MSU w/o Narduzzi = Iowa?
** disclaimer - Rutgers week leads to other thoughts ** ** No talking MSU until we beat MSU, I know, I know.....***
Many here speculated that MSU would suffer without Narduzzi. When that didn't immediately happen, people made a quick conclusion that the key to the defense was really Dantonio.
However, the effect of a coach leaving takes a while (see Stanford post-Harbaugh).
Pat Narduzzi gave MSU elites defenses year after year from 2011-2014. They were a top level defense. It carried a middling, slow-developing conventional offense. It won them B10 Championships.
But, each year the MSU defense has gotten worse (as players coached up from Narduzzi have cycled through).
2013= #2 Total D; 2014 = #8 in TD; 2015 = #26 TD; 2016 = #30 TD so far.
2013 = #3 Scoring D; 2014 = #21 SD; 2015 = #24 SD; 2016 = #51 SD so far.
They are decidely an okay/mediocre defense now.
Concerns about their QB here and in the press are the wrong focus. Aside from Cousins, their QB play has not been great over the years. I know Cook had a good year last year, but a lot of that can be attributed to being bailed out by Burbridge.
From 2012-2015 MSU had a passing offense that ranked in about the 70s nationally on average EACH YEAR. QB play is not the reason they have fallen off.
Kirk Ferentz had some great years, especially early in his tenure. He won a couple B10 Championships and division championships. Iowa is always a "solidly-coached" team that has the potential to beat you, but they don't usually scare anyone.
MSU without Narduzzi looks a lot like Iowa City. (Of course with a chip aimed squarely at AA.)
EDIT: Its been a few years of this trend people. This is not based off 4 games!
October 4th, 2016 at 1:46 PM ^
Gotta give D'antantonio credit though... he milked that disrespekt card for all its worth. He got a lot of mileage out of that gimmick.
October 4th, 2016 at 11:54 AM ^
October 4th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
I feel like MSU is in a gap in recruiting cycles. They have a lot of good young players on the roster. Most of the veteran guys were their support players the last couple years.
Don't discount the injuries at LB, they're nearing Penn State level luck in that department and LB play is key to that defense.
October 4th, 2016 at 1:43 PM ^
I think its pretty fair to assume at this point that Narduzzi was the real driving force behind MSU's nasty defenses before he left. That's not to say Dantonio is a bad defensive mind. He's a great one. But since Narduzzi has left, MSU's defense has gotten slightly worse each year. Slightly easier to penetrate. Particularly in the back end, and despite MSU's recruiting numbers getting a bit better during that time as well.
There are not going to be a lot of teams that will be able to run the ball on MSU. McDowell is one of the best out there, but I think the word is out that the Sparty "No Fly Zone" doesn't exist anymore. Anyone who will be able to effectively pass the ball will give them problems.
This all being said, comparing Dantonio to Ferentz is not giving Dantonio even remotely enough credit. I would take him over Ferentz any date of the week, and Ferentz hasn't even sniffed the accomplishments that Dantonio has received. I think Ferentz's biggest win as the Iowa coach was beating Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Georgia frickin' Tech.
Dantonio still made the playoff and won the Cotton Bowl w/o Narduzzi's help. Ferentz just hopes to get to 7-5 every year.
October 4th, 2016 at 2:02 PM ^
would take Dantonio over Ferentz any day of the week and twice on Saturday.
What he has done at a place like MSU is incredible...let's remember that the Great Saban never had this success there.
However, he was greatly aided by circumstances as well - UM being lost in the wilderness with 2 coaching debacles and PSU = Jonestown + Man Boy Love Association.
Dantonio could be an elite coach at a blue blood program, but he will always be 3rd fiddle at best with MSU, behind Michigan and OSU so long as those two programs are where their resources and history pull them.
Michigan became complacent under Carr in the latter years and had a shitshow of debacles under the last 2 coaches....but this is all cyclical.
Alabama, Texas, USC, etc have all had or are having down years. Reductions in scholarships, changes in recruiting exposure, and freshmen wanting to play right away has also helped create more parity and allow for teams like Baylor, MSU, TCU, etc to become competitive....but ultimately resources and history return the blue loods to their rightful place. Hell, even Notre Dame made it to a BCS championship game and some big bowls recently.
The MSU ceiling has been reached....gaining mucho respekt, but now its time to return to their proper status of little brother.
October 4th, 2016 at 2:02 PM ^
Feeling Shamed
October 4th, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^
I don't know about you guys, but one of my little brothers is stronger, healthier and bigger than I am, and could kick my ass any day of the week.
So I'm not sure this is an epithet worth bothering with.
Still, this is a year we have a better team, and we should win.
October 4th, 2016 at 9:35 PM ^
Yes, and Jim Harbaugh is also a little brother.
October 4th, 2016 at 4:45 PM ^
Michigan is comparatively healthy, but just lost it's starting LT for the season.
Not good Bob.
October 4th, 2016 at 5:15 PM ^
The little brother syndrome has infected more on this board than I thought...