Looking Ahead: Michigan State
- Thread starter St. Anger
- Start date
The obvious question mark is our pass defense. Leidner looked really good most of the game. What will Cook do to us?
That Minnesota game was the most complete game we've put together this season. Defense still needs to step up a bit more but there was obvious improvement.
Cook places the ball on the money better than any other QB in the conference. I'm absolutely fearful that he will light us up for 400 yards passing. But that said, they still have to play the game and maybe a turnover or two (we are due!) and we can steal one.
Aside from one series in the 4th quarter, I thought Langs had a great day calling plays. The offense really looked like they had it together. TA had some trouble making some throws, but DPE looks to be back in the saddle again. That's going to be huge. The team looked confident. And I'm loving all the tweets about the optimism and positive attitude on the sidelines. I read into that stuff big time.
Minnesota probably won't win another game. Obviously I am happy for the win and we looked good doing it, but they kind of suck this year so I won't read to much into it either. Cook could possible have a career day against us if we can't get into his grille and disrupt him. That is going to be one tough match-up for us and I'll be watching that game with one finger on the remote. But like they say, "that's why you play the game". That would be an awesome game to win and knock 'em off their unbeaten perch and would build some major momentum in our recruiting department.
No disrespect at all but I'm worried about Northwestern. We can lose to them if we don't play well.
Agreed. I feel a lot better about NW now than I did Friday, as it seems our programs are headed in different directions, but they are good enough that we need to have a complete game to beat them.
Unfortunately, this will be two years in a row that Michigan State has an extra week to prepare for us and get healed up. That doesn't help. They may be a slight favorite but with the game at home we have a decent chance. No idea what will happen the next two games-- if we are on a roll by then that game will be huge. Could be a cool November evening so the crowded will be pumped. Great for recruits.
to me, the bye week works to our advantage.. they likely won't be as crisp that first half.
We made some plays late, but after watching UM's defense play Cook, I have to think Cook will light us up all day unless we get dramatically better in the secondary. Its not that he particularly destroyed UM, but they cover better than we do.
We've made some pretty poor QB's look good.
Right, this was purely to do with Michigan State. I agree, Northwestern will be tough.
cook is going to throw for a ton of yards. the key on defense. shut down the msu run game. make them one dimensional. the msu special teams are really bad. nebraska should win that part of the game. Nebraska wr will be open deep. if Armstrong cant hit hit a fair amount no reason Nebraska doesn't win
I don't think that Northwestern is a bad team. I think they ran into two teams in Ia and Mich that had very sound defenses and better than advertised offenses. As in, they played to pretty good teams, and their luck was bound to run out. It's all up to NW, in how the game with them goes. Either they wake up and get their stuff together, or we roll right over them.
I still think they're a threat.
Hard to say right now...no one really knows which Nebraska team is real. The team that struggled to a 2-4 start or the team that played Saturday against Minnesota that looked pretty good.
Conner Cook vs. TA
Not saying we can't or won't win, but that is not a good match-up for us. However, a win over NW & Mich. State would go a loooong way towards salvaging our season. Hopefully the improvement was saw last Saturday carries over and they can build on it, and I hope the Minny game just wasn't a case of playing a crap team and that's why we looked good. We'll find out soon enough.
Not saying we can't or won't win, but that is not a good match-up for us. However, a win over NW & Mich. State would go a loooong way towards salvaging our season. Hopefully the improvement was saw last Saturday carries over and they can build on it, and I hope the Minny game just wasn't a case of playing a crap team and that's why we looked good. We'll find out soon enough.
MSU secondary is ripe for the picking right now. We started two true frosh safeties vs. UM...and both just got the redshirts removed due to all the injuries. As good a coach as Harbaugh I was surprised that he didn't attack them more...despite Rudock limitations. TA should be able to put up good numbers vs. MSU, but I think our front 7 will do a better job of making Nebraska one dimensional than vice versa. It should be another exciting MSU-NU game just like the last 3.
We have 2 games we need to win and get better, I will worry about MSU on Nov 1
I do believe some teams just match up well against others, and that works in Nebraska's favor against Sparty this year. Nebraska has seemingly played them straight up for several years running now, with the main exception being a game in which the team turned the ball over seemingly every other possession.
They will need to get off to a good start, however and maybe force a turnover or two to get this team playing at a higher level. This could be one of those Riley specials where he can get his team to put the pieces together and pull off the upset.
Always optimistic, but will remain cautious on this one.
Sparty does look like they will lose a game (or two) down the stretch. They just don't have the same swagger they've had previously - partially due to a downgrade in their running back and also don't discount the loss of DC Narduzzi.
I think the spread will come out with Michigan State favored by 7.
They will need to get off to a good start, however and maybe force a turnover or two to get this team playing at a higher level. This could be one of those Riley specials where he can get his team to put the pieces together and pull off the upset.
Always optimistic, but will remain cautious on this one.
Sparty does look like they will lose a game (or two) down the stretch. They just don't have the same swagger they've had previously - partially due to a downgrade in their running back and also don't discount the loss of DC Narduzzi.
I think the spread will come out with Michigan State favored by 7.
1 game doesn't automatically make us a good team. Yes we looked a hell of a lot better, but we still have a lot to work on #1 being pass D # 2 being putting pressure on QB. If we don't get those fixed fast we could still easily lose every game. Minn is a ok team not as good as what we faced the last 2 years, not as good as Iowa or Mich St or even NW this week. If we can put a solid game together again this weekend I will start getting a bit more hope for the Mich St game.
We haven't played anyone good yet. We need a lot of breaks to go our way against MSU.
I think Langsdorf is very itchy to throw the ball. It worked last week because there was no wind. He can't help himself, he must throw some passes whether it's warranted or not. I wish Riley would call the plays because Langsdorf is inexperienced at playcalling.
If we beat N'Western handily, I agree with him. Will be under 7. Still have a game to play though.
Who was good? They've all been below average or closer to average than good. Those teams you think are good have lots of losses in their futures.
Guess it's all relative. So we need to play top 10 squads every week for you to consider an opponent "good"?
Agree with this. Combined with TA's sometimes questionable decisions (and still inconsistent passing) I am finding myself on the edge of my seat a lot.
I still don't get as close to the edge as when Martinez dropped back to pass.
Who said top 10? I said good. Those teams we lost to should have one more loss because we could/should have won them all. Still think they're good?
It's all subjective and relative. Yes, I would classify BYU, Miami, and Wisky as "good" to average football teams.
