Badgers Opposition Research: Scouting the Michigan State Defense

[Da-news-now]

Earlier this week we took a look inside the Michigan State Spartans offense, noting its strengths and what the keys to Badgers success against them would be. Now it is time to understand MSU’s defense and take a look at how Wisconsin can find a way to win on this side of the ball.

Let’s take a dive into the Sparty defense.



Starters:


*2016 season stats

DE: Demetrius Cooper – Jr. (6-5, 253) — 5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 quarterback hurry

DT: Kevin Williams – Sr. (6-2, 281) — 4 tackles

NT: Malik McDowell – Jr. (6-6, 276) — 7 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 quarterback hurry

DE: Evan Jones – Sr. (6-5, 251) — 2 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, 1.0 sack

STAR: Jon Reschke – Jr. (6-2, 227) — 8 tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble

MIKE: Riley Bullough – Sr. (6-2, 227) — 12 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hurries

SAM: Chris Frey – Jr. (6-2, 227) — 11 tackles, 4 quarterback hurries

FC: Darian Hicks – Sr. (5-11, 184) — 5 tackles, 4 pass break ups

FS: Demetrious Cox – Sr. (6-1, 197) — 9 tackles, 1 pass break up

BS: Montae Nicholson – Jr. (6-2, 219) — 9 tackles, 2 pass break ups

BC: Vayante Copeland – So. (5-11, 190) — 9 tackles, 2 pass break ups



Stats and Rankings:


MSU Defense

(2015 Stat/B1G/National) *according to CFBstats.com

Total Defense: 313.5 ypg — 4th — 29th
Scoring Defense: 20.5 ppg — 9th — 46th
Passing Defense: 241.5 ypg — 12th — 85th
Rushing Defense: 72.0 ypg — 1st — 8th

Wisconsin Offense

Total Offense: 441.7 ypg — 7th — 51st
Scoring Offense: 31.0 ppg — 12th — 69th
Passing Offense: 236.7 ypg — 7th — 62nd
Rushing Offense: 205.0 ypg — 8th — t-48th

Advanced Stats:


Badgers Offense:

S&P+ offensive rating: 28.1 (77th)
F/+ ranking: 29.1% (23rd)
Points Per Scoring Opp.: 3.95
Offensive Success Rate: 45.3%

Michigan State Defense:

S&P+ Defensive Rating: 21.2 (20th)
Def. Points Per Scoring Opp: 5.67
Opp. Success Rate: 35%



What Do the Stats Tell US:




If ever there was a stats section that tells us “they are who we thought they were,” it would be this section. Wisconsin has struggled with the run game thanks to a group of running backs that can’t stay healthy enough to get things going. Michigan State has a run defense that doesn’t allow opponents to do much on the ground. Oh, and Wisconsin’s pass offense isn’t bad, but it hasn’t been good either.

With just two games of varying difficulty on the books for Michigan State, the bigger question is if we really know this team at all. There’s certainly plenty of talent, but this is also a team that gave up a lot of points to Notre Dame (previous scoreline notwithstanding). Ultimately, the stats tell us that Michigan State’s defense is good, but it may not be as great as some believed it would be before the season started.

3 Keys For Wisconsin’s Offense


Corey Clement Needs to Play: There was plenty of chatter ahead of the Akron game that had it been a Big Ten contest, senior running back Corey Clement would have given it a go. Well, the Big Ten season is here and with all the other walking wounded in the running back group, Clement is badly needed. Not only for the extra body, but because the only healthy body, Dare Ogunbowale, hasn’t exactly been a game breaker. Wisconsin needs to back off the Spartan attack on defense, and Clement’s home run hitting ability will be badly needed in this one.

Third Down Conversions: One of the biggest reasons the Badgers offense turned to redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook last week was a big inability to extend drives when needed. That issue was present in and out of the red zone, and Hornibrook’s poise allowed that issue to largely go away. On the season, Wisconsin is completing 46 percent of its third down opportunities (21-46). Meanwhile, MSU is allowing opponents to convert on just 28 percent of their opportunities (7-25). Something has to give in this matchup and if the Badgers are converting over 50 percent of their opportunities in this game it could be a long day for the hosts.

Hornibrook’s Poise: From the moment that Hornibrook stepped on the field against Akron, you could see something just a bit different with the Badgers offense. There was more pep in the step, the offensive line seemed to perk up and everyone was making bigger plays. That was completely the case once again in the Georgia State game, and a large part of the shift in attitude seems to come directly from the poise and moxie that Hornibrook projects. He’ll need that poise in and out of the huddle against a defense that is likely to attack him in multiple ways this weekend. Should Hornibrook be rattled, it could be a difficult day in East Lansing.

The post Badgers Opposition Research: Scouting the Michigan State Defense appeared first on Madtown Badgers.

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