Rivalry week weather report for MSU and weasels in AA
Wow. What an amazing feeling to wake up and remember your team played a game last night. You slightly recall losing and you decide to check the box score. You notice your team had more first downs, more passing yards, more rushing yards, more total yards, more time of possession and less points. You slap yourself across the face, splash some cold water and come to terms with that being exactly what happened and looking in the mirror saying, “what the hell happened”? I guess it’s time to explore just that in this week’s overcast weather report.
CLOUD 1: COACHING
I am actually embarrassed with the coaching in this game. I truly thought we had an edge here, especially after the Iowa game. The play calling in this game on both sides of the ball was highly disappointing. First and foremost it seemed like they played to not lose instead of playing to win. The offensive balance had no rhythm. The run game had some success and I question why we didn’t use that success to open up down the field pass plays. The playing calling made it easy for the opposition to scheme and shut down the short passing game. I question why we have Chiles rolling out when he fumbles when the best decision was likely to run the ball, have them burn timeouts, punt, head into half with the lead. I question why we are covering anything else when Orgi is in the game. No adjustments seemed to be made. The red zone offense continues to be inept. Onside kick, three wide receivers bunched up and no one coming to the ball…should I keep going? I’m making myself nauseous, I’ll let the comment section take it from here.
CLOUD 2: INTENSITY
The Spartans lacked it. There was no chip on the shoulder. There was no step on the throat energy that needs to be there every year in this game. With the other team continuing to run their mouth, I hope that changes next year and we shut them up for good. I mean the hatred courses through my blood, I’d be happy to stop by and motivate next year if needed. I just needed more energy. This may partly have been capped by poor coaching and handcuffing opportunities. The punch throwing at the end does not count as any sort of intensity. I was unimpressed.
CLOUD 3: REFEREES
How can anyone confidently say that the opposition truly committed zero penalties in a rivalry game. ZERO! I lost track counting the number of offensive holdings. There was a missed horse collar and let us not forget the glorious targeting call. It is taking everything in my power to not fill this sentence with expletives. The way this team historically seems to get a consistent free pass from officials is just another nauseating thing I have to write about. Ask Minnesota and USC how their experiences have gone this year. This team who has a very questionable secondary, and elitist attitude is only committing 5 penalties on average per game? Now that is going to be even less? I know we have three games to play every time we play them. Beat them, don’t beat ourselves, and beat the refs. That’s a tall order. When we continually punch ourselves in the face the rest is hopeless.
CLOUD 4: DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
We all know that the opposition has no real quarterback. So why is it the defense seemed incapable of a sack? Was it the consistent offensive line holding? Maybe. Regardless, I know I’m not the only one who knew those calls would not be made. The scheme needed to be better. The first quarter and a half they were held to zero yards rushing. You have to know some things are going to change and we needed to adapt and they didn’t. I also wish I would have seen more strips, peanut punches, and just trying to force a turnover. After the strong showing last week, I had higher hopes and feel let down.
SUN 1: CARTER
Hands down the best part of the game. Nate Carter had a day. He looked strong, determined and almost willing to carry the game on his shoulders. Carter seemed the only player they had no answer for as he led the team in rushing and receiving. This is the guy we’ve been waiting all season to see. Hopefully he can use this as a momentum game and continue to produce like this in the upcoming weeks. The Spartans are going to need him if they want to get to a bowl game this year.
SUN 2: PENALTIES
MSU needed to play as clean a game as possible. 6 penalties for 35 yards, including a terrible targeting call, is a pretty disciplined game and a vast improvement from earlier in the season. The skirmish at the end was unacceptable and I am sure multiple Spartans will be suspended and have the full extent of the law thrown at them. While that action is obviously not good, I wanted to throw some punches too. It was very nice to see the 15 yards at a pop penalties fall to the wayside in this game and hopefully that continues.
FOGGY: LOVELAND
You sir have just set a curse upon yourself, your house and your brethren. The fact that you ran your mouth and made that comment was the greatest gift you could give Sparta. We will enjoy making you eat those words for many years to come just as much as we’ll enjoy you standing next to Mike Hart selling vacated 2023 champions t-shirts at Walmart for .99 cents. This comment will haunt you like the fog that surrounds you.
BONUS SUN (CAUSE WE NEED IT): HOCKEY SWEEPS THE WEEKEND
More to come on this later.
4-4 as we head back home next week and hope to spoil the undefeated Hoosiers season. They’re averaging about 42 points a game and all wins by double digits. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s fun to play spoiler.