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can you name me the outstanding recruits that Carr left in the cupboard?
Since the buckster brought it up, though I know it will fall on deaf ears, here's something I posted to the good Reverend after signing day last year.
It would appear I can name 36 more "outstanding recruits that Carr left in the cupboard".
For reference this was players that were on the roster (Rivals) when UM and MSU played in 35-21 MSU win in AA in 2008. This is after the first exodus of "outstanding recruits" that were there when RR took over, (i.e. Mallet, Manningham, Arrington, Boren, Mitchell, etc).
5* (Rivals on all) (4) - Graham, Grady, Schilling, Warren
4* (35) - Jamison, Johnson, Trent, Harrison, Moosman, Taylor, Brown, Brown, Matthews, Minor, Mouton, Panter, Clemons, Cissoko, Koger, Martin, McGuffie, Shaw, Stonum, THREET, Witherspoon, Smith, Roundtree, Robinson, O'Niell, Moore, Hill, Fitzgerald, Demens, Barnum, Van Bergen, Webb, Kates, Patterson, Zirbel
Also, since it was mentioned MSU had 8 4* or better recruits on the roster that day (Holmes, Martin, Gantt, Gordon, Dell, Jeremiah, Jordan, Smith).
39-8. If you wish to call it 37, as the Roundtree and Shaw were, ahem, late adds to the recruiting class that RR inherited, then have at it.
Poor Valpo
It would appear that Izzo chewed the heck out of a few backsides after the lackluster performance against Toe-leeder on Friday, and Valpo was the unfortunate recipient of the result.
It took Roe a few games to shake that cobwebs from that concussion it would seem, with 10 pts, 17 rebs, and 4 blocks.
Chris Allen was agressive on offense, and not just shooting 3s, as he ends with 22. Korie Lucious snuck in a quiet 9 assists.
I was thinking that this didn't look like a typical Valpo team that at least is the top of their conference, but they did go to Chapel Hill and lose by only 11.
The only fault really was FTs, though Nix only gettin 6 minutes via the doghouse, and playing a zone team, surely helped them shoot just barely over 70%.
Door Country/Reasonable CW
The big issues, running the speed back up the gut, again and again, along with secondary breakdowns, IMO are equal parts coaching stubbornness and guys blowing plays.
Door County, I think we differ on this some, but if Keith Nichol has any swagger, its the least earned swagger since BooBooCarr was posing after a Golden Tate dropped a TD pass 10 yards beyond him. I agree, in as much as, MD has unexplained stiffness in his lower extremities where KN is concerned.
Yesterday was the first time I've seen them live, and Cousins arm strength is far better than it looks on TV. The kid in 4 of the losses, and 1 of the wins led go ahead TD drives in 4th quarter, none of which the defense was able to hold up.
He was elected, by his teammates, captain as a sophomore. IMO, unless there is tremendous improvement by Nichol, Cousins should be the unquestioned starter for the next 2 seasons.
KK - Harvard
Not to interject a point of fact, but teams with conference affiliation are not permitted to "turn down" a bowl game.
Only the independents can decline a bowl.
IkeReese Pounds his opponents and wins the JG Pick'em REGULAR SEASON Contest
Um, gosh I should have written something down....I'd like to thank the Academy...the wonderful director Johnny Green....and um, hey Kanye what's going on?
Mick
I think Rosenberg said it well:
"This season fell apart with the stunning loss to Central Michigan, the missed opportunity against a mediocre Notre Dame team and the excruciating final drive against Iowa. A combination of overly conservative coaching, poor execution late in games and bad luck turned what could have been a 9-3 season into 6-6.
And maybe that shows just how thin the margin for error is in East Lansing. So much has to go right for this program. This season, almost nothing did. "
The DB inability to play the ball is disturbing, as has been the trend of opposing QBs saying "we knew what they were going to do" in the postgame.
What's strange to me, is they'll be very conservative, then at the worst time will go totally off the map (i.e. that ridiculous reverse to Caper for a loss of 10 when they were in FG range in a 0-0 game).
IMO, the staff needs to be looked at, and if nothing else these guys need to look into themselves. I like that MD said the difference between 9 and 6 wins was "not a talent issue".
Rough one
I haven't read back, so if I repeat others thoughts, a pre-emptive "my bad".
Twas a beautiful day at Spartan Stadium, a 3 generation affair with my old man, older bro, and nephew at his 1st game.
The first half was a good old fashioned Big 11 battle. Both sides missed some chances.
Then came the second half, and in some ways it was a microcosm of what MSU has done wrong this year. MSU's 1st 2 drives end with dropped passes on 3rd down.
Mixed in was a TD on an halfback pass where 2 MSU defenders couldn't play the ball in the air. Again, the wheel route goes completely unconvered multiple times, accounting for another TD.
Many Spartan fans, myself included, have grown accustomed to Cousins bailing out a suspect running game, and IMO suspect play calling, by converting 3rd and long again and again.
The 1st pick, on 2nd and 20 down 14 points, was coming right at us, at Cunningham had beaten his man, but the disciplined free safety of PSU had it all the way.
The 2nd pick, live, I thought he threw right to the defender. Upon watching the replay, on a timing pattern, when it was released Martin was free and was going to get to the spot, but he received a little resistance and was knocked off his route. Martin is a blur, but the subtleties of the WR position need some work.
All in all, a disappointing though not unexpected end to a disappointing season. However, at least, MSU will play on Dec 31, of Jan 2, and this young team will get what amounts to an early spring practice.
Also, 3 straight bowl games for the 1st time in a decade, and the possibility of 3 straight 7 win seasons for the first time since 1957, should not be lost.
Check that Mick
I must have had my Elmo rearview mirror on, that was for last year's game. Here's today. Looks like it will be on ESPN if not ABC.
http://www.hdsportsguide.com/news/2009/abcespn-coverage-map-for-november-21-330-games/
my baby needs new running shoes
Johnny is that 3 touchdowns?
Mick
Here's the TV coverage map for the 3:30 time today. I forget where in Florida you are, looks like south of Orlando will get MSU-PSU. It's printed small, yellow is the State game. I'd heard 86% of the country will see the Spartans, looks about right. I think UM-OSU is the only 12:00 game on ABC.
http://www.zombienationpsu.com/2008/11/abc-coverage-map-penn-st-vs-michigan-st.html
Picks
ADW, the johnny green pick em goes through the bowl season. All this week decides is who leads for month.
Fellow Spartan Fans
Door County, what happened? I turned that game off with UNC up 17, maybe 9 minutes to go. OSU looked a whole lot like last year, playing that ridiculous zone, struggling at the point, and all 1 on 1.
Final score 77-73.
Picks
Start with the easy one:
Without Minor, IMO, the extent of UMs chances in this game are OSU/TP having a turnover fest like they did at Purdue. Pryor has been much more under control since then, at is #2 in the Big 11 in pass efficiency to Cousins. I don't see Pryor having to make any risky plays, similar to the MSU game last year.
Against similar competition (i.e. conference games only, Anakin) OSU puts up 5 more a game, and gives up 22 less. Say that again, 22 points less per game.
As I said the other day, Tress will sand bag this one a little:
OSU 37, UM 17
As much as I want to go homer pick, I have to pick this one the same as the others.
MSU is a little better on O (+3), PSU is considerably better on D (-10).
PSU is the best in the Big 11 on 3rd down, converting 47.5 %, while MSU is #9 against 48.7%. MSU doesn't convert them well, though if the QB are handled like last week, that number is better, while PSU is #3 against.
I'd love to be wrong, but I think I'm going to be present for my first MSU football loss since '98.
PSU 27, Spartans 23
Games this week
As I give a deeper look at the MSU-PSU game, I think its going to be a nailbitter. A look at who these teams have beat:
PSU - Akron, 'Cuse, Temple, @Ill, E. Ill, Minny, @UM, @NW, Indy
MSU - Mont St, UM, @Ill, NW, WMU, @Purd
Safe to say, that the best win for each team this year is against 7-4 Northwestern (though one could argue that Purdue is playing better than NW).
Add to it, these teams seem to always play close @ MSU, and I'm sure MD hs replayed the tape of JoePa throwing deep balls with 5 minutes left up 30 last year in a vain attempt to impress the BCS voters.
As for the game in AA, I think Tress will keep it relatively close. I heard folks on the radio yesterday talking mid-90s upsets by UM in this series, but the formula was always ball control and good defense.
UM running the no-huddle, and being on pace to best (or is it worst) last year's defensive futility, doesn't leave me seeing a way they win this game.
Hopefully we can pick up the C'Bus broadcast on Sirius on the way to Spartan Stadium, as even in a loss its hard to listen to "They're holding Larry Stevens", "They stopped the clock Jim".
Until later...
TC, godspeed my good man. As you said until later...
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