Inside The Burrow 2024 #FAU Football #MichiganState Preview

[Music] play th touch touchdown welcome into inside the burrow I'm your host Robbie lella joined by our first time co-host Drew schula from the bleach and brothers Sports Network my buddy from over there Drew how's it going it's going great um super excited for Friday night uh going to watch the team playing East Lancing I won't be there in person but wish I could be a little jealous Robbie but uh yeah super excited uh college football's fully back this week so uh great time of the year yeah and for those who don't know Drew's been out there with us at some of the Fall camps been on this team uh pretty much uh most of the summer with me so uh good to have him on here talking week one it's almost here Michigan State right around the corner two days away I will be in East Lancing I leave tomorrow but wanted to get this out to you guys before then we wanted to talk Michigan State this matchup as a whole uh haven't really done that yet here on inside the burrow wanted to get that out so with that being said uh dive right into it really um Michigan State year one of the Jonathan Smith era um I am interested in this matchup I mean you know a lot of people have written it off uh and I mean that's you know that's a fair that's a fair thing to do I mean FAU is not fared well in their history uh consistently against P4 opponents um and so this matchup you know just looking off the history of it sure wipe it away but I there is a chance that this game is closer than some people realize we'll get into the whole matchup here as we go but Michigan state is rebuilding Jonathan Smith took a couple years I believe he had three losing Seasons before turning it around in year four at Oregon State prior to coming to Michigan State so it had his first stop as a head coach had some bumps in the road uh this Michigan State roster isn't the most overwhelming power conference roster you'll see there's Talent there some serious Talent especially at the quarterback position Aiden Charles and he's got a top tight end in the country coming over with him from Oregon State and Jack Belling so that's a a talented Duo uh in its own but but outside of them offensively some question marks the running back position Remains the Same really with Nate Carter uh coming back they also bring in uh a transfer from UMass and Kon Lynch Adams uh that could be a sneak piece for them he had 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns at UMass last year that's insane um but there's a bunch of question marks really around the offensive line uh at the receiver position um and then defensively it's brand new as well the interior defensive line has new pieces going to be rotating five new guys same thing with FAU though there um and same U linebacker core has some returning pieces uh but the the this secondary was abysmal during the Mel Tucker era so that's Jonathan Smith's rebuild brought some pieces we'll see how that goes uh but Drew what are your thoughts on this MSU team as a whole what kind of scares you about this team um and is there anything that could potentially play an Fu's Advantage yeah um I've been just studying them extensively over the past week um just like any college football sicko would um that's a huge fan of the game um but overall ironically one of the things I've kind of collected when watching hearing everything just viewing the players brought in the players leaving this Michigan State team uh not even team they're programmed currently reminds me of uh fau's program last year um a little difference where FAU kind of with Tom Herman went the route of um they're going to try to retain the players from the past um see if that works because South Florida is a hot bed and the players you know went with the theory that the players are not uh were not a huge issue more of a coaching and culture issue um turned out that you know some of the players weren't as good as uh thought of but but um just overall um I think where FAU and Michigan State FAU year one and Michigan State kind of um they're similar is where I think they both got stud coaching staffs I really like the Jonathan Smith hire I think um as a coach as a person as a culture Setter he does a great job and I think maybe even more and this is where it comes to what scares me would be I even like their defensive coordinator higher even more with Joe Rossi I think he does an excellent job I think he recognizes if you're an FAU fan what you want to be hearing is that the coaching staff um does not see there's a lot of issues that fa you could present them but they are I think they are not fully it's kind of hard to be fully aware uh week one but I think they are aware that FAU will cause issues um I've watched some just media pressers with Jonathan Smith and specifically Joe Rossy he recognizes the talent on this team uh they talk about Cam faner and how he could be an exactor in the game they mention um overall they know they know Charlie fry and what he's going to want to do uh they know the receiver room is a little bit more of a mly crew right now where they're going to figure out um everything that happens but overall you know with the loss of lante Wester it'll go in different spots now so I think that Michigan State uh it's not a top caliber talent-wise Big 10 team currently but I think their coaching staff um is phenomenal uh one of the the best in uh the Big 10 uh playerwise I think you talk you asked um what where we could take advantage maybe where uh they could take advantage is I think uh overall they'll be bigger a little bit in the trenches I think when I watched the Oregon State stuff on offense that Jonathan Smith did a lot of under Center uh play action stuff a lot of under Center uh single back that kind of run scheme last year they had a uh Oregon state had a stud loaded offensive line including first round pick Tois fuaga who went in the first 20 picks of the NFL draft so uh they wanted to Pound The Rock they wanted to run inside Zone outside Zone a lot of under Center stuff which you really we don't see at all in the AAC there's not a single team I think that does a whole lot of that um besides I guess you could say Army Navy but they run that different triple option stuff so that's what scares me um the good thing for FAU is that we are really good at stopping the run this is just going to a more difficult task than I think we've ever faced where we could take advantage is uh more inexperience uh from Michigan State I think the receiver room I think the Fab room has an advantage um in that where Michigan State's probably uh they two top guys one is a true freshman the other doesn't have a whole crazy lot of production in the past um I think that's where we can make our money is uh I think we'll be able to take away explosive plays yeah Nick Nick Marsh uh the freshman at 6'4 I believe maybe 6'3 I don't remember uh but he's a he's a threat as a true freshman uh but we but they have bugs Brown on the outside Day Day Hill on the outside uh in the slot wend F Lord there's just DBS is not a concern for me uh with fa right now and and and that like you said the receiver position big question mark uh for for Michigan State doesn't mean those guys that they're going to send out there are not talented I mean you know as it says you know I if an Gates Jr hit the portal I would I would probably believe a lot of AAC teams would be interested just just an idea uh you know there there's definitely some talent in there but I I think FAU has the in-game experience to kind of take some like to take away from from Nick Marsh in his first career game I mean DayDay Hill he's been a threeyear starter at FAU I believe two or three uh and bugs Brown started four years at Maine so that that game experience is invaluable um so kind of looking at this matchup though to me it's kind of like I I don't it's tough to kind of dissect a game plan on how to how to take away Aiden child's dual threat ability uh defensively and then offensively you know Michigan State they they had a bad defense past couple years under Mel Tucker uh but you mentioned Joe Rossy he's had solid defenses consistently throughout his career recently in Minnesota uh I just know I I'm not the biggest Minnesota follower but he produced I believe Carter Coughlin uh so you know that's my Giants guy right there uh but it just had to plug that real quick uh but you know so that that Michigan State um defense is going to be ready to go they play they play a weird um weird package I it's not weird it's kind of normal I guess where they where they have a standup Edge that goes uh into coverage and off the edge which is which is pro style so that's going to be something to watch but Drew kind of looking at this game what does FAU need to do uh to at least keep it close and and then potentially compete to win if they can keep it close I don't think there's a secret formula at all I think it's just um what you got to do every single game to maximize your opportunity for wins uh remember that Clemson game last year a good start would be do not throw a pick six on the first drive um so yeah no just but in all seriousness though limit the turnovers if we fumble the first St dve and then they go ahead instant advantage to Michigan State they already have the advantage they're at home um so no fumbles first drive no picks uh let's sustain our drives um get in field goal range maximize in the Red Zone it's all stuff that you just in order to win the football games you have to do uh specifically more FAU and Michigan State uh get the Run game going for us uh it's not a massive strength their D line in fact it's a little bit of a question mark from what I've the information I've gathered uh the best part about get the Run game going you have a quarterback that can move now so you have a numbers um advantage and uh Tom Herman Charlie fry all the staff understands that so um using them you know getting maybe a speed option going getting the read option triple option uh get a whole lot of wide Zone inside Zone runs one guy we didn't mention is um Michigan State got a transfer Jordan Tucker coming over from Wisconsin who was a captain there um since um multiple Time Captain at Wisconsin they switched defensive schemes when their defensive coordinator Jim Leonard he uh left Wisconsin when coach fickle came in so uh schematically Jordan Tucker is a thumping uh middle linebacker that will uh eat the Run alive up the middle so maybe getting some more wide Zone stuff uh is how you take advantage of a player like that who uh struggles a little more getting from field side to other field side running the field and then uh in coverage he could be a little bit of a liability so you're going to have to mix run and pass uh just like you do every game um but ultimately be on your p's and q's uh defense I am not worried about them giving up an explosive play but if you give up an 80- yard touchdown first drive uh first play um and you let them get over uh the defense that's also a way you lose the game so uh playing sound football is going to be very important yeah I I think uh defensively and for me it's it's it's about finding different ways to confuse Aiden child you know I I wrote uh Blitz heavy and that's definitely uh one way to to go about it but you know it's it's it's a it's a balance of both blitzing and and and defensive uh or uh secondary uh switching and coverage switching and all that stuff that in the in the secondary that goes into confusing a Young quarterback that's going to be important as well and that's where the in-game experience comes into play for FAU DBS it's going to be very important and I that that we talked as we talked about that's a huge Advantage for FAU in this one uh so they have to find different ways to confuse Aiden child uh speed him up a little bit and slow him down take and as we mentioned they're going to be they potentially it's not going to be easy but they can take away the Michigan State receiving threats on the outside now can't let Jack velling eat over the middle either so you know it's going to be a big game for the linebacker core over the middle uh Dez tisle Jackson Ambush are gonna have their hands full with Ving um one of the one of the Premier tight ends in the country uh but but give I you can live giving something up to him if you take away other threats I mean you know they can they they they can you want to look to take away from as much from Ving as you can uh but it's not it's he's going to find ways to get the ball they're going to find ways to get hit the ball uh so that's their lante Wester for FAU fans out there uh and and so except he's a huge tight end not a slot receiver but um I think I think offensively in this one it's going to be important for the for camper to slow it down a little bit you know as get get get drives going let's have let's have a 10 to 13pl touchdown Drive takes six minutes off the board just absolutely Tom Herman talked about it take the fans out of the I mean rotating uh uh Kaden Shield Dutton uh get who cares just rotating running backs get four five six carries a drive uh with with these guys may more uh and just chew up clock find ways to to get a lengthy Drive downfield uh get that if you can run the ball effectively that'll open up the Deep pass for FAU which has been a struggle little bit uh in the fall Camp so want to see them establish that run game a little bit rotate guys in obviously CJ Campbell zubry Moy going to be the top guys but a freshman like Kon Shield Dutton providing fresh legs Jam Jamari Sans um Xavier Terrell just all all these running backs that FAU has use them find different ways to use them uh if they can if they can really utilize all of their weapons effectively in this one I think that is going to be uh something that I want to see uh from this offense but that's that's kind of what I want to get into next but but wrapping it up on on what they need to do bottom line offensively establish themselves DriveWise don't like you said don't go out there and throw an interception or fumble on the first drive get that crowd going insane uh have a long drive if you have to punt you have to punt just but that first drive is also very important but throughout the game want to see long drives want to see the offense do different things find ways to open up the pass if they can run the ball effectively that'll help them kind of shift momentum a little bit and keep it close now now to to potentially win the game it's going to come down to the defense also finding a way to slow down Aiden Charles and and not let this offense find a way to be explosive like Michigan State fans think it can be and I can see it being an explosive offense I mean I saw somebody might have said this I don't remember where I heard it but if you ask a lot of the coaches in the big uh the Big 10 who's the future quarterback that you'd want to have it's Aiden Charles he's got a lot he's got a ton of development uh to go still but he he's he's got that natural talent to him and this is his first chance to shine uh and so could easily go that way for Michigan State too so defensively you want to see FAU just make him uncomfortable a little bit get those early maybe an early three and out something to throw them off if they can do that on top of having consistent offensive drives it's not out of the question but Michigan state is going to probably play a really solid game in this one uh in terms of no penalties uh execution Jonathan Smith isn't did not come in here to to to repeat the Mel Tucker era so that side is going to be really sound fa is really going to have to execute it's going to have to be a playin and and play out type of thing if they can do it all game it's not out of the question for FAU to potentially win this game but it is going to be a battle uh for sure but it overall Drew what do you kind of want to see uh score aside I mean it fau's record against these power teams shows it's been a struggle that but what do you want to see from FAU in this game to try to try to push the season in a positive manner without looking at the results uh I just want to see everything that we've seen in scrimmages practices uh bring it to the field this um from last year I wasn't really watching the practices but I was at the spring game compared to this year uh the spring game was night and day the difference uh the competition the DBS were not allowing any explosive plays man coverage was tight um and then the offense was moving the ball a little better less um less pre- snap penalties less holding um you know they they're able to they were able to take some deep shots and connect on a few uh I want to see you know the offense prove last year was you know it wasn't really on on FAU maybe more so on just failures in year one um I want to see improved uh offense I want to see uh the defense prove that they're going to be an alpha group in the AAC um yeah I don't think we'll make it easy on Aiden Charles uh if we lose if uh Michigan State's scoring it'll be because you know they scored um brck Bell an Tony has shown that he will Blitz when needed uh but overall we like to um contain Ben don't break defense um I think the players are really Talent ented for FAU I think that um it's kept you know the coaching staff in Michigan stayed up a little more than they would have liked for a uh bringing a G5 team in to East Lancing uh start off hot FAU you know uh you know starting off hot is going to be huge it's really hard to go down uh 14 nothing and Claw your way back in but if you do go down 14 nothing you know don't let it be 45 nothing show some grit show some fight show you want to play football show you want to be a contender in the AAC this year yeah um I want to see FAU come out in this game and establish themselves offensively as as I mentioned I I want to see an identity formed early the the the lante Wester era is over and done with we've talked about this whole offseason it's time to see now what this fa's offense is going to be is it going to be a run heavy offense with CJ Campbell and zubry Moy which I can see you know a lot of people are not even thinking about that I I Tom Herman comes from the Big 10 country I mean we they they run that ball uh and so I could see a little bit of that uh for sure uh and I want to see that in this game I want to see a run run game develop I want to see I really offensively what I want to see most however though is a receiver establish themselves I'm not saying there's going to be a lante Wester development uh that that's that's not what Tom Herman brought in this off season that's not anything against these guys as Tom Herman mentioned there tough to replace Le jante uh with somebody who like him um but these guys are all talented in different ways I mean EJ can is really explosive can stretch the field in in a different variety of ways Omari Hayes is a guy who's kind of slept on he can really uh make an impact in the in in the field kind of with the ball moving in space he's got really Shi like a shiftiness to his game um outside of him Caleb kums comes over with with Cam from Marshall I want to see one of these guys kind of establish themselves as a number one guy Jon Platt you know it's he could potentially step into BJ Alexanders role on the outside can you do it we'll see uh that's that's what I want to see in this game who's going to be that Target uh for C faner it's not to say they're going to get 150 Targets this season but when it's third down there's pressure coming from both sides it's tough to get all your reads but you know you got your guy who's going to be that guy for cam fer to me it's got to be either a EJ Horton or Caleb coops has to be at least in this first game um I don't if it's Jon Platt I'm that that congrats I mean I I I I would that would be amazing uh because that means cam faner has come in here and developed a a rapport with a guy who's been here for a while that's awesome but I think in this first game I think it's going to be one of those guys he was with at Marshall that that kind of establishes himself um a and defensively I I I really just want to see more of what we saw last year just a really a really solid unit but outside of that I kind I want to see pass rush it's going to be tough against Michigan State uh you know they had uh Jonathan Smith had that offensive line at Oregon State not as talented though this year so or at Michigan State so it's it's it's there's potential there for FAU to sent pressure I want to see wiy donad get a get his first career sack in this one uh potentially um you know I want to see maybe one two sacks that's it just something to show the pass rush is able to get home early because that was a big issue for FAU last year and I want to see these DBS that I have really been confident in we've seen it all Camp I want to see them have a really solid game out there limit those weapons on the outside for Michigan State make Aiden Childs beat them in different ways if it's going to be with Jack Belling it's going to be with one of the top tight ends on the country so be it if it's going to be with his legs he's one of the best dual threat uh runners in the game so be it find ways to limit Jack Ving find ways to limit his legs take out the receivers completely uh that's a tall task but that's a game plan right there and that's what I want to see uh Drew winding down here though it's almost it's almost time we're we're we're really getting close there I'm getting excited uh but what do you want what three players in this game I mean fau's brought in a ton of pieces uh this off season um in in in brief who are three players that you want to see shine in this one uh three players that not only do I want to see shine I think have a super realistic chance at being uh some of the best players on the field Saturday that are making plays I'm actually going to start on defense um I think one guy that has not got broughten up uh enough you know his season got cut short last year Marlon Bradley uh coach Herman loves Marlon Bradley as a leader on the team as a um he was starting in the scrimmage him and Chris Jones were the starting DNS Marlon Bradley he had two sacks against Illinois a big 10 line uh I think that he's big he's strong he's a leader uh I think he's got a ton of experience and he's done before in the Big 10 um he he had two plus sacks against Illinois last year um after his season got cut short I think he was at six sacks uh could have been double digits by the end of the year so I think Marlon Bradley has a really really good chance at uh at being a really good player um on Saturday or Friday my bad um and then I think Jaden Williams uh moving back to it should be free or strong safety wherever he's playing back there he's played all over uh in the DB room um even back to uh when Willie tagert was here uh every coaching staff has raved about Jaden Williams his own teammates love him he was voted to Captain I think jadden Williams will be awesome um I think he has a chance to come away with some some pass deflections maybe an interception um and I know he'll be locked in for uh Friday uh let's go to the offensive side I think uh what I want to do is I think this is this is one where it's just we know the defensive starters uh we know he's been making plays the offense is a little tougher but I am going to go with let's see uh I'm G to go Zeke Moore I think Zeke more uh I think he has a chance to you know the coaching staff likes to use him in the goal line packages uh get him some receiving touchdowns within the Red Zone I think Zeke Moore might come away with a receiving touchdown I said that I was on Michigan Radio today and I I said exactly that uh you know he asked me uh who who to watch out for uh and I said Zeke Moore in the Red Zone uh he's been banged up a little bit in Fall camp but you know he's he's coming back they had the blue shirt on him they were getting him healthy uh Zeke Moore is back um my my three players it's pretty simple for me I want to see CJ Campbell run the ball it's going to be his first career start uh in college football after three seasons at Florida State I think he comes into this one with a bit of a Mojo uh that a bit of an edge to him uh that makes him a really dangerous Runner if he can get open if the offensive line is able to create holes for them um with that being said my second pick is also on the offensive side of the ball uh give me R Richardson I believe he's going to be the starting right tackle over Malcolm Lamar uh it's cam fancher's Blind Side uh it's going to be important for him in in his first start uh to protect cam uh it's just it's not it I believe Dr three may have started a game at FSU um but it he comes into this game now uh in a full-time starting role most likely uh and and I think he's up to the task um it's going to be tough tough Big 10 Ed rushers uh it it it we'll see how it goes but I I I want to see him be able to to both impact the Run block and and the pass block uh I think I think he can do it though uh and then my last pick uh defensive side of the ball we talked about him uh a little bit uh before uh wilky Denard as you mentioned Chris Jones [ __ ] Bradley most likely starting off the edge however uh wiy could come in there and rotate and I think some fresh legs off the edge would be hug huge um I think that I think in this game I think we see him a little bit in a rotational role uh and I think he's gonna kind of come in and maybe surprise Michigan State a little bit uh they have a not much film on them unless they're watching John Carroll uh so you know I think it's a chance for him to come in potentially get some sacks but we'll see that Michigan State offensive line is improved but chance for him to shine uh winding down here Drew final thought before we depart here on inside the burrow what LA final thoughts Drew Michigan State FAU Friday night East Lancing green and white stripe out place is going to have 75,000 people in there final thoughts what do we got uh just super excited uh to watch this game watch this new and I believe improved owls team um I'm so excited I think that coach Charlie fry is goingon to call a great game we've talk we've heard uh coach Herman talk about how coach fry studied the San Francisco 49ers and Kyle Shanahan his offense this past off season uh Rock Bell and Tony uh if they beat us I I said it's not going to be because we were too uh conservative or anything uh they'll just be making plays if they do end up beating us but Coach B anony knows when to dial up the blitz I think that'll be used I don't think we're just going to sit back and let Aiden Charles pick us apart super excited uh I think this has uh fireworks written all over it possibly I think uh FAU gets up for these big games and uh I'm super excited to watch it I I will be there I was at Clemson last year that environment was Insanity uh tailgates were I think the whole town I think they were tailgating like right outside you go into Clemson like there's a little sign that says welcome Clemson they were tailgating like from there the rest of the State uh I don't know if Michigan state will have that atmosphere we'll see I I've heard it's crazy Tom thinks it's crazy uh so it might be crazy uh but I'm excited I love these type of environments um it's fun um and I think the players are are going to have fun I think that that it's been a while it's the first game uh and so number one I think once they get back into that Mojo a little bit uh you know I hope it doesn't start slow uh that that that's one thing I really really don't want to see but I I I think I think they'll come out I think there's energy I think this is New Era for FAU football um it you know last year out with a lot of the problems uh in with the new culture this year um so we'll see how it goes in this one don't do predictions I don't do those predictions it's bad ju guu I don't believe in uh I just I I my my prediction if you want my closest thing to a prediction FAU battles in this one I don't think it goes like Clemson I think it goes more closer to how Illinois went last year uh um and yeah those are my final thoughts I will see you all uh from East Lancing on I believe 7M 7:30 don't quote me I got to check that you know I saw this tweet somewhere you know you know uh you know everything about the game you don't know what time it's at so I'll figure I'll figure that one out for you guys uh but fa Al Nest will have boots on the ground coverage from East Lancing uh so we will be there FAU Owls Nest uh we'll have everything for you uh from whatever time the game's at fa MSU game one thank you for tuning in to the week one edition of inside the burough for my co-host Drew schula I'm Robbie lella we'll see you next week hopefully maybe with a victory [Music] [Applause]