What is MSU's Major Malfunction?

[Michchamp]

I read earlier that MSU was favored to win every single one of their recent 5 losses in a row. Also, this 5 loss skid is their worst losing streak since 1982; even John L. Smith didn't lose five in a row, though he came close and only avoided it due to the greatest comeback in college football history (2006 against Northwestern). so how the hell does MSU under a much better coach than that - Dantonio - fall apart like this? It can't be talent alone... they've been less talented before, for sure.

I think it's the coaching & coaching responsibilities. check this out: his current coaching structure is dysfunctional. He has TWO (2) co-offensive coordinators (Bollman and Warner) and TWO (2) co-defensive coordinators (Bennett and Jim Tressel's nephew Mike Tressel).

Bennett is also the DB coach and Tressel handles the LBs. the co-OCs also have additional position roles. So who the **** is doing what? Who's calls take precedence in the event of a dispute?

Having your coordinator also coach a specific unit is a real Brady Hoke move, and I think it shows on the field.

While Narduzzi was there, he was the sole DC. I imagine he was kind of the glue that held the team together, especially on defense. I remember being surprised Spartan fans weren't as freaked out over his departure, especially when Dantonio named "co-defensive coordinators" to replace him.

 

[Michchamp]

oh and Spartan fans' favorite punching bag? Tyler O'Connor? not that bad... 31st in the country in passing efficiency.

he's obviously not good enough to put the team on his back and win games all by himself, but not the problem. Practically every other position group on MSU is worse statistically right now.

also, for as good as their defense was under Narduzzi, their DBs during the last couple years under Bennett lagged behind the running defense. in '14 they were 1st in Rush D, 61st in passing yards allowed/game (couldnt find PED)... in 2015, 11th in rush D, 77th in pass yards allowed. this year theyre bad in both. also 90th in PED. worse than UI.

even good QBs have a tough time winning when their defense can't get stops and get the ball back. few college QBs can lead scoring drives every possession... or even half the time.

 

[Michchamp]

I also get the sense Dantonio has lost control of the situation... a recent Freep article on him said he seemed run down and resigned... I think their locker room has got to be a toxic environment.

he needs to clean house after this season, but he might not have it in him.

I mentioned before their situation reminds me of the Hoke years here in some ways; it was bizarre how Hoke could stand by his assistants on offense, Borges, & Funk especially, week in and week out.

 

[Michchamp]

anyways... I hope MSU stays beat down & chaotic for at least another week. If they were going to get their act together and rally around anything, I'd imagine it would be this game.

 

[tomdalton22]

MSU is done until Harbaugh leaves UM. They are going to be picking from the bottom of the barrel for recruits in Michigan and Ohio.

 

[gotime909]

MSU is done until Harbaugh leaves UM. They are going to be picking from the bottom of the barrel for recruits in Michigan and Ohio.

You realize that they don't really go heads up on many recruits, right?

 

[Monster]

MSU is done until Harbaugh leaves UM. They are going to be picking from the bottom of the barrel for recruits in Michigan and Ohio.

I doubt this. They'll be back in a year or two.

Still, it's quite shocking how far they fell this year.

 

[Spartan23MSU]

I read earlier that MSU was favored to win every single one of their recent 5 losses in a row. Also, this 5 loss skid is their worst losing streak since 1982; even John L. Smith didn't lose five in a row, though he came close and only avoided it due to the greatest comeback in college football history (2006 against Northwestern). so how the hell does MSU under a much better coach than that - Dantonio - fall apart like this? It can't be talent alone... they've been less talented before, for sure.

I think it's the coaching & coaching responsibilities. check this out: his current coaching structure is dysfunctional. He has TWO (2) co-offensive coordinators (Bollman and Warner) and TWO (2) co-defensive coordinators (Bennett and Jim Tressel's nephew Mike Tressel).

Bennett is also the DB coach and Tressel handles the LBs. the co-OCs also have additional position roles. So who the **** is doing what? Who's calls take precedence in the event of a dispute?

Having your coordinator also coach a specific unit is a real Brady Hoke move, and I think it shows on the field.

While Narduzzi was there, he was the sole DC. I imagine he was kind of the glue that held the team together, especially on defense. I remember being surprised Spartan fans weren't as freaked out over his departure, especially when Dantonio named "co-defensive coordinators" to replace him.

Youve mentioned some reasons but its impossible to quantify. Cook is obviously a major loss as is narduzzi and a few key lineman. I saw a team that would probably lose 5 games turn into the worst team ive ever seen at MSU after 23 years of watching.

I never thought id see this under Dantonio because youre right, we have been less talented before and still played good football. I think we could have had better recruits prior to last year but thats not a primary reason for a collapse of this magnitude. Nobody saw this coming. I never saw an analyst or fan predict MSU any worse than 4th best in the B10 for this season.

I think Michigan will win this week 48-3 and im fully prepared for it

 

[gotime909]

I doubt this. They'll be back in a year or two.

Still, it's quite shocking how far they fell this year.

My thought is that the biggest problem is what we lost from last year. Not just the talent, but the on field leadership. I really haven't seen anyone on the current roster step into the leadership spots that Conklin, Allen, Calhoun, Cook and the others that left occupied.

The hope is that it was just a missed class(2013) and the next man up mantra will return soon.

 

[Spartan23MSU]

I just looked at the line and its michigan -23. Looks like free $ to me. I think michigan will be up 23 by the middle of the 2nd quarter.

 

[Spartan23MSU]

My thought is that the biggest problem is what we lost from last year. Not just the talent, but the on field leadership. I really haven't seen anyone on the current roster step into the leadership spots that Conklin, Allen, Calhoun, Cook and the others that left occupied.

The hope is that it was just a missed class(2013) and the next man up mantra will return soon.

We have Freshman getting playing time and thats the only positive thing I can say about this year.

 

[dubbsco]

In my opinion, Cook did a lot to mask the overall shortcomings of the offense as a whole. They won so many games with great defense, solid offensive line play and a strong running game. The rest of the league started to catch up to their formula and Warner can't adjust.

I don't think MSU will be down all that long; however, seasons like this can be catastrophic to a program. You don't see coaches like Saban, Meyer, (insert elite coach here) having a 2-4 win season.

I also think that Dantonio and co thought that they arrived. There are plenty of quotes pre-season where the conversation was about how MSU was now among the elite and the title goes through East Lansing. The passion went away.

 

[Michchamp]

I doubt this. They'll be back in a year or two.

Still, it's quite shocking how far they fell this year.

he's gotta clean house.

For starters, I'd get rid of anyone with ties to Jim Tressel. they've been around East Lansing a long time, without much to show for it.

Then re-organize his coaching staff so he only has one (1) offensive and one (1) defensive coordinator. Who the hell does that for not just one side of the team, but both? What other teams even go that route? bizarre.

I think these problems were always there, they just happened to have Narduzzi, a HC-caliber assistant who stayed around a long time (he was with Dantonio going back to Cincinnati), who backed his coach, and helped mask the deficiencies of the rest of the staff. It's easier to be an OC if you know your defense will bail you out most of the time, and help win field position games. similarly if they had a decent defense, they might not be undefeated right now, but they'd be close.

But, on the other hand, I hope Dantonio sticks with these clowns for another year!

 

[biggunsbob]

No one saw this coming and if they did they are lying injuries also have played a big part. Cook was so good. And 23 points is just to much in my opinion. It's a rivalry game. Have to figure mark will find a way to keep it close .

 

[TheVictors]

Pride comes before the Fall....

 

[tomdalton22]

You realize that they don't really go heads up on many recruits, right?

really? That doesn't make sense. Don't they both go for the best players in the state?

 

[hungry]

Injuries!!

Seriously, though, there are only a handful of recruits every year that they go head-to-head on. MSU has been winning more of these lately. One of those that they won is part of the reason they are losing, so I hear.

Malik McDowell...the media talks about how great of a recruiting get this was and how talented he is, but there is something they won't mention. Maybe they don't know. This guy is a huge cancer. There is a guy at work with a nephew on the team and Malik has this little clique of players and they are all cancers. There is division in the locker room. You can believe me or not...whatever. We all know that these highly ranked players get full of themselves sometimes and think they don't have to work for it. We've been there. This was one time where it was a good thing that Michigan didn't win over a recruit. If you remember, his recruitment was nuts...

 

[dubbsco]

Eh, I don't doubt that you know a guy that knows Malik, but whatever is their issue goes beyond him. Not going to speak like I know what happens in locker rooms, but I would venture that there are groups and cliques with every team. That's a minuscule piece of the whole pie.

It's a systematic issue from the coaches on down. Dantonio's constant talk about how the program has arrived and the title goes through East Lansing has done more harm than good. The talent level is low and the whole getting the most out of 2, 3 star plays can only work so long. Cook did a TON to mask the offensive issues, and Narduzzi was a large part of their success.

 

[hungry]

My post wasn't meant to be the only reason, but as an addition to things already mentioned on the board.

Yes, the "We are great" mentality is a bad one to have and Malik, so i hear, is a big part of that, making it even worse...

 

[deathroh]

I read earlier that MSU was favored to win every single one of their recent 5 losses in a row. Also, this 5 loss skid is their worst losing streak since 1982; even John L. Smith didn't lose five in a row, though he came close and only avoided it due to the greatest comeback in college football history (2006 against Northwestern). so how the hell does MSU under a much better coach than that - Dantonio - fall apart like this? It can't be talent alone... they've been less talented before, for sure.

I think it's the coaching & coaching responsibilities. check this out: his current coaching structure is dysfunctional. He has TWO (2) co-offensive coordinators (Bollman and Warner) and TWO (2) co-defensive coordinators (Bennett and Jim Tressel's nephew Mike Tressel).

Bennett is also the DB coach and Tressel handles the LBs. the co-OCs also have additional position roles. So who the **** is doing what? Who's calls take precedence in the event of a dispute?

Having your coordinator also coach a specific unit is a real Brady Hoke move, and I think it shows on the field.

.

Uhh, it's a Jim Harbaugh move too. Michigan essentially has two OC's (run game/pass game) and they both coach specific units (OL/WR). Of course it helps that they're competent, high performing individuals.