| Opinion | Oct. 9, 2008 | 7:29 pm |
How the ‘Cats can upend Javon Ringer and Michigan State
By
Correction appended.
Saturday’s game against Michigan State is the most hyped game Northwestern has played at Ryan Field since 2005 when they hosted Michigan. The student body is actually planning Saturday schedules around the game instead of around the library, ESPN agreed to a game time that isn’t at the crack of dawn, and PTI host and NU alum Michael Wilbon is bragging about the team posting double digit wins this season. The team secured a top 25 ranking in the coaches poll and will move into the AP top 25 as well if they can defeat the Spartans. With all the national coverage this game will recieve, NU students have a chance to prove we aren’t the sports-ignorant geeks the fans of other Big Ten teams claim we are. So, get there early, make sure to wear purple, and don’t speak during discussions on Friday to save your voice.
On defense, the first and foremost thing the ‘Cats will have to do to take down #23 Michigan State is stop Javon Ringer, their running back. From the outset of the season, Northwestern knew that stopping Ringer would be one of the toughest tasks the squad would face all season. Ringer’s performance this season has far exceeded even the high expectations placed on him. The Spartans’ ball carrier has been an absolute workhorse, racking up almost twice as many carries as any other back in the conference and leading the Big Ten in yards and scores on the ground.
However, Mike Hankwitz and the ‘Cats defense may have gotten some insight about stopping Ringer and the dynamic Michigan State offense from watching last Saturday’s Michigan State game against Iowa. Despite the fact that the Spartans prevailed at home 16-13, the 5-1 Spartans looked unimpressive on offense. The ground game failed to top the 100 yard mark and senior quarterback Brian Hoyer went a mere 13-24 through the air. Look for the Wildcats to continue to platoon about 6 linemen up front, with John Gill and Corey Wootton getting the most time of the 6 to keep the heat on the Spartan line. This will clear up hard-hitting senior middle linebacker Malcolm Arrington and the speedy young sophomore Quentin Davie to attack Ringer in the backfield.
On the other side of the ball, the Spartan’s defensive backfield remains a major question mark due to injuries to several players including corner Chris Rucker, who is currently listed doubtful. Even with all their players, however, the Spartans are capable of surrendering lots of points. California hung 38 on the Spartans in a game in September.
Rucker’s injury further weakens what was already a mediocre secondary unit. Last season, Wildcats’ quarterback C.J. Bacher devastated the MSU defense with a school-record 520 passing yards (the 6th highest total in conference history) in an overtime 48-41 victory at East Lansing. Most memorable were touchdown passes to Eric Peterman and Jeff Yarborough. This year, if Peterman and true freshman Jeremy Ebert can spread out the defense with their speed from the inside receiver position, Bacher will be able to hit Ross Lane, Rasheed Ward, and Tyrell Sutton all day with easy completions and the Wildcats will light up the scoreboard.
Prediction: With so much excitement Northwestern couldn’t possibly disappoint their fans, could they? I certainly don’t think so. The ‘Cats have played their best when it matters most the whole year and will continue to do so on Saturday. Bacher will throw two touchdowns and the defense will limit Javon Ringer to 70 yards in a 27-14 romp of the Spartans.
Thanks to commenter Aaron for the correction.
Adam S. said,
October 10, 2008 @ 8:04 am
As a Spartan, I’m really looking forward to this game. If both teams can come out and play their best (which may be a lot to ask from most of our guys, but it’s possible), I think MSU has the edge in a close game. However, if things go “normally” and MSU doesn’t bring their all, NW will almost certainly take this one as you have said. I think the coaches will have worked with Javon Ringer all week to make sure what happened to him against Iowa isn’t repeated (he’s in Heisman contention, after all), regardless of how many linemen you can throw at him. Hoyer is always spotty; the man has no finesse on his throws and every one’s a bullet. However, if your squad overloads the front line and Hoyer can hit some receivers in his sweet spot, which is 10-15 yards out, I think you’re going to be surprised to see quite a few passing yards from us.
May the best team win. Should be one of the best matchups in history between these two schools.
Aaron said,
October 10, 2008 @ 11:38 am
Hey Adam, I’m hoping for a great game too! It always seems our games are memorable for better or for worse.
Just one note, at Northwestern we like to be called “NU” not “NW”
Mike said,
October 10, 2008 @ 6:20 pm
I agree with the excitement!! Let us not forget about some of the great MSU/NU games of recent history besides last year’s overtime shootout. In 1997, NU’s Anwaan Jones blocked a game-winning FG attempt to give the Cats a 19-17 win. More last minute FG drama in 1992 when Sam Valensizi’s last-minute FG sailed above the post and appeared to be good, but the refs said that it sailed wide. He bounced back though; SV was an all-american in ‘95. Of course, the great ‘06 debacle, the rise of the CJ Bacher era on offense, and the nadir (I dont use that word often) of the Greg Colby era on the other side of the ball.
However, my favorite was the 1982 game in East Lansing which ended in a 28-24 Cats victory. I wasnt born til 5 years after, but Ive read about it and seen the footage. Certainly one of the forgotten great games in Cats history. A wild, sloppy 4th quarter ended with RB Ricky Edwards taking a pitch on the MSU 7 yard line with only a few ticks left on the clock and throwing it back to QB Sandy Schwab for a TD. Even more impressive, the Cats came back from being down 17-0 and were 24 point underdogs.
Like the Northern Illinois game, this one broke another awful streak…the Cats had not won a road game since 1974, the 2nd year of the John Pont era. It also helped Dennis Green win Big Ten Coach of the Year honors, after improving upon the laughing stock NU team of 1981. Although the early 80’s were still the Dark Ages, the Cats had an exciting offense which featured some great players, including Chris Hinton and Steve Tasker, both of whom were 7-time Pro Bowlers in the NFL.