Daddy Hoosier | November 12, 2020
The 10th ranked Indiana Hoosier (3-0) travel to East Lansing to face Michigan State tomorrow in a game that will be televised nationally on ABC. The Old Brass Spittoon is on the line in this annual rivalry game and the Hoosiers have a chance to possess the Spittoon and the Old Oaken Bucket at the same time for the first time since 2016.
The Spartans rose to the occasion in their first rivalry game of the year by surprising the 13th ranked Michigan Wolverines 27-24 in Week Two, bringing home the Paul Bunyan Trophy for the 9th time in 13 years. Michigan State has performed well in ‘trophy games’ having also beaten Indiana in 10 of the last 11 meetings.
The Hoosiers have only won the Bucket and the Spittoon in the same year six times in program history – 1940, 1967, 1991, 1993, 2001 and 2016 – but can take the first step toward doing so tomorrow.
Michigan State is by definition in a rebuilding year but they showed the Wolverines and the world just a couple of weeks ago that they are capable of surprises.
New Leadership
Mel Tucker made the jump from Colorado to Michigan State in February of 2020. He is a defensive-minded coach and served as the Interim Head Coach for five games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011. Tucker brought Offensive Coordinator Jay Johnson with him from Colorado. Johnson has six years of experience as an OC.
On Offense
Through three games Michigan State’s offense has been pretty good at times but they have struggled with inconsistency and turnovers. They have turned the ball over 10 times including 7 in their Week 1 loss to Rutgers.
Junior Quarterback Rocky Lombardi has a big arm and is more than capable of hurting opponents. Currently he is the second leading passer in the Big Ten with 869 passing yards. He has thrown six touchdowns and has a talented group of receivers he can get involved in the Offense.
In fact the Spartans have had three different receivers top 100 yards in the first three games. Sophomore WR Jayden Reed caught 11 balls for 128 yards and 2 TDs against Rutgers, Freshman Ricky White exploded for 8 receptions 196 yards and a TD versus Michigan (earning him Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honors), and Sophomore Jalen Nailor had 4 grabs for 119 yards against Iowa.
Nailor has been the most consistent performer overall and the three have combined for 647 yards and 4 TDs.
It’s not all roses for the Spartans passing game though. They are still implementing a new scheme and are experiencing some expected growing pains. Lombardi has thrown 5 interceptions and has shown a tendency to try and be a hero. When pressured he has bad feet and makes off balance throws that are both inaccurate and dangerous.
Furthermore Lombardi began wearing a brace on his left knee in week two and was seen hobbling around at times last week versus Iowa. There were a couple balls that he short-hopped and this has lead to speculation that pain is preventing him from stepping into throws with his left plant leg.
Michigan State has started three different combinations at Offensive Line in the first three weeks. Their pass protection has actually been serviceable but look for the Hoosiers to bring a lot of pressure to force Lombardi to move around in the pocket and to get him off balance.
While pass protection hasn’t been a complete disaster for the Spartans their run game has been anemic. (Indiana’s run game hasn’t been much better as these are the two worst rushing attacks in the Big Ten so far.) Michigan State is only averaging 78 yards per game and 2.2 yards per carry and they have only produced 1 rushing TD. Indiana’s rush defense is in the top half of the Big Ten allowing only 128 yards per game in three contests. If Michigan State can establish the run and possess the ball long enough to keep the Hoosiers surging offense off the field it will go a long way toward helping them pull off the upset. Freshman Jordon Simmons has been their best option so far in 2020 with 132 yards on 37 carries.
On ‘D’
Defensively Michigan State has not been very good thus far. Iowa absolutely gashed them in the first few possessions last week, creating huge running lanes for their backs to scamper through. Iowa rushed the ball for 226 yards and 4 TDs.
Even more disturbingly Michigan State had schematic breakdowns with guys out of position and taking poor angles. Iowa killed them with crossing routes, something at which Whop Philyor and the Hoosier Offense already excel. The young Spartan corners have been consistently exposed in each of the last two weeks and they will need to shore things up quickly if they want to give their team a chance.
Michigan State’s Linebackers had no answer for Iowa’s Tight Ends in pass coverage so there is a good chance Michael Penix will see Junior TE Peyton Hendershot running free in the Spartan secondary.
The Spartan’s punt coverage was also very bad against Iowa as they allowed 21.0 yards per return including a 54 yard touchdown. The punter seemed to be kicking a lot of low line-drives that put the coverage team in a tough spot. This could present yet another opportunity for IU.
Prediction
It would be very disappointing if Indiana got caught tomorrow looking ahead to Ohio State. This is a rivalry game and strange things can happen but Indiana is the more complete team. Expect Michigan State to look much better than they did in Iowa but over the course of 60 minutes they will make enough mistakes to lose pace with Indiana.
Indiana 38 Michigan State 24
#LEO
Originally published here:
Scouting Report: Michigan State
Daddy Hoosier | November 12, 2020 The 10th ranked Indiana Hoosier (3-0) travel to East Lansing to face Michigan State tomorrow in a game that will be televised nationally on ABC. The Old Brass Spit…
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