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Only a few days away. This game feels really big. You hope one game does not have that type of effect win or lose, but I am afraid it does in a lot of ways. Dogs lose this one in a lopsided score and it could be tough to recover.

I don't think State has ever played an ABC game before or am I wrong ?

Hard to tell what'll happen week one. I don't see it being a close game. Either we get our doors blown off or we work up a #6 on em similar to the bowl game vs Michigan.

Who knows, don't call your bookies til week 3.

Greenhead22 wrote:I don't think State has ever played an ABC game before or am I wrong ?

If they have i certainly do not remember it.

We are -13 underdogs. Unless we got a new qb that we have been keeping a complete secret I don't even see it being a close game.

Rice wrote:We are -13 underdogs. Unless we got a new qb that we have been keeping a complete secret I don't even see it being a close game.

this^^^

if state has to take to the air. i don't see it being close

Who knows, but if you think they have more talent than we do on paper, look at recruiting rankings over the last four years...it's a dead heat. They also lost their starting LT to an ACL tear this week. Several "experts" pick OSU as one of the most overrated teams in the country. We shall see.

QB is not the problem...WR is the question mark.

Dawgs will win, and I will be there. It will be awesome.

Rice wrote:We are -13 underdogs. Unless we got a new qb that we have been keeping a complete secret I don't even see it being a close game.

Dang son tell us how you really feel. You played with him so I will not question your thoughts. I don't think he is a bad qb myself if given time and some decent play calling. I find it funny that Quay and Nick couldn't make the 2 man depth chart. Suspensions or overhyped I don't know? Sometimes I feel good about this game and other times I feel like we don't have a chance who knows?

davidees wrote:QB is not the problem...WR is the question mark.

I do not agree with this. I think Tyler Russel at QB forces us to play to his strengths which is throwing the ball around. If we had 4 and 5 star skill players all around that may be fine. A ball control offense with a QB who can and will run which also keeps our defense fresh is better suited when your talent level is what MSU regularly has year in and year out. You can go back 30+ years of MSU football....the teams we have thought of as being successful ALL had a good quality SEC level defense; a ball control, clock running, error free, ground oriented offense, and good punter + field goal kickers. Like him or not, JWS had this down. He played field position and clock control as good as anyone.

I like the fact that Russel has experience and can do some things at QB that we are not accustomed to seeing MSU QBs do, but that still does not <bridge> the gap in talent level across the field between us and a LSU or Bama. What bridges that gap better than anything is the recruitment in #s of the same level of talent as those schools. Until then what <bridges> that gap is great defense and ball control offense. You have to play blue collar football if most of your players are blue collar type talent.

I agree to some degree, but I think our skill set a wr has improved in the past few years. If you look at who we have on the field now and who we had in the croom era it is night and day difference. There was a guy trying to do just what you are talking about. The wr we had then were the Will Prossors and Omar Conners. I think Dan has been able to beef up the talent at wr. I am not saying that they are in the top of the sec, but they can play ball. I happen to be a guy who likes Tyler and what he can do with the ball. He needs time and someone calling plays that has a sense of direction with it. It is not the offensive scheme that bothers me just the play calling. It's like close your eyes and point to a play in the book. We shall see but I think we are ok on that side of the ball to me. D is what worries me.

OSU's top QB left, lost 3 starting seniors on the OL plus the ACL tear this week, State will need to blitz a lot and apply tons of pressure. Our rookie corners are going to need some help.

SWAG wrote:

davidees wrote:QB is not the problem...WR is the question mark.

I do not agree with this. I think Tyler Russel at QB forces us to play to his strengths which is throwing the ball around. If we had 4 and 5 star skill players all around that may be fine. A ball control offense with a QB who can and will run which also keeps our defense fresh is better suited when your talent level is what MSU regularly has year in and year out. You can go back 30+ years of MSU football....the teams we have thought of as being successful ALL had a good quality SEC level defense; a ball control, clock running, error free, ground oriented offense, and good punter + field goal kickers. Like him or not, JWS had this down. He played field position and clock control as good as anyone.

I like the fact that Russel has experience and can do some things at QB that we are not accustomed to seeing MSU QBs do, but that still does not <bridge> the gap in talent level across the field between us and a LSU or Bama. What bridges that gap better than anything is the recruitment in #s of the same level of talent as those schools. Until then what <bridges> that gap is great defense and ball control offense. You have to play blue collar football if most of your players are blue collar type talent.

Tyler can play in a ball control offense, but MSU MUST be able to run the ball. They don't have to throw the ball around just because TR can throw...if MSU chooses to throw the ball around because they think they can, then the problem is with the offensive play calling. To that end I will say that a spread option style QB fits Dan's offensive style better. Just my 2 cents.

I am just saying he is a nice guy just doesn't have the "IT" who gives a $#!+ how he threw the first 7 games against eastern South Dakota tech. When it comes time to bring the A game not ONCE has he ever done it. I am a realist in life I don't believe saying he is good will all of the sudden make him good. For every 1 decent pass he has he has about 8 that you are screaming wtf at the tv for. And God forbid that turtle have to scramble around like he did the end of the game in the bowl last year. I am dead serious when I say this I wouldn't be shocked at all of at some point another qb took over and Tyler never saw the field again.