Michigan State Football: What worked and what didn’t against Purdue

Sep 19, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans receiver Aaron Burbridge (16) catches a touchdown pass against the Air Force Falcons during the 1st quarter of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Wide Receivers

Michigan State has been looking for that true No. 3 receiver, or even a No. 2 guy, outside of Aaron Burbridge, and may have found him in a healthy Monty Madaris on Saturday.

What went well: Run blocking

Receivers coach Terry Samuel compared Monty Madaris’ blocking to departed senior Keith Mumphrey’s prior to the Purdue game. And prior to this, Mark Dantonio remarked that a successful run game when the opposing team is stacked to stop the run relies on blocking from everyone, including the receivers.

On L.J. Scott’s 18-yard TD run, Madaris had a key block to spring Scott’s final 10 yards.  On R.J. Shelton’s 23 yard “reception,” Aaron Burbridge took out three defenders to clear the path (see video below). Scott had several long runs that were keyed by good downfield blocking by MSU receivers.

What didn’t: Aaron Burbridge

After setting the world on fire a couple of weeks ago, Burbridge has been mostly MIA the last two weeks. Burbridge had just one catch for nine yards against a Purdue team that was stacking the box.

Granted he wasn’t targeted much, but he has to create the kind of separation that forces Cook to get him the ball. On one of the few targets he had, he did not do an adequate job selling the clear pass interference penalty. Burbridge has to fight through the defensive back to make it clear that there is a penalty on that play.

MSU got very conservative after Dennis Finley went down, so this is not all on Burbridge, but it would be good to take advantage of any opportunity he has.

Next: Tight Ends