hasn't handled speed rushes well. Nebraska may not be a world-beating D, but they're better in all 3 phases than the Spartan O right now.

not even a chuckle?...lighten up rodky!!

Evidently you haven't been paying attention to current events? Sounds like game over?

In terms of launching multiple 75 yard drives for TDs? Yea, that ain't happening. Doesn't mean the game is over though, there are two other phases to the game, after all, and both can have a major impact on the MSU O.

Gotta keep it interesting, right? I actually didn't have time to type out more.

What I mean is that defense and special teams are going to have to set up MSU's offense. I think the Spartans can pick up 25-30 yards on this defense every couple of drives; depending on where their field position is, that means either a punt or a FG attempt. There will be one good drive I think for a TD, and the rest of the scoring drives will need a short field (starting past the MSU 35). That falls on the defense and special teams; the D to hold Nebraska to minimal yardage, and the special teams to continuously push field position. Nebraska has one of the worst PR D's in the country; now's the time for AJ Sims to show what he can do.

Oh don't worry, that's being covered in tomorrow's "Nebraska's O vs. Michigan State's D" preview

Don't talk to me about OL injuries.

We have 1 DT notice all DE's playing for us... yup not good. OL have you seen our OL??? Yikes.

Well since last week's return of the decimated secretaries worked so well, here you go:

Better?