Michigan State Football: 5 takeaways from road win vs. Indiana in Week 4

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BLOOMINGTON, IN – SEPTEMBER 22: Peyton Ramsey #12 of the Indiana Hoosiers throws the ball during the first half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

4. Coaching staff is far too content with short completions

Speaking of not allowing long passes, the secondary stepped up — or back — and shut down the deep part of the field, but to me, that means the coaching staff is content with allowing 5-10 yard passes on the regular so long as the secondary isn’t burned deep.

What’s going to doom this team in the long-run is the inability to shut down those short and intermediate passing routes.

Need proof that Indiana relied heavily on the short pass? Ramsey averaged just 5.9 yards per attempt as Brian Lewerke was hovering around 8.5 per attempt. His 5.9 yards per attempt was padded by a 65-yard touchdown catch and run — on a short post — by Whop Philyor in the second half. If not for that reception, Ramsey would have averaged 4.6 per attempt.

Not many quarterbacks attempt 46 passes per game, but when Michigan State’s front-seven shuts down the run like it has, teams are going to turn to the pass more often than not.

Michigan State needs to adjust and be ready for the slants, screens, tosses to running backs in the flat and quick outs or this season will be a failure.

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