Grading Michigan State Football

GRR Spartan wrote:If I heard more bullshit about the dreaded Black Shirt defense I was going to puke.

Nebraska’s defense was ranked 6th once, 7th twice and 9 or below the rest of their time in the conference.
Black Shirt -BS.

Despite the cancer named Mel Tucker, this team was very close to beating Iowa, Minnesota and could have beaten Maryland.

The best thing about this win was to show the prospective coaches the cupboard isn’t completely bare.

Most of the games against teams in MSU's "weight class" have been competitive...

Is there an outside chance that MSU admin punts when they can't get Meyer and goes with Barnett based on improved defense and instructions to rework coaching on offense & special teams?

Trapper Gus wrote:

GRR Spartan wrote:If I heard more bullshit about the dreaded Black Shirt defense I was going to puke.

Nebraska’s defense was ranked 6th once, 7th twice and 9 or below the rest of their time in the conference.
Black Shirt -BS.

Despite the cancer named Mel Tucker, this team was very close to beating Iowa, Minnesota and could have beaten Maryland.

The best thing about this win was to show the prospective coaches the cupboard isn’t completely bare.

Most of the games against teams in MSU's "weight class" have been competitive...

Is there an outside chance that MSU admin punts when they can't get Meyer and goes with Barnett based on improved defense and instructions to rework coaching on offense & special teams?

I don't think there is any chance we settle for Barnett Trapper. Haller knows this hire will not only define his legacy but more importantly determine whether he remains employed. He has to shoot higher than a 56 year old without the resume for this job. We tried that once.

I do hope the next coach, will a nudge from Haller, keeps Harlan around in some capacity. The job he has done keeping this team together is amazing. As many have pointed out, we could have lost half the roster to the portal the second they were eligible. They stayed, played hard (even when they were getting their brains beat in) and never quit. That's a huge credit to Barnett

Game nine grade: pass.

Trapper Gus wrote:

GRR Spartan wrote:If I heard more bullshit about the dreaded Black Shirt defense I was going to puke.

Nebraska’s defense was ranked 6th once, 7th twice and 9 or below the rest of their time in the conference.
Black Shirt -BS.

Despite the cancer named Mel Tucker, this team was very close to beating Iowa, Minnesota and could have beaten Maryland.

The best thing about this win was to show the prospective coaches the cupboard isn’t completely bare.

Most of the games against teams in MSU's "weight class" have been competitive...

Is there an outside chance that MSU admin punts when they can't get Meyer and goes with Barnett based on improved defense and instructions to rework coaching on offense & special teams?

There's a chance, but I don't think it's a significant one.

I think that if Haller DID decide to go in this direction, there would be some angst in the fanbase, but I also think we could do worse. Barnett hasn't impressed in the win column, but I think 3-9 was roughly where we were going to finish with Tucker. Harlon was thrown into a challenging situation, with a team that Tucker was bitching about before the start of the season, and with a staff that Tucker put together (and has been mediocre at best). Could Barnett be successful if given the chance to build his own culture with his own staff? I think we could make the argument that it's very possible. The W column doesn't reflect it, but I do think the team has improved as the season has progressed. Defense has looked good enough to compete, and Barnett has at least shown willingness to try new things on offense to try and create a spark. Special teams has been bad.

That said, I think Haller knows that the fanbase and donors expect an established HC. With the amount of times Urban Meyer's name has been thrown around, I think it's clear that fans expect a big name. Harlon is a great man and a great Spartan (and I maintain he could be a good coach), but I don't think he checks any of the boxes for this coaching search. I feel for him. Under different circumstances, he could have been a solid option.

How bout an urbz 3 year contract with Bang Stick being ass. head coach. That would be too ideal.

Game ten grade: fail.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:How bout an urbz 3 year contract with Bang Stick being ass. head coach. That would be too ideal.

With Dantonio as a special assistant HC

CaptainSlow33 wrote:

Trapper Gus wrote:

Most of the games against teams in MSU's "weight class" have been competitive...

Is there an outside chance that MSU admin punts when they can't get Meyer and goes with Barnett based on improved defense and instructions to rework coaching on offense & special teams?

There's a chance, but I don't think it's a significant one.

I think that if Haller DID decide to go in this direction, there would be some angst in the fanbase, but I also think we could do worse. Barnett hasn't impressed in the win column, but I think 3-9 was roughly where we were going to finish with Tucker. Harlon was thrown into a challenging situation, with a team that Tucker was bitching about before the start of the season, and with a staff that Tucker put together (and has been mediocre at best). Could Barnett be successful if given the chance to build his own culture with his own staff? I think we could make the argument that it's very possible. The W column doesn't reflect it, but I do think the team has improved as the season has progressed. Defense has looked good enough to compete, and Barnett has at least shown willingness to try new things on offense to try and create a spark. Special teams has been bad.

That said, I think Haller knows that the fanbase and donors expect an established HC. With the amount of times Urban Meyer's name has been thrown around, I think it's clear that fans expect a big name. Harlon is a great man and a great Spartan (and I maintain he could be a good coach), but I don't think he checks any of the boxes for this coaching search. I feel for him. Under different circumstances, he could have been a solid option.

I can see him being the option if they cannot get a home run type of hire. If they are stuck settling for another Tucker type for instance.

Game eleven grade: pass.

Game twelve grade: fail.

Old news Pervis... sheesh... we have moved on to an entirely new "era" of msu football and this just feels like negativity at this point.

When can I expect an overall season grade?

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:When can I expect an overall season grade?

That will be a much more complicated process this season. The overall season grade is based on my extensive possibility/outcome metrics along with a meticulous comparison of measurable achievements with the goals both stated and implied by the leadership, and there were two head coaching regimes this season. It's a daunting task. I'll have it for you by nine.

What's the grade on the hiring of Smith?

Season grade: fail.

Trapper Gus wrote:What's the grade on the hiring of Smith?

Hiring decision grade: incomplete.

Pervis Muldoon wrote:Season grade: fail.

You’re tough.