Michigan State Football: 5 overreactions from Minnesota win in Week 7

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 14: The Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrate a fumble recovery against the Michigan State Spartans during the first quarter of the game on October 14, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

1. This team doesn’t know how to finish

Give these kids a break. Playing basically 11 straight quarters (four against Iowa, four against Michigan and the first three vs. Minnesota) of smash-mouth defense in which the Spartans allowed just 26 total points can wear down a team both physically and mentally.

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Middle linebacker Joe Bachie said after the game that it wasn’t fatigue, though, that allowed the Golden Gophers to put up 21 points in the final frame. He said it was unacceptable and the team needs to find ways to make plays. That’s the right answer coming from a leader, but that final quarter was concerning and it was more than likely fatigue.

It also could have been unfamiliarity with the new quarterback, Demry Croft, who also happened to be a dual-threat. Michigan State prepared for him, but didn’t expect to see him for an entire half.

It’s not that Michigan State doesn’t know how to finish — because the Spartans did against Iowa, Western Michigan, Michigan and Bowling Green — but rather the play-calling on both sides of the ball seems to get too conservative late in games with leads.

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The coaching staff needs to play to win instead of playing not to lose. Credit Minnesota for sticking with the second-half game plan and putting some late points on the board, though. The Gophers didn’t quit.

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