MSU blitzed on the winning touchdown play in overtime and NU picked it up. Jackson made a key block but the interior line held fast so the receiver (Nagel) could come all the way across the field.
MSU Game Rewatch Thoughts
- Thread starter gocatsgo2003
- Start date
Interesting factoid I heard on the BTN show last night:
MSU set school records for passing against NU, last year and this season, and lost both games. I though that was cool!
MSU set school records for passing against NU, last year and this season, and lost both games. I though that was cool!
MSU blitzed a decent amount against us. They weren't jail break blitzes but they did blitz.
Lat year, that play was very ineffective. This year it was better but then we stopped trying it. As you say, 5 times for an 11 yd average. Last year I dreaded seeing it. This year not so much. Is Jelani in the doghouse for something besides the fumble?
Certainly did. Bltizes make less of an imprint on game watches when they are picked up, as they often were by our line and JJ.
The OL picked up several blitzes very well early on, and MSU seemed to move away from it (they still blitzed, just not as often).
That said, difficult to say how they performed, given that Clayton did a fantastic job of getting the ball out of his hand quickly (with a h/t to McCall for smart playcalling), meaning MSU did not have time to get to the QB. OL only had to hold their blocks a short period of time. The backs also did a nice job in chipping / picking up blitzers.
This game was a good example of how all the offensive positions work together to avoid sacks, and with smart playcalling, can mitigate a poor pass-blocking line. Lots of quick passes were called, QB released the ball quickly, RB picked up blitzers, WR got separation and OL was able to hold blocks just long enough.
On the surface, I get what you are saying, based on the first few carries this year. I'll tell you this though - there is a reason why the coaches aren't giving him touches - he is a fumble waiting to happen.
It's great that he is gaining 10-15 yards at a time, but given the fact that he has not shown an ability to hold on to the ball on even basic hits, can't/won't slip his shoulders to lessen impacts of other hits, and thinks he is Venric and won't go out of bounds, no one is going to trust him with the rock.
Plus, it is one thing against the MWC and MAC defenses, but Big10 defenses can literally (not figuratively) kill him.
That said, two things: 1) Arc Motion and Jet Sweeps are a great way to mitigate Ifeadi-type edge rushers and I was surprised we didn't at least use him as a decoy against PSU and Wisky and 2) I really, really miss Solomon Vault. He may have gone down at first touch but he is just as fast and hangs on to the ball, and brings that dimension.
I don't know if this is true, but it seems Riley Lees has run more sweeps than Jelani this year. Lees is supposed to be fast, but he does have a unique gait - not that it matters. Just another useless observation.
Seems like the switch to the quick horizontal passing game has backed off the blitzes..as well as the empty backfield and quick releases to Jackson......keeping the linebackers in kind of a pass protection......I am wondering what the adaption to that will be? seems to me that there was someone last year that blitzed every time we emptied the backfield and made CT find the right guy in a hurry.....that seems to have been UWs plan as well...They intimidated me just watching on TV....Seems like they looked like a blitz every play but you never knew from where ....Seems that we have done a good job adjusting to our weaknesses and inability to run the ball...know it will be interesting to see if othe Ds will do something to adapt or if we anticipate and stay ahead of the game
Play calling did help, but OL played reasonably well. Still think getting JB back in there gave us a dog. McCalls best game by a landslide.
Dare I say...next year’s OL - slotting Thomas in for North and not messing with the other four spots could be serviceable? The key will be developing the next group that will be needed to replace the three juniors when they graduate. I’m onboard with some sort of coaching move to address our OL recruiting and development.
Neither do I, however we have certainly had some major misses over the last few years. Those misses, combined with some injuries and the lack of player development brings us to our current state.
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