Michigan State Football: 5 takeaways from win over Indiana

Oct 3, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans center Jack Allen (66) and Michigan State Spartans offensive lineman Donavon Clark (76) walk off the field after a game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

4. Offensive line needs help

Along the same lines as the previous slide, the offensive line needs this week off desperately after Saturday’s performance against Indiana. It was evident that the guys up front were having a very difficult time setting up the run game for any sort of success.

Until the last few drives of the game in the fourth quarter, the longest run of the day by a running back hovered around four yards — that’s completely unacceptable. The holes weren’t there all day and Connor Cook was sacked four times.

For an offensive line that was considered the top unit in the nation coming into the season, the injuries seemed to have hurt them greatly. In fact, Cook has been sacked 11 times through eight games this year — that equals the number of sacks surrendered all of last year and puts MSU on pace to give up about 18 on the season.

It’s clear that the absence of Jack Allen in the middle of the O-line has loomed large, but the return of Kodi Kieler and Jack Conklin should be easing that pain.

These guys need to get healthier this week, work together and figure out how to pick up the blitz more effectively because defenses are starting to realize the blitz works quite well against the Spartans. Only rushing for 142 yards on 44 carries is not going to cut it.

Next: 3. L.J. Scott worthy of No. 1 RB duties