Michigan State Grades

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Did you feel it coming? Did you suspect that Alabama was going to put it all together and finally play what Nick Saban would call a "complete game?" Did you look at how this team has responded to defeats, factor into the equation the return of several starters from injury, and conclude that the Tide was going to Orlando on a business trip and was bringing a wood-shedding with them?

Whether you predicted it, suspected it, or just longed for it, that's exactly what the Crimson Tide did on New Years Day.

Make no mistake, the 2010 Spartans are a good football team. They are fundamentally sound and well coached. Before running into the buzz saw that was the Alabama defense, the Spartans had averaged scoring over 34 points per game, they averaged more than 184 yards per game rushing and more than 470 yards per game of total offense. How did the Big-10 Co-Champions fare against 9-3 Alabama? Well, here's what some MSU fans posted on Spartan chat-boards during the game [hat tip to Linda Hawes]:

"If we played 10 times, these guys would beat us 15."

"Julio is taking us to schoolio."

"I think their punter is currently drinking around the world in Epcot."

"If Cam Newton costs $200,000 for a season, how much is a 2nd half rental?"

"This is getting out of hand. A Bama D-lineman just popped out of my TV set and threw me 10 yards behind my couch."

"We're going to have a wing named after us at Orlando Regional Medical Center by the time this game finishes."

"Well, we kept it under 50."

And my personal favorite, obviously referring to the third-string QB who was sent in after the starter and number 2 were knocked out of the game:

"If I'm Maxwell, I fake an injury on the way to the huddle."

I give these MSU fans credit for taking their beating like grown-ups. And what a bearing it was. MSU points: 7. MSU rushing yards: -48. [That's right -48. Can you get your head around that? If they started at mid-field, and did nothing but run the ball, after 28 plays they would have been backed up to their own 2 yard line.] MSU passing: 14-29-1.

In his post-game comments, Coach Saban credited the players for their excellent preparation, competitive spirit and dominating performance. He also voiced what most Alabama fans feel: "There's lots of lessons to learn about this season in terms of the maybe four or five plays that could have been that could have put us in a different place, maybe the same place we were in last year."

You couldn't help think to yourself, as you watched Alabama dominate Michigan State: "Where has this been all season?" The answer, I suppose, is that it has been there all along, but as a work in progress. The progress was not as swift, or as linear as most fans, the players and coaches, would have preferred, but there can be no doubt that progress was made.

I have written in this blog and in The Williamson Herald, that Alabama lacked toughness this season. I'm not backing off that comment, but I will acknowledge that you won't find anyone in a Michigan State jersey who thinks Alabama isn't tough. Here's what Kirk Cousins had to say to reporters after the game when asked to comment on Alabama's physicality: "It was an accumulation of hits that ran its course as the game wore on. The last one I took was one where I just had a throbbing headache on the field and my lower back started to flare up, so I just felt that my body was wearing down as the game went on. That was sort of the final nail in the coffin."

Whether you felt it coming, or saw it coming, or knew it was coming, IT arrived. And IT was personified by Courtney Upshaw, justifiably named the game's MVP. But it was not a one-man show. The entire Bama defense was unblockable. Just as the entire Bama offense was unstoppable. Here's how I grade the game:

Offense:  A+    Alabama had 275 net yards rushing against the Spartans. Mark Ingram ran for 59 net yards and 2 TDs on 12 carries. Eddie Lacy gained 86 net yards on the ground and also scored 2 TDs including one on a 62 yard play in the 4th quarter. Trent Richardson ran 10 times for 43 net yards and Julio Jones carried twice for 36 yards including a 35 yard TD run aided by a fine down field block delivered by GMac. Ingram and Richardson both punished MSU strong safety, Marcus Hyde, on scoring runs, running over the Spartans leading tackler at the goal line.

Through the air, GMac and A.J. combined for 19 completions on 23 attempts for 271 yards and a TD; a perfect deep strike to Marquis Maze, who led all receivers with 77 yards on 4 receptions. Preston Dial added 55 yards on 4 catches. Julio caught 3 passes for 48 yards. A total of 10 different players caught passes.

Alabama had seven drives that gained 40 or more yards [79, 62, 80, 44, 79, 58 and 84] each ended with a touchdown. The Tide offense was so brutally efficient that it scored a touchdown on each of its first four possessions, and would have scored on its fifth but for the expiration of the first half, and Bama did not punt until the 7:30 mark in the third quarter. By that time, GMac had turned the offense over to A.J.

Defense:   A+   There is, unfortunately, no higher mark in the grade book. If there was, this performance would have earned it.  Eleven of MSU's 57 offensive plays resulted in a tackle for lost yardage; including 5 sacks to go with 5 hurries. The pressure on their quarterbacks was so intense that two of them were unable to finish the game. 

Courtney Upshaw recorded 5 tackles, all solo, including 3 for 17 yards of lost yardage and forced a fumble. The fumble was recovered by MSU, but the result of the play was that a 3rd and goal from the 7 became a 4th and goal from the 39. When was the last time you recall a team punting on 4th and goal?

Robert Lester also had 5 tackles [4 solo] and an interception that he returned 22 yards. Nico Johnson and Alex Watkins each had 4 tackles [3 solo]. Will Lowery, who started at strong safety in place of the injured Mark Barron, recorded 3 tackles [2 solo]. Marcel Darius had 3 tackles, including 2 for loss, and was credited with 3 hurries. 

MSU was only able to convert 6 of its 16 third downs, had five possessions that were three-and-out, and only one drive in excess of 40 yards; its final possession of the game.

Special Teams:

Place Kicking:   A    Jeremy Shelley was perfect on all 7 PATs.

Punting:    A    Cody Mandell punted twice for an average of 39.5 yards and allowed no returns. Marquis Maze returned 3 MSU punts for 22 yards.

Kick Offs:  A   Cade Foster and Jeremy Shelley shared kickoff duties. Foster kicked off 5 times for a gross average of 62.2 yards per kick, while Shelley kicked off 3 times for an average gross of 64.3 yards. Coverage was excellent. Bama's coverage yielded a net per kick off of 49.5 yards. MSU only kicked off twice, and Bama's return game resulted in the Spartans having a per kick net average of only 39.1 yards.

Coaching:   A+    Let's review the "Good Coaching" check list. Penalties: Bama had 3 for 25 yards. Turn overs: zero. Participation: 58 players saw action during the game. Game Planning:  Alabama gained an average of 8.1 yards per play and allowed MSU only 3 yards per play. Preparation: Can anybody doubt that Bama came to play?  Adjustments: Bama had a time of possession advantage of nearly 5 minutes, and that takes into account the second quarter where Alabama had only 6 minutes of possession yet scored 21 points.  I would say the coaching staff was 6 for 6.

As decisive as this victory was, this is not the way Alabama wanted to end its season. Winning the Western Division, and the SEC Championship Game and playing for the BCS Championship were the pre-season goals. These were not achieved. Nevertheless, this is a significant win; a statement win. No college football team in America could have defeated Alabama last Saturday. This is a significant senior class that we bid farewell. GMac, Josh Chapman, Preston Dial, Luther Davis, Chavis Williams, and Earl Alexander, among others, achieved 43 victories during their tenure at Alabama; the best mark of any other senior class this season. Two SEC West titles, an SEC Championship, three bowl wins and a National Championship round out their resume. Very impressive. A great example for their teammates to follow next season.

And the next season has already started. To be sure there is much work to be done; early enrollments, off-season conditioning, recruiting, spring practice, A-Day, two-a-days, then, before you know it, there will be tents on the Quad, the Million Dollar Band will do the Elephant Stomp from the steps of the library to Bryant Denny Stadium, the buses will pull up to the north entrance to the stadium and the 2011 Crimson Tide will have its first Walk of Champions.

Do you feel it coming?

I can hardly wait.

The Commissioner