Michigan State vs Nebraska: Report card for the Spartans

Nov 7, 2015; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. (4) carries the ball past Michigan State Spartans defensive end Demetrius Cooper (98) at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

O-Line: B; D-Line: C+

If it’s not one thing with this team, it’s another. For the ninth consecutive game, the Spartans failed to put a complete performance together in all areas of the game. Going into the Michigan State vs Nebraska game, it seemed as if the offensive line would be back to lead this team to prominence and just flat-out dominate in the trenches, but it seemed like a pretty pedestrian outing.

Sure, Connor Cook was given time to throw the ball and the pass protection was definitely deserving of an ‘A’ — especially with all of the blitzes Nebraska ran — but it happened to be the run blocking that kept this group from reaching its highest grade of the season.

Gerald Holmes had a solid game with 117 yards, but most of those came on a couple of chunk plays as running between the tackles still seems to be an issue. For an offensive line with as much strength and talent as the Spartans’ those runs should be much more successful — like Nebraska’s were.

That brings us to the next facet of the game, the defensive line. It seemed like Nebraska’s fullback, Andy Janovich, picked up far more yards than a fullback ever should. OK, so 26 yards isn’t terrible, but when it’s a run right up the guy in which the big man is expecting to gain a couple of yards and fall forward and he picks up eight every attempt, there’s something wrong.

The line was getting held all game long, but that can’t be an excuse for not getting enough pressure on a hampered Tommy Armstrong Jr. — especially with all the blitzes MSU ran.

Granted, the junior quarterback just tossed the ball up to avoid a sack on multiple occasions, but this line needs to do a better job of getting some consistency out of the pass rush. With the talent they have up front, they should never be going an entire game without a single sack and allowing 179 rushing yards.

Next: Linebackers/Secondary