That was more difficult than it should have been. Michigan should have blown out MSU by more than 22 points. Offensively, the Spartans couldn’t do anything more than toss prayer balls up to 6’4″, 215 lb. wide receiver Keon Coleman, who had a great game with 5 catches for 155 yards and 1 touchdown. MSU averaged 4.75 yards per offensive player, a lower average than any game except when Ohio State held them to 4.21. But somehow a team ranked in the 100s in most pass defense categories held J.J. McCarthy to 15/25 completions, 167 yards, and 1 touchdown. The lack of a passing game forced Michigan to call on kicker Jake Moody 5 times, and he kicked 5 field goals, including a 54-yarder. It was a beating, but not as decisive as I wanted.
RUSH OFFENSE vs. MSU RUSH DEFENSE Michigan is tied at #7 in yards per game (241.71) nationally. Coincidentally, UAB has the exact same number of attempts (293) and yards (1,692) this season. Bell cow running back Blake Corum has 901 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns, and backup Donovan Edwards went wild against Penn State two weeks ago and now averages 7.1 yards/carry with 4 touchdowns this season. The offensive line has noticeably improved since the beginning of the season, even with Karsen Barnhart taking over at right tackle for the injured Trente Jones. Michigan State is #80 in rushing defense (153.3 yards allowed/game) and gives up a statistically mediocre (#65 nationally ) 4.0 yards per game. One of their best defensive players, nose tackle Jacob Slade (6’4″, 305), missed four games earlier this year, but he returned for the game against Wisconsin on October 15. Sophomore linebacker Cal Haladay (6’1″, 230) leads the team with 58 tackles, and cornerback Kendell Brooks (6’0″, 215) is second with 57. Former Wolverine Ben VanSumeren is third on the team with 53 stops. The advantage here is clearly Michigan’s. Advantage: Michigan
Let’s see more of this guy . . . Andrel Anthony. Anthony pulled a Ricky White and came out of nowhere to have a huge game. He caught 6 passes for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns. Both touchdowns were spectacular, with one 93-yard catch-and-run and a Moss-ing.
Do more. Say less. I’m pulling out the phrase from John Beilein’s basketball team from several years ago, but there’s a mentality permeating Michigan that Michigan State is the “little brother” and they’re a giant mess. I see this happening on Twitter, among parents, among former players, among Michigan-centric radio personalities, etc. You absolutely will not find it here. I don’t think Michigan’s players took the opponent lightly – they played hard – but I don’t know if Michigan’s 50/50 fortunes against MSU are going to change until the Spartans program gets more respect. I know a lot of people love him, but I hated when then running back (and current running backs coach) Mike Hart disrespected the Spartans in 2007 by calling them “little brother.” (Of course, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio’s response was equally childish if not more so, considering he was in his 40’s or 50’s at the time.) The rivalry has not been the same since then, and I really do think that comment was more significant than what some want to admit.
Sep 3, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs with the ball against the Northwestern Wildcats during the fourth quarter at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
RUSH OFFENSE vs. MSU RUSH DEFENSE Michigan is now #5 in rushing offense (253 yards/game) and #14 in rushing average (5.46 yards/carry). They’re also #3 in the country with 25 rushing touchdowns. Both of Michigan’s running backs are on pace to gain 1,000+ yards during the regular season, which would be the first time two players top that mark since 2011 (Denard Robinson, Fitzgerald Toussaint). That won’t be easy to achieve considering the tough opponents down the stretch, but it’s still impressive to be on that pace after seven games. Up front the success may depend on the health of the offensive line, where left guard Trevor Keegan and right guard Zak Zinter both missed last week’s game due to injury. Michigan State is #29 in rushing defense (119 yards allowed/game) and #22 in yards allowed per carry (3.27). The top two leading tacklers are senior safety Xavier Henderson (6’1″, 210) and sophomore safety Angelo Grose (5’10”, 180), followed by junior linebacker Quavaris Crouch (6’2″, 230), a Tennessee transfer that Michigan pursued heavily in the 2019 class; they have 60, 53, and 52 stops, respectively. Henderson leads the team in non-quarterback takedowns behind the line with 5 so far this season. Redshirt junior Jacob Slade (6’4″, 315) doesn’t make many plays but he stops things up well, and redshirt freshman Simeon Barrow (6’2″, 285) is more of the penetrator. It’s not going to be easy sledding, but I expect Michigan to have some success running the ball. Advantage: Michigan
