Michigan State Football: What worked/didn’t work against Rutgers
Oct 10, 2015; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) hands the ball off to Michigan State Spartans running back Gerald Holmes (24) during the first quarter at High Points Solutions Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Either the Michigan State football team isn’t as good as we thought they were or these injuries are having a greater impact on the team than head coach Mark Dantonio wants to let on. Unfortunately, the injuries keep piling up as the MSU lost four more starters in their win against Rutgers.
Replacement starter Darian Hicks left the game with what appeared to be a head injury, running back Madre London left with what looked to be a knee injury, captain and do-it-all offensive lineman Jack Allen had to leave the game with what looked like a pretty serious ankle injury and defensive lineman Lawrence Thomas left early, as well.
The good news on the injury front was that offensive tackle Kodi Kieler and wide receiver Macgarrett Kings Jr. both played — though Kieler looked nowhere near 100 percent both with respect to health and game readiness.
Of the four new injuries, the Spartan fans have to be most hopeful about Thomas and Hicks. Jack Allen is as tough as they come, so he might make a run at in the next game, but Madre London’s injury did not look good. And the fact that they took the redshirt off of Delton Williams is an indication that London’s injury is pretty serious.
My mother texted me to say that MSU was in desperate need of a bye week. Unfortunately, this is Michigan week. That’s the opposite of a bye week as it will be the most physical game of the year. But before we get to Michigan week, let’s look at what went right and what didn’t against a persistent Rutgers team.
Oct 10, 2015; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights linebacker Quentin Gause (50) puts pressure on Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) during the second quarter at High Points Solutions Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Quarterbacks
Connor Cook got another win and this game was probably his most impressive of the year. He made some high pressure throws including a key fourth-and-10 completion in the first half and a third-and-nine conversion on the game winning drive. Cook threw for a season-high 357 yards and added two touchdown passes.
The senior QB hasn’t been asked to air it out much this year and fans had to be wondering what would happen when he had to. Well, Cook passed that test with flying colors. He did have one of his Connor moments when he threw an interception in the endzone as he tried to force it in to a triple-covered Jamal Lyles.
What went well: Staying confident
Despite early drops by four MSU receivers, Cook kept his confidence and kept firing it out there. Additionally, even after the mind-numbing interception in the endzone, Cook was able to bounce back and play very well moving forward.
What didn’t: Endzone pick
Cook turned what could have been a momentum-changer and subsequently much easier win into more confidence for the Rutgers team. Just before the half it looked Michigan State would retake the lead after giving it up for just the second time all season.
Michigan State was getting the ball to start the second half and taking the lead into halftime would have erased a lot of the ugliness of the first half. Instead, Cook threw an ill-advised pass and MSU got nothing out of one of its most impressive drives of the night.
Next: Running Backs