Notebook: MSU, Michigan navigating emotions, zero in on line of scrimmage battle

East Lansing —  Jalen Thompson repeated the mantra a few times as he spoke with reporters on Wednesday ahead of the intense-bordering-on-toxic rivalry between Michigan State and Michigan. 

Play with emotion, don’t be emotional.

It’s a useful maxim to internalize as the Spartans (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten) and Wolverines (5-2, 3-1) hurtle toward yet another installment of the annual matchup with plenty of bad vibes still hanging in the air this Saturday night in Spartan Stadium. The Spartans are irked about how the game ended in Michigan Stadium last year, evidently, but declined to share any insight into such feelings, lest they pour fuel on the fires 60-some miles down the road. 

“This is one of those weeks where the game means more than us,” Thompson said.

And the Wolverines, for their part, have strayed from dropping a quote that defines the week.

“I respect 'em,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said. “I respect the coaching staff, respect their players. Fear nobody but respect 'em all. So, I respect 'em. 

Whether or not these two teams stay true to their week-of ideals about trash talking and extracurriculars around the rivalry or do descend into mini-skirmishes, personal fouls and nastiness on the field remains to be seen. 

Plenty of matchups in this rivalry have followed the same script throughout the week just for the game to turn nasty in short order. It’s hard to predict, but it’s certainly true that both teams are being above board when they say they want to avoid such behavior. 

But with such an intensely burning, sibling-esque rivalry, best intentions don’t always matter.

“It means everything,” Thompson said. “Mark Dantonio once said, Kirk Cousins once said: The winner of this game is the one allowed to walk the streets, and the loser is going to be the one to walk the alley.” 

Blake Frazier to start at LT for Michigan

Blake Frazier served as Michigan’s swing tackle and extra offensive lineman for heavy sets this season, but is now set to slide into the starting lineup after an injury to starting left tackle Evan Link.

Link left last Saturday’s win over Washington and Frazier stepped in without issue. With Link now sidelined for the time being, it’ll be Frazier’s job at left tackle. And the sophomore will make his first career start on Saturday night in Spartan Stadium.

“Really proud of him,” Moore said on Monday. “Really proud of the player he's become and having those extra O linemen reps are huge. We've really done that in the past years of getting young guys time to play, or getting another guy we feel that could be a starter, or a guy that's going to play, extra reps. So, you've seen the progression. Obviously gained the weight. I think he came in at like 255 or something like that, 245, and about 300 now. So, having a guy like that ready to go is huge. And played well. Got some things to fix, as we all do, but definitely stepped up in a time we needed.”

Gio El-Hadi, Michigan’s left guard and the man Frazier will be starting next to, heaped praise on the young lineman, too.

The way Frazier entered the game without a beat and did his job reminded him of a situation he’d been in, stepping in for Trevor Keegan in 2023 after he broke his leg against Ohio State. 

“I think he played really good,” El-Hadi said of Frazier. “He was ready. Kind of reminded me when I was a sophomore when Trev’ went down. Ran out, didn't ask no questions, just went out and played. And he did the same thing. Proud of him.” 

For as long as Link is out, the Wolverines have faith in Frazier’s capabilities, with Sacramento State transfer Brady Norton available as a backup tackle. 

And while it looked like Link might be out for the season as he got carted off the field on Saturday, Moore shared the prognosis is better than expected.

“Wasn't as bad as we thought,” Moore said. “I think we'll have him back sooner than later. So we'll see. We'll just take it week-by-week.”

Can Spartans disrupt Bryce Underwood?

Michigan State’s pass rush played well against Nebraska and has offered little by way of production since then. And the group is determined to change that course against a true freshman quarterback making his eighth career start.

“Pressure is something that we always want as a defense,” Thompson said.

Right now, Michigan State is tied for 80th nationally with 13, 1.86 a game. And Michigan has given up nine sacks in seven games, tied for 33rd nationally. It’s a pretty solid pass protection unit against a not-so-hot pass rush. 

And if the Spartans can’t get pressure on the quarterback or move him off his spot with four man rushes, Rossi could try and bring pressure to get Underwood sped up, or drop eight defenders at times to cloud his vision and cause him to hold the ball. 

Getting Underwood on the ground is easier said than done, though, as he’s shown off some solid escapability and feel for the pocket as a new starter. And if Michigan State can’t get Underwood out of rhythm and the structure of the offense, he’s got the goods to punish the Spartans suspect secondary. 

“I think he’s got great size, I think he’s got great arm strength, I think he’s got great athleticism, I think he’s getting better every week,” defensive coordinator Joe Rossi said. “He’s got escapability and can make throws all over the field because of his arm strength. So, I think he’s a guy that’s gotten better every week and I think highly of him. And if we’re going to play well on defense, we’ve gotta do a really good job against him.”

Can Michigan State protect Aidan Chiles enough? 

With Aidan Chiles and quarterback and Nick Marsh at receiver, Michigan State has the firepower to beat basically anybody on the right day. 

But those days have been few and far between of late as Chiles has struggled to stay upright behind a patchwork offensive line. Saturday’s performance against Indiana started in promising fashion but did start to degrade as the game wore on. Against a Michigan front seven that loves to attack protections and aggressively rush the passer, giving Chiles enough time to operate will be critical.

“He’s going to put those guys into a position to where he feels like we have the best chance to move the football,” offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren said of offensive line coach Jim Michalczik. “I think right now with the injuries that we have, I know he’s kind of trying some different combinations and trying to get guys into comfortable spots.”

The Spartans played, left to right, the following group of linemen against Indiana to start: Conner Moore, Gavin Broscious, Matt Gulbin, Caleb Carter and Rustin Young. Rakeem Johnson and others have cycled in, too.

Michigan State is hopeful to get Stanton Ramil back soon but likely not this week, though guard Kristian Phillips could be a go after missing last week. 

One way or another, the group needs to hold up against the likes of Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham and the various blitzes and simulated pressures that Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale loves to get into. 

And getting the running game going could be a path to getting some heat off Chiles.

“It’s a big part of our offense,” Lindgren said. “We’re at our best when we’re running the football and playing our stuff off of it. So that’s an area this season we’ve gotta continue to improve.”