Game #1 Michigan State vs. Youngstown State Scouting Report and Prediction
Scouting Report and Prediction: MSU vs. Youngstown State Penguins
A look at this week’s opponent…
The Penguins are a 1-AA team that have accumulated a great group of talented players, many of who had division 1-A offers and for whatever reason couldn’t go that way. Certainly, MSU is in the driver’s seat, but of all the 1-AA teams MSU has played recently, by far they are the most talented.
When MSU has the ball…
This will sound arrogant, but it isn’t. This is all about the Spartans. What the Penguins will throw at MSU could fill pages, but when people read scouting reports they don’t want encyclopedias, they want the relevant facts.
The Spartans will look to open a dominant and balanced attack, all the while staying as vanilla as possible. When this game is over, if some of the Spartan Nation think that there are no changes to the MSU playbook since Don Treadwell took over, you will know this was a good day.
I want to see Andrew Maxwell play an entire half and I hope that Nick Hill gets a lot of carries at RB. I expect the two deep on the OL to play a lot and several of the young players that have made their way to the first string to stay in the game.
When MSU is on defense…
The Penguins entire offense is predicated on the run. They have a very good-sized OL, and the atmosphere or the pre-season hype of the Spartans will not intimidate them. They are going to come after it and attack. Here is something that will shock you. Of the 12 teams MSU plays this season, YSU isn’t even close to the worst team as it pertains to rushing attack. This is a winnable side of the ball without doubt, but is a great early test.
Just like with the offense, I look for a ton of players to get reps and some young ones in the two deep to maybe play longer just to get highly valued game experience. Watch the Spartans front four. If the Spartans can force the Penguins to the air, can they get pressure against the QB without needing to blitz? Same as above, the more vanilla the better.
Intangibles…
Here will be a fun game to play all season. Actually watch and see how many punts by new P Mike Sadler actually get returned. With his amazing hang times it wouldn’t shock me if most are fair caught. Either way, the only way the Spartans lose this game is if they all fall in the Red Cedar walking over from the Kellogg and get swept away to another city. This isn’t happening.
Prediction…Â
The Spartans will score with a lot of players and in a lot of ways. Maybe even a defensive TD. They will want to get some field goals, so let’s call it MSU 55 and YSU 10.
