+3/-3/Coaches Corner/Crystal Ball from MSU's Holiday Bowl victory,

1. A 10 win season, the 6th one of Dantonio’s career. This one might be the sweetest. After the 18 month dumpster fire that started with the Alabama blow-out, then 3-9, then all the off the field issues, turned into beating Michigan, Penn State, winning 10 games, and a bowl game, is really something else. There was plenty of doubting of Mark Dantonio and Michigan State football during those 18 months. Fools. Those questioning one of the greatest coaches, regardless of sport, in Michigan State history, fools. He deserved the heat for the 3 win season and he was 100% the man to turn it around. And he did. Much faster than many expected. This team and program showed amazing resilience

2. Brian Lewerke. 286 yards of total offense, 3 TD’s, and 0 turnovers. After starting 0/5 and very shaky, went 10/11 to end the first half, making plays in the option game, scrambling and finding players down field, and then some great accuracy. Throwing to targets like Felton Davis and Cody White also helps. With all the moving parts that you have with a football team from year to year, it’s awfully nice to know who will be your QB the next 2 years in East Lansing.

3. The defense played 3 really good quarters. While it would’ve been a different game against Falk, the scheme is still one that has given MSU trouble in the past (NW this year). MSU tackled well in space, kept bodies in front of them, and was well-prepared to play against this “Air Raid” offense. Because it was Helinski, it’s taken with a grain of salt, but there were still plenty of positives to take away from and build on on that side of the ball.

-3

1. Washington State injuries/DQ’s played a large role in the game. Falk out clearly hurt a very prolific pass offense. I’m not going to cry too much for dismissing their top WR, that’s a program/discipline issue, which MSU didn’t have any since their last game. Hercules missing the first half due to targeting in the “Apple Cup,” impacted MSU’s 21 first half points. Always want two teams to play full strength and we didn’t see it tonight.

2. QB pressure from the front 4 was not great. As this team heads into next year, the ability of the front 4 to get to the passer is towards the top of the list of things that need to improve.

3. The targeting call on Josiah Scott. Joel Klatt completely nailed it. If that tackle with your shoulder has to be a penalty in today’s game, so be it. But to eject a player for that call is a joke. For all the great that college football is, targeting is the achilles heel. As Klatt said, they need to separate that call into two types. The malicious helmet to helmet where the defender catapults himself or the kind that Scott was called for. They don’t all have to be ejections.

Coaches Corner

* Have a day, Dave Warner. The 21 points in the 2nd quarter, against the 14th defense in the nation, was as good of a quarter of MSU offense vs. that level of competition as I can remember. MSU ran the ball 22 times for 102 in the first half, but it was the diversity of the run plays that was key. Jet sweeps, QB power, options, lead, power, you name it, we saw it out of the MSU run game. The sequence where he called option on 3rd and 7, picked up 10, then option pass for a 50 yard TD was pure genius.

Crystal Ball

1. For a team that started 2 seniors (Frey/Allen), there is excitement for both the 2018 and 2019 seasons in East Lansing. While Joel Klatt listed MSU as a possible preseason top 10 team next year, I think that might be a little high. The #1 group that needs to improve is offensive line. But running the ball for 227 yards tonight was a really good jumpstart into next year. Pass rush on the D-Line would be next. Those two groups take a big step forward and I can see it. But I think preseason 15ish would be fair but the ceiling is very high for the next 2 seasons.

2. When you look at position groups for next year, I’m sure most are most excited about WR (Rison/Davis/White). Those young DT’s are going to be fun to watch improve. How can you not be excited about Lewerke? But, I’ll take Justin Layne and Josiah Scott at CB. Those are two that were thrown out there over the last two seasons and just got better and better as the year went on, with Scott being a freshmen All-American. Cornerback is the position I’m most excited about for next year.

3. My guess on odds that these juniors return for next year….80% Felton Davis returns and we find out that LJ Scott will be back!

MISC

* Well, our pregame “6-Pack” preview had some right and had some wrong: https://unovisit.wixsite.com/unofficial-visit/single-post/2017/12/28/A-6-Pack-of-Game-Predictions-on-MSU-vs-Washington-State. Score wrong, winning team correct. Most surprised by how MSU moved the ball up and down the field against a very good Washington State defense. What we did have right was that MSU seemed to be the more stable, focused, prepared, and motivated football team. That was obvious from the onset. Something didn’t seem quite right with Washington State and it certainly wasn’t.