For those who have been critical of the Spartans Rushing Offense like me, we have to compliment the Spartan coaches and the players.
Of course, in full disclosure, almost everything about 2020 was an abject disaster and so the criticism was well placed in my opinion, especially the Rushing Offense, yet last Friday was a remarkable turnaround.
The Spartans struck quickly. Kenneth Walker (an incoming transfer from Wake Forest) peeled off a 75 Yard Touchdown run on the opening play, and then over the next 60 minutes the Spartan pounded out 326 Yards Rushing on 37 attempts at 8.8 yards per, including 4 Rushing Touchdowns and beat Northwestern 38-21.
In fact, the Spartans had more Rushing Yardage vs Northwestern (326) than they generated in a collection of 5 games last year vs Rutgers, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio State and Penn State collectively, whereby the Spartans compiled just 324 Yards Rushing in those 5 games.
It’s also notable that Kenneth Walker individually piled up 264 Yards Rushing on 23 carries for an eye glazing 11 Yards per carry, including 4 Rushing Touchdowns. In that context, Walker did something that all of the Spartan Running Backs failed to do last season, and that is score a rushing Touchdown, and Walker scored 4 in the first game.
So, it was tremendous opening game for the Spartans.
Yet, can the Spartans Rushing Offense sustain its new found success?
The Spartan Rushing Offense had tremendous success against Northwestern, but there is a reality check.
It would be fair to say that Northwestern is always well coached under Pat Fitzgerald (his teams play smart and typically error free), nevertheless we need to take account that 8 Defensive players from Northwestern’s 2020, Big Ten West Championship team are gone including All American LB, Paddy Fisher.
And we must also note that Northwestern was operating with a new Defensive Coordinator inasmuch as Mike Hankwitz, Northwestern’s highly regarded Defensive Coordinator is no longer with the team having retired after a legendary career. So the Spartans Rushing Offense had a championship caliber opening game vs Northwestern, but they must prove their prodigious production vs Northwestern wasn’t a one off performance.
Of course, Northwestern’s loss of defensive personnel and loss of Defensive Coordinator may not have impacted the outcome of the game, but it’s a factor. So, can the Spartans find Rushing consistency for the balance of the season?
Let’s remember, the Spartans had their best day Rushing last year vs Northwestern as well (a tick shy of 200 Yards). Nevertheless, the following week the Spartan only gained 81 Yards Rushing vs Ohio State and lost 52-12…and the week thereafter, the Spartans only gained 64 Yards Rushing on 31 attempts vs Penn State, or 2.1 Yards per and the Spartans lost 39-24.
The Spartans didn’t sustain the rushing success they had vs Northwestern last season, so let’s ask the question: what will be the Rushing encore this year?
Will the real Kenneth Walker please stand up?
Prior to Friday night, Kenneth Walker was essentially unknown in the football world, but after reeling off 264 Yards vs Northwestern, he became a celebrity by way of averaging more than 11 yards per attempt.
But will the real Kenneth Walker please stand up?
In 2019, Kenneth Walker was up and down. He posted solid rushing yardage vs Elon (91)…UNC (94)…Duke (113)…and Rice (125). But then he struggled mightily vs Syracuse (32)…Clemson (16)…Virginia Tech (11)…Louisville (10)…Boston College (8)…Florida State (-1)…and let’s remember, in the Pinstripe Bowl, Kenneth Walker only gained 24 Yards on 8 attempts vs the Spartans.
Then in 2020, Wake Forest only played 9 games due to the Pandemic, nevertheless Kenneth Walker posted solid rushing stats vs Syracuse (79)…Campbell (105)…Virginia (128)…and NC State (131). But Walker’s rushing production was pedestrian vs Virginia Tech (66)…UNC (51)…and Clemson (19).
There are a multitude of reasons for Walker’s inconsistency including injuries, limited carries, play calling, and of course, Walker was not always the featured Running Back, but the numbers are the numbers and the numbers tell us it isn’t automatic to put the ball in the hands of Kenneth Walker and watch him run free.
Opponents have a dossier on Kenneth Walker and the Rushing Offense:
After Rushing for 264 Yards, there is a well scripted dossier on Walker including his strengths, weaknesses and tendencies…and opposing coaches will be ready.
Immediately below is a “short list” of forthcoming opponents and the challenges that await Kenneth Walker and the Spartans Rushing Offense:
Sept 18: @ Miami:
Miami was ranked #14 preseason but they got hammered by Alabama 44-13 on Saturday. Nevertheless, Miami only yielded 147 Yards Rushing to powerful Alabama, which means the Spartans will have a tough day trying to find Rushing yardage in the sweltering heat of Miami.
Oct 9: @ Rutgers:
Rutgers walloped Temple 61-14 while yielding just 113 Yards Rushing. So will the Spartans find Rushing gaps vs Rutgers? Let’s remember, Rutgers only yielded 60 Yards Rushing to the Spartans last year, on 38 attempts, or a meager 1.6 Yards per attempt and of course the Spartans lost 38-27. This is a “new” Rutgers program under Greg Schiano. And it’s a new regime in East Lansing. Which team will prevail?
Oct 16: @ Indiana:
Indiana was ranked #17 preseason but lost to #18 Iowa (at Iowa City) 34-6. Yet, Iowa is one of the most consistent programs in the Big Ten, so while a loss is a loss, Indiana will arguably bounce back under the great coaching guidance of Tom Allen. And let’s remember, Indiana only yielded 60 Yards Rushing to the Spartans last year, and of course the Spartans lost at home 24-0.
November 13: Maryland:
Maryland beat a solid West Virginia team 30-24, while yielding just 48 Yards Rushing. Maryland and Michigan State didn’t play last season due to Covid, but this is a “new” Maryland team and the Spartans will have a challenge trying to find Running gaps vs Maryland’s new, more aggressive Defense.
Nov 20: @ OSU:
Ohio State was ranked #4 preseason and beat unranked Minnesota 45-31 in the opening game. Ohio State started slow and fell behind 14-10 at the half, but the Buck’s bounced back to score 35 points in the 2nd Half to take control. Given the fact Ohio State held the Spartans to just 81 Yards Rushing last season, can the Spartan generate enough rushing yardage to beat Ohio State at the Horseshoe?
Nov 27: Penn State:
Penn State was ranked #19 preseason but beat #12 Wisconsin 16-10, at Wisconsin, in a low scoring slugfest. Penn State yielded 180 Yards Rushing to Wisconsin, but let’s remember, Wisconsin averaged nearly 220 Yards Rushing over the past 5 seasons, so, Penn State Defense took Wisconsin out of their game plan, and kept Wisconsin well below their Rushing average. It’s also worth noting, Penn State only yielded 64 Yards Rushing to the Spartans last season, on 31 attempts at just 2.1 Yards per. By all measures, Penn State has a formidable Rushing Defense in 2021, so the Spartans will arguably have a challenge finding running lanes against Penn State.
At the Bottom Line:
At any measure, this is not the Kenneth Walker Show, rather it is the Jay Johnson, Chris Kapilovic and William Peagler show.
Johnson of course is Offensive Coordinator, Kapilovic is Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator, and Peagler is Running Back Coach, and collectively they must prove they have fixed a dysfunctional Rushing Offense from 2020.
An opening victory at Northwestern was impressive, yet nothing has been proven and Johnson, Kapilovic and Peagler still have a lot of work to do.
Let’s just say it is their job to ensure the players understand opposing defenses and alignments (that is yet to be proven beyond all doubt), they must strive for continuous improvement of the blocking choreography, and they must fine tune the play calling.
Simply stated, as Offensive Coordinator, we need to have confidence that Jay Johnson is capable of playing chess vs the best Defensive Coordinators in the Big Ten, because the abject failure of 2020 is still visible in the rear view mirror.
Of course, I have highlighted 6 games, 4 of which are on the road, but those games will test the strategic intellect of Johnson, Kapilovic and Peagler. We’ll see what happens…
Thank you for reading.
