Michigan State Football: 5 reasons Spartans will lose to Penn State in Week 10

1. Michigan State’s play-calling will still be an issue

I rewatched the Northwestern game and, yes, it was tough to stomach a second time. Michigan State went almost exclusively to a shotgun spread look, however, the Spartans just could not run the ball. They would typically get two or three yards on first down and put themselves in a tough position.

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The play-calling on the first two drives was excellent, partly because Brian Lewerke was hitting his receivers. There were a few passes that Lewerke missed on players deep, but he is young and learning so I can live with it.

Also, there were a few times that Lewerke could have, on an RPO, taken the ball on an option from the running back and gotten more yards. Instead the running back would run into a brick wall. It’s possible they were designed runs that looked like RPOs. If Lewerke becomes more of a threat on the RPOs then it is possible things open up more.

However, the Spartans must execute and get yardage on first downs. They cannot afford to get into third-and-long with this Penn State defense. Michigan State will need to get creative on offense in order to put points on the board.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that they’re unable to run the ball. It’s also becoming clear that while the jet sweep with Darrell Stewart Jr. has worked, defenses are also ready for it the second and third time it’s used.

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There will need to be some creativity form the Spartan offense for them to win, but fans have yet to see it and that is why Penn State will come away victorious.