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Topic: #21 Michigan State (3-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-4) Post Game

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ELA

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#21 Michigan State (3-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-4) Post Game
« on: September 24, 2018, 12:13:42 PM »
Central Michigan Chippewas (1-3) at #21 Michigan State Spartans (1-0, 2-1)
NOON - East Lansing, MI - FS1
I'm going to go out on a limb and say Michigan State is the last Power 5 team in the country to play a home Saturday game.  Between a Friday opener, a pair of road games, including a west coast trip, and a bye week, the September schedule for the Spartans has been very irregular.  Not to mention, this is their first day game after three night games.  Is that the reason for Michigan State's inconsistent play?  Maybe a factor, but far from the biggest.  At the top of the list is the offensive line which has failed to generate any push in the run game, and is starting to have an impact on the play of Lewerke, who seems to lack the pocket confidence we saw last year.  To that end, it's clear the staff spent a lot of time convincing him to stay in the pocket, and he doesn't appear to be totally comfortable there.  The offense got better late against Indiana when they started letting him run again.  But a lot will open up if the play action starts to work.  Getting L.J. Scott back, who has missed the last game and a half will help some, but the holes simply aren't there, it doesn't matter who is getting the carries.  The Spartans are 4th in the Big Ten at 8.4 yards per pass attempt, but 13th at 3.3 yards per carry.  The difference between the run and pass defense is just as stark.  Michigan State still boasts the top run defense in the nation, at an insane 32.7 ypg allowed on only 1.1 ypc.  Put it this way.  Central Michigan could run for 237 yards this week, and Michigan State would still be ahead of Iowa for best run defense in the conference.  They could give up 305, and still be ahead of everyone but Iowa.  Utah State is averaging 245.7 rushing ypg otherwise, they had 25 against Michigan State.  Arizona State is averaging 155.0 ypg otherwise, they had 44.  Indiana is averaging 235.0 otherwise, they had 29.  The flip side is that teams are throwing it at will.  Granted the overall numbers look even worse because teams are also throwing it a lot, given the alternative, but they are still 10th in the Big Ten in passing yards allowed per attempt, and #8 in pass efficiency defense.  So not great.  But Central Michigan would kill to have Michigan State's problems.  The Chippewas picked up their first win of the season on Saturday, an ugly 17-5 win over FCS Maine, where they were outgained 265-177.  The Central Michigan offense has been an unmitigated mess this year, dead last in the FBS in S&P+.  They have the second fewest yards per game, third fewest points per game, and fifth most turnovers per game.  The offense has at least ticked up a notch since Tony Poljan (who had some Big Ten offers, including Michigan State, to play tight end) was benched at quarterback in favor of JUCO transfer Tommy Lazzaro.  Lazzaro adds a running dynamic, with 99 rushing yards, and a pair of scores, in just a game and a half of action.  They show a bit more life under him, but not enough.  With two more injuries to an already struggling offensive line, I'm not sure how convincingly Michigan State can pull away, but absent some defensive breakdown, I'm also not sure how an offense that failed to hit 200 yards against Maine can move the ball enough.
MICHIGAN STATE 37, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 7
« Last Edit: October 01, 2018, 10:42:19 AM by ELA »
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ELA

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Re: #21 Michigan State (2-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-3) Game Week
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2018, 12:46:39 PM »
Sounds like Kevin Jarvis is going to play, but unclear about Chewins or Campbell.  (The 3 starting OL MSU was down in the second half vs. Indiana)
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Brutus Buckeye

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Re: #21 Michigan State (2-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-3) Game Week
« Reply #2 on: September 25, 2018, 12:52:38 PM »
Is Central the worst of the three MI Mac teams this year?
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Anonymous Coward

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Re: #21 Michigan State (2-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-3) Game Week
« Reply #3 on: September 25, 2018, 12:54:13 PM »
Defffffinitely.
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ELA

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Re: #21 Michigan State (2-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-3) Game Week
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2018, 01:00:40 PM »
Massey's composite ranks EMU #77, WMU #85 and CMU #113.

Oddly, hanging within 2 touchdowns at Kentucky in the opener now looks more impressive than it did at the time, but IIRC they were outgained by 200ish yards, but were like +4 in TO.  To go +4 in TO and still lose by 2 touchdowns is actually tough to do.  They did switch QBs since then, go with a guy who is a little more of a running threat.  MSU should shut down their offense.  The question is how much MSUs OL can look good against inferior competition.  Granted they may let some guys heal up for Northwestern, so if they are down 2-3 starters on the line, that may hamper some things.

Personally I hate the constant shuffling to find the right lineup.  I get that you have issues, but the magic answer isn't there, and at this point letting 5 guys start to develop together has to be the best plan.  Granted, again, 3 starters being out sort of messes with that.  I know a lot of coaches (Dantonio for one) is largely an advocate of moving guys around to get your best five out there.  Personally, I'd rather he keep guys were they are, and fill in for the injuries, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
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ELA

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Re: #21 Michigan State (2-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-3) Game Week
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2018, 01:55:27 PM »
Dillon Alexander who was in a battle to start at DE opposite Kenny Willekes, but has been out all year with an injury, returned to practice for the first time since August on Monday.  May play this week.  Don't get the rush to get him back for CMU, but maybe the thinking is that because he hasn't played all year they want to get him some game reps before Northwestern.
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Anonymous Coward

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Re: #21 Michigan State (2-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-3) Game Week
« Reply #6 on: September 26, 2018, 02:02:46 PM »
What kind of injury? Maybe there's no rush. Could just be ready.
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ELA

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Re: #21 Michigan State (2-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-3) Game Week
« Reply #7 on: September 26, 2018, 02:32:32 PM »
Quote from: Anonymous Coward on September 26, 2018, 02:02:46 PM
What kind of injury? Maybe there's no rush. Could just be ready.
Was never specified.

I didn't mean "rushed" per se, so much as he missed a good chunk of fall practice, and the line has been fine.  I'd prefer him get more than 4 practices in before you put him in game situations, but again, maybe working him into some low leverage situations this week will be better.
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bayareabadger

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Re: #21 Michigan State (2-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-3) Game Week
« Reply #8 on: September 26, 2018, 04:32:39 PM »
I wonder if what Bonamego is doing there is enough for them. 

in a conference when coaches burn bright and leave, he's been solid. That's a program that had near unrivaled stability through most of its run, had two bad coaches and then two very successful ones who both moved on. Now they've got their heads above water (for the past three years). 

Are annual bowl trips enough? (This year Kentucky being good and Kansas being better than usual Kansas meant the schedule kind of scuttled things)
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ELA

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Re: #21 Michigan State (2-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-3) Game Week
« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2018, 11:31:53 PM »
He's also an alum, a recent cancer survivor and is 55.  I think absent a bottoming out he'll be retiring there, even without so much as a CCG appearance, as along as he's in bowls more.often than not.  FWIH, he's very popular among high school coaches in the state, having put more effort into mining way under the radar in state talent than EMU or WMU do.
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ELA

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Re: #21 Michigan State (2-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-3) Game Week
« Reply #10 on: September 27, 2018, 10:27:53 PM »
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Anonymous Coward

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Re: #21 Michigan State (2-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-3) Game Week
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2018, 12:50:25 AM »
The good news is it's just CMU, and if it's really a sprain, he could be back in 1-2 weeks.
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