Michigan State Football: What worked/didn’t work against Rutgers

Oct 10, 2015; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Arjen Colquhoun (36) breaks up pass in the end zone intended for Rutgers Scarlet Knights wide receiver Leonte Carroo (4) during the fourth quarter at High Points Solutions Stadium. Michigan State Spartans defeats Rutgers Scarlet Knights 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

Defensive Backs

The defensive backfield has suffered an unfortunate mix of injury issues, inexperience, drop in talent and poor execution to make it the weak link on the defensive side of the ball. Long gone is the No Fly Zone — as much as they still cling to the moniker.

Leonte Carroo flew where he wanted with impunity. Montae Nicholson played slightly better but still took wrong angles and got beat badly on a touchdown pass. Even the strengths of the unit are not executing well. Still, MSU is 6-0 and the secondary has done just enough in each game to keep MSU on top. This week was no different.

What went well: Fourth quarter pass breakup

In the ultimate bend but don’t break (think a double-jointed yogi bending backwards touching the back of her head to her backside), the defensive backs let the Rutgers passing game score and score and score but stopped them on the last two drives.

Arjen Colquhoun broke up a pass that would have put Rutgers up by four with four minutes to play. Rutgers was forced to kick a field goal, taking a little pressure off of the MSU offense when it took the field to drive for the game-winning touchdown.

What didn’t: Getting torched by Carroo

In the end, Colquhoun was able to make the play to save the win, but up until that point it was a forgettable game for him and his compatriots. Nicholson got burned again deep by Carroo.

Rutgers’ star receiver was on a different level and there wasn’t anything the defensive backs could do against him. This does not bode well for the Ohio State game — not that MSU can think that far ahead when playing this poorly.

Michigan doesn’t have much of a passing game outside of Jake Butt, so next week might not expose the secondary struggles, but the next time they come up against a stud receiver they’ll have to think about how to handle it differently than this week.

Next: Special Teams