Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch grades the Spartans’ performance in a 41-24 win over Youngstown State on Saturday on a scale of 1-10.
OFFENSE: 6
The good news for Michigan State is that its passing game picked up Saturday where it left off in the second half and overtime against Boston College — with Aidan Chiles completing 22 of 29 passes for 270 yards, throwing a touchdown and his first interception of the season, only when a blitzing defender wasn’t picked up by a running back. Chiles looks like he’s in a good place. MSU’s got legitimate weapons at receiver and tight end, including Jack Velling who emerged against Youngstown State with six catches for 70 yards. The concern is Nick Marsh, who had six catches for 94 yards in the first half and left with an injury. The Spartans need him healthy. He elevates this MSU offense. He did in the first half Saturday when the running game was struggling.
And thus the not-so good news: MSU up front did not control the line of scrimmage running the football the way the Spartans did for good portions of the first two games, despite the lower-division opponent. MSU’s running backs rushed for 96 yards on 23 carries. Not bad overall, but starter Makhi Frazier didn’t have much room to run, with 12 rushes for 22 yards, before he left with an injury.
DEFENSE: 3
That MSU’s defense was on it heels on a long drive out of the gate is not as concerning as the big plays and third-down conversions it gave up as the game went along. I’ve seen this show before, when the smaller school and under dog scripts a drive with its best stuff and trickeration and drives right down the field to start the game. No biggie. But allowing seven plays of 17 yards or more, that’s an issue. Allowing Youngstown State to convert 9 of 17 third and fourth downs, that’s a problem. That MSU only had a three QB pressures and two sacks (one of them very late) is not great.
Youngstown State presented some challenges — a quarterback who the Spartans had to chase all night and did so pretty well, and some plays that I think caught them off guard a little. But MSU’s defense should have looked like the side with the advantage more often. That they didn’t should concern them, given the Big Ten slate directly ahead.
SPECIAL TEAMS: 9
We’ve reached the point with Ryan Eckley where if one of his punts is a mere 48 yards it’s disappointing. That’s how you know he’s a star and part of the show. Omari Kelly made up for it with an 83-yard punt return that would have gone for a touchdown, if not for a Penguins’ paw that hit his thigh and made him stumble down at the 1-yard line. MSU kicker Martin Connington made both of his field goals, chip shots from 24 and 27 yards out, respectively. But it’s important that MSU can trust him on the short ones. He’s now 4-for-4 this season.
MORE: Couch: MSU football’s unbeaten start seems increasingly temporary. Let’s assess.
COACHING: 5
I liked the game that Brian Lindgren called, including how he used Nick Marsh early with quick passes in space to create some rhythm and danger when the Spartans were struggling to run the ball. Defensively, maybe MSU played too many guys, or maybe it’s going to be a struggle this season no matter who’s playing. Joe Rossi has to find a way to get the most out of whatever this defense is, to give a potentially really strong Spartan offense a chance to keep MSU in games and win games. He hasn’t figured that out yet.
It’s human nature for a team to let up a little bit after a big win, facing a lesser opponent. But a hallmark of great teams and programs is that they take care of business. MSU won Saturday, but it didn’t feel like the Spartans took care of business. In fact, that their starters were forced to play so deep into the game means they didn’t.
BOTTOM LINE
MSU is 3-0, heading to USC. That is all anyone wanted for the first three weeks when MSU’s season began. What they are from here will depend on a number of variables — from QB play and current injuries, to whether this defense can hang in there against good offenses. But even if all goes wrong at USC and, after bye, at Nebraska, the Spartans have favorable matchup with a bad UCLA team on Oct. 11 and, at worst, should reach the midpoint of the season at 4-2. If they’re no worse than 4-2 and relatively healthy then, it’ll be an interesting and engaging second half of the season.
MORE: Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State’s 41-24 win over Youngstown State
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch and BlueSky @GrahamCouch.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Grading Michigan State football’s performance against Youngstown State
Reporting by Graham Couch, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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