Scouting Report and Prediction: #3 Michigan State 5-0 (1-0) vs. Rutgers 2-2 (0-1)

Scouting Report and Prediction: #3 Michigan State 5-0 (1-0) vs. Rutgers 2-2 (0-1)

A look at this week’s opponent…

The Spartans are playing a Rutgers team with terrible defensive numbers against a very weak schedule with talent on the offense and an athletic department in turmoil. I expect them to move the ball, but this game is more about MSU than Rutgers.

Mark Dantonio has great respect for the Knights saying, “So looking forward to going with the opportunity to go to 6-0. I think it will be a good football game. They have an outstanding special teams group. They've got the guy that's run back three touchdowns in Grant, number 1. I think the quarterback is playing well, Laviano. They really have three tailbacks -- number 8, Hicks and Martin, No. 7. They've been extremely productive. They'll get James back a little bit. Big wide receiver and I think it's Agudosi. And then defensively they'll fly around and hit people.”

When MSU has the ball…

Michigan State as mentioned before is going against a poor defense in Rutgers. MSU should be able to move the ball at will and I look for them to open up the pass play calling. Injuries to the offensive line have hampered that, but Dantonio knows that part of his team’s game has to get moving.

I expect at least one of the Spartans starting OT’s back if not two and regardless of which one or none MSU must run the ball and can’t avoid passing like last week. Cook needs to keep running, but this is not a week the team can shut down after a lead. The Rutgers athletic program may be in shambles, but their offense is not.

The Spartan offensive line must allow them to be balanced and have both passing and running as a threat. This could be the week fans have been waiting for and we shall see.

When MSU is on defense…

The Spartan will be facing a very good QB in Chris Laviano. He is completing 73% of his passes and the young man is stud. Dantonio said of him, “I think Laviano is completing 73 percent of his passes. He's a guy that's going to run out of the pocket when pressed and he'll get on the edge and play-action, move 'em. He's got a big target, No. 13, whose name I can't pronounce totally. I won't try. But 6'6", 220, throw the ball up to him. They've got, I think, a tailback situation that is very solid. They're going to do a nice job up front with the offensive line in putting them in situations on the perimeter and force you to tackle. I think they're a well-coached football team and they do what they do and they'll have a great plan for us.”

The Scarlett Knights also reinstated Leonte Carroo this week who is one of the ELITE wide outs in the nation. He has to be salivating with an accurate QB and an MSU defensive backfield with something to prove. He is the best test the Spartans have faced this season in terms of one player.

The biggest key for the Spartans is pressure. They can’t let a great QB pick them apart with time because Carroo will get open even if Dion Sanders is covering him if Laviano has time.

Finally, they have talent at RB, not like the Spartans, but they have three legit backs and if MSU is unable to get pressure and they have to change their scheme to stop the pass, you might have a classic pass to run scenario. For Rutgers to upset MSU they will have to outscore them and I give you one stat. If Rutgers runs for 125 yards or more MSU is on UPSET alert.

Intangibles…

Remember the rule of five. If MSU wins that, this game is over. For those who don’t remember it, it has to do with sacks and turnovers. If the Spartans have three sacks and give up two that means they are plus one. If they then get four turnovers and give up only one that means they are plus three. That would give them a plus four for the day. They want to get to a plus five ratio at least every game.

Extra Point…

MSU has freshman throughout their famous “No Fly Zone” defensive backfield, but Dantonio is NOT nervous. “Josh Butler has performed very well. We've not taken the redshirt off of him yet. But he's probably right there trying to hold it. We'll see what happens. But he's played very well in practice, and I think he's a good player.”

He added, “We've played Khari Willis on special teams and then he also played the entire second half, I think, of the Central Michigan game at our nickel back. And he's a very good tackler, good ball skills. He's a quick, explosive type guy. And Grayson Miller is another guy that played this past week. He's been playing in special teams for probably three weeks.”

He continued, “Both of those guys have been working at the No. 2 position, really No. 3 and 5, I guess, or I guess 4 and 5, the fourth safety, the fifth safety, probably since the start of the season. So they're good players. Very good -- good ball skills. They can run. They're explosive. They tackle well. What they don't have is game experience. The only way you get that is by playing.”

So is Dantonio nervous with so much youth? “So, no, I'm not nervous at all. I think we actually have six safeties. Still we lose RJ and we lose leadership and he's a very good player, but he's had a lot of big plays for us but we have six safeties and be functional. And I always look at players, can they be functional? Can you put a guy in there, can he function? It doesn't mean he's going to succeed all the time, but does he know the defense and can he function and make plays for you and fit in the scheme and the puzzle? And I think all six of those guys can already. That would include Matt Morrissey and Jalen Watts-Jackson, who are playing a lot on special teams as well.”

Prediction…

I say make it 35-17: MSU wins!