MSU shut down B1G's Top 2 Rushing Teams

[OnceAhawk]

Iowa is the 3rd best rushing team in the B1G. Will Iowa get shut down, too?

Some excerpts from HawkCentral.com:

Running the football against Michigan State at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will be no easy task. Mark Dantonio’s Spartans held the Big Ten’s top two rushing teams to less than 100 yards (Ohio State, 86 on 29 carries; Indiana, 81 on 23).

“The best we’ve faced,” right guard Jordan Walsh said. “That’s definitely a key of ours.”

Guess who’s ranked third at 203.7 yards a game? That’d be Iowa, which brings a mentality of running the football off the bus. But it could be telling that the Hawkeyes’ lowest rushing output of the season was 105 yards against Pittsburgh — a team coached by former Spartans defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi.

Even if Iowa isn’t able to pop big runs Saturday against a defensive line led by three-time all-Big Ten end Shilique Calhoun, it needs to establish at 3-4 yards a carry on the ground (Iowa averages 4.8).

“Obviously, they have some really dominant pass rushers on the edge,” Cox said. “It’ll be important not to get in third-and-longs, when they can just pin their ears back and get upfield.”

The good news for the Hawkeyes is they’re healthy in the backfield. Even though Jordan Canzeri was the primary carrier in last week’s 28-20 win at Nebraska with 17 carries for 140 yards, Ferentz said that LeShun Daniels Jr. (five carries, two yards in Lincoln) and Akrum Wadley (did not play) would be available and probably deployed. Derrick Mitchell Jr. has been the primary third-down back but hasn’t had a rushing attempt since Nov. 7.

“It’s kind of just who’s hot,” Ferentz said. “And Akrum, he’s got fresh legs. He didn’t do much either last week. We may need everybody.”

Canzeri, though, is the leader of the group he coined as the “Four Deadly Horsemen.” Despite missing most of three games with an ankle injury, Canzeri is 36 yards short of 1,000. The “Horsemen” have combined for 2,140 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns.

the full article: http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...macon-plewa-adam-cox-jordan-canzeri/76626456/

 

[modeba2004]

Don't know what OSU's problem was, but they just haven't played as a team consistently this year. There have been way too many distractions for that team and I think it finally infected the coaching staff. I think if they ran Elliott a lot more, they wouldn't be making that claim or be playing in the B1G CG. I would rather be playing MSU than OSU. That said, MSU doesn't concern me as much because their LB's and DB's are not that good in pass defense. I think our TE's and WR's are gonna have a big day. I think we'll come out throwing the football all over the place, and this will open up the running lanes. I think we'll see some screen plays, and Canzeri and Co. will then run the stretch play on them. Field position is going to play a factor here. Our punter keeps flipping the field on them and Marshall Koehn will hit some good FG's whenever we get stopped deep in their territory. Take what they give us. Our pass defense played well against Nebraska and I think that will carry over. I think you'll see the best come out of Iowa this week because this is the moment they have been preparing for since January. This is their time to shine. MSU has been lucky to win against Michigan and Ohio St. and haven't looked that good against lesser teams this year. Everybody has been waiting for Iowa to get "exposed" this year. If anyone gets exposed, it'll be MSU. Even though the Hawks are 12-0, we still have our doubters. Hawks make a statement and hang a loss on these arrogant asses. GO HAWKS!

 

[KFsdisciple]

I don't think there is a debate for which team in the conference has the most talent but since they lost at home they are where they need to be... In Columbus getting pissy ready to pounce on some poor Big12 or Pac10 team with no defense

 

[renkHawk]

I love stats but there are other circumstances that played a factor in these games... In the OSU game the weather was horrible for passing which made BOTH teams one dimensional. Ezekiel Elliott had been in the hospital the week during the game and only had 12 carries, half his average. The Indiana game Jordan Hill was still dealing with an ankle injury and only had 11 touches... still 7.1 yards per carry. Also yardage in the air have been a much easier option for teams that play MSU.

Not saying that there run defense isn't stout, I think it is, but they have given up rush yardage to lesser teams.

 

[Floyd_Of_Rosedale]

Running the football against Michigan State at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will be no easy task. Mark Dantonio’s Spartans held the Big Ten’s top two rushing teams to less than 100 yards (Ohio State, 86 on 29 carries; Indiana, 81 on 23).

Actually Ohio State ranks 3rd in the Big Ten in team rushing offense. Indiana ranks 5th. Iowa ranks 4th.

Ohio State and Indiana boast the B1G's top two 'rushers'. (as noted by renkHawk)

It is also worth noting the Michigan State team rushing defense ranks 6th in the B1G.

 

[icu81222]

@brido: A Tale of Two Cities: Why Iowa Can Beat Michigan State - I don’t know what’s more improbable - that... http://tmblr.co/ZCxkay1z7pEpb

This was a very good read from what appear to be an Iowa guy that is an actor of some sort. He lays out the season for both MSU and Iowa about as well as I have seen

 

[icu81222]

As pointed out in that article everyone is basically ignoring how poorly Michigan State played at times this year. My guess is if Iowa wins, now all of the sudden the talking heads will be focused on how poorly Michigan State played against some of the teams on their schedule and then Iowa's win versus them doesn't mean anything yet

 

[td77]

Actually Ohio State ranks 3rd in the Big Ten in team rushing offense. Indiana ranks 5th. Iowa ranks 4th.

You are of course looking at conference only games. If you include the total body of work, OSU, IU, and the Hawks are 1,2,3.

MSU's rush defense is 4th rather than 6th as you noted in conference games only.

RUSH OFFENSE G ATT. YARDS AVG. TD AVG./G
Northwestern 8 485 2021 4.2 17 252.6
Maryland 8 362 1931 5.3 18 241.4
Ohio State 8 307 1694 5.5 23 211.8
Iowa 8 345 1659 4.8 23 207.4
Indiana 8 280 1267 4.5 13 158.4
Michigan State 8 325 1264 3.9 15 158.0
Penn State 8 259 1089 4.2 10 136.1
Minnesota 8 247 1083 4.4 12 135.4
Nebraska 8 255 1048 4.1 14 131.0
Rutgers 8 288 984 3.4 6 123.0
Purdue 8 258 920 3.6 14 115.0
Illinois 8 228 903 4.0 6 112.9
Wisconsin 8 271 886 3.3 16 110.8
Michigan 8 250 882 3.5 15 110.3

RUSH DEFENSE G ATT. YARDS AVG. TD AVG./G
Wisconsin 8 244 792 3.2 6 99.0
Michigan 8 227 836 3.7 8 104.5
Nebraska 8 225 936 4.2 12 117.0
Michigan State 8 247 943 3.8 10 117.9
Iowa 8 262 984 3.8 9 123.0
Ohio State 8 268 1021 3.8 7 127.6
Northwestern 8 388 1186 3.1 17 148.3
Penn State 8 304 1292 4.3 13 161.5
Maryland 8 363 1293 3.6 16 161.6
Minnesota 8 341 1454 4.3 18 181.8
Illinois 8 326 1554 4.8 14 194.3
Indiana 8 299 1629 5.4 22 203.6
Rutgers 8 321 1830 5.7 29 228.8
Purdue

 

[Floyd_Of_Rosedale]

You are of course looking at conference only games. If you include the total body of work, OSU, IU, and the Hawks are 1,2,3.

MSU's rush defense is 4th rather than 6th as you noted in conference games only.

RUSH OFFENSE G ATT. YARDS AVG. TD AVG./G
Northwestern 8 485 2021 4.2 17 252.6
Maryland 8 362 1931 5.3 18 241.4
Ohio State 8 307 1694 5.5 23 211.8
Iowa 8 345 1659 4.8 23 207.4
Indiana 8 280 1267 4.5 13 158.4
Michigan State 8 325 1264 3.9 15 158.0
Penn State 8 259 1089 4.2 10 136.1
Minnesota 8 247 1083 4.4 12 135.4
Nebraska 8 255 1048 4.1 14 131.0
Rutgers 8 288 984 3.4 6 123.0
Purdue 8 258 920 3.6 14 115.0
Illinois 8 228 903 4.0 6 112.9
Wisconsin 8 271 886 3.3 16 110.8
Michigan 8 250 882 3.5 15 110.3

RUSH DEFENSE G ATT. YARDS AVG. TD AVG./G
Wisconsin 8 244 792 3.2 6 99.0
Michigan 8 227 836 3.7 8 104.5
Nebraska 8 225 936 4.2 12 117.0
Michigan State 8 247 943 3.8 10 117.9
Iowa 8 262 984 3.8 9 123.0
Ohio State 8 268 1021 3.8 7 127.6
Northwestern 8 388 1186 3.1 17 148.3
Penn State 8 304 1292 4.3 13 161.5
Maryland 8 363 1293 3.6 16 161.6
Minnesota 8 341 1454 4.3 18 181.8
Illinois 8 326 1554 4.8 14 194.3
Indiana 8 299 1629 5.4 22 203.6
Rutgers 8 321 1830 5.7 29 228.8
Purdue

I pulled the stats from the B1G website this morning. http://www.bigten.org/library/stats/fb-confldrs.html. These stats are based on 12 games (I think). I can't claim the accuracy as the website is showing "G" column (games played) with Maryland listed at 13 games played and Northwestern listed at 19 games played. Some are listed at 11 games and others at 12 games.

 

[FlintTown]

You are of course looking at conference only games. If you include the total body of work, OSU, IU, and the Hawks are 1,2,3.

MSU's rush defense is 4th rather than 6th as you noted in conference games only.

RUSH OFFENSE G ATT. YARDS AVG. TD AVG./G
Northwestern 8 485 2021 4.2 17 252.6
Maryland 8 362 1931 5.3 18 241.4
Ohio State 8 307 1694 5.5 23 211.8
Iowa 8 345 1659 4.8 23 207.4
Indiana 8 280 1267 4.5 13 158.4
Michigan State 8 325 1264 3.9 15 158.0
Penn State 8 259 1089 4.2 10 136.1
Minnesota 8 247 1083 4.4 12 135.4
Nebraska 8 255 1048 4.1 14 131.0
Rutgers 8 288 984 3.4 6 123.0
Purdue 8 258 920 3.6 14 115.0
Illinois 8 228 903 4.0 6 112.9
Wisconsin 8 271 886 3.3 16 110.8
Michigan 8 250 882 3.5 15 110.3

RUSH DEFENSE G ATT. YARDS AVG. TD AVG./G
Wisconsin 8 244 792 3.2 6 99.0
Michigan 8 227 836 3.7 8 104.5
Nebraska 8 225 936 4.2 12 117.0
Michigan State 8 247 943 3.8 10 117.9
Iowa 8 262 984 3.8 9 123.0
Ohio State 8 268 1021 3.8 7 127.6
Northwestern 8 388 1186 3.1 17 148.3
Penn State 8 304 1292 4.3 13 161.5
Maryland 8 363 1293 3.6 16 161.6
Minnesota 8 341 1454 4.3 18 181.8
Illinois 8 326 1554 4.8 14 194.3
Indiana 8 299 1629 5.4 22 203.6
Rutgers 8 321 1830 5.7 29 228.8
Purdue

The fact that the Wisconsin Badgers are #1 in "rush defense" tells you everything you need to know about those rankings.

 

[DrVenkman]

The fact that the Wisconsin Badgers are #1 in "rush defense" tells you everything you need to know about those rankings.

Seeing as how MSU didn't play Wisky, I have to assume you watched a lot of Wisky football away from MSU? Their D was crazy good.

 

[FlintTown]

Seeing as how MSU didn't play Wisky, I have to assume you watched a lot of Wisky football away from MSU? Their D was crazy good.

No they weren't. Wisconsin has been the same for 20 years. I think they were a "top defense" last year when Ohio State blew their doors off. Alabama ran it down their throats earlier this season. They aren't a legit defense. They have discipline players and a good scheme, just not enough speed and talent to truly be an elite defense.

 

[Packer54]

I won't say Wisconsin is an "elite" defense but they are damn good. Alabama is an elite running game with the possible HT winner. MSU is not going to shut him down and neither will we. Wisky's biggest problem is not having an offense to keep the ball away from a team like Alabama......but their defense is damn good. They also got gashed in the Alabama game after Caputo went out early with a concussion.....replacement safety way out of position on a couple of those big plays. I am not one to stick up for Wisconsin by any means........but you are wrong about their defense.

 

[DrVenkman]

No they weren't. Wisconsin has been the same for 20 years. I think they were a "top defense" last year when Ohio State blew their doors off. Alabama ran it down their throats earlier this season. They aren't a legit defense. They have discipline players and a good scheme, just not enough speed and talent to truly be an elite defense.

I get it. you didn't watch Wisconsin this year. you should have just said that upfront. Wisconsins defense is better than MSUs. Troll away but the numbers bare it out.

 

[ichawk24]

Air Force ran it down MSU's throat, going 51 for 279, 5.5 per rush.
Purdue 32 for 165, 5.2.
Nebby 36 for 179, 5.0

Even good teams can't stop every opponent.

 

[cg8284]

I don't think this game comes down to defenses, it will depend more on how the offenses perform. Neither team is boasting one of their best defenses in the past ten years. Both are upper middle tier of the Big Ten defenses that do better against the run than they do against the pass. Execution on offense and the turnover battle will decide the game.

 

[FlintTown]

Air Force ran it down MSU's throat, going 51 for 279, 5.5 per rush.
Purdue 32 for 165, 5.2.
Nebby 36 for 179, 5.0

Even good teams can't stop every opponent.

MSU's defense isn't anything special. They are, however, better than anything Wisconsin has ever put out there.

 

[MadDogC]

Howard at Indy, still slightly hobbled with an ankle injury, was averaging over seven yards a carry vs MSU...Indy was behind, their QB was hot, they Passed...

 

[Packer54]

MSU's defense isn't anything special. They are, however, better than anything Wisconsin has ever put out there.

That is not a very educated statement.

 

[SpartanJD]

Air Force ran it down MSU's throat, going 51 for 279, 5.5 per rush.
Purdue 32 for 165, 5.2.
Nebby 36 for 179, 5.0

Even good teams can't stop every opponent.

Yeah the triple option and chop blocks are nuts.

Navy ran it for over 300 yards last year against national champions Ohio State.

The bottom line is you are using stats with no context. Iowas offenses you've played this year have been pathetic and MSU played two great rushing teams in Oregon and Air Force. Not to mention WMU and CMU have legit passing offenses.

Your ooc schedule was terrible in regards to offenses you've faced and conference games weren't much better.

The fact you are trying to pump up Wisky is hilarious. They aren't good. They've feasted on the weak for two decades and consistently lose anytime they play a real team.

Also this MSU team has been at the top for years now. People chase is. You can't get up every single week but every team gets up for us.

No, our rushing defense isn't some elite unit but we are the best front 7 you've seen. Don't say NW or Wisky lol

 

[SpartanJD]

What would the defense ranking be if MSU played an fcs team and Iowa State instead of Oregon and Air Force?

 

[mvhomerj]

What would the defense ranking be if MSU played an fcs team and Iowa State instead of Oregon and Air Force?

I'll give ya' that point.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Okay so stats don't mean anything, I get it.

I think this game is a mirror image game. both teams are mirror images of each other and both teams do things well. I think Iowa will try and run it against MSU and see if they can get the edge. It seems like MSU if they can't control the edge, struggle with stopping the run. If MSU can set the edge and force Iowa to run between the tackles, it could get interesting.

MSU allowed Nebbie to get outside and also allowed Armstrong to pick them apart. IF they want to play man and stack the box, then Iowa will struggle to run the ball.

My only fear is that MSU will stack the box (7-8 guys) and play man coverage over the top. That could be dicey, as our WR do struggle getting open and separation from good DB's. If they can stack the box and force CJB to beat us, it could be close because of our WR's struggling to get open.

I really think this could be a tight ballgame.

 

[Packer54]

What would the defense ranking be if MSU played an fcs team and Iowa State instead of Oregon and Air Force?

I was talking about Wisconsin....They did play Alabama and even though they gave up a bunch of yards, like almost everyone does to Alabama it is worse for Wisconsin because their offense was way down this year. If Wisky had the same offense as they did the year before, I can't imagine how much better the stats would be for their existing defense. Top to bottom Wisky has the better defense. I am NOT saying MSU or Iowa is bad.......just saying Wisconsin D is better.

 

[lonhawk]

Yeah the triple option and chop blocks are nuts.

Navy ran it for over 300 yards last year against national champions Ohio State.

The bottom line is you are using stats with no context. Iowas offenses you've played this year have been pathetic and MSU played two great rushing teams in Oregon and Air Force. Not to mention WMU and CMU have legit passing offenses.

Your ooc schedule was terrible in regards to offenses you've faced and conference games weren't much better.

The fact you are trying to pump up Wisky is hilarious. They aren't good. They've feasted on the weak for two decades and consistently lose anytime they play a real team.

Also this MSU team has been at the top for years now. People chase is. You can't get up every single week but every team gets up for us.

No, our rushing defense isn't some elite unit but we are the best front 7 you've seen. Don't say NW or Wisky lol[/

Nebrask

Good points. However Wisconsin beat Nebraska and manhandled Purdue. That's something Mich. St. Couldn't do.

Go Hawks! 12-0

 

[SpartanJD]

Okay so stats don't mean anything, I get it.

I think this game is a mirror image game. both teams are mirror images of each other and both teams do things well. I think Iowa will try and run it against MSU and see if they can get the edge. It seems like MSU if they can't control the edge, struggle with stopping the run. If MSU can set the edge and force Iowa to run between the tackles, it could get interesting.

MSU allowed Nebbie to get outside and also allowed Armstrong to pick them apart. IF they want to play man and stack the box, then Iowa will struggle to run the ball.

My only fear is that MSU will stack the box (7-8 guys) and play man coverage over the top. That could be dicey, as our WR do struggle getting open and separation from good DB's. If they can stack the box and force CJB to beat us, it could be close because of our WR's struggling to get open.

I really think this could be a tight ballgame.

Stats mean something for sure..but you need context.

Yes, MSUs rush defense played awesome in a lot of games and they have also shown a little vulnerability.

They are good with the ability to take games over but hasn't been consistently at a high level.

I think Iowa will find some success on the ground but will ultimately need to throw it around a little. Both offenses are considered balance. And both defenses will look to take away the run first if I know who's coaching in this one.

 

[td77]

What would the defense ranking be if MSU played an fcs team and Iowa State instead of Oregon and Air Force?

I already provided you the stats of only Big Ten games above. You're 4th in rush defense. As already pointed out, good, but nothing great.

 

[DrVenkman]

Yeah the triple option and chop blocks are nuts.

Navy ran it for over 300 yards last year against national champions Ohio State.

The bottom line is you are using stats with no context. Iowas offenses you've played this year have been pathetic and MSU played two great rushing teams in Oregon and Air Force. Not to mention WMU and CMU have legit passing offenses.

Your ooc schedule was terrible in regards to offenses you've faced and conference games weren't much better.

The fact you are trying to pump up Wisky is hilarious. They aren't good. They've feasted on the weak for two decades and consistently lose anytime they play a real team.

Also this MSU team has been at the top for years now. People chase is. You can't get up every single week but every team gets up for us.

No, our rushing defense isn't some elite unit but we are the best front 7 you've seen. Don't say NW or Wisky lol

Other than winning the BIG 10 Championship 3 yrs in a row from 2010- 2012 and beating MSU in the 1st CCG in '11, you my be right. 2012 was kind of interesting when Wisky was 7-5 and dropped 70 on Nebraska in the Championship game. The best front seven iowa has seen was probably Pitt, who now has the best asset that MSU had in Narduzzi.