True or False: Tonight is MSUs last best chance to the make the playoffs...
- Thread starter maelfan
- Start date
As long as Dantonio is there, they will always be in the hunt. He's a fantastic coach. This year was incredible. They did not always boast the best team on the field when they played but the difference between Michigan State and other teams is that they always kept themselves in every game and gave themselves a chance. There is absolutely no panic in this team and it starts with coaching. While they may not have the *star* talent coming out highschool they develop players better then any school right now. Their freshman RB is better then any RB Michigan has had in the past decade. Their QB is better then any QB we have had in a decade, same for their O-line, WRs, etc. That's not a fluke - they develop kids into becoming great players and I doubt that will change anytime soon.
They have a solid program now, but it's difficult to win championships. You need some luck, and Sparty certainly got his share this year. And they have to run the gauntlet of the Big Ten east division. Plus, they lose a lot of talent this year. It will take a few years again before they contend.
Well, how much harder can it get than beating a 10-0 OSU team and a 12-0 Iowa team?
Interesting take you have:
(1) I think you are giving Michigan State a little too much credit for developing players. It's not a magical process. MSU brings in 21-24 players every year. Each recruiting class is very well balanced. There is very low attrition during each classes 4-5 year process. MSU red-shirts a good 80% of each class. Each season MSU enters a given year with 12-18 5th year senior in their 2-deep.
Everything I just listed, are things, I believe Michigan has gotten away from ever since coach Carr retired.
(2) I think you are not giving Michigan State enough credit for recruiting. MSU's classes are getting better and have been even Michigan's level the past 3 years. Over the past 3 recruiting years 2014-2016 these are the results.
MSU
Total players 58
Star rating: 3.32
UM
Total Players: 52
Star rating: 3.38
2014:
MSU
class rank: 22
players: 22
Avg stars: 3.27
UM
class rank: 31
Players: 16
Avg Stars: 3.44
2015:
MSU
class rank: 22
players: 20
Avg stars: 3.35
UM
class rank: 50
players: 14
Avg stars: 3.29
2016:
MSU
class rank: 14
players: 18
Avg stars: 3.28
UM
class rank: 3
players: 22
Avg stars: 3.36
I believe both schools will finish strong in this 2016 class.
Your arguement is flawed. Anytime you have a coaching change you have one class with lots of recruits and a couple years where you take less because of attrition. Rankings are based on the number of recruits as well as their ratings. Michigan supposedly gets better ranked kids when they do get them. Yes MSU has a balanced class but that is because they have had consistency at the coaching position for 9 years. If JH stays for about 5-6 years, we will get there as well. For instance, we may likely end up with the #1 class in the country primarily because we will likely take 29 players even though our star rankings may not be the highest.
True. They'll still be good for a few more years, but not top four in the country. They had their hands full with a Michigan team coming off a 5-7 season. Things will not get easier in the future. You've got to imagine OSU will circle that game on the calendar in the coming years, too.
It's hard to isolate only the good luck. They had horrible injury luck so luck works both ways. They lost their starting SS and their best CB early in the year along with their best LB and then their best OL for a long stretch. During all of that they lose their AA Center and they just kept winning albeit with some good breaks and they lost on a bad luck illegal play by one point on the road. They will have as good a chance or better than any Big East team. OSU was supposed to be head and shoulders better this year. What year will there be more of a disparity with them than this year supposedly was?
Dantonio's already had 3 straight NFL caliber QBs, since his MSU tenure began - Hoyer (starter in 2007 and 08), Cousins (starter in 2009, 10 and 11) and Cook (starter in 2013, 14, 15), with Maxwell the only break in the 2012 season (where Cook won the bowl game that season). If you really get technical, a fourth NFL caliber QB, Nick Foles, was also on Dantonio's first MSU team, but he transferred.
Circled the game? So your theory is OSU must not have circled it in 2013 (and therefore MSU beat them, ruining their perfect season), circled it in 2014 (therefore OSU won), but then forgot to circle it this year? If only winning important games were that easy!
No question MSU has produced great RBs and QBs during Dantonio's tenure - which is amazing considering he prides himself more on defense and the defensive NFL picks are doing "ok", not fantastic. Bell and Langford both playing considerably in the NFL right now too and by the looks of it Scott and London have the potential to be future NFL backs. Conklin and Allen will for sure play in the NFL as will Calhoun. Good run of player development under Dantonio.
Maxwell was temporarily the QB prior to Cook. But if you want to forget about him, it's already been 4 straight NFL caliber QB's. Stanton, Hoyer, Cousins then Cook. Three of those guys have been on NFL rosters for 3+ year, and Cook will be in the league next year. Hoyer and Cousins are starting QB's. Stanton was, and is now a very highly paid back up to Palmer.
Exactly... Maxwell was your QB and you were able to fall back on Cook. I am doubting you're that fortunate in the future.
Heard the same thing after Smoker....then Stanton.....then Hoyer....then Cousins....now Cook. BTW, Before he transferred to Arizona, Nick Foles was on the MSU roster with Cousins and Hoyer.
Next year MSU will have the two QB's that beat OSU this year (a 4th year junior and a 5th year senior). Backing those guys up will be two 4 star recruits. Is there an NFL talent in that group? We shall see, but Dantonio's track record of developing QB's is extremely impressive, so I like the chances.
I think we can all agree that Meyer didn't have his best gameplan for MSU this year, to put it mildly. Giving your star tailback 11 carries and taking only 1-2 shots downfield all game isn't the best winning formula. Meyer mailed it in that week, thinking a Cook-less MSU couldn't beat him even if he played close to the vest. He's probably kicking himself for it now.
As I said, I expect MSU to be good as long as Dantonio is there. But top-four good? That will be tough. Sweeping both OSU and Michigan will not be easy. This season you pulled it off without ever actually leading in either game, which is a pretty rare feat.
OSU had 45 offensive plays. If they had run their normal 75 plays, Elliott would have had his normal amount of carries. OSU had to punt nine freaking times. Elliott was averaging about two yards a carry. What was OSU supposed to do, Run Elliott when it was consistently third and long? OSU was running the exact same read option UM saw. Same plays. MSU just kicked the crap out of OSU at the LOS.
don't you mean 4 straight? Stanton, Hoyer, Cousins, Cook ( soon enough). Now you're a fortune teller? How do you know that one of the next 4 MSU QB's on the roster WON'T make it to the NFL? Based on track records i'd say you are off base.
