Preview - Spartans 2009 Game 7: Northwestern

SpartyMSU is starting our Early look at each Spartan Game...
and how the Spartans will March to 12 - 1 in 2009

Northwestern
Oct. 17, Noon EST : in East Lansing (Homecoming Game)

Sure Glad the Spartans are playing in East Lansing this year against the Wild Cats..  Ryan Stadium is a ghost town.. Look at the pictures.. sure your eyes are drawn to the gal, and the players.. but look behind them.. its empty… 



Locally they seem to be aware of a lack of fan support, as represented in this ChicagoTrib article.
“Northwestern officials expect to draw a crowd of about 30,000, which would leave more than 17,000 empty seats at the recently renovated stadium.  And 30,000 would be a nice boost from previous games this season — 20,015 for Syracuse, 19,062 in a monsoon against Southern Illinois, 22,069 for Ohio……   

But since the late ’90s, Northwestern has drawn well only when the visiting team floods the turnstiles. The scene at the 2006 game against Ohio State looked more like a 1950s communist rally.”   http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/oct/09/sports/chi-10-greenstein-college-footba--dot--ar0oct10

So, it’s a plus that they are playing in East Lansing, both from a revenue standpoint and for the Spartan crowd noise…  You would think a Big Ten University with such lofty credentials as Northwester and proximity to one of the hugest metroplexs in the U.S. of A.: Chi-Town, would draw better. Ryan stadium holds 41K+ . Heck, doesn’t even Purdue and Indiana draw bigger crowds ? Something ain’t right. Maybe they ought to put some of the brainiac MBA CoEds to work on a marketing plan. Save this for a later day.

As for their schedule, its very favorable. Before Northwestern heads to East Lansing they play: Towson, Eastern Michigan, Syracuse, Minnesota, Purdue, and Miami of Ohio.  Can you say Weeaaaakkk?

Minnesota might give them a game, and Syracuse is projected to be worst in the Big East.  What this means is that coming into MSU with a winning record won’t mean Diddly-Do, since they are untested with a Lame-o-schedule.

On to this year's game. But, first lets look at last years game.

Last year (2008) NW was not beaten by Javon Ringer (as many like to say), but by an entire Spartan  team. Sutton had more yards than Ringer (JR -127, TS -142). 

Spartans had a total of 128 Rushing yrds to NW 176. MSU had 169 passing yrds to NW 283.

NW QB Bacher was sacked, intercepted twice, 12 pass break ups (NW had ZERO), NW fumbled twice (Spartans nada).  Spartans won the contest in Evanston: 37 – 20.

For Northwestern, there has not been enough new pieces or advances over the off season, to give enough reason to justify a NW win. They just have lost too many key players, and have too many question marks.



First the Offense: On the Down side, they lost starting QB CJ Bacher and Star RB Sutton, RB Omar Conteh, WR Peterman, WR Lane, WR Ward.. 

On the Up Side: QB  Mike Kafka, the leading returning offensive weapon and stat leader. He filled in for Bacher towards the end of last season, and passed for 330 yrds, and rushed for 321 yrds..  Kafka is fast on his feet to be sure a clear dual threat QB.



This years targets to throw at are young and unproven.  Andrew Brewer (2008: 18 catches for 145yrds), Jeremy Ebert (2008: 15 catches for 161), Zeke Markshausen (1 catch, 6 yrds.)Sidney Stewart (17 catches, 134 yrds).. these guys have work cut out for themselves.

To pick up for the departed Sutton, Stephen Simmons steps in.  Last year he had  62 carries for only 178 yrds. ( 5-8. 175lbs), is he going to be the go to guy as hoped ? Maybe….

The strongest part of the entire offense seems to be the line. If this is true this year, possibly the skill players will be able to get points on the board.  The Line returns four starters: LG Keegan Grant (6’2”-295lbs), RT Desmond Taylor (6’3”-285), RG Doug Bartels 6”4” 285), LT Al Netter (6’6”-290), C Ben Burkett (6’4”-284). If this is the line up, and if these can pull and give pass protection for a young back field and QB, the “O” might have enough time to put points on the board.

As for “D”: Corey Wootton,  6’7”-265, 10 sacks . He is NFL DE material.  Question is that he is recovering from an injury that required ACL surgery after the Alamo Bowl in January.  Recovery can last 6 – 9 months for ACL surgery. He is the single biggest weapon on the D Side of the ball. If he is healthy, he will make everyone else better. If he is not, then they will be suspect.

The “D” Line is big and decent.  DT Corbin Bryant, DE  Vince Browne, DT Marshall Thomas. Everyone is above 6’4”-270.  Can you see these guys on a campus full of 5’7” nerds with pocket protectors and wingtips.  Can’t see the O or D lines melding into the population easily..  but I digress….

The LB corps is thin since loosing Prince Kwateng (106 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks ).  To back fill are Nate Williams (66 tackles) and Quentin Davie (57 tackles).  Have to wait and see who steps up, possibly Ben Johnson, Chris Jeske or David Nwabuisi ?

The secondary seems to be strong, flush with returning starters. Brad Phillips (106 tackles, 3 ints), Brendan Smith (82 tackles, 2 ints), Sherrick McMannis (67 tackles, 2 ints) and super star Jordan Mabin (51 tackles, 3 ints).   This unit is the strength of the D, besides Wootten, but they were there last year as well...

Bottom line, NW continuing the upswing as a program.  They are good, good enough to end up in 6 – 8th in the Big Ten this year. The MSU Spartans have improved on “D”, and have a much more diverse offense in 2009.

The NW Wild Cats are Not good enough to beat the Spartans last year, and not improved enough to beat the Spartans on Homecoming this year.

Prediction:
Spartans     42
NWU          14

Spartans are now 7-0.

Sparty On !!