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

Oct 3, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Arjen Colquhoun (36) celebrates a defensive play during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Backs

The MSU secondary had the most to prove going into the season and it continues to be the unit with most concerns. Starting safety Montae Nicholson was benched to start the game. Demetrious Cox moved from his cornerback position back to safety where he played last year as a backup.

Darian Hicks and Arjen Colquhoun started at the cornerback spots. Nicholson came in on nickel packages and then later had to replace injured RJ Williamson at safety. Both Grayson Miller and Khari Willis played snaps at safety, as well. With Williamson gone for the majority of the season after undergoing surgery, Nicholson will likely get his spot back.

The Spartans may play Nicholson at Williamson’s spot and have Cox play Nicholson’s old spot. The key will be to get Nicholson’s confidence back up and get him to play as fast and physical as he is capable of.

What went well: Corners being in position most of the time

Oct 3, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Arjen Colquhoun (36) defends Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver DeAngelo Yancey (7) during the 1st half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

The corners gave up a few big plays — a 29-yarder and a 35-yarder both against Darian Hicks — but the cornerbacks were generally in good position.

Hicks still needs to learn how to make a play on the ball, but it wasn’t like the end of last year when people were running right by him. Colquhoun was called for a couple pass interference and holding penalties, but again he was in good position to make plays – he just needs to keep his hands off of the receivers.

In the final defensive play of the game, Colquhoun made a great play on the ball because he was right where he needed to be.

What didn’t: Safeties giving up the big play

Although the corners did a pretty good job being in good position, the safeties were not always where they needed to be.

If a team makes a really big play — whether on a pass or run — the defensive backs are usually part of the problem.

In MSU’s scheme, especially, the safeties can get out of position and give up a big one. They have run-first responsibilities, but are still responsible for a quarter of the field vertically. Purdue only got one very big play — the 68-yard TD run — but Montae Nicholson missed the chance to tackle him and limit it to a 10-15 yard dash instead of a 68-yard one.

Additionally, Purdue missed two wide-open touchdown opportunities in the first half. Cardale Jones or JT Barrett will make those throws, Tommy Armstrong Jr. will likely make those throws, and if Christian Hackenberg is not on his back he will make those throws.

On one long throw, the ball went through the receivers fingers in the end zone with RJ Williamson trailing the play. In the other play, Purdue’s quarterback threw it to a wide open outside receiver and missed him, while an even more wide open receiver sprinted down the seam.

A better quarterback makes State pay on those two plays. If MSU is going to hold down Michigan and Indiana‘s running attack and Ohio State‘s running and passing attacks, the safeties need to be in better positions to prevent the big play.

Next: Special Teams