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Quote:
Originally Posted by OCBucksFan
Tsun is on a mission, not to mention that horrible run defense that State has, I thikn Hart may get 200 yards in the first half. The only question I see is the scUM secondary, a couple quick picks could deflate MSU and put this game away.
Our much maligned (and rightfully so) secondary is actually playing much, much better ever since the ASU and UO debacles. Donovan Warren is already showing signs of a lockdown corner and Morgan Trent's unreal [censored]tiness left when Johnny Sears did. Trent still isn't a great corner, but he's doing better than he was. Brandon Harrison destroys screen passes like no other, and Jamar Adams has played significantly better. It also helps we've been getting more pressure.
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It also helps that there was a steep dropoff at QB since then as well. Painter looked like a true frosh out there in the games against our teams. here were plays to be made to ILL & PSU wrs in tight ball games, but their QBs refused to throw a decent ball to them.
The improved pass rush has helped, without a doubt. If I'm MSU (and later OSU), I run 3 wide, 1 back sets to force Crable out of his comfort zone at OLB and into his unproductive DE position.
Warren has showed flashes, but he's still showing his youth out there. I'm not sure either Trent or Warren will matchup that well on Thomas, and MSU gets him the ball underneath a lot to negate some of the pass rush. Still, Hoyer is not yet a player they can depend on to win if UM takes away the run as many expect.
College football notebook: Michigan State can define season in Michigan game
Saturday, November 3, 2007 3:39 AM
Associated press
Taking a cue from his mentor Jim Tressel, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio made it clear beating Michigan was the top priority when he was hired.
The Spartans can only hope Dantonio has as much success in his first matchup with the Wolverines as Tressel did in 2001 when Ohio State began a dominant run against college football's winningest program.
In Michigan State's football facility, Dantonio had clocks installed that counted down the time left before today's game in Spartan Stadium.
"When I came in here, the first thing I talked about was Michigan was going to be a measuring stick," said Dantonio, who was hired nearly a year ago. "We can pretend it's not, but it's a big game."
From sticky cleats and smashed-in teeth to questionable timekeeping, the state of Michigan's football rivalry has rarely been dull
Joe Rexrode
Lansing State Journal
EAST LANSING ? ?We need to go out,? Harlon Barnett said, ?and get respect.?
The Michigan State assistant coach and former player was surrounded by a group of reporters Tuesday at MSU?s football building. He looked like he wanted to put on a helmet. A question emerged from the throng.
?Respect from Michigan? Do you think they don?t respect you??
EAST LANSING, Mich. ? Taking a cue from his mentor Jim Tressel, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio made it clear beating Michigan was the top priority when he was hired.
The Spartans can only hope Dantonio has as much success in his first matchup with the Wolverines as Tressel did in 2001 when Ohio State began a dominant run against college football?s winningest program.
In Michigan State?s football facility, Dantonio had clocks installed that counted down the time left before today?s game at Spartan Stadium.
?When I came in here, the first thing I talked about was Michigan was going to be a measuring stick,? said Dantonio, who was hired nearly a year ago. ?We can pretend it?s not, but it?s a big game.?
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no offense but Michigan does not have a lock down corner. They are playing better though thats for sure. I think thats because the big ten has been down this year, and that worries me going into a BCS bowl game facing off against a team that might be more battle hardened than the bucks.
it'll be interesting to watch the Wisconsin v. Michigan game though! The UW secondary should play nicely against UM, and if Hill comes back next week things could get interesting.
