Stopping Trevone Boykin

I remember when pro style offenses were the norm in the Big Ten. In fact, that was only a few years ago. Back then, when MSU would prepare for a dual-threat quarterback, like TCU’s redshirt-freshman Trevone Boykin, we’d all wonder how the defensive game plan would work out. But now, playing against the Boykin’s of the world is second-nature.

And the Spartans have done well (for the most part) against those offenses this season (at least in my opinion). Let’s take a look at the numbers:

Everett Golson, Notre Dame (12-0)
Season Averages: (Passing: 15.1-25.6, 194.1 yards, 11 TD, 5 INT. Rushing: 8.1 carries, 27.7 yards, 5 total TD’s)
Against MSU: (Passing: 14-32, 178 yards, 1 TD. Rushing: 3 carries, 7 yards, 1 TD)
Result: 20-3 loss

Braxton Miller, Ohio State (12-0)
Season Averages: (Passing: 12.3-21.1, 169.9 yards, 15 TD, 6 INT. Rushing: 18.9 carries, 105.9 yards, 13 total TD’s)
Against MSU: (Passing: 16-23, 179 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. Rushing: 23 carries, 136 yards, 0 TD)
Result: 17-16 loss

Denard Robinson, Michigan (8-4)
Season Averages: (Passing: 8.9-16.6, 131.9 yards, 9 TD, 9 INT. Rushing: 15.4 carries, 116.6 yards, 7 total TD’s)
Against MSU: (Passing: 14-29, 163 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. Rushing: 20 carries, 96 yards, 0 TD)
Result: 12-10 loss

Taylor Martinez, Nebraska (10-3)
Season Averages: (Passing: 16.3-11.1, 205.6 yards, 21 TD,10 INT. Rushing: 13.5 carries, 74.8 yards, 10 total TD’s)
Against MSU: (Passing: 16-36, 160 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT. Rushing: 17 carries, 205 yards, 2 TD)
Result: 28-24 loss

Kain Colter, Northwestern (9-3)
Season Averages: (Passing: 7.6-11.1, 66.3 yards, 8 TD, 2 INT. Rushing: 13.1 carries, 68.3 yards, 12 total TD’s)
Against MSU: (Passing: 13-20, 81 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT. Rushing: 6 carries, 28 yards, 0 TD)
Result: 23-20 loss

Quite honestly, how do you really read how MSU’s defense did against dual threat quarterbacks? All five games resulted in losses, so you may have your answer. However, only Taylor Martinez and Braxton Miller defeated MSU with their legs, while, Miller was the only one to throw the ball well against MSU. And still, the Spartans woulda, coulda, shoulda, won the games. Interesting.

I am confident however, that if the Spartan defense does to Boykin, what it did to everyone except for Braxton Miller, they will win.

Making up for Johnny Adams’ likely absence
 
It’s not going to be easy to replace a 2-time, Big Ten 1st team all-conference selection. Although Johnny has been criticized for giving up the big play this season(i.e., against Ohio State), in my mind, he’s done just fine. You have to consider that he’s been picked on by opposing offenses more than in previous seasons - not because his talent level has declined, but rather because of the emergence of Darqueze Dennard. Dennard is more physical at the line and won a lot of battles at the ball. Add in the fact that Trenton Robinson isn’t around to help break up the deep balls and it appears that Adams hasn’t been as good this season, despite good numbers.

For those of you who still think that Adams has been subpar, consider this: MSU’s passing defense is ranked 9th in the country (173.7 ypg) despite the fact that we’ve seen much less of a pass rush from the defensive line..

Fellow senior Mitchell White is expected to start opposite of Dennard. But don’t be surprised if Pat Narduzzi and Coach Dantonio go with redshirt-freshman Trae Waynes for a heavy chunk of the game. Who knows, we may even see wide receiver Tony Lippett play some snaps at corner as well.

Run Le’Veon, Run!

Just  give him the football! It could be the last time we see him on the field as a Spartan. He ranks 3rd nationally (137.3 ypg) and has the second highest single season rushing total in MSU history (1,648).
Bell’s three highest rushing totals (210 vs. Boise, 253 vs. EMU, 266 vs. Minn) this season have equaled wins. The more carries, the more yards, the merrier.

All of his life, Kirk Cousins has had doubters. And for all of his life, Kirk Cousins has proved his doubters wrong.

This time, for those of you who doubted that he could be a starting quarterback in the NFL, he presented you with a gem of a performance in his first career start for the Washington Redskins.

In Washington's 38-21 victory over Cleveland on Sunday, Kirk showed nerves early, completing just one of his first six pass attempts, which included an interception.

But from that point on, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan called plays that allowed Kirk to get rolling. Pass after pass came on play-action roll outs, which allowed Kirk to buy time as he waited for his receivers to get open. As a result, he completed 25 of his final 31 passes, throwing for 329 total yards and two touchdowns.
 
Not bad for for a first start, Kirk. Not bad at all.

Kirk Cousins Quick Links

-NFL.com game highlights (WATCH)

-Video interview of Kirk with CSN Washington (WATCH)

-Redskins backup Kirk Cousins is making is easier to see what coaches like about him - Washington Post (READ)

-Kirk Cousins delivers again, this time as the starter - Washington Post (READ)

-Kirk Cousins leads Redskins past Browns, into NFC East lead - Washington Times (READ)

TOP SPARTAN PERFORMERS

Kirk Cousins QB (WSH) - Cousins completed 26-of-37 (70.4%) pass attempts for 329 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Season Totals: 33-for-46 (68.8%), 466, 4 TD, 3 INT

Kellen Davis TE (CHI) - Did not make a reception in Chicago's 21-13 loss to Green Bay.
Season Totals: 17 catches, 210 yards, 2 TD.

Brandon Fields P (MIA) - 1 punt, 63.0 yard average, including one inside the 20, in Miami's 24-3 victory over Jacksonville.
Season Totals: 60 punts, 50.6 avg., 22 inside 20, 3 tackles

Keshawn Martin WR (HOU) - Returned 1 kicks for 18 yards and 2 punts for 12 yards in Houston's 29-17 win over Indianapolis. He did not make a reception.
Season Totals: 10 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD. 4 carries, 42 yards. 19 punt returns, 228 yards. 24 kickoff returns, 564 yards.

Domata Peko DT (CIN) - Recorded 1 tackle in Cincinnati's 34-13 win over Philadelphia.
Season Totals: 43 tackles, including 2.0 sack.

Kevin Vickerson DT (DEN) - Did not make a tackle in Denver's 34-17 victory at Baltimore. It's the second straight week that Vickerson did not contribute a tackle.
Season Totals: 35 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble

Jerel Worthy DT (GB) - Made 3 stops, including a half sack, in Green Bay's 21-13 victory at Chicago.
Season Totals: 13 tackles, including 2.5 sacks.

OTHER SPARTANS IN THE NFL

Plaxico Burress WR (PIT) - Plaxico was inactive in Pittsburgh's 27-24 overtime loss at Dallas.
Season Totals: 1 reception, 18 yards

Garrett Celek TE (SF) - Did not make a reception, but saw the field on special teams in San Fran's 41-34 victory at New England.
Season Totals: 2 receptions - 10 yards

Kyle Cook C (CIN) - Played center in Cincinnati's 34-13 victory over Philadelphia on Thursday night.

Brian Hoyer QB (ARI) - After a short week in Arizona, Hoyer did not play in the Cardinal's 38-10 victory over Detroit. He is expected to get quite a bit of playing time in the final two weeks of the season.
Season Totals: Has not played.

Greg Jones LB (Jac) - Did not make a tackle in Jacksonville's 24-3 loss at Miami.
Season Totals: 3 tackles

Brandon McKinney DT (IND) - Will miss the season with ACL tear

Javon Ringer RB (TEN) - Injured Reserve.
Season Totals: 2 rushes, 14 yards. 3 receptions, 12 yards.

Trenton Robinson FS (SF) - DNP in San Francisco's 41-34 victory at New England.

Eric Smith S (NYJ) - Plays tonight against the Tennessee Titans.
Season Totals: 11 total tackles, 1 INT.

Drew Stanton QB (IND) - DNP, in Indy's 29-17 loss at Houston.

All season long Spartan fans had been waiting for Kirk Cousins turn to shine for a single Sunday afternoon. Cousins did get some run in week 4 against Atlanta throwing for more than 100 yards in defeat, but his performance last Sunday will last in his memory for quite some time.

With the Washington Redskins trailing Baltimore by eight points late in the fourth quarter, Kirk was called upon after Robert Griffin III left the game with a knee injury.

On 2nd-and-20 Cousins first hit Leonard Hankerson on a 15-yard pass completion, then, on 3rd-and-5 scrambled to find Pierre Garcon in the end zone for an 11-yard strike to pull the 'Skins to within two points with :29 seconds remaining.

Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan then called Kirk's number again on a quarterback draw, diving into the endzone to tie the game.

After a huge punt return in overtime, Cousins simply handed the ball off a pair of times before Coach Shanahan sent kicker Kai Forbath into the game to win it with a 34-yard field goal.

Kirk Cousins Quick Links

-Video of Kirk Cousins TD pass and 2-point conversion (WATCH)

-Video interview of Kirk with CSN Washington (WATCH)

-Game story from the Washington Times (READ)

-The Redskins are confident in Kirk Cousins if he starts against Cleveland (READ)

-One writer thinks Cousins' performance proves that he will be a starter in the NFL (READ)

SI's PETER KING RAVES ABOUT COUSINS

"The forgotten rookie quarterback.

On draft weekend, Michigan State's Kirk Cousins thought there were a lot of teams that might pick him. Washington wasn't one of them, not after taking Robert Griffin III in the first round. But the Redskins took him at pick 102. "I was scratching my head too,'' Cousins said Sunday evening, "I think like a lot of people were."

But Cousins settled into a support role for Griffin, and they became good friends. Cousins, a team source told me, has been an excellent guy for Griffin to bounce ideas and frustrations off of. "A football career is a marathon, not a sprint,'' said Cousins. "And I realize how good it is for my career that I'm in a place where the game is taught so well. If I ever want to coach someday, now I know all about the zone-read scheme, and that's something that may grow in the game as the years go on.''

So Cousins was on the sideline -- "with my overcoat on for about three hours'' -- when Griffin hurt his knee against the Ravens. Washington trailed 28-20, and Cousins got to throw five or six passes in haste on the sideline, trying to get the blood flowing a little on a raw day at Fedex Field. He hustled onto the field on 3rd-and-6 from the Washington 40 with 1:42 to go; his crossing-pattern pass to Pierre Garcon was on target, but Garcon got mugged by backup cornerback Chris Johnson, and interference was called. Now Griffin came back for four snaps before the knee was just too painful to move, and back came Cousins. Second-and-20, Baltimore 26. Cousins found Leonard Hankerson open for 15. Now 36 seconds left. Timeout. Third-and-5. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan called a play with Cousins, in the pocket, instructed to take his time, survey his options, and pick the most open one.

"I didn't like the look I got right away,'' Cousins said. "Something inside me said to take off and try to make a play. That's what you do sometimes as a quarterback. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.''

But how many sometimes come when you're cold off the bench, with your team's playoff life at stake?

Not many sometimes.

"It happened so fast,'' Cousins said. "I definitely didn't want to take a sack. We weren't playing The Little Sisters of the Poor out there. I was out of the pocket, and I just channeled my inner RGIII, and Pierre got open in the corner of the end zone.''

Cousins threw a perfect ball, over one corner and just before the safety came in to hit Garcon. Touchdown.

Now it was 28-26. Two-point conversion. The call was quarterback draw all the way. Cousins saw a hole and made it past the goal line before Ed Reed could blast him. Tie game. Washington got a long punt return and won on Kai Forbath's field goal in overtime.

"One of the things I've learned about being a quarterback,'' said Cousins, and for a minute, he sounded like a Penn professor of Football 101 with a tweed coat on, "is that it's a balance between being a robot and being an artist. On the touchdown to Garcon, that's being an artist; you don't really know how it's going to look, but you've just got to get out of the pocket and create something. On the two-point conversion, you're a robot. You take the play and do what's called, because you know if it's blocked the right way and set up the right way, it'll work -- the quarterback just executes it."

Cousins did his first NFL spike in the end zone after the robot play. When he got to the sideline, Griffin hugged him and said, "Thank you." A region of fans said the same thing."

You can read the rest of Peter King's story right here (READ)

TOP SPARTAN PERFORMERS

Plaxico Burress WR (PIT) - Plax finally got into the mix on Sunday with 1 reception for 18 yards, in Pittsburgh's 34-24 loss to San Diego.
Season Totals: 1 reception, 18 yards

Kirk Cousins QB (WSH) - After RGIII left the game with a knee injury, Cousins led Washington's comeback charge, completing both of his pass attempts - one for an 11 yard touchdown with 29 seconds left.  He also ran for a successful 2-point conversion.
Season Totals: 7-for-11, 137, 2 TD, 2 INT

Kellen Davis TE (CHI) - 3 receptions for 25 yards in Chicago's 21-14 loss at Minnesota.
Season Totals: 17 catches, 210 yards, 2 TD.

Brandon Fields P (MIA) - 3 punts, 47.3 yard average, including one inside the 20, in Miami's 27-13 loss to San Francisco
Season Totals: 59 punts, 50.0 avg., 21 inside 20, 3 tackles

Brian Hoyer QB (ARI) - After being waived by Pittsburgh, he was then picked up by Arizona. I highly doubt he'll play this week against Detroit, but could be auditioned for next season in the final two weeks of the regular season.
Season Totals: Has not played.

Keshawn Martin WR (HOU) - Caught 1 pass for -4 yards and in Houston's 42-14  loss at New England on Monday night. He also returned 2 kicks for 39 yards (long of 27 yards) and returned 2 punts for 1 yard.
Season Totals: 10 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD. 4 carries, 42 yards. 17 punt returns, 216 yards. 23 kickoff returns, 546 yards.

Domata Peko DT (CIN) - Recorded 2 tackles in Cincinnati's 20-19 loss to Dallas.
Season Totals: 42 tackles, including 2.0 sack.

Kevin Vickerson DT (DEN) - Did not make a tackle in Denver's 26-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders.
Season Totals: 35 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble

Jerel Worthy DT (GB) - Did not record a tackle in Green Bay's 27-20 victory against the Detroit Lions.
Season Totals: 10 tackles, including 2 sacks.

OTHER SPARTANS IN THE NFL

Garrett Celek TE (SF) - Did not make a reception, but saw the field on special teams in San Fran's 27-13 victory over Miami.
Season Totals: 2 receptions - 10 yards

Kyle Cook C (CIN) - Returned from the IR for the first time this season to play in Cincinnati's 20-19 loss to Dallas. Cook injured an ankle in the final game of the preseason and had been out ever since following surgery. He had previously started 75 consecutive games at center prior to injuring his ankle.

Greg Jones LB (Jac) - Recorded one tackle in Jacksonville's 17-10 defeat to the New York Jets.
Season Totals: 3 tackles

Brandon McKinney DT (IND) - Will miss the season with ACL tear

Javon Ringer RB (TEN) - Injured Reserve.
Season Totals: 2 rushes, 14 yards. 3 receptions, 12 yards.

Trenton Robinson FS (SF) - DNP in San Francisco's 27-13 victory over Miami.

Eric Smith S (NYJ) - 1 tackle in the Jets' 17-10 victory over Jacksonville.
Season Totals: 11 total tackles, 1 INT.

Drew Stanton QB (IND) - DNP, in Indy's 27-23 win over Tennessee.