Michigan football DC Jesse Minter preparing for MSU tempo, deep balls

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — While the records for each Michigan and MSU might indicate that the Wolverines are likely to beat the Spartans, as does Vegas, in order to do so, the maize and blue will need to be fully prepared.

Certainly, there’s confidence in the offensive side of the ball, that Michigan will be able to run enough while passing against what has been an anemic secondary. But the questions probably lie on defense, even though the Spartans haven’t exactly fielded a high-powered offense this year.

MSU has indicated, however, as its gotten healthier that it can make big plays and win games. Payton Thorne to Jayden Reed is the preferred attack, especially since the run game hasn’t exactly taken off to this point. The biggest factor coming into a game like Saturday’s is the element of surprise, which is something that Wolverines’ defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is readying himself for.

“I think you prepare for wrinkles all spring, all summer, all fall,” Minter said. “We go against a tremendous offense in our own offense on a regular basis. I enjoy that because I think it helps prepare you for stuff that maybe that particular team hasn’t shown. So, really when teams run a trick play or a new play, especially both teams coming off a bye, we anticipate seeing things that they haven’t put on tape before, but it really comes down to like reverting to your training, reverting to your rules, trusting your eyes, trusting your instincts, trusting your technique.

“And there’s no secret play call to stop a gadget play or a trick play or something new. So it’s really just about having the guys as well prepared as possible. Them knowing where their eyes are supposed to be, what they’re supposed to be looking at, what’s their responsibility of that particular play call is. And I think when you do that, and the guys trust each other, you have an opportunity to stop it. And that doesn’t mean there might not be something crazy that happens….