Michigan State Football: 5 takeaways from win over Indiana

Oct 24, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Demetrious Cox (7) reacts to defensive stop against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

2. ‘No Fly Zone’ is no more

Unfortunately, it’s time to face reality. For many of us, this was the game in which we found out how good, or not so good, this Michigan State secondary is, and we found out the hard way.

The game started off great for us optimists of the MSU defensive backfield as true freshman safety Grayson Miller picked off the first Nate Sudfeld pass of the game, setting the Spartans up with great field position only to come away with -9 yards on a three-play drive.

The offense looked stagnant, but after that defensive effort by Miller, it looked like starting two true freshman safeties was going to pay off. It didn’t, and that’s not necessarily their fault, but the secondary as a whole suffered.

Calling these guys the ‘No Fly Zone’ should no longer happen, despite how much these guys like to use that distinction referring to themselves.

There were a couple of positives to take away from this one. Montae Nicholson looked a little better and more comfortable when he was in the game and Arjen Colquhoun’s physical style resembles that of Darqueze Dennard and he looks solid.

However, Sudfeld seemed to be picking on Demetrious Cox all day long — who was the Spartans’ top corner entering the game — and the young safeties bit on some play actions, allowing a couple long throws.

Cox is much better than what his performance showed on Saturday evening, but he needs to work on his covering ability in order to move forward and learn from this. I’m sure this week’s film session will open his eyes.

Next: 1. Connor Cook is best QB in Big Ten