The offensive showdown expected last week didn’t come, but the defenses will be hard-pressed to contain the two offenses this weekend.
Northwestern (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) boasts the fourth most potent offense in the country, but No. 22 Michigan State (4-2, 1-2) counters with the third-best attack in the nation. The Spartans are led by junior quarterback Drew Stanton, the most efficient quarterback in Division I-A.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a quarterback playing as efficiently and as effectively as Drew Stanton,” NU coach Randy Walker said. Stanton is second in the Big Ten behind NU quarterback Brett Basanez in passing and total yardage.
While Stanton doesn’t have a true number one receiving target, he has three receivers averaging more than 50 yards per game.
After gaining 340 yards in the air against No. 15 Ohio State defense last week, the 4th passing defense in the Big Ten, the Spartans go up against NU’s second-to-last pass defense this week.
As complementary as Walker was of Stanton, Michigan State coach John L. Smith said the same of NU senior quarterback Brett Basanez.
“He does a great job of making good things happen even when there might be bad things there,” Smith said. “He’s very special. I think he’s a lot like our guy in the fact that he gives them an opportunity to win.”
Countering NU’s freshman running back Tyrell Sutton, Michigan State features a trio of backs, led by freshman Javon Ringer, who averages 80 yards a game.
As successful as both offenses have been, the defenses have been almost equally shaky.
While NU owns the 116th ranked defense in the country, Michigan State is 81st. But the Spartans are 109th in pass defense.
“I think their passing yardage is a little inflated because people can’t run it so you start throwing it,” Walker said. “When you see that kind of ratio in the run pass yardage, it tells you they have a pretty good force unit that is making it tough.”
The Spartan defense did not allow Ohio State to cross the 50-yard line until there were five minutes remaining in the game last weekend.
“They’re a very athletic, physical group of guys that have been very effective against the run,” Walker said. “Another tough week I think in terms of trying to rush the football.”
The Spartan defense may have improved last week, but the Michigan State offensive line was revealed. The line gave up 12 sacks to Ohio State, more than double the sacks the NU defense has made this season.
This will be the second-straight game the Wildcats face a homecoming crowd and face a team coming off multiple losses.
“We’ve got a heck of a football team coming in here in Northwestern, who is, as everybody knows, just throwing it up and down the field and hanging points on everybody,” Smith said.
Reach Abe Rakov at [email protected].
