Michigan State and Michigan recap

Two big wins today for both Michigan State and Michigan as both teams remain undefeated finishing up the first week of Big Ten play. More so it sets up a very interesting week next week as both Michigan and Michigan State head into next weeks showdown both undefeated for the first time since 1999.
For no. 24 Michigan State they welcomed in no. 11 Wisconsin who earlier this season looked excellent and a team that possibly could contend for the Big Ten title. However, Wisconsin has had it’s share of injuries this season including star LB Chris Borland who was lost for the entire season with a shoulder injury. For Michigan State you have to assume that they went into this game thinking very much about their head coach Mark Dantonio who was re-admitted into the hospital on Thursday after a post operation examination stemming from his recent heart attack revealed a blood clot in his leg. Dantonio was slowly making his way back to the sidelines and was supposed to coach from the booth during today’s game but his release from the hospital has not yet been determined.
As for the game the 34-24 win for Michigan State could have been a little more lopsided if it wasn’t for MSU’s three turnovers in the first half and failing to punch in a fourth and one from inside the one yard line.
Other then the turnovers, Michigan State did a good job balancing an offense that mixed the run and pass very well. Offensive Coordinator Don Tredwill who was taking over the head coaching duties for Mark Dantonio had a little bit of a gunslinger mentality calling nice misdirection passes and going for it on fourth and one multiple times. MSU even got some help on special teams when Keshawn Martin returned a punt for 74 yards and a touchdown that put the Spartans up 13-10. This would be the first time MSU returned a punt for a touchdown since 2002.
After the game head coach Mark Dantonio addressed the team from his hospital bed and the MSU coaches acknowledged that they did have some communication with Dantonio during the game.
For Michigan the didn’t come as easy as their defense continued to struggle and once again had to rely on the heroics of QB Denard Robinson. After Indiana drove to tie the game 35-35 Denard Robinson connected with Junior Hemingway on a 42 yard pass with 21 seconds remaining which then led to a 4 yard touchdown run by Robinson to seal the 42-35 victory over Indiana.
“Man, we’ve been practicing that all season,” said Robinson, who continued his Heisman Trophy campaign, with 494 yards of total offense and five touchdowns.
Robinson carried 19 times for 217 yards and two touchdowns, including a 72-yard touchdown run on Michigan’s second offensive play from scrimmage. He completed 10 of 16 passes for 277 yards and three TDs.
“He’s just a great athlete,” Indiana coach Bill Lynch said. “He’s one of those guys that’s just different. He’s got speed. He’s got awareness. He’s got instincts, and he’s a very, very good passer as well.”
Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell might have been better Saturday – he at least made a strong argument by completing 45 of 64 passes for 480 yards and three touchdowns.
Michigan is allowing more yards per game this year – 433.6 – than it did a year ago, when it allowed 392 yards a game through five games.
“They controlled the game with their offense, which is something that worries us going in,” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said. “We had a lot of, three, four, five, true freshmen so they are going to learn in a hurry.
I continue to believe that if Michigan continues to rely only on Denard Robinson they are going to be in big trouble, especially as Big Ten play continues. I’m not sold on the success that Devin Gardner and Tate Forcier have had this year in very limited play. Michigan’s defense is also obviously a big concern.
This week though leading up to next weeks MSU/UM game is definitely going to be interesting. You also have to ask yourself who is going to have the higher ranking heading into Saturday, Michigan or Michigan State? It has been my belief that neither Michigan or Michigan State should be ranked going into this weekend’s play. Both teams played very mediocre to bad teams leading up yet their brand name is what ultimately got them into the top 25. After this weekend’s victories I really don’t see any reason why Michigan State shouldn’t be ranked higher then Michigan. This is simply due to the fact that Michigan State played and beaten a better opponent to open Big Ten play this weekend. Furthermore Michigan continues to win against lesser opponents but give up tons of points in the process. Despite all of that though, next weekend can’t get here soon enough.