Thoughts on Northwestern Game

OK, so this game was bad enough to make me question why I care about football. It's hard to understand how MSU could be this bad. The futility is bad enough to make me question the promise of next year's team.

Offense

This is the last time I predict an offensive explosion. The offense actually moved the ball well, but they make too many mistakes.

OK, so I have now come to see Maxwell as a bigger part of the problem. He's too inaccurate and immobile. He frequently doesn't hit wide receivers accurately enough to give them a chance to run after the catch. For example, on one bubble screen Burbridge had to jump for the ball, and by the time he came down the defender was on him. Maxwell shows flashes of brilliance, but that's not enough if you want to win in the B1G.

The receivers were OK today, but they still drop too many balls to be considered outstanding. To win, you have to be outstanding.

The o-line continues to struggle at the tackle positions. Just not quite mobile enough.

Bell was fine, but he does try too often to run to the outside when he should just run up the gut.

Defense

Another great performance wasted. This D completely slowed down a potent offense. They only gave up 16 points. You can't ask for more than that.

Special Teams

I've said it before, this was a terrible year for the special teams to struggle. Sims almost turned the ball over and Conroy missed another easy kick.

Coaches

It was clear in this game that, apart from the defense, the coaches are not having a good year. Two weeks off and this team did not look sharp. Icing the kicker is a myth. I can't believe I saw Dantonio try to do that. I did not like the quarterback sneak in the first quarter. Why would you do that at a time when NU couldn't stop Bell? In general, every time the offense was moving the ball well the play calling seemed to go away from what was working.

Upshot

In the short term, this loss makes me doubt this team will make a bowl game. If they do, they will likely lose. The bottom line for this season is that this offense just can't make enough progress. Every time I think they are getting better, they show a level of incompetence that makes you feel embarrassed.

The progress is so slow that I now actually think next year is in jeopardy. The success of next year's offense will depend on: Maxwell making a considerable amount of progress in the off-season, the receivers and tight-ends becoming outstanding, and the o-line making considerable progress (especially at the tackle positions). That's a lot to ask. I still think the offense will be better next year, but probably not much better. I hate to say it, but they will need a new offensive coordinator, one under which the offense can at least show steady progress. Right now this offense is simply not progressing enough.

More than ever, I am now thinking that this team needs to move towards an offense that better suits the talent this program can recruit and that doesn't depend upon young geniuses. The thing I'm noticing this year is how many teams are doing well with young quarterbacks that can run.  Even some freshmen quarterbacks (heck, even Devin Gardner, who was playing wide receiver most of the season!) are doing well because they are able to make plays with their feet. Maxwell has to throw the ball away when his receivers aren't open, even when he actually has a bit of space to run to. If MSU is not going to switch to the spread, then they at least need a quarterback that can run. Fortunately, they have more mobile quarterbacks coming up. But they need to absolutely emphasize that in their recruiting, from now on. The faster the better.