College Football Notes & Quotes: Week 9

Spartan Nation talked to various Coaches around the Big Ten on Tuesday, and Offensive Player of the Week Kirk Cousins (Rs.-Jr.). Here’s some highlights and

Spartan Nation talked to various Coaches around the Big Ten on Tuesday, and Offensive Player of the Week Kirk Cousins (Rs.-Jr.). Here’s some highlights and insight from around the league to get you ready for the Conference’s fifth weekend of an already excellent 2010 campaign.

Mark Dantonio

Reflections on the recent contests with Iowa, and what lessons the Spartans might have taken from them (’07: 34-27 Iowa (2 OT), ’08: 16-13 MSU, ’09: 15-13 Iowa):

“When you look at the last three games versus Iowa…they’re extremely close…What we’ve talked about…(with the players) is the same old thing: the margin between winning and losing is very, very small….The thing that was important is that we understand that we’ve competed to that level three times, and we’ve come up with one win and two losses, but it’s in us that we’ll play well against Iowa.

I think right now, we have a little bit of an “edge” to us as a football team. We’re a confident football team, and we’re enthusiastic as well. And we’ll prepare ourselves to go over (to Iowa City) and play well.”

On the rapidly improving play of young members of the Spartan Defense (ex. Tyler Hoover (So), Chris Norman (So.), Johnny Adams (Rs.-So.) etc.):

“We have a blend of young and old, and we sort of knew that as we played our younger players, the more experiences they got, the better that they would be towards the end of this season.

They’re not young players anymore because we’ve played eight games. Their expectations are higher, they’re playing at a higher quality of play, and that goes with experience. The more experience you have, the more success you have, the more confident you become.

They (the younger players on Defense) are playing very well. We’re using a lot of players, so we’re staying fresh, and right now I’d say those guys are very important to our success (along with the veterans)…so we’ve got some guys, but we need to be prepared for Iowa.”

Kirk Cousins (Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week)

On his development as a Quarterback and the challenge of growing through a period of trying to force plays instead of simply taking what the Defense gave him:

“I think a lot of times where I’ve tried to force plays (have) been because I’ve felt pressure and instead of being willing to take a sack or throw the ball away, you want to avoid that sack and you want to avoid that negative play. But then you end up making an even more negative play.

So I think there have been times this year where I’ve taken the sack and when you go back and watch the film, that was the best decision, and it gave us a chance to win on the next play, whereas throwing an interception does not.

I think it comes with understanding that sometimes the best decision isn’t always the best outcome, but that when things break down, sometimes you do have to take a sack, sometimes you do have to just take a little bit of a loss, or throw the ball away, and you have to play for the next play.

I think every Quarterback, you can be told that a million times, but until you’ve actually gone through it and learned from your mistakes, it’s tough to really be consistent making the right decisions until you’ve stepped out there and made the wrong one a couple times.”

On the improved on-field chemistry with the Spartan pass catches, including Wide Receiver convert Keith Nichol (Rs.-Jr.):

“We’ve said since basically last Spring how much talent we have at the Wide Receiver position, and they haven’t disappointed. We have so different guys we can throw to, and then when you add the depth at Tight End, we have even more guys we can throw to.

Keith has been very, very talented…he’s done a great job of morphing from a Quarterback to a Wide Receiver, and he showed it on Saturday, especially down the stretch. He had a couple of very important catches, that were not easy catches, where he was able to make the catch and then fight for extra yards, which kept our final drive alive, which proved to be the game-winning drive.

So, when he’s able to make plays for us like that, it makes us a much better team. For us to be successful here against Iowa, and down the stretch, we need all of our Wide Receivers to be making not just the average plays, but some extra ordinary plays.”

Kirk Ferentz

On how close the MSU-Iowa series has been, and if he expects another tight one this week:

“I would think so…you’d assume that might happen. I think the teams are a lot alike and have been pretty evenly matched. It’s been a great series through the years. There have been some exceptions. Our first year (49-3 loss at Spartan Stadium) wasn’t much fun, back in ’99. As things have moved on, it’s really been a good series.”

On going up against a very balanced Offense, and whether Iowa will look to make MSU one-dimensional on Offense:

“A lot of times, that’s what you do Defensively (try to force an opponent to become one dimensional), you try to make people play “Left Handed.” We’re just not sure what that means (with MSU). Take your pick here, do you want their Quarterback picking you apart, or do you want one of three Running Backs running at you. It’s really quite a dilemma, and they’ve got a veteran group up front (Offensive Line)…they’re really playing well as a group collectively…To me, you have to play pretty balanced (Defense) and just try to do your best.”

Rich Rodriguez

On the influence that Penn St. Coach Joe Paterno has had on his career:

“Growing up where I grew up (West Virginia), and loving College Football, Joe Paterno was a huge name. I can remember when we played against him in College (Rodriguez played at West Virginia), it was a big rivalry when West Virginia played Penn State, and they had the upper hand of it until my Senior year in College when we finally got a win over them. I just had so much respect for his consistency, and how he did things.

In fact, even my Wife, she was a Cheerleader when I was playing in that game at home, in my Senior year, I think she ran up to him and asked him to take a picture and get an autograph because he was the biggest celebrity she had ever met, so it was kind of a neat deal.”

On his assessment of the Iowa and Michigan St. matchup, a battle of the Wolverines last two opponents:

“Two very good football teams, I think it’ll be a great ball game…It’ll be a very physical ball game.”

On the challenge of coaching players through a period of “pressing” and “forcing” plays to a point where they are able to play with poise and essentially, “take what the game gives them”:

“…It usually happens with younger players, but I’ve seen older players press themselves too because they feel a sense of urgency to try to make every play a big play instead of just letting the game come to them…I think as a player gets more experience…that maturity is going to come, and he’s going to realize that there are moments in the game where you take your shot, it’s a calculated risk, but you don’t force things. I think some of our young guys are going through that right now.”

Bill Lynch

On the challenge of coaching players through a period of “pressing,” “forcing,” and otherwise over anxious play, to a point where they to play with poise and “take what the game gives them”:

“Well I think that’s one of the real challenges in coaching, particularly when you have a young man that you know has the ability to perform…So much of it is mental.”

Jim Tressel

On the challenge of coaching players through a period of “pressing,” “forcing,” and otherwise over anxious play, to a point where they to play with poise and “take what the game gives them”:

“We always say that you become a much better player when the game slows down. And I think the game does slow down when you know your job, when you’ve had experiences, when you’ve learned, and you’ve studied, and you’ve prepared, and you can see what is coming, and you can anticipate, and all those things…you can slow the game down a little bit. But I don’t know if there’s a way to teach a guy, like in two weeks, to do that.

...We’ve played Wisconsin, who’s a very veteran team. That Offensive Line of theirs, they can pick up any stunt…any blitz…because they’ve done it so many times…They’ve learned (over 4 or 5 years), and all of the sudden, now they’re playing at a level that’s pretty darn high, and I think part of it is their experience has allowed them to slow the game down.”

P.A.T. (Perhaps Another Thought…)

1. The Pittsburgh Steelers now without question, America’s team. They have been for probably 5 years or so. No matter how loud or how often Jerry Jones tries to tout his Cowboys as still holding that title, the reality is now become undeniable. Go anywhere in the US, and you’ll see Steeler fan, loudest and proudest. Whether it was Sunday in Miami, in the Dolphins’ home stadium, on the Southern California coast, or at a Wal-Mart in the middle of one of our Dakotas, Steeler Nation is all over. There really is no comparison right now, Jerry, so stop beating a drum you no longer have. Give it up, Jerry.
2. Nick Saban should be the next Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Come on, wouldn’t that be fun!
3. Between this year and last, the Big Ten is as strong as it’s been in a decade or so. Meanwhile, the SEC is trending slightly down, and is probably as weak in 2010 as it’s been in years. The true National Title Game this year will not be like the last two, which were played in Atlanta as the SEC Title Game between Florida and Alabama.

*Interact with Jonathan on Twitter @JPSpartan or inside the Phalanx Forum