When Michigan State has the Ball:

This is the match-up that has Spartan fans salivating for this weekend.  They all have watched Michigan’s defense struggle (to put it mildly) against opponents that none would confuse for offensive juggernauts.

The State offense has been solid so far this year while putting up over 36 points per game.  On the flip side, Michigan’s defense is giving up over 25 points a game despite just finishing the easiest stretch in their schedule.

Rush Offense:

Michigan State has been extremely effective so far running the ball.  The Spartans come into the game averaging an impressive 220 yards per game on the ground (20^th nationally).  Michigan, through five games, has given up just over 125 yards per game on the ground.

An impressive tandem of tailbacks in sophomore Edwin Baker and true freshman Le’Veon Bell leads the Spartan rushing attack.  Both Baker and Bell are averaging over 7 yards per carry so far this season.  Baker, the expected starter going into the season, has had a few more carries so far this season than Bell, but Bell has been the biggest surprise of the Spartan offense.  Bell has great size for a running back at 6’2” 230 pounds and has shown tremendous ability to use his size breaking tackles.  His physical running style combined with solid speed is definitely cause for concern for the Wolverine defense. 

It will be very interesting to see how Michigan’s uncharacteristic 3-man front holds up against a power-rushing attack like the one that Michigan State will bring to Ann Arbor.  Mike Martin will do his job in the middle but the game might ultimately be decided (and what a scary thought this is) by the ability of Michigan’s linebackers to diagnose plays at the line and fill the proper run gaps.  If ever a time were necessary for Obi Ezeh to snap out of a four year funk, it would be this weekend for this game.  However, considering I’ve given up on Obi, I would not be entirely shocked to see Ezeh struggle and be replaced by Kenny Demens.  It is imperative for the Michigan run defense that Jonas Mouton play up to his ability and find a way to be the disruptive force that we all know he is capable of being.

Greg Banks will need to have a much better game for Michigan this week and it is absolutely crucial the Ryan Van Bergen hold up at the point of attack.   Van Bergen has been quiet so far and it is time for him to step up and have a big game this weekend.

Michigan State is going to do everything they can to establish a punishing ground game and keep the ball away from the potent Michigan offense.  This match-up might be the key to the whole game, as Michigan’s defense simply cannot allow State to grind out yards and chew up 7-8 minutes of clock on each and every scoring drive.

Pass Offense

Kirk Cousins has taken his fair share of criticism but I am firmly in the camp that the guy is a good starting quarterback.  Cousins threw two picks last week against the Badgers but made all the big-time plays when the Spartans needed him in the second half.  This week he faces off against a Michigan defense that just might be one of the worst in the country given the wonderful schemes being contrived by Greg Robinson right now.

Cousins does not lack weapons to throw to as the Spartans have a solid crew of wide receivers.  The receiving numbers are pretty equally divided between Mark Dell, Keshawn Martin, and B.J. Cunningham.  Martin is not a large wide receiver but he has the type of speed (as evidenced by his return touchdown last weekend) that could give Michigan’s defense (Jordan Kovacs) absolute fits out of the slot position.  Cunningham and Dell are both bigger receivers (6’2”) that should enjoy solid size advantages over J.T. Floyd and James Rogers.  The Spartans also have an effective weapon at tight end in Charlie Gantt who should have no trouble finding open seams in the middle of Michigan’s defense.

With Michigan stuck in the 3-man front, it is crucial that they dial up the right blitz packages in the right situations this weekend.  When Cousins was afforded too much time in last years game he routinely was able to pick up 15+ yards on quarterback runs as all 8 Wolverines that dropped into coverage were nowhere within the same zip code as the line of scrimmage.  I definitely expect Michigan to use more of the 3-man front package where Mike Martin bounces out to end this weekend, as they were able to have some modest success with it against the Hoosiers.

Michigan must find a way to get Craig Roh involved this weekend.  I feel like they’ve essentially taken him away from his god-given pass rushing talent by forcing him to cover as a linebacker, which he is quite clearly ill-suited to do.  Mouton will need to apply pressure off the edges when called upon and for the love of god please never blitz our only competent corner in J.T. Floyd.

James Rogers will not make it through this game as the starting boundary corner.  Expect an assortment of freshman to all get their crack at his job this weekend.  Kovacs must be kept close to the line to help against the run as he had one of his best games last year against MSU when this was all he was called upon to do.  Cam Gordon must play his most disciplined game at deep safety this weekend as the Spartans will assuredly try to get the play-action game rolling while exploiting the seams up the middle of the Michigan defense.

I’m hopeful that Michigan will be better against a more traditional passing team like State but I can’t help but shudder when I think back to the UMass game and how frequently play-action totally gashed the Michigan defense.

As will be the motto all season, the Michigan defense just needs to get their key stops here and there in order to let Denard and the offense do their thing.