Air Force vs Michigan State: Grading the Spartans’ performance
Sep 4, 2015; Kalamazoo, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans place kicker Michael Geiger (4) kicks a field goal out of the hold of wide receiver Matt Macksood (86) during the 2nd half of a game at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Special teams: B+
The special teams unit wasn’t all that bad against Air Force this week. While it seemed like the field goal unit is just a lost cause at this point, the punt and kickoff coverages were stellar. It definitely had the feel of a different unit and you could tell Coach Dantonio drilled this in practice all week long.
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Kevin Cronin got a good leg on the ball each time the Spartans kicked off, and the coverage was down there faster than it was in any game so far this season.
As for the punt team, Jake Hartbarger continues to be an absolute stud at punter. He kicks a high, tight spiral every single time and gives his unit enough of a hang time to get to the ball and tackle the return man shortly after a catch — if he hasn’t already fair caught it.
Michael Geiger might be the only real problem of the special teams as he, once again, missed a field goal from under 40 yards in which he just kicked it into the back of his own blockers. It may have been a tricky hold, but the fact that he struggles week in and week out is concerning.
Is it time to start giving Cronin a shot to kick field goals this week? Maybe.