The Takeaway: Michigan State

Raise your hand if you saw Stanzi throwing the fewest interceptions per pass of any quarterback in the nation six months ago. Now put your hand down, liar. Why you gotta lie?

Even in my most homerish Iowa rants I would have never thought that Ricky could do what he has done this year. His play is almost depressing to me due to our two losses. How do we have two losses with him playing so well. If this team keeps progressing how they are now and does not get to represent the Big Ten in a BCS bowl it is going to be a sad day for the Big Ten.

But he also didn’t give up the big one. Since when don’t we play with that type of cushion on the corner? I think it gives the QB a false sense of “ok, now we’re going to do deep” or make him want more. When he does (and as Cousins did) Prater jumped all over it.

Has the team turned the corner where they are now going to play up to their true potential?

What had been the problem? Motivation? Coherence?

After this week’s showing I certainly feel much more confident than I did just 1 week earlier. 2 very winnable road games where we will be favored and then a world class showdown at home vs the Buckeyes (where we might actually be favored by 3.)

Any chance of jNW or Michigan picking off Wisconsin?

Does anyone remember ever seeing a Ferentz team so thoroughly and utterly dominate such a good team?

I was expecting him to half his output of Rick-sixes from last year. That he has done much, much better than that is a credit to him and his American work ethic. I can see him playing in a Super Bowl some day.

but a quarter of the time he’s projecting talent to the next level on the air, i think he should stick to what he know: play by play. He’s still a joke in my mind

I could practically sense his energy it was amazing. That was only the 2nd time in my college career that I’ve gotten down that low to the field and the other time was the 2007 directional Michigan game, so yeah this was was pretty spectacular in comparison.

I predicted Stanzi would improve, perhaps drastically so. Can I get internet points?

CBS Sports has him as a 5th round pick, but I gotta believe if him keeps up this efficiency rate, that he’ll be one of the first quarterbacks to go. What are pro scouts saying about him?

His stuffing of the MSU back in the gap on the right side, on MSU’s first or second drive on third and short, set the tone for the run defense. It looked a lot like Pat Angerer’s stop last year at the goal line in the third quarter, a little less violent, maybe, but same kind of stop, and I think same run play.

The back-up LBs were my big concern going in, and they showed up strong, especially Morris.

that was a huge play, because it was Sparty’s first drive of the game, and watching Morris stuff him on a 3rd and 1 certainly set the tone.

That was the best run defense that Iowa has played all year by far – 20 carries for 31 yards total on the ground, and that total only includes one sack.

just to figure out who was playing LB. At one point I was “who the hell is 97?” then I I’m like"who is 33?" then I head slap and say “What the hell Tarp is back!!” Then I had to go to the mens room – too many Bud Light tall boys at Stella’s.

DJK didn’t get a catch. 1 more catch and he passes Kevin Kasper for all time receptions. It would have been nice to see him get more than 1 target (from McNutt) and maybe get the record in front of the home crowd (mostly I wanted to see it in person).

Calling those 2 time-outs in the final minute of the 1st half – when Sparty was pinned back on the student end of the field — really allowed Iowa to carry their momentum into the half. 1.) It sends a message to his Defense that he believes in them, thinks they can make a play, and possibly score. Huge psychological boost for Iowa there, especially when Kirk is known to be so uber conservative and 2.) showed he was not just whistling Dixie in his mea culpa concerning clock management earlier in the week. 3.) Got all up in Dantonio’s head

Then let’s go to a 3-4 for half of the game. Crazy? LIKE A FOX!

Not sure what I learned there. But I think it’s important.

Heavy on the hoping, that Stanzi would cut his picks in half this year, and I figured I was being madly, blindly, optimistic. There’s been a few balls that should have been grabbed this year, but there haven’t been anything like the number needed for him to get back on his pace for last year.

On a completely unrelated note, I voted for Prop 19 out here in CA today.

he has thrown some bad balls this year. there were at least two passes that were bad during the MSU game that turned into great gains because of the recievers. McNutt’s one handed catch and the play where the TE basically caught it with the defender, powered the ball away from the other guy, and ran it 60 yards for almost a TD.

so instead of 9/15 with a possible INT, he was 11/15 just because of great recieving. McNutt in particular has had just some rediculious catches this year. but hey, it takes two to tango and both sides deserve big props.

I saw Saturday as a statement game the Hawks made to themselves. They suffered losses in two tough but winnable games. There was a hint of doubt in the air over Hawkeye Nation. So I wonder if the message going in to Saturday was that the players needed to decide how they would define the season. Do they quit? Do they get back after it? Whatever the choice, it was up to them.

That’s not to say I’m calling them chokers, losers or anything of the like. I just saw a different spirit on Saturday. Kind of like: “We’re better than a 2-loss team. Let’s go out and prove it.”

Barring an unlikely series of unusual events, a BCS title shot is out of the works. But a BCS game is very much in play. A Big 10 title is very much in play. If the Hawks stay in “prove it” mode from here on out they’ll play somewhere warm in January and hoist a Big 10 title.

Also, Ricky has earned a look in the NFL. Hopefully he’ll go somewhere that won’t screw him up COUGH ~ New England, Indianapolis ~ COUGH.

Q: What is your plan out there? What is the first thing you want to do against an offensive lineman?
A: Hit them in the mouth early and let them know it’s going to be a long day.
Q: Is it that simple?
A: Yeah.

from today’s player interviews: http://www.youtube.com/user/Sourcemgnews#p/u/2/sZZ8r0URADk

Get up at least two TDs quickly, and then keep the gas pedal to the floor… and then bring out Coker and fucking run their defense over. I’d be perfectly happy with a winning score in the 20s, as long as we keep them locked down.

But then I kind of disagree. He did have a fine game and the reason msu threw slants his way all day was because that’s all that was working for them. Now, an exceptional corner would have jumped in front of one of those…so I can see how it may be a little bogus that he won it. Morris played terrific especially when you consider his inexperience…but I’m still glad to see prater get some love. But let’s give the guy a little credit…

Also while I was typing this a typed preter and I lol’d…possible nickname for prater?