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Michigan State Football: 5 overreactions from win over Maryland in Week 12

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans runs for a first half touchdown in front of Isaiah Davis #22 of the Maryland Terrapins at Spartan Stadium on November 18, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans runs for a first half touchdown in front of Isaiah Davis #22 of the Maryland Terrapins at Spartan Stadium on November 18, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 04: Juwan Johnson #84 of the Penn State Nittany Lions can’t make a second half catch next to Justin Layne #2 of the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 27-24.(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 04: Juwan Johnson #84 of the Penn State Nittany Lions can’t make a second half catch next to Justin Layne #2 of the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 27-24.(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

4. Secondary cannot be trusted

After playing extremely well through the first two months of the season, Michigan State’s secondary has fallen off a bit. Although players like Justin Layne and Josiah Scott have been relatively consistent throughout the year, with some exceptions, the secondary has given up big yards thanks to short passes.

Those short passes over the middle and in the flats add up, just ask the secondary which has been playing off the line of scrimmage a bit too much.

This secondary has the talent to press cover, but once again, the coaching staff decided to exhibit a mini form of prevent on Saturday late in the game as to not allow anything behind them. That backfired as Max Bortenschlager was able to complete short passes, like he wanted to do all game, and march down the field for a touchdown and nearly another score.

Don’t blame the secondary for the fourth-quarter troubles, but rather the coaches for allowing Maryland to get what it wanted without adjusting. Also, some of the coverage mistakes were on the linebackers.

All-in-all, the Spartans only allowed 121 passing yards and no scores through the air.

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