SpartyMSU is starting our Early look at each Spartan Game...
and how the Spartans will March to 12 - 1 in 2009

Western Michigan
November 7, Noon EST: in East Lansing

Not sure how to criticize WMU.. Much like CMU, I like these guys..  Bells Brewery is located near by…. Located close to Chicago… MSU’s Med school is within shouting distance…  Andy the “Super Chef” from Tail Gate Excellence  resides there…   Whats not to like…

Lets look at the team..

They are predicted to be in the Top 50  of the NCAA, and rival CMU for the MAC crown this year..  Sure they beat Illinois last year, probably Indiana this year.. but not the Spartans….

2009:
Could be a special year for the Broncos..  They start the season in AnnArbor Sept. 5, if they can beat the Wolverines in AnnArbor.. then they could be on their way… Their chance for beating Michigan : 50 – 50….  As for their chances beating Michigan State Spartans: 15 – 85.. pretty low…



The Starting Senior QB Tim Hiller… only concern is he has tweeked his knee again.. But should be good to  go on Sept. 5…

2008 ranked  11th in passing yrds in NCAA.  Hiller threw for +3700 yrds.. with 36 TDs…..  471 yrds alone against CMU last year…. The broncos like to throw the ball.. And will plan to air it out again this year.  He will looking for his best retuning receivers;  Robert Arnheim (6’2” – 180), Juan Nunez (6’0” – 175).. 

Make no mistake.. The air attack is alive and well in K-Zoo.

The Ground game is sound with Brandon West coming off a 1000 yrd season in 2008, he is back and looking to get another Grand on the ground... Still, the run is not their bread and butter.

To use these skill weapons,  like anyone else, need to have the Hosses up front…  And fortunately, EVERYONE comes back. LT  Anthony Parker (6’5”-305), LG Phillip Swanson (6’4”- 307), C Paul Wasikowski (6’3”-291), RG Nick Clemens (6’5”-307)and RT Jon Jack (6’6”-340)… These guys like to work together..



Plus.. they just got a steal from Rich Rod…6’8”, 300-pound Dann O'Neill. He was a 4-star offensive tackle recruit, who decided to leave UofM for the Broncos. Too bad he has to sit out a year… This guy will be a STUD for WMU… And his bother is on the team as well.. gotta love that !

These guys are good, but, I don’t think they match up with the speed coming around the corner from the Spartan’s Hoover and Anderson..  Possibly a smidge too slow…  The speed at which the MSU DEs get in the back field last year, combined with the reported progress of fall camp so far..  will give WMU  a problem keeping up with pass protection. They might be able to open gaps for the Bronco Backs, but  Greg Jones and crew should plug the holes, closing  up their ground game.

Bronco “D” is the weaker side of the ball…

Last years Front 4 on “D” were all seniors.. and they gave up almost 400yrds per game….  gave up almost 140 yrds rushing per game..Gave up 250 yrds passing per game…  kind of soft…

 This year.. those guys are gone.. you have Soph. DT Drew Nowak (6’2”-250), DT Senior Cody Cielenski (6’2”-280), DE Red Shirt Freshman Fred Bishop (6’4”-247), DE Soph. Weston Peiffer (6’-4”-245).   They do have some play experience, and a couple of starts, but they are relatively new…  I doubt we can expect anything better this year…

Insult to injury…   they seem kind of small as a group.. and the reserves aren’t any bigger..   Small might mean speed… But small might mean you get pushed around and back down..   These guys are going to get man handled by the Spartan “O” line..  Do I have to describe it.. ??  Spartans have 3 returning starters, and back filling with experience..  I see the WMU “D” line worn out by Q3.

LB Austin Pritchard and LB Mitch Zajac  are defensive rays of hope in the middle…  An oasis in the desert of a weak Bronco “D”…..

The Bronco secondary lost  4 starters, and now has little experience and is basically new and untested... Matched up with the he experienced and all star receiving corps of the Spartans should be able to get space and room…

Not all is gloom and doom.. Bill Cubit is a good coach and has a history of getting maximum effort from his players..   his record is 29 – 20 at WMU…  They are a good team and will surprise many.... Might just beat CMU for the MAC Crown this year….  But not the Spartans at Home...

If the Broncos are to beat anyone this year, it will be in the air.. But with the depth, experience and skills in the Spartans Secondary, the WMU pass schemes get blown up….

Prediction……
This might possibly be a high scoring affair:
Spartans      37
Broncos       24

Spartans are now 10 - 0....  If our predictions hold true.....




Sparty On !!!