MSU defense faces different challenge
Oregon regrouped after that loss – which also dropped the Ducks to No. 12 in the rankings – and marched on to victories in the next nine games, including the 59-20 Rose Bowl victory over Florida State in college football’s first playoffs.
Oregon State’s offense is going through a major transformation, from Mike Riley’s pro-style system to Andersen’s spread attack. If the Fighting Illini come back from North Carolina with a win, Illinois could be a real factor in the West. A big reason why: Wes Lunt, who is the most talented quarterback in the division. It stuck with me watching them play in the national championship. But, this isn’t your average road trip.
The Beavers started Saturday’s 35-7 loss at Michigan with their britches on right, but by the time halftime had hit in Ann Arbor, they’d changed into Pampers. The Spartans have been good this entire decade. The Panthers went 0-12 overall the first year, then 1-11 last year.
Nobody has been able to force Air Force from its comfort zone yet this season, but Michigan State is certainly well equipped to try. 7 Oregon 31-28 last Saturday, avenging a 46-27 loss from last season in which it was outscored 28-3 in the second half.
There are a number of factors as to why Air Force turned around from the only really bad season Head Coach Troy Calhoun has ever had at the Academy. They’ll have to wrap up better this week in run coverage. The Falcons could rely on D.J. “Some games you run to throw”, Chyrst said, via USA Today.
The key to the game will be how well the Falcons defense can contain the Michigan State offense. The defense has been holding opponents to just 242.5 yards per game. Also sporting an unblemished record is Oregon State as the Beavers tied with Texas last Thursday to move to 4-0-2. The upset of Boise State a year ago , when the Falcons turned over the Broncos seven times was an flawless example of that philosophy. He has team highs in carries (32), yards (185) and touchdowns (4).
MG: I’m not sure about losing two of the next three games – Air Force, Central Michigan and Purdue being the opponents.
Receiver Bralon Addison, who was named the Pac-12’s special teams player of the week on Monday, pointed to last season’s title game. Dantonio said he will ride the hot running back, and Madre London (162 yards rushing), along with LJ Scott (153), have both been productive. The offense averaged 5.0 yards per play so some progress after a nightmare start of the season for the Nittany Lions. Price and Aaron Hansford were in attendance Saturday along with a slew of 2017 prospects, and the group had to come away impressed with what they saw.
The Michigan State staff anticipated how hard it would be to prepare for Air Force. “We’ve got to work on those”, head coach Mark Dantonio said.
For the second year, a mock committee of 13 members, featuring college football writers from Michigan to Oregon, from Louisiana to Massachusetts, from Alabama to Ohio, will offer a weekly glimpse of how the committee might act. “Anytime you have a chance to go play somebody that’s very highly regarded and a great football team like they are, you get fired up”. The Falcons have their own version of the Bulloughs in the middle, with brothers Connor (senior) and Patrick Healy (junior) manning two inside linebacker spots in their 3-4 defense. It has forced them to focus and dial back in quickly.
As much as football programs are evaluated, ranked and relied upon due to their returning starters, the phenomenon of new stars emerging is what truly pushes teams over the top. But, Toledo did beat Arkansas last weekend and Jacksonville State lost to Auburn in overtime so anything is possible.