Preview - Spartans 2009 Game 9: Minnesota

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



Minnesota
Oct. 31, 8pm EST : in the New Stadium at Minnesota

Minnesota is a mix of tricks and treats… of good news and bad news this year.  After going 1 – 11 in 2007, they made great strides in 2008.  (Side note: When the Big Teams are strong, then the Conf. is strong..  and its good for all of us !)

Good News: They return almost everyone; the duo of Adam Weber, Eric Decker is one of the best.  I think they will be better than 2008, maybe make it to another bowl if they can handle a very difficult schedule, almost the polar opposite form last years….

Bad News, They return almost everyone. These guys were good, not great last year., remember the 55 -0 home game shellacking to end the season at the hands of Iowa….  New O coordinator, New D coordinator (new schemes), New stadium,  and they play JoePa and the Buckeyes right before the Spartans come to town…

This Halloween is full of tricks and not many treats for Brewster.

The Daily Gopher had a good posting to review this game.. and I think he’s pretty dead nuts on… even though he diss’ed SpartyMSU….  I still like the posting..
http://www.thedailygopher.com/2009/8/5/977317/an-almost-timely-early-look-at-the

The Golden Gophers  started the 2008 season going 7 – 1, but.. but .. the wins came against: Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Montana State, Florida Atlantic, Indiana, Illinois and Purdue.  All victories were against teams with an RPI ranking of 75 or worse .  This puts last year’s record in a bit better perspective. Then they ended up losing 5 straight.. even lost to a poor Michigan Wolverine team….  http://realtimerpi.com/football/ncaaf_Men.html

What will the impact of new Coordinators be.. I dunno…  Dome Spread “O” vs. new Pro Style..  ?
What will the impact be of new Stadium.. I dunno…  Grass vs. Turf… it will be cold..

What will the impact be of their retuning players be.. substantial. But, that’s relative.

Gopher’s Adam Weber (2,761 yrds, in 410 attempts – Only threw 8 ints) was second team All Big ten last year…  He has a couple very good targets to throw to: Eric Decker  (84 receptions for 1,074 yrds), MarQueis Gray, and Hayo Carpenter.

To be productive, and have a shot at beating teams in a very tough 2009 schedule, they need the “O” line to step up. They have to reduce the number of sacks on Weber, he was on his backside 31 times last season. On the line is experience: Jeff Wills (6’7” – 375), this guy is huge… is he fast enough to stop a DE from coming around the corner ? Matt Carufel (defector form ND and the evil Charlie Weis), Trey Davis, Ned Tevale. and Matt Stommes.  These guys are big.. and probably better than last year.. but, they have to be..  

They will be under significant pressure from Spartan D ends Anderson, and Hoover, and  will have to keep a block on the experienced Spartan Linebackers..  Sure the Gopher line will give Weber more time, but, the experienced Spartan “D” should be able to handle it.

As for the Minnesota Defense..  They are going to miss Willie VanDeSteeg.. he accounted for 11 sacks.. Good news is Senior LB Lee Campbell returns.  He had 80 tackles, 4 sacks and 5 tackles for a loss.. With him is Simoni Lawrence, 66 tackles and 4 sacks.. These guys are pretty good.
But, lets look up front.. they have 3 retuning line men. Eric  Small, Garrett Brown and Derrick Onwuachi… Cedric McKinley fills in for the departed VanDeSteeg and Anthony Jacobs. The retuning line only had 8 sacks collectively last year.. is this an indication of weakness ?  Have to wait and see…  With out the Stud VanDeSteeg, I don’t know what kind of pass rush they can mount around the corner ?

LB is a strength with Campbell and Simoni.. They had as many sacks as the retuning linemen..  and combined for 146 tackles.

The secondary might give the Spartans some frustration with retuning Simmons (62 tackles and 1 int.),  Marcus Sherels ( 46 tackles, 2 ints) and freshman Kyle Theret. The Spartan receiving corps is Sooo deep.. should be able match up nicely with the Gopher secondary.

Bottom Line.. Just as The Daily Gopher also predicts.. A Spartan Win.. There is a big enough  difference in talent and depth between the two teams.  The QB argument of Weber vs. the Spartans new QB is out there, but considering all other comparisons, I don’t feel the Spartans will loose.. And neither do many Gopher Fans…

Halloween will see Jack-o-lanterns decorated with “9-0” after a Gopher drubbing.

Prediction:
Spartans     35
Gophers      17

Sparty On !!!