The Junkyard

That's something that MSU fans wish Cousins would do more of. He had an open field in front of him on 3rd and 10 in the 4th Q of the Big 10 CCG, but winged a pass down-field to Keshawn Martin instead of running for the first down. The pass was initially ruled complete (would have been a 30+ yard gain), but then it was overruled on the replay. MSU punted, forced a 3 and out, then Isaiah Lewis ran into a kicker . . . and MSU fans are now on a UGA board instead of an Oregon one .

MSU has a pretty effective WR screen game and also utilizes the FB in the flats from time to time. There are plenty of vertical routes, but the Spartans do like to throw short on 1st down, especially if the run isn't working.

I'm very curious to see what the MSU OL looks like. Though they were a sub-par run-blocking unit for most of the year, they really came on strong over last last 4 games (155, 174, 166 and 190 yards on the ground).

Now I don't think MSU is going to turn into a rushing juggernaut and several of those opponents (Indiana, for instance) were not very good. At the same time, with the OL injuries and the number of first year players, you have to think that MSU's OL has far from reached its ceiling. Also, MSU didn't allow a sack over those final 4 games and Cousins has been sacked just 14 times this season. Given that he's about as mobile as the Statue of Liberty, it certainly seems that the new OTs got their pass-blocking down well.

The 3-4 has it's own set of concerns, but I really think this is going to be a highly competitive game. I know I'll be there.

FWIW, BJ Cunningham is currently the #12 receiver nationally with over 1200 yards and 12 TDS. He also averages over 17 yards per catch. Le'Veon Bell is the Spartan's main RB, with 900 yards even and 5.5 YPC. Tack on Kirk Cousins completing nearly 66% of his passes for over 3000 yards, 24 TDs and 7 INTs and I think you have a pretty solid mix of talent.

I've heard the "SEC Talent" week to week argument, but the facts remain that UGA didn't see Bama, Arkansas or LSU during the regular season. S. Car beat UGA and after that, which team had the mixture of "size and speed" that's so much better than what MSU puts out there? Tennessee? Vanderbilt? Florida?

Jones is a great LB and deserving of AA honors. Did you know MSU's Denicos Allen (SAM LB) is a pretty good pass-rusher in his own right? 17 TFL and 10 sacks on the year. UGA isn't the only team that can bring pressure from the edges. The Spartans also feature an AA of their own in DT Jerel Worthy. At 6'3 310, the man is right up there with the best DTs in the nation, including those you see in the SEC. MSU's William Gholston, a former 5-star recruit, sets the edge at DE and checks in at 6'7 283.

I really think that MSU has more talent than you're giving them credit for, particularly on defense. I invite you to peruse the MSU stats at your leisure. This should be an intense, physical, close game.

http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rankingSummary?year=2011&org=416

yeah probably, I'm also guilty of lumping all Big 10 teams into those nOhio St. teams that get thumped when they play a SEC defense. Troy Smith in the game vs Florida had to be thinking, 'man they don't rush the passer like this at minnesota'. Its hard for me to take msu serious when they quit last year in their bowl vs bama.

We didn't quit. Half our team got injured!

Whoa whoa now....MSU has the experienced QB??? Check the profile image...three years in our system with the last two being played in the SEC. I don't believe your QB has been rushed like AM has. You do have the more experienced WRs, but our pups have grown up VERY quick, IE Malcolm Mitchell. In 2008, we had ONE main target and then MoMass and KD which got the attention when AJ was doubled/tripled in coverage. This year you guys are going to have to account for 3-5 WRs. During the ending stretch Murray threw 14 TDs to (if I'm not mistaken) 13 different guys. I'm sure it will be a fun game to watch, even though I'll be at work...smh. Our secondary will give you guys a run for your $$$$.

Dug deep in your back pocket for that one lol. We gave the USC game away. Our defense held them to 17 points...thanks again O and ST!!!! KC 3016 yards, 24-7 TD-INT. AM 2861 yards 33-12. Pretty similar, but as it has been demonstrated in big time bowl games...SEC defenses tend to dismantle BIG10 offenses, well at least that goes for tOSU. (just for you spartan) I don't expect to sway into agreement with me, and I'm sure your the same. I should be going to college for journalism so I can cover my favorite team, man...dreaming. I'll be happy as long as our offense shows up this bowl game and scores more then SIX points and of course we win. Who's next...

Dawgs are 7-0 against the Big 10 in bowls.

None of that has a bearing on this game. But you have to know why your optimism is taken with a grain of salt, Rocky.

You sneer at our competition. But the fact remains is that
1) we shut down running games
2) we have an excellent pass rush
3) we have a legit secondary. 3 guys have a legit shot for Sundays.

Our defense is good enough to neutralize everything your team throws at us. That doesn't guarantee a win. But it guarantees that we'll have an opportunity to put the game away late in the game.

And when people talk about "SEC speed" they are referring to the speed of linemen. Games are won in the trenches with dominant line play, and when our defensive linemen can get off the ball faster than your offensive linemen, your QB doesn't have much of a chance as a pocket rarely develops.

I have never heard an argument that skill players from other conferences are slower than SEC skill players. Except for Ron Dayne. I think he ran a 4.3 second 10 yard dash.

SpartanRocky, I have enjoyed this thread very much and have appreciated your candid answers with our questions and concerns with MSU. I wanted to tell you thank you for sticking with us replying back promptly and with plenty of information regarding the Spartans. Went to our thread on your site and it was a tad bit off subject. However, I understand there is a larger population on that thread which means increasing the number of fans off topic. From what I have seen of MSU this year, they have been exceptional and I look forward to what could be the best bowl game of this entire season. I suppose I was hoping to guide the discussion in the direction of your bowl practices. Have they started, and are there any significant injuries for any Spartans that may cause them to miss this game? Also, just wanted your thoughts on our Jarvis Jones. Have to say I love this kid and he something special. I know from reading that your OLine has had some issues this year with starting talent being available. How good are your tackles feet? I managed to catch a couple of your games, however one happened to be the ND game and the other was your first game with Wisconsin (great hail mary by the way), however, I wasn't really impressed with most of the OLines ability to get into the second level. Is this a work in progress, or have enough strides been made to where you feel comfortable? Not that I'm trying to be overly nice here, however, I have one of my junior marines here with me for the holidays and he happens to be a MSU fan, so for the sake of keeping it civil I figured I would congratulate you on a good season this year and hope to have my questions answered.

Hey Rock:

I'm so tired or my UofM friends making fun of Sparty's outfit. What do I say to these eunuchs when they say he wears a skirt. I get soooo mad I want to punch 'em in the dick.

VICTORY FOR MSU

WT - that's not what I wanted

Your offensive coordinator will continously being doing this.... Our D shut down the number one team in the nation...for a half and didn't allow a first down that half. In 2008 it was about the RBs, I guess this year it will be about the Ds and QBs...HA we got the edge

The Bama-Ark-LSU thing isn't UGA's fault, but it's something that I have to consider when analyzing the game, particularly the stats. When I hear about a team seeing great athletes week in and week out, then see that they didn't play 3 of the top 4 teams in their league, it rings a little hollow.

Again, schedule is what it is: in 2 seasons MSU is going to miss tOSU, Wisconsin and PSU during the regular season. I'm not holding your record against you; UGA earned it's 10 wins. I do have an issue with a claim that Georgia has seen drastically better talent week in and week out than MSU by virtue of playing in the SEC when the Dawgs missed the 3 best teams in the conference during the regular season. I don't think Georgia gets the raw benefit of the SEC bias in this case, because there wasn't that gauntlet that teams in your conference also faces.

I really think Georgia and MSU are darn equal. Both have taken some lumps (Boise, LSU / Notre Dame and Nebraska) and have some pretty solid Ws (Ga. Tech and Auburn / Michigan and Wisconsin).