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Michigan State Football Coach, Mark Dantonio, addresses the media on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 in East Lansing.
Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez broke free against Illinois to score a goal last week.(Photo: Steven Branscombe, Getty Images)
EAST LANSING – Michigan State coaches and soccer players are well aware of the Nebraska attack's transformation into a juggernaut of new quarterback Adrian Martinez.
"You are watching the film and you are not fooled, not at this point in the end of the season," said Khari Willis, senior security officer, at the Cornhuskers. "You know who can play and who can not. And this team can play.
The Spartans are not afraid that people will know that their defense continues to play at a level as high as that of their coach Mark Dantonio.
And for the second week in a row, MSU's vaunted defense will face an explosive offensive with a balanced attack and assortment of weapons in both the time trial and the run, this time at Lincoln's Memorial Stadium, The Spartans will face the Cornhuskers Saturday at noon.
"Our guys are feeling good right now," said defense coordinator Mike Tressel. "They are excited by the challenge. They are not shy, they do not lack confidence in themselves. I think they play hard. I think they know that the challenge is different and that they are excited. But I think our defense feels good in its position. "
MSU (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) placed Ohio State well below its bold offensive averages last week, allowing 17 points to a 26-6 loss to the Buckeyes. The Spartans also limited QB Dwayne Haskins and OSU to 374% of the offense.
But unlike Haskins, a fixed pocket smuggler, Martinez is a dual threat who has demonstrated his ability to throw (245.7 yards per game, 15 touchdowns) and run (59.4 yards, seven touchdowns). The 6-foot-2, 220-pound freshman from Fresno, Calif., Threw for 290 yards and three goals, and ran for another goal during the rash against Illinois last week (54 -35). time.
More: The State of Michigan's offensive needs a "better" one. planning, execution
This diverse skill set will test the defense of MSU, which ranks # 1 nationally against running and # 21 overall. Trace McSorley is Martinez's closest quarterback that the Spartans have faced this season, and they have limited the Penn State offense to 192 yards and 37 yards on the ground.
Nebraska ranks 13th overall in offense with 482.6 yards per game.
"They click more," said linebacker Joe Bachie of the MSU. "Martinez is in good health. He does not play like a freshman. So we must be ready to leave.
Joe Bachie and Kenny Willekes are two of MSU's talented defense leaders. (Photo: Tommy Gilligan USA TODAY Sports)
Martinez was helped by having playmakers all around him, including Big Ten's most titled tandem in senior Stanley Morgan Jr., and sophomore J.D. Spielman. This duo has 125 catches, 1,674 yards and 15 touchdowns. Devine running back Ozigbo averages 95.8 yards per game with 12 touchdowns and 42 fewer than 1,000 yards for the season.
"They have good defense there, and there are tough guys so it will be a good match for our offense …" said Martinez about MSU. "I think we have the weapons in our offense to counter anything they want to bring us. I am confident in the guys we have in our scheme. "
Since losing their first six games, including 56 to 10 against Michigan in the debut of new coach Scott Frost in the Big Ten, the Cornhuskers have won three of four wins, averaging 45.8 points.
Nebraska (3-7, 2-5 Big Ten) could sneak into a bowl game, but only if he wins his last two games against MSU and Iowa next week. And Frost is still looking for a win after defeating Minnesota, Bethune-Cookman and Illinois.
"I do not know how they approach the game, but I can imagine that they would like to win and be on a good note – especially because they have a lot of guys coming back (next year) "said Willis. "It could possibly make their season. But it's just as important to us right now.
Analysis: State of Michigan, Nebraska: Screening Report, Prediction
Chewins honored
MSU's left tackle Cole Chewins has been named to the 2018 Google Cloud Academic Football Academic Team.
The junior has a cumulative average of 3.91 in finance and was a selection of the first all-America academic team last season. The national winners of this year's American universities will be announced on December 10th.
Addition of schedule
MSU and Washington have agreed in principle for a round-trip series – at Husky Stadium on September 9, 2028 and East Lansing on September 6, 2031.
The Spartans lost two of three games against the Huskies, most recently a 51-23 loss to the Aloha Bowl of 1997. MSU defeated Washington in 1969 at home, then lost in 1970 to Seattle.
Recap of the cat in the state of Michigan: Do players lose confidence in their offensive staff?
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.
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