Sparty

[socalhawkeye198]

I haven't seen a lot of MSU this year, other than some of the Wisconsin game and some of the Michigan game, and I'd like to hear your take on them. I think they play a lot like the Hawks, but I get the sense that they are a little more inclined to put their foot on the gas, even if they have the lead.

What say you? What's good, bad and different about the Spartans?

 

[VintageHawkeye]

Sparty has the luxury of having a fleet of quality running backs who have, so far, stayed healthy (the killer b's plus Caper).
Cousins and his receivers are not gamebreakers, but they won't hurt the team either.
Defensively, they are stout. Greg Jones is legit, as everyone knows.

If Iowa had more RB depth, we'd be very similar to Sparty. We have a better QB and receiving corps (incl TE). I think we have a better overall Defense, too, although that is debatable after yesterday.

I didn't foresee our game with Spfarty as potentially being for all the B10 marbles way back in preseason, but it looks like it might end up that way.

 

[homerHAWKeye777]

I haven't seen a lot of MSU this year, other than some of the Wisconsin game and some of the Michigan game, and I'd like to hear your take on them. I think they play a lot like the Hawks, but I get the sense that they are a little more inclined to put their foot on the gas, even if they have the lead.

What say you? What's good, bad and different about the Spartans?

I don't think that it's an issue of Sparty being more inclined to put their foot on the gas. I think that it's simply more the issue that they're deeper at RB and TE than Iowa currently is. As a result, their O executes better late in the game, even with the backups in.

MSU's "backup" RBs are Bell (#2) and Caper (#3) ... all of whom are pretty darn experienced by this point in the season.

In contrast, Iowa's backups are good ... but not at all experienced.

Furthermore, currently it would seem that Herman is injured at TE. In contrast, MSU has Lithicum and Celek as backups to Gantt. And, their depth would have been even more impressive had Sims not been a criminal.

 

[drew003]

I think they are a lot like us. They can't just show-up an out-talent teams. But they are talented, physical, veteran, and play assignment sure football.

The difference between MSU, UW, and Iowa is minimal. These games will come down turnovers, no mental mistakes, and special teams.

 

[socalhawkeye198]

Interesting thoughts. Sounds like we might be at a slight disadvantage personnel-wise, which as against both Sparty and Bucky will make two factors very important - these games are in Kinnick, and many of these Hawks are accustomed to playing in, and winning, close games.

 

[CallMeDragon]

and Spartans have not played a game outside of the state yet...i could see NW giving them a good test.

 

[kicker22]

and Spartans have not played a game outside of the state yet...i could see NW giving them a good test.

Hope someone does because the way it looks on paper if we don't be them then they could run the table.

 

[tm3308]

Sparty has the luxury of having a fleet of quality running backs who have, so far, stayed healthy (the killer b's plus Caper).
Cousins and his receivers are not gamebreakers, but they won't hurt the team either.
Defensively, they are stout. Greg Jones is legit, as everyone knows.

If Iowa had more RB depth, we'd be very similar to Sparty. We have a better QB and receiving corps (incl TE). I think we have a better overall Defense, too, although that is debatable after yesterday.

I didn't foresee our game with Spfarty as potentially being for all the B10 marbles way back in preseason, but it looks like it might end up that way.

Dell and Cunningham are both very good receivers (big with good hands, kind of like McNutt), and Keshawn Martin is a gamebreaker (he's a threat to score every time he touches the ball). That receiving corps can hurt us big time.