Team Interceptions: 8

Madison Spartan · 11-15-2009, 06:13 PM

The best in the conference. Cousins and Nichol have done an amazing job protecting the ball.

Consider this, too. We have put the ball in the air 360 times this year. Ohio State has only thrown 9 picks, but the vest has asked his quarterbacks to air it out 100 fewer times than Treadwell has asked #s 7 and 8 to put it up.

Our sophomores have been making really good decisions this year.

SpartanRocky · 11-15-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madisonspartan

The best in the conference. Cousins and Nichol have done an amazing job protecting the ball.

Consider this, too. We have put the ball in the air 360 times this year. Ohio State has only thrown 9 picks, but the vest has asked his quarterbacks to air it out 100 fewer times than Treadwell has asked #s 7 and 8 to put it up.

Our sophomores have been making really good decisions this year.

It should be noted that the best TD-INT season I've seen in the past 20 years was Smoker's 21 TDs and 7 INTs his sophomore year; 3:1 TD-INT ratio.

This year Cousins has 17 TDs and 5 INTs, a 3.4:1 TD-INT ratio. That's pretty damn impressive.

To my knowledge, an MSU QB has never thrown more than 22 TDs in a season. With the bowl game, Cousins has a legit chance of passing that record, and keep in mind Nichol has more than a couple TDs as well.

All this with a walk-on as our top WR, and only 1 of our 3 4* WRs on the field (Dell, Smith ( no need to go into detail there) and Spencer). Cunningham is going to be special, K-mart is just a weapon and Fowler by all accounts is a stud as well. We're going to have a very very good passing offense for years to come.

Now if we could only get the run-game going . . . .

Vince of 231 · 11-15-2009, 06:31 PM

You got to give a lot of credit to the OL for that effectiveness, as well.

Few sacks, few hurries to cause mistakes (the ND game-ender for example), and even a low number of incompletions from throwing it away due to the rush.

Probably half the incompletions are from drops by the receivers.

It's quite a puzzeler how the pass blocking is so good but our ball carriers have so much trouble getting the running game going.

BobbySkeebo · 11-15-2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince of 231

You got to give a lot of credit to the OL for that effectiveness, as well.

Few sacks, few hurries to cause mistakes (the ND game-ender for example), and even a low number of incompletions from throwing it away due to the rush.

Probably half the incompletions are from drops by the receivers.

It's quite a puzzeler how the pass blocking is so good but our ball carriers have so much trouble getting the running game going.

I also want to give kudos to the RB's for their job in pass protection this year also. For a group of underclassmen, they have done a phenomenal job of recognizing and picking up blitzes.

They are a big reason why Cousins has had good protection to make plays.

MattR644 · 11-15-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpartanRocky

It should be noted that the best TD-INT season I've seen in the past 20 years was Smoker's 21 TDs and 7 INTs his sophomore year; 3:1 TD-INT ratio.

This year Cousins has 17 TDs and 5 INTs, a 3.4:1 TD-INT ratio. That's pretty damn impressive.

To my knowledge, an MSU QB has never thrown more than 22 TDs in a season. With the bowl game, Cousins has a legit chance of passing that record, and keep in mind Nichol has more than a couple TDs as well.

All this with a walk-on as our top WR, and only 1 of our 3 4* WRs on the field (Dell, Smith ( no need to go into detail there) and Spencer). Cunningham is going to be special, K-mart is just a weapon and Fowler by all accounts is a stud as well. We're going to have a very very good passing offense for years to come.

Now if we could only get the run-game going . . . .

Yeah, Drew Stanton threw 22 TDs in 2005, and Smoker threw 21 TDs twice. Cousins is already in sole possession of 9th place for passing TDs in a season (he's also already in 8th place all time for passing yards in a season).

SpartanRocky · 11-15-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattR644

Yeah, Drew Stanton threw 22 TDs in 2005, and Smoker threw 21 TDs twice. Cousins is already in sole possession of 9th place for passing TDs in a season (he's also already in 8th place all time for passing yards in a season).

Cousins has the potential to break all of the MSU passing records except career yardage.

Munnburger2 · 11-15-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattR644

Yeah, Drew Stanton threw 22 TDs in 2005, and Smoker threw 21 TDs twice. Cousins is already in sole possession of 9th place for passing TDs in a season (he's also already in 8th place all time for passing yards in a season).

While splitting time and missing an entire game

TeamCaptainJohn · 11-15-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpartanRocky

Cousins has the potential to break all of the MSU passing records except career yardage.

why can't he break career yardage?

Final Countdown · 11-15-2009, 07:33 PM

How many of the INTs were tipped at the line? Definitely the one early on in the scum game. Basically, MSU is lucky to have Cousins (and yes, Nichol too). Cousins will be a top-3 QB in the B10 for the rest of his career.

SpartanRocky · 11-15-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeamCaptainJohn

why can't he break career yardage?

Because it's 8900.

Cousins should end with around 2700 at the end of this year (including what he had his frosh year).

He would need to average around 3100/season next year and I believe that's close to the MSU single season record. Just unlikely, especially with Nichol still in the mix (though we all know he shouldn't be).

Vic Vinegar · 11-15-2009, 09:12 PM

Cousins for 2011 Heisman

MattR644 · 11-15-2009, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpartanRocky

Because it's 8900.

Cousins should end with around 2700 at the end of this year (including what he had his frosh year).

He would need to average around 3100/season next year and I believe that's close to the MSU single season record. Just unlikely, especially with Nichol still in the mix (though we all know he shouldn't be).

Yeah, it's possible but he'd need to put up some pretty impressive numbers. He's currently got 2615 yards and is 6317 yards behind Smoker. He'd need to throw for an average of 226 yards/game assuming he plays in all the games and we go to 2 bowls. Without any bowls, he'd need to throw for 243 yards/game.

SpartanRocky · 11-15-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattR644

Yeah, it's possible but he'd need to put up some pretty impressive numbers. He's currently got 2615 yards and is 6317 yards behind Smoker. He'd need to throw for an average of 226 yards/game assuming he plays in all the games and we go to 2 bowls. Without any bowls, he'd need to throw for 243 yards/game.

Can he do it? Of course. But he's got to stay healthy for 28 more games (PSU, Bowl game, plus 13 games the next 2 seasons).

Madison Spartan · 11-16-2009, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince of 231

You got to give a lot of credit to the OL for that effectiveness, as well.

Few sacks, few hurries to cause mistakes (the ND game-ender for example), and even a low number of incompletions from throwing it away due to the rush.

Probably half the incompletions are from drops by the receivers.

It's quite a puzzeler how the pass blocking is so good but our ball carriers have so much trouble getting the running game going.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobbySkeebo

I also want to give kudos to the RB's for their job in pass protection this year also. For a group of underclassmen, they have done a phenomenal job of recognizing and picking up blitzes.

They are a big reason why Cousins has had good protection to make plays.

You're right that this is a team achievement.

1) The quarterbacks have made great decision
2) The O-line and RBs have given the quarterbacks time to survey the field
3) The coaches have made good play calls to give our quarterbacks the opportunity to make high percentage throws

Our passing game is just outstanding.