The latest example of media stupidity is this following blog post from Jim Miller a former State QB who now works for the MSU Official Spartan Sports Network:
This Game is Already Over!
I state that because football has always been a game of force. Michigan is not a team of force at certain positions any more. Former coach Jerry Hanlon's statement is telling because he is acknowledging Michigan does not have the players to win the physical battles that they once dominated traditionally. Name me one Michigan defender who is dominant? Name me one offensive lineman? Name me a running back? Oh, my bad, that would be their quarterback Deanard Robinson!
Michigan expects a beat down and Michigan State is more than willing to give it! Michigan's defense has been a sieve for more than two years. UMass lit them up for 37 points! So what do you think State is going to do? If they counted triple doubles in football, this game would set the bar. MSU could potentially rush for 400 yards and throw for another 300. Controlling the clock is paramount for Michigan State along with not turning over the football, but this is as close to a practice as "routes on air", because Michigan's defense is nonexistent.
Defensively, everyone has been asking me how do you defend Denard Robinson? He is a tremendous player, but he is just one player to defend. I believe his Heisman hopes come to a crashing halt this weekend. You spy Denard with the best middle linebacker in the country, Greg Jones. You give him one job, which is to seek and destroy. If it is not Greg, it will be Eric Gordan, or safeties Trenton Robinson or Marcus Hyde. Somebody will always have Denard accounted for and they are all guys that can run. They outweigh Denard and all MSU defenders who have the opportunity, will be instructed to deliver punishment. Denard is frail at 180 lbs. You slow players like him down by physical abuse.
State needs to show up in the right frame of mind with a sense of purpose. That purpose, is to deliver a message to all one hundred thousand plus sitting in their plush new renovated stadium. You have to be a complete team to compete in the Big Ten! You have to be a tough team to compete in the Big Ten! You have to be a dominant team to win the Big Ten! Helpful reminders from "Big Brother" to Michigan about straying from their roots as a football program will be on display Saturday.
Jim, let me first correct your mistakes in your post:
- Denard is 193 pounds.
- Mike Martin on Michigan's defensive line is playing like an All American.
- I would like to introduce you to two Michigan offensive lineman: David Molk is Michigan's center and playing at an All Big Ten pace. There is a new comer to this game, a guy named Taylor Lewan who is a 6'8 300 pound redshirt freshman. He wears Jake Long's former number. Since you probably don't know who Jake Long is, he is basically Tony Mandrich without the "juice".
Now to the biggest mistake you made. Why would you try to motive the Wolverines this weekend? Michigan has plenty motivation to play hard but this will be all over Schembechler Hall today. Jim you work for MSU and to say things like: but this is as close to a practice as "routes on air", because Michigan's defense is nonexistent, is just plain stupid. Do you think an MSU coach would say this? I don't.
I'm not going to write that Michigan has a strong defense but writing that the Spartans don't have to show up and can win the game, is crazy talk. A classic mistake for a program that really knows what it takes to compete in the Big Ten. Funny stuff!
