Michigan State football is differentiating types of fans
By Ian Olsen
Low-scoring games don’t have to be boring. Joe Bachie’s forced fumble vs. Indiana was a thing of beauty. Michigan State football is differentiating fans.
Michigan State’s season has been revealing.
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What are football fans’ true preferences, after all? Do people really enjoy watching defensive slugfests?
Watching the games, remember you’re a fan who loves defense. Pay no mind to the confused ESPN pundits who spew clichés pretending to appreciate “grind it out” or “old-fashioned” Big Ten games and then describe the games in their postgame articles as “meh” or “sluggish” or even “lethargic” and leading their articles with, “It wasn’t pretty.”
For another type of fan, Joe Bachie’s forced fumble against Indiana was a thing of beauty, when he followed his strip by taking out the running back while on the ground to prevent a recovery.
When the offense is lackluster, appreciate Kenny Willekes’ sacks and David Dowell’s interceptions.
After Michigan blockers seemed to finally control all their blocks, Bachie flew in on an unexpected blitz to take down Michigan’s quarterback for the team’s fourth sack.
Also superb was Shane Jones diving opposite his body direction to barely clip the Indiana running back’s ankle causing him to stumble and allowing Andrew Dowell and Raequan Williams to make the gang tackle.
When Josiah Scott breaks up another pass in the end zone, remember a pass breakup in single coverage is more difficult and rarer than a dazzling catch.
If the defense is porous, enjoy Brian Lewerke’s playmaking and LJ Scott’s barreling yards-after-contact.
After the ball bounced twice on the wet ground late against Michigan, Lewerke somehow regained possession, eluded a tackler, and rolled over his player to gain a first down. Without an open receiver on fourth down in its final drive, Lewerke sprinted for the sideline and gained a first down to keep the team alive.
On third-and-19 and in need of a touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Indiana, Lewerke slung a pass on the run to Hunter Rison over the middle for a 16-yard gain. The two connected again on fourth down, and Rison’s reached the ball just pass the first down marker. The ensuing double reverse enabled Felton Davis to run 39 yards and set up his game-winning touchdown.
Next: MSU Football: Report card for loss to Northwestern
Low-scoring games don’t have to be boring, and if a fan starts appreciating both good defense and good offense, they might enjoy the game twice as much.