Just visited SpartanTailgate....
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To be fair
this board has "this game makes me nervous" threads regardless of opponent.
This is gonna be a great game. I personally think Michigan State is tough as nails and this game for EITHER team will be harder than the semi-final playoff game. I'm confident in the hawks and think they just gotta keep playing to the script they've used all year. Gotta be incredibly physical and tough on the lines. Bit I certainly wouldn't question a Spartan fan being confident in their team either. As far talent disparity, I don't see it. I think we're pretty evenly matched in that regard.
I can't blame them for feeling confident. They have looked very, very good lately.
They probably haven't seen us play much, except Friday. Even though we won, we did not look good vs. Nebraska. I think the short week combined with Nebraska's extra week for prep was huge because it was so late in the season, when everybody is a bit banged up.
I think our offense will look much better with one more days' rest (and indoors out of the wind). Whether we can match up against Sparty's defense? I guess we will see. Sparty is our toughest opponent this year, for sure.
They probably haven't seen us play much, except Friday. Even though we won, we did not look good vs. Nebraska. I think the short week combined with Nebraska's extra week for prep was huge because it was so late in the season, when everybody is a bit banged up.
I think our offense will look much better with one more days' rest (and indoors out of the wind). Whether we can match up against Sparty's defense? I guess we will see. Sparty is our toughest opponent this year, for sure.
Expecting a close game as in the past matchups with Mich. St. Go Hawks!
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/c...5/11/24/michigan-state-iowa-big-ten/76311212/
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/c...5/11/24/michigan-state-iowa-big-ten/76311212/
Hey Hawkeyes! It's been too long since we last played. I have always enjoyed our battles with Iowa over the years. Always competitive and hard hitting games. And it's nice to see there are still some teams out there playing smash mouth football midst all the up tempo gimmickry that has permeated the game.
I can't speak for the Red Cedar Message Board, but I think most Spartan fans are optimistic because our team is finally starting to put everything together. Our oline is finally healthy and looking like the dominant unit we thought we would have at the onset of the season. They did a tremendous job controlling the line of scrimmage against two very talented defensive fronts in Ohio State and Penn State.
Our secondary is still missing a couple of key pieces but we're getting better there week by week. However that is still our weakest unit so a sharp passing attack is still the best way to beat us. Speaking of, what are CJ Beathard's strength and weaknesses? Do you guys throw many deep balls? Bubble screens? What would you say is your ratio of run to pass? I think Beathard having a big game in the air will be the key for you guys.
I can't speak for the Red Cedar Message Board, but I think most Spartan fans are optimistic because our team is finally starting to put everything together. Our oline is finally healthy and looking like the dominant unit we thought we would have at the onset of the season. They did a tremendous job controlling the line of scrimmage against two very talented defensive fronts in Ohio State and Penn State.
Our secondary is still missing a couple of key pieces but we're getting better there week by week. However that is still our weakest unit so a sharp passing attack is still the best way to beat us. Speaking of, what are CJ Beathard's strength and weaknesses? Do you guys throw many deep balls? Bubble screens? What would you say is your ratio of run to pass? I think Beathard having a big game in the air will be the key for you guys.
I don't. That's not who we are. We have to be able to run the ball to set up our passing attack and we have to be balanced. Penn State found success running the ball yesterday. While Michigan State's front is talented, their linebackers are unspectacular and there are plenty of opportunities in the run game. If we're a championship team, we won't be one dimensional.
No Spartan fan with a brain thinks this will be a cake walk. Honestly these are two similar teams. I suppose it would be cliché to say the team that makes the least amount of mistakes will win.
Point taken. Bit the idea that we have to have a huge game in the air I just don't ascribe to. We gotta be balanced and we gotta find a running game to be able to win.
Can't argue with anything you said. Guess what I'm saying is if we throw for 150 yards, we lose. I just think we need to make some big plays in the passing game to win. I think if we win, Beathard throws for 250+.
Of course if you read that thread you'll see a whole lot of "the original poster is an idiot" responses. I think the general consensus is that iowa is extremely well balanced, fundememtally sound, etc. The only doubts concern the lack of really top tier opponents and in a forum dedicated to speculating about a team's chances, some speculate that Iowa wont be up to it and some say they will be....we really wont know till saturday.
Curious, what don't you like about our LBs? They've been pretty stout against the run all year. Coverage is more their weakness but I don't think that will play a huge factor in this game.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not implying Iowa should abandon their game plan and air it out, I just think Beathard's efficiency through the air will be the x factor. Especially if you guys complete some deep balls.
Yes, if you look at opponents we both played the stats are very similar. With passing yards to MSU and slightly more points. What it's gonna boil down to in this game is: will their secondary be able to defend our pass but more so will our secondary be able to stop their passing game? We simply cannot run the bend but don't break strategy. It won't work this game for sure. We need to blitz ALOT!! We will get wore down the field anyway if we dont. Iowa and sparty will get their yards on the ground. I'll give a slight edge to iowa and sparty a decent edge om passing. Hopefully iowa wins the turnover and special teams play. Huge game. If we lose, at least it would be to a decently rated team and not a 4 win Nebraska team like they did.
I think it will be a great game. I thought this year that Iowa went back to their roots and really played complete ball in all facets of the game. I expect this to be a low scoring, grind it out game. Rational MSU fans aren't thinking blow out, and don't pay attention to the post about Iowa being a "fraud". That was posted by one of the resident phucktards on the board. 95+% of the other posters called them out....only reason it's two or three pages long now is because the school yard crap started. Whoever wins this game will be the consummate representative for the B1G in the playoffs and DESERVES to be there...at higher than a number four seed TYVM. Iowa and MSU have always had tough games, some of my fondest memories (both gut wrenching and exhilarating) over the years; going back to the Chuck Long years, involved the Iowa game. You ALWAYS play us tough. Here's to a great game and no injuries!
Don't worry Hawkeye fans, no serious Michigan State Spartan is going think lightly of Iowa. Those of us who have been around know how brutal our games with you are. I believe of all the national playoff contenders left standing in our way, Bama, Oklahoma, Clemson and you......YOU are the toughest of the 4. Most balanced and most under appreciated nationally....a scary combination. Trying not to look ahead but I don't think Oklahoma or Clemson have defenses that can stop Connor Cook et al. I don't think Alabamas offense can score enough points on us either. They are not a frisky, passing team. We stuff the run. We can beat Saban.....and Dantonio really owes him one. You guys are the biggest obstacle. You do everything well, not necessarily anything great, but you don't have any glaring holes or weaknesses. When Iowa is good, it looks just like this.
I expećt the game to be brutally close and probably come right down to the last possession. Seems every MSU-Iowa game of the last 20 yrs is like that.
The winner in Indianapolis will be the eventual National Champion. Kindest regards and let's have a real good go at it.
I expećt the game to be brutally close and probably come right down to the last possession. Seems every MSU-Iowa game of the last 20 yrs is like that.
The winner in Indianapolis will be the eventual National Champion. Kindest regards and let's have a real good go at it.
Cook is a very good QB, but I am more scared of the running guys like Barrett. We should go after Cook hard. Beathard is a better runner than he is.
Well, I think it means our coaching staff knows how to prepare their team for big national spotlight type games. We also have a lot of players on our roster who have played on big stages like this game, and will know what to expect. That is not to say Iowa can't handle it, they're just more of an unknown. I think this game is pretty much a coin flip and could easily come down to the final possession.
I must say after dealing with the f**ktard fans out west the last couple weeks, it is refreshing seeing mostly sane, rational football conversations with the Sparty side thus far. Here's to a good week, with plenty of back and forth football talk, jabs and other such revelry without the lunacy like the paintchip eaters from lincoln bombarded us with
I'm mostly kidding. I respect MSU football. I can understand why their fans would be confident after beating OSU without their starting QB and curb-stomping PSU. Expect a great game.
It will be a close game, probably come down to what both teams do best and that's force and avoid turnovers. X factor to me is Cook and the experience our team has. I'm really excited for this one. Anyone wanna give us Spartans a cliffs of your team on O and D, what you guys do and don't do well, who to look out for, etc? Any recent developments like guys coming back from injury, new wrinkles, etc? Would be glad to do similar
Completely agree with you and an excellent post! I feel exactly the same about Michigan state. I think 3 of the 4 best teams in the country are in the big ten and 2 are gonna get left out, which sucks.
I can't argue with this at all. Iowa will need to play up from previous weeks or hope for some sparty mistakes. still, a game like this is close to a coin flip.
Watch out for Cook to Burbridge through the air....but Kings and Maderis and Shelton can all catch it in traffic. WE have 3 solid running backs in Holmes, London and the super freshman Scott who turned down OSU. Even Delton Williams can run. Expect fresh legs legging out tough yards all night. We move the pile. Our O line is hitting on all cylinders. Tough guys. All healthy right now. Cook rarely gets sacked. If you can figure out how to get to him you will make our night a long one. Our tight ends are also wiley, big and can catch it. The last few weeks they've been a little quiet. Against your active D we have lots of tools and Cook has NFL moxie in the pocket. He avoids the rush as well as anyone. He can wing it into space or drop one over the outside shoulder at will. Doesn't throw many picks. Knows when to dump it.
On D our front line is also healthy and playing with a lot of edginess. Malik Mac Dowell, DT, a 5 star soph is almost NFL ready now. He will be a top 10 pick next year. Calhoun has to be held to stop him. Heath and Thomas are quiet beasts. If you can run on that crew all power to you. We have not blitzed a lot lately. Haven't had to since our front 4 gets terrific penetration. Your O line needs to be stout.
Our LB crew is also playing its best right now. Riley Bullough in the middle is all over the place. Always knows where the ball is.
Our biggest weakness is Dbacks. Has been all year, but Nicholson #9 is finally playing the way he was predicted to. He was getting burned repeatedly earlier this year, but not lately. Cox is probably the best guy back there at safety. We have had periods of poor tackling in space. It's gotten better, but if you gave RBs who can get past the front 4 they can tack on yds. We need to tackle. Your best bet is to avoid sacks and get past the front 4 and you can make hay.
We have a very good punter.
Our FG kicker, Geiger, is maddeningly inconsistent. Nails game winner vs OSU and misses 25 yders and extra points regularly.
Our kick coverage has gotten better but it still is below average for a team at our level.
Coaching....top notch.
Trick plays......we're known for them. Never know. Dantonio always has some new wrinkle in there.
The one thing that as a multi decade Spartan fan I can testify to is we never fold anymore. We almost never make a huge blunder late. Stupid penalties. A late pick or fumble. Very rare under Dantonio. MSU loves the drama of the 4 the quarter even as we fans remember are old ways. Maybe we're due. Maybe the Nebraska fiasco was it. The only Iowa game I watched much of wax the Pitt game. It was early and I suspect you've come a long way since.
It will be a lot of fun.
For all its blemishes, Iowa just finds a way to win and has trailed very little this season, especially in the fourth quarter.
Stats don't mean a whole lot, but if you are into those things..
http://myteamsbetter.com/#COMPARE_T...tatView=Key Stats&compareOption=ALL_OPPONENTS
Stats don't mean a whole lot, but if you are into those things..
http://myteamsbetter.com/#COMPARE_T...tatView=Key Stats&compareOption=ALL_OPPONENTS
The way you make it should, we shouldn't even show up. Yes you curb stomped Penn state yesterday. That was impressive but Penn state still showed plenty of places where Iowa can make headway against sparty.
We have been undersold and undervalued all year. We're fine with being the underdog Saturday. The reality is Iowa will be the most disciplined and balanced team you've seen all year. We can match you on the lines and I think our secondary can make some things happen against your passing game. You might win the game Saturday. It wouldn't surprise me or probably any other Hawkeye fan. But you're gonna be in for a hell of a fight with a team that has a TON of mojo, confidence and intangibles. No one in Iowa is afraid of a game against sparty. There's respect. But not fear. We're 12-0 and I think I can speak for all of Hawkeye nation when I say we all intend to be 13-0 after Saturday.
Well you have an opening in your schedule for another non-conf opponent starting in 2019. What type of an opponent would you like to see Iowa schedule? A perennial top 10 team...top 25 team, middle of the pack P5 team or slightly above cupcake?
Just for the record regarding talent, Iowa is often perceived by "outsiders" as lacking talent, Currently on NFL rosters there are 20 MSU Spartans, there are 23 Hawkeyes on NFL rosters. So I don't believe MSU is simply going to out talent Iowa on Saturday evening. But honestly it's nothing new as an Iowa fan, We are used to fans of our opponent believing that Iowa isn't flashy thus it equates to not having talent.
As far as the big stage, We shall see, I think Iowa will show up ready for the stage, Iowa has excelled in the focus department as well this year. I think it will be a helluva game.
I would like to see a good SEC team on the schedule, preferably for a late November game in Iowa City.
What did he say that isn't true? I have developed a solid dislike for MSU....dirty play.....the Colin Sandeman situation re: Dantonio.....defensive players flopping.....etc. But they are really good. I think they are a clear favorite but nobody knows what it takes to beat this Iowa team. The Hawks have controlled every game this year.
The Hawkeyes have lived on turnovers this year, my concern is Cook will not get rattled and make poor decisions. Usually, I cheer for Sparty, however I hate you guys this week. loath you, complete disdain and dislike. Your sister is ugly too!
I'm pretty sure Dantonio is going to have the Spartans thinking they are the underdog. You have the better record. You beat the team that beat us. You're ranked higher. I don't care what Las Vegas thinks. You guys are on top.
Win or lose I will be pulling for the B1G in the playoffs. Obviously, you know who my preference is.
