Michigan State is coming off a 28-14 victory against the Michigan Wolverines where Sparty looked every bit the part of a dominating Big Ten team. Their defense shut down Al Borges’ offense and kept the talented junior Denard Robinson in check. This week the Spartans take on another talented quarterback of moving the ball with his legs, Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson.
The Badgers have been tearing it up on offense as they steam roll opponent after opponent; churning up yards on the ground and taking advantage of teams putting extra players in the box by hitting receivers over the top. This offense has yet to meet 60 minutes of resistance from a defense and after dismantling a Nebraska team many thought would be a test the Badgers are now entering their next test.
In East Lansing you’ll find a defense that is top four in all four major statistical categories; the Spartans are first against the pass giving up 119 yards a game, third against the run surrendering just 67 yards a game, second overall allowing just 186 total yards per contest and fourth in scoring defense where opponents average just 10.83 points per game. This team is has a lot to crow about as they boast a physical, gritty defense that bullies their opponents into submission and plays tough football.
On paper the Spartans are the best test that Wisconsin is going to see this year as they are a team that appears to be in the same class defensively as Alabama, Oklahoma and LSU. On paper.
Fortunately games aren’t played on paper, their outcomes are determined on the field, between the white as this defense gets to prove their worth against Wisconsin. Originally when I decided to spotlight this game as our “Match Up Of The Week” I planned on outlining how the Spartans could stop Russell Wilson, James White, Montee Ball and the rest of this Badgers offense. How Pat Narduzzi could use a mix of spying, controlled pass rush and pressures to disrupt both the run and pass attack while keeping Russell Wilson underwraps.
However, as I watched more of the Michigan State defense the question did not become “how” they would scheme to stop Wilson and the Badgers, that answer was clear, rather “could” their scheme work. In squaring off against Braxton Miller and Denard Robinson in previous contests Narduzzi outlined a blueprint for what his defensive philosophy is with regards to mobile quarterbacks. That approach doesn’t differ heavily from his standard approach of blitzing and flushing the quarterbacks into the rush all works to force the issue. Especially if the Spartans are able to achieve their chief defensive goal of getting offenses off schedule.
Schedule?
Basically an offense is “on schedule” if they can get 6+ yards between first and second down. Stay in third and manageable to third and short situations. A third and four or less allows for run or pass options to be called. A big gain on first down for 6+ is even better as teams get a second down to push the ball vertical, run play action or run straight ahead towards the first down. Michigan State’s defense has been great at keeping teams off schedule. Forcing quarterback into third and longs where run is no longer an option and the blitzers and rushers are able to pin their ears back and attack the quarterback.
Sparty has a gameplan and they have had success with this scheme. The problem here?
Russell Wilson is not Braxton Miller or Denard Robinson. Russell Wilson is not the same athlete as either of these individuals; both Miller and Robinson outclass the fifth year senior who quarterbacks the Badgers. He’s not the size or speed combination that Braxton Miller brings to the Buckeyes. He’s not the pure speed burner who is untouchable in the open field that Denard Robinson is for the Wolverines. Nope, Russell isn’t as gifted athletically as either individual.
But damn the kid is a quarterback. Wilson isn’t a sideshow, he’s not a “give him the ball and just let him create” player. Wilson isn’t a baby, he’s not wide eyed staring confused at defensive looks that teams present him. Wilson identifies blitzers and possible pressure pre-snap. Wilson reads defenses and keeps his eyes downfield as he drops into the pocket. Wilson doesn’t take off running after his first read is no good. Wilson plays the quarterback position with poise and experience, even though he’s got a tremendous ability to move the ball and pick up yardage with his legs just like Miller and Robinson.
That is why Russell Wilson is likely the biggest challenge that this Michigan State defense will face on the season. Not only do they have to combat the already potent Wisconsin rushing attack but they have to keep an eye on Wilson in the process. This will not be like the game against Ohio State where the Spartans were able to confuse the freshman Braxton Miller, force him into misreading pressures, not understanding the fronts and creating problems for him in coverage. This will not be like the contest Saturday against Michigan where Sparty got Denard Robinson off schedule, forced the junior to try and beat them with his arm while flushing him with pressure into a more controlled pass rush.
There will most certainly be areas of opportunity for Russell Wilson both within the constructs of the offense and as a free lancer once the plays breakdown. In watching the Spartans last few games there are several things that showed as glaring weaknesses for the white and green; stopping a team committed to the run between the tackles, zone coverage lapses and issues in one on one coverage situations.
Notre Dame abused the Spartans on the ground, breaking big runs and pushing this Michigan State defensive front seven around. Against Ohio State and Michigan there were egregious lapses in zone schemes leaving windows of opportunity that Miller and Robinson missed more often than not. With Narduzzi’s aggressive scheme the corners and safeties are often left on an island or covering large swarths of field and when that happens players are capable of getting open and exploiting their leverage.
Russell Wilson is a quarterback capable of hitting players in those zones. He’s a more skilled passer than either Miller or Robinson and as Michigan State leaves holes by trying to pressure the senior he is going to make them pay dearly.
So what must Michigan State do to keep this game close and force the issue, ultimately hoping to pull out the win the same way they did in East Lansing just a season ago?
First and foremost those blitzes that are dialed up have to get to the quarterback. That’s easier said than done against a very elusive Russell Wilson but if the blitzers come to balance, run to the deepest hip of the deepest back, secure the tackle and hang on for the calvary they will be able to see some success duplicating their gameplan from a season ago. Disrupting Wilson can throw a wrench in the Badgers’ play action passing, their vertical throwing game and Wilson’s overall comfort level.
It worked a year ago as Scott Tolzien was pressured, hit after throwing and flushed out of the pocket into making poor passes and throwing the ball away. The Spartans also stopped the run quite well by getting penetration on run blitzes and playing “eleven hats to the ball” football. That’s the type of effort that Michigan State is going to have to duplicate to capitalize on the opportunity presented in the form of Wisconsin on Saturday night.
The issue is, especially without Mr. Everything on defense Will Gholston, after watching the Spartans play I just don’t know if they can play well enough to beat Wisconsin. Sure they did it a year ago with fabulous defensive play, holding the Badgers to their lowest yardage total since Iowa 2009. But that was with Greg Jones manning the middle, Gholston on the edge and their win was aided by the strength of a Keshawn Martin punt return touchdown.
Oh and they didn’t play Russell Wilson.
It is going to take a monumental effort from this defense, not just in stopping the run or being more disciplined in the backend. Those issues goe without saying. What is going to be critical is the way this defense handles Russell Wilson when the quarterback is pressed into action. Thanks to the transfer I think this Badgers team sees a much different outcome than they did a season ago.
