The Air Force Falcons are not to be overlooked (my two-bit analysis)

The Air Force Falcons run the triple option to perfection, and looking at their statistics over their first two games, they look awfully frightening. 394 yards rushing against Morgan State and 428 yards on the ground versus San Jose State. They have a quarterback in Nate Romine (UPDATE: out for the season with a knee injury) who is was able to run the ball (as any option quarterback should be able to do) and a plethora of other guys who are more than capable of carrying the rock, led by D.J. Johnson (a stocky, bruising running back) and Benton Washington.

Granted, the competition that Air Force has faced this season isn't exactly top-notch, but when a team racks up 822 yards rushing (6.2 yards per carry) in its first two games against anyone, that team deserves an opponent's undivided attention--and I know that MSU has been preparing for Air Force since at least the spring.

The good news for the Spartans is that the other Spartans (the San Jose State variety) were able to run the ball for 150 yards on 20 carries against Air Force. San Jose State was actually only behind 17-16 after the third quarter, but Air Force exploded for 20 points in the fourth quarter the put the game away. It's safe to say that the Spartans from East Lansing have a much better offensive line and rushing attack than the Spartans from San Jose, California. Michigan State should be able to move the ball with ease against Air Force and put plenty of points on the board.

Michigan State has to be, and I'm sure will be, wary heading into this game. They know Air Force is not to be taken lightly. Mark Dantonio has proven again and again that he and his staff are able to get the team up every week no matter the opponent, and I'm sure this week will be no different. I look for the Spartans to win this one by a score of 45-24.

The post-Oregon blog post

I think I've finally reached the point, perhaps for the first time in my life as a Michigan State football fan, that I now expect the Spartans to find a way to win big games. As much of a tense nail-biter as last night's 31-28 win over Oregon was--and who really expected it to be anything otherwise?--I didn't panic. Oh, sure, I thought for a few minutes that I might not be able to watch the pivotal 4th down play that determined the outcome of the game--but never did I expect the other shoe to fall, as I pretty much have since I started seriously following MSU football in 1977.  I wasn't stomping my feet, I wasn't cursing. I honestly thought that somehow, some way, the Spartans would find a way to win the game...and they did.

My knee-jerk, off-the-cuff reaction to the game was that it was far from a perfect game for the Spartans, yet they still beat the #7 team in the country. Yes, they gave up a lot of yards to Oregon's "basketball on turf" brand of football, but the Spartan defense made big plays when they had to (goal line stand in the first half, huge 3rd down sack late in the 4th quarter followed by the aforementioned 4th down incomplete pass) so most of the Ducks' yards were empty yards. About three quarters of Oregon's yards were through the air. The MSU defense wasn't allowing much of anything on the ground, so Oregon was forced to throw the ball a lot--and I'd much rather have it that way than the other way.

 So, as I write this on Sunday afternoon, I just discovered that the Spartans have risen to #4 in the rankings. Provided that MSU can remain focused and win all their remaining games until November, we will be looking at a monumental showdown in Columbus between the Spartans and the Buckeyes.

I watched most of ESPN GameDay yesterday. They were in East Lansing. I was extremely disappointed in GameDay. As far as I could tell (having not seen the entire show) there was exactly one feature about Michigan State, a brief live interview with Mark Dantonio. However, we were treated to the most sycophantic, fawning, and utterly nauseating feature about Jim Harbaugh that I have yet witnessed. It was so over-the-top that I swear the University of Michigan paid ESPN to run it. It had all the look of a commercial for Michigan football. As if MSU needed any more ammunition for the October 17 game against Saint Jimmy and the Wolverines, this could provide even a little more.

This week's football post

I've always wanted to make this blog more personal, and stray away from giving what I refer to my "two-bit analysis." What is the point of me trying to analyze these games when there are plenty of professional sportswriters out there who get PAID to do it. Who really needs to read what I have to say?

So, in the spirit of making this blog personal, I want to relate to you how this time of year makes me feel.

We moved into our current--and I hope "forever"--house on September 15, 2007. The only reason I remember that date is because I remember clear as a bell that Michigan State football played Pittsburgh. As the movers were doing there thing at our new house, I was out running some errand or other and listening to the Spartans put the finishing touches on a close 17-13 win. I'd be lying if I said that at I knew MSU's football fortunes were about to change for the better, but it seemed clear that Dantonio was definitely an upgrade from John L. Smith.

Anyway, I always associate this time of year with when we moved into this house and how it almost perfectly coincided with the start of Mark Dantonio's tenure as Michigan State football coach.

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About three weeks ago, while on vacation, I had a dream quite out of nowhere that Michigan State beat Oregon 45-41. I may as well stick with that prediction, though I'd love it if the Spartans blew the Ducks out.

I really have no idea how the game will go tonight, but I definitely like the Spartans' chances. It's at home, it's a night game, Oregon's new quarterback Vernon Adams is playing his first big road game, and the Spartans must have payback on their minds. Then again, J.T. Barrett played his first big road game of the year last year against MSU and we see how that went. Who knows how good this kid is, or the degree to which MSU's defensive backfield needs to improve. Well, here's hoping for the best.

The WMU game aftermath

What is the takeaway from last night's mainly lackluster, mistake-filled opening day 37-24 win over Western Michigan?

On the positive side, the Spartans escaped with a win and do not appear to have suffered any major injuries. It also looks like Madre London, L.J. Scott, and Gerald Holmes could and should be a formidable trio of running backs. The front seven looked very strong on the defensive end, as well.

But the negatives last night somewhat outnumbered the positives, and I hope, and I assume, that we can chalk this up to a combination of first game cobwebs and a case of looking ahead to Oregon. It was also quite clear that the play calling was purposely vanilla.

Credit must be given to Western Michigan, who in the biggest game that Waldo Stadium has ever seen, played their hearts out. Their skill players were just as good as advertised. Terrell is an outstanding quarterback who rarely let the pass rush get to him, has a quick release, and uncanny accuracy. The Broncos' receivers are athletic and fast. This team should make some noise in the MAC and challenge for the title.

I've been guilty of overreacting positively and (mostly) negatively to opening weekend football games. Exhibit A being the 2013 season, when I was darned near ready to throw in the towel on the season. This year, I'm determined not to make that mistake and trust that the coaching staff will make the necessary tweaks and adjustments for next week's much steeper challenge against Oregon.

If adjustments are not made and the team plays with the level of malaise I witnessed last night--particularly in the second half--the Oregon game could get ugly. I don't think that will happen, though. I fully expect the Spartans to come out next Saturday with a fire, passion, and focus that wasn't quite there against Western Michigan.

Until proven otherwise, I'm maintaining an attitude of positivity. Mark Dantonio has earned, and deserves, my trust and faith.

MSU/WMU pre-game post

Here's a quick post before the MSU/Western Michigan game starts, about a half hour from the point I've begun typing this.

The Spartans don't have any easy non-conference games this season. All four of the teams they play-- Western, Oregon, Air Force, and Central Michigan--played in bowl games last season. Oregon, of course, played in the national championship game, and strangely enough, Western Michigan and Air Force played each other in a bowl game, with Air Force prevailing.

Western comes into this game with a potent offense featuring some excellent skill players. The quarterback , Zach Terrell (3443 yds in 2014 with 26 TD and only 10 INTs, 67.9 completion percentage) is in his 3rd season and is already 22 years old. Jarvion Franklin, the starting running back, has been compared to Le'Veon Bell, and wide receivers Daniel Braverman, Kendrick Roberts, and Corey Davis are good players. The Broncos also have an experienced offensive line.

Western may be able to put some points on the board in this game and hang with the Spartans at least through the end of the first half and maybe into the third quarter, but the Spartans should have too much depth for them and wear down Western in the second half. The score should be somewhere in the neighborhood of MSU 38, WMU 20.

It'll be interesting to see just how good MSU's defense is. Will there be any noticeable differences in schemes with Harlon Barnett as co-defensive coordinator.

There are still question marks with the Spartans. Jeremy Langford is gone and Madre London, L.J. Scott, Gerald Holmes, and Delton Williams are most likely challenging each other for the starting position--though Delton Williams, with his difficulties over the off-season, is a wild card. The receiving corps is also a puzzle. Aaron Burbridge should have a good year, but what of Macgarrett Kings, A.J. Troup, R.J. Shelton, and DeAnthony Arnett? Presumably, they will all be ready to roll, but who knows.

Well, there's my two-bit, half-hour analysis. The game is about to start.

Ready or not, here comes football season

The days of hibernation are over. It's about to begin. Four days from today the Spartans take on Western Michigan...and I will most likely fall down the rabbit hole for the next...uh, eight months (including basketball season).

For the most part, I've tuned out Spartan sports this summer and have focused on "summer activities," i.e. following the Detroit Tigers' increasingly disappointing season (including a couple visits to Comerica Park), going to the beach, venturing "up north" for vacation, etc.

I've listened to enough commentary to realize that this seems to be the most lauded and wildly anticipated MSU football season of my lifetime. Being a Michigan State football fan through mostly mediocre to bad seasons, I'm having a hard time getting used to this new reality. It makes me, well, nervous.

If you've been reading this blog enough, you'll know that my nervousness towards MSU sports--particularly football--is an ongoing theme.

By this point, with four double-digit win seasons in five years, two Big Ten titles, Rose Bowl and Cotton Bowl victories (four consecutive bowl victories), it should be abundantly clear to me that Mark Dantonio knows what he's doing and the depressing seasons of John L. Smith, Bobby Williams, et al are in the rearview mirror.

The new reality is that MSU football is a national power and it's okay for me to acknowledge it. It's perfectly acceptable for me to not expect or prepare for "the worst," but to anticipate success on the field.

Easier said than done.

So, consider this my first post of the 2015 football season. I'm back, and preparing myself for what promises to be a wild ride.

Ready or not, it begins in four days.

A little spring cleaning

It's been over a month since I last posted in here after the spring game. Since then, MSU women's track & field won a Big Ten title and is on its way to the NCAA East Regional. MSU baseball sputtered a bit down the stretch and barely missed the NCAA tournament.

But overall, the college sports season is winding down and I'm okay with that. I need a break for a few months because, come mid-August and football, things are gonna get crazy again.

So I'm here to say I don't know how much I'll be posting from now until August. Check periodically if you want, but most likely this blog will be in mothballs for a few months.