Pound Bucky Pound Mercifully, I didn’t have to watch it. I was on St George Island with the Big Guy for his birthday. The vacation rental property didn’t have the Big Ten network. Glad they didn’t. Saved me and the family a ton of grumbling and occasional inappropriate use of language.
Now the narrative has turned. At the beginning of the season it was about being a dark horse candidate for the Big Ten title. Now after back to back pummelings by Ohio State and Wisconsin it’s whether the game has passed Dantonio by and if it’s time for a new head coach.
Ironic really. When MD started, he modeled his program, not to be scUM, but to be Wisconsin. A consistent challenger for the title with defense and a punishing ground game. And for several years we surpassed Wiscy at their own game. Big Ten championships, Rose Bowl win and a CFP appearance.
So what happened? First, let’s not give up on the season just yet. Yes, we did get beat like Wolner in ping pong, by back to back top ten teams on the road. How we lost is concerning, very concerning, but with a bye week there are chances to upset scUM and Penn State. If that were to happen the narrative would chance yet again.
Now the narrative has turned. At the beginning of the season it was about being a dark horse candidate for the Big Ten title. Now after back to back pummelings by Ohio State and Wisconsin it’s whether the game has passed Dantonio by and if it’s time for a new head coach.
Ironic really. When MD started, he modeled his program, not to be scUM, but to be Wisconsin. A consistent challenger for the title with defense and a punishing ground game. And for several years we surpassed Wiscy at their own game. Big Ten championships, Rose Bowl win and a CFP appearance.
So what happened? First, let’s not give up on the season just yet. Yes, we did get beat like Wolner in ping pong, by back to back top ten teams on the road. How we lost is concerning, very concerning, but with a bye week there are chances to upset scUM and Penn State. If that were to happen the narrative would chance yet again.
Lewerke does not throw a catchable ball But what if the season plays out as seems likely 7-5 and a no name bowl to wrap up the year. Then it’s time to ask the questions. Is it recruiting? Berj says we were able to recruit better when scUM was down. That’s too close to the myth that we can only be good when scUM is down. Rarely were we going after the same recruits. We were going after gems in Ohio that OSU was overlooked – think Le’Veon.
Woz says we need assistants that can recruit. Maybe but we tried the “elephant hunter” approach in 2016 after all the success and it backfired. Those recruits were all booted from the team (leading to the problems this year as they would be redshirt juniors) and now has the elephant hunter suing Dantonio. No idea how much that is a distraction.
What’s missing is recruiting at the skill position. We lack explosive players. Cummings is close and there are WRs waiting in the wings. Lewerke is hot and cold. He can turn a game with his legs but doesn’t throw a catchable ball. He makes it too hard for the WRs to make a catch far too often. Perhaps we miss Enos more than we thought.
Woz says we need assistants that can recruit. Maybe but we tried the “elephant hunter” approach in 2016 after all the success and it backfired. Those recruits were all booted from the team (leading to the problems this year as they would be redshirt juniors) and now has the elephant hunter suing Dantonio. No idea how much that is a distraction.
What’s missing is recruiting at the skill position. We lack explosive players. Cummings is close and there are WRs waiting in the wings. Lewerke is hot and cold. He can turn a game with his legs but doesn’t throw a catchable ball. He makes it too hard for the WRs to make a catch far too often. Perhaps we miss Enos more than we thought.
Dantonio has earned another year or two but lost the right to name his replacement We have also regressed in player development in the OL. We can’t “Pound Green Pound” like we used to. Put those OLs out there today and we would be talking about how great Cummings is. It’s exactly where Wisconsin is today.
So is it time for Dantonio to go? Not yet. He’s earned the right to a couple more years – unless things really bottom out. He’s lost the right to name his replacement though.
Next year will determine if Dantonio still has it. He loses a ton of seniors on defense and the backups to Lewerke haven’t shown much. If he can get through next year at 8-4 the magic is on its way back.
But let’s see how this season ends up first.
The picks this season continue to be snake bit. I went 1-2 on the Mega Bets with:
So is it time for Dantonio to go? Not yet. He’s earned the right to a couple more years – unless things really bottom out. He’s lost the right to name his replacement though.
Next year will determine if Dantonio still has it. He loses a ton of seniors on defense and the backups to Lewerke haven’t shown much. If he can get through next year at 8-4 the magic is on its way back.
But let’s see how this season ends up first.
The picks this season continue to be snake bit. I went 1-2 on the Mega Bets with:
Virginia +2.0 @ Miami (FL) – I’m not sure what the stat is but if you outgain your opponent you win the game a high percentage of the time. UVA out gained the Canes getting inside the 25 6 times (out of 10 drives total) and went turnover on downs, fumble, missed FG, FG, FG and FG. Miami scored the clinching TD with 2:31 left. LOSS
Florida +13.0 @ LSU – The Gators were going for the tying TD with 7:26 left in the game. A great spot to be when getting nearly 2 TDs. And then this happened.
Florida +13.0 @ LSU – The Gators were going for the tying TD with 7:26 left in the game. A great spot to be when getting nearly 2 TDs. And then this happened.
Pick! In the endzone no less. LSU punches in a TD to go up 2 TDs to win 42-28. Just snake bit this year with turnovers in the red zone. LOSS
Darnold's return makes the Jets suddenly competitive NY Jets +8.5 vs Dallas – Always nice when you are getting over a TD and win outright. Jets are a solid team with Darnold back WIN Doing much better with the pros this year.
The Sheriff went 2-1 on wins with Arizona State (on a TD with 34 seconds left – nice) and Texas. The loss was Arizona getting smoked by Washington.
The Flippy had another good week going 5-3. Too bad Mike will be absent. Perhaps he can send the Big Flippy to the SuperBook.
Some observations from Week 7
If you think you're angry, imagine how the Saxy Lady is feeling after Georgia lost to South Carolina in 2OT. The Cocks were 21 points dogs and won when the nearly perfect Rodrigo Blakenship pulled the tying FG
With the Georgia loss and Florida's loss Mizzou is in first place in the SEC East.
Now the LSU Bama game on Nov 9th is shaping up to be the game that decides the SEC.
And the Wisconsin Ohio State game on GO JUMBO could be round one of the Big Ten Championship with round 2 in Indianapolis.
The Sheriff went 2-1 on wins with Arizona State (on a TD with 34 seconds left – nice) and Texas. The loss was Arizona getting smoked by Washington.
The Flippy had another good week going 5-3. Too bad Mike will be absent. Perhaps he can send the Big Flippy to the SuperBook.
Some observations from Week 7
If you think you're angry, imagine how the Saxy Lady is feeling after Georgia lost to South Carolina in 2OT. The Cocks were 21 points dogs and won when the nearly perfect Rodrigo Blakenship pulled the tying FG
With the Georgia loss and Florida's loss Mizzou is in first place in the SEC East.
Now the LSU Bama game on Nov 9th is shaping up to be the game that decides the SEC.
And the Wisconsin Ohio State game on GO JUMBO could be round one of the Big Ten Championship with round 2 in Indianapolis.
Minny is 6-0 after trouncing Nebraska Vanderbilt just lost to a bad UNLV team. Keep en eye out for the team tanking the rest of the season.
Purdue destroyed Maryland 40-14. Mike Locksley truly is an awful coach.
Minnesota is 6-0 after trouncing a fading Nebraska. They will likely go 8-0 when the beat Maryland on GO JUMBO but the fun starts in week 10 with Penn State and then Iowa.
Clemson heard you. You were saying that maybe they weren't all that good this year. Final Clemson 45 FSU 14.
App State is the class of the Fun Belt after beating UL Lafayette 17-7. Good game. Don't be surprised if both teams run the table and meet again in a rematch of last years Sun Belt Championship game.
Cincinnati is the favorite in the American after beating Houston and Memphis' loss to Temple. But keep an eye on Tulane.
Remember the 2019 GO JUMBO is Oct 26th at the Westgate SuperBook
Purdue destroyed Maryland 40-14. Mike Locksley truly is an awful coach.
Minnesota is 6-0 after trouncing a fading Nebraska. They will likely go 8-0 when the beat Maryland on GO JUMBO but the fun starts in week 10 with Penn State and then Iowa.
Clemson heard you. You were saying that maybe they weren't all that good this year. Final Clemson 45 FSU 14.
App State is the class of the Fun Belt after beating UL Lafayette 17-7. Good game. Don't be surprised if both teams run the table and meet again in a rematch of last years Sun Belt Championship game.
Cincinnati is the favorite in the American after beating Houston and Memphis' loss to Temple. But keep an eye on Tulane.
Remember the 2019 GO JUMBO is Oct 26th at the Westgate SuperBook
