Based on how these two teams have performed offensively and defensively this year, I don't anticipate this being a high scoring affair like last year's meeting. I suspect turnovers will be the difference in this game. Lewerke will certainly need to make some plays but I think his primary concern needs to be ball security to avoid flipping field position and/or handing Northwestern points. We have a very good punter who is capable of pinning teams deep in their own territory.
Michigan State
- Thread starter Beaver-Stadium
- Start date
Based on how these two teams have performed offensively and defensively this year, I don't anticipate this being a high scoring affair like last year's meeting. I suspect turnovers will be the difference in this game. Lewerke will certainly need to make some plays but I think his primary concern needs to be ball security to avoid flipping field position and/or handing Northwestern points. We have a very good punter who is capable of pinning teams deep in their own territory.
I expect this game to be very close. I'd be a little surprise to see the 54-40 firework show we saw last year. MSU is a very different team mentally then we were a year ago. This team seems to be a lot more focused and when bad things happen, it doesn't usually snowball.
The one thing about Lewerke this season, outside of maybe the ND game, he doesn't usually beat himself and make the critical mistake. He's been able to show good decision making - especially as a 1st year starter. He also adds the element of being able to run the ball, something a MSU QB hasn't had much of lately. The Michigan & Minnesota games he didn't try to do too much in the weather, so the mistakes were basically eliminated, and it was a huge reason why we beat Michigan in Ann Arbor. Their OC and QB made mistakes. Ours didn't - even though it was very conservative.
I would expect a game in the low 20s to high 10s for both teams just based on what I've seen.
I know before the season I thought this would be a loss, so when I saw someone put MSU on 'upset' alert, I thought - is it really an upset? Northwestern is pretty good, and it's a road game (though there should be a large block of MSU fans there).
Fitzgerald is a great coach, and I know we respect him as much if not more so than any other coach in the conference.
Looking forward to it - enjoy coming to Evanston.
The one thing about Lewerke this season, outside of maybe the ND game, he doesn't usually beat himself and make the critical mistake. He's been able to show good decision making - especially as a 1st year starter. He also adds the element of being able to run the ball, something a MSU QB hasn't had much of lately. The Michigan & Minnesota games he didn't try to do too much in the weather, so the mistakes were basically eliminated, and it was a huge reason why we beat Michigan in Ann Arbor. Their OC and QB made mistakes. Ours didn't - even though it was very conservative.
I would expect a game in the low 20s to high 10s for both teams just based on what I've seen.
I know before the season I thought this would be a loss, so when I saw someone put MSU on 'upset' alert, I thought - is it really an upset? Northwestern is pretty good, and it's a road game (though there should be a large block of MSU fans there).
Fitzgerald is a great coach, and I know we respect him as much if not more so than any other coach in the conference.
Looking forward to it - enjoy coming to Evanston.
When I decided to come down for the MSU game, I immediately thought, Oh, sh*t now were gonna lose, since I seem to be really good at picking the games to come to that we lose. It is actually out of optimism, though, since I believe we will win these.
I think your perspective is very similar to how many of us would describe our team. Lewerke scares me with his running ability the most. Recently, we have done well in close games and I like our chances if it is close. The key for us to get off to a good start ( something we haven't done much of) and not allow MSU to jump to a double digit lead early. As often the case, turnovers may decide this one.
MSU games are usually good and your fan base is one of the more pleasant one's on the schedule. Always enjoy East Lansing and am hoping for a good game this weekend.
Every fan views the game through their own jersey colored glasses, and Scott is a nice back, but to say he “probably has the most talent of any player on the field” and “I respect Northwestern” in the same post might call the avowed respect into question since NU’s running back enters the game 8th all time in rushing yardage in conference history (and has a good chance to end up 3rd by end of year). I do detect at least a little condescension.
I truly think it will be a tight game Saturday, and thanks for your views on the Spartans.
My comments about Scott were in response to one of your posters saying that MSU's backs are "pedestrian," which is completely inaccurate. Our issues with the running game lie with a very young/inexperienced o-line and a stale offensive coordinator. This was not intended to be a comparison between Northwestern's backs and MSU's backs. I stand by my comment that Scott might very well might be the most talented player on the field. I am not sure how that is offensive to you. In regards to my comment about having "respect" for Northwestern, I think you might agree that many national and Big Ten pundits wrote off Northwestern after 3 losses. After the battles MSU has had with Northwestern over the years and after getting our asses kicked by you guys last year, I have tremendous respect for your program. Fitz is my second favorite coach next to Dantonio.
Pedestrian = average. Scott is an average starting RB in the Big Ten. I don't think that is a stretch at all.
I hope I don't eat my words, but if we held Saquon Barkley to -1 yards rushing in a half of play, I'm guessing we'll be ok with LJ Scott. Your coach better call plays to beat us in the air. If not, you'll suffer the same fate as Ioa.
Well, this IS an NU board....maybe try the Spartan board if you want a more positive response.....
I am not trying to be obstinate. Just claryfing what I meant by pedestrian. Do you see him as an above average Big Ten RB? Which RBs in the conference do you believe are better than Scott?
Hey, in the last four weeks, we have faced, Taylor, Wadley and Barkley. and the guy from MD. Scott may be solid but probably a step behind a couple of those guys.
Last edited:
Taylor is good but still overrated. His OL is very good.
Wadley is average or slightly above.
Regarding Barkley, I just wonder where he keeps his cape. He’s as special a RB in the B1G as far back as I can remember.
From what I’ve seen from Scott, he’s a quality back. I don’t see a game changer there though, but that’s true of many good backs playing behind middling offensive lines.
I'm not sure how saying Scott is "probably the most talented player on the field" is not a comparison to Jackson, but I do appreciate the downgrade from "probably" to "might well be".
A little more push back and you might say, "Scott is very good, but we are worried about Jackson, one of the leading all time runners in the Big 10 who had 188 yards against us last year."
Win or lose I don't view MSU as anything more than a mediocre team. They are set up well for a big run in 2018 and 2019, but right now they are a year ahead of schedule. With that said their defensive front is good and will give our offense problems. It should be a close game, but I'd give Northwestern the edge simply due to the fact that I trust Jackson and a Thorson at home to win an ugly game more than Lewerke on the road.
As an MSU alum, I look at this game to be similar to the Michigan game. Both defenses are probably better than the other teams offense, but I think MSU's D has a more favorable matchup against Northwestern's O than Northwestern's D does against MSU's O. MSU has twice gone on the road to tougher environments than a game at northwestern so I don't expect Lewerke or the rest of the Spartans to be intimidated.
In the end, I think this will be a 20-10 type game with MSU coming out on top
In the end, I think this will be a 20-10 type game with MSU coming out on top
"The guy from Maryland" is Ty Johnson, who was averaging a ridic amont of yards per carry (I believe it was 9 yrds!) before we absolutely stoned him.
L.J. is OK, but doubt a guy who seemingly fumbles most every game is going to fare better than Barkley, Taylor, Wadley and Johnson did.
Your impression would be backed up by the stats:
Scoring Offense
Iowa: 6th in the BIG
MSU: 12th (ahead of only Rutgers (by one-tenth of a point) and one of the worst scoring offenses in America, lolIllinois
They move the ball well, but then either they bog down in the red zone (11th in the BIG) fumble the ball (T-1st) or both.
Right, but he said MSU will have the most talented player on the field. Jackson will also be on the field.
It doesn't get any tougher than Ryan Field. The paltry crowd and acoustics lull other teams to sleep, leaving them confused whether it's a game or a practice.
I have it as:
Saquon Barkley
Justin Jackson
Jonathan Taylor
JK Dobbins
Akrum Wadley
Ty Johnson
LJ Scott
Rodney Smith
Karan Higdon
Markell Jones
Gus Edwards
Mike Epstein
Morgan Ellison
Devin Ozigbo
I thought you thought Scott was the most talented player on the field. Jackson clearly showed who is better.
Good luck next year except against the Cats.
Scott performed as expected and he certainly wasn't the best player on the field. Kudos to Lewerke, who did indeed play the game of his life. While it still wasn't enough, he has a bright future.