Spartan Avenue
Fansided

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

By Connor Muldowney

BLOOMINGTON, IN - SEPTEMBER 22: The Michigan State Spartans mascot Sparty flexes during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - SEPTEMBER 22: The Michigan State Spartans mascot Sparty flexes during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
BLOOMINGTON, IN – SEPTEMBER 22: La’Darius Jefferson #15 of the Michigan State Spartans runs the ball as Cam Jones #34 of the Indiana Hoosiers punches the ball away causing a fumble during the first half of action at Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – SEPTEMBER 22: La’Darius Jefferson #15 of the Michigan State Spartans runs the ball as Cam Jones #34 of the Indiana Hoosiers punches the ball away causing a fumble during the first half of action at Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

3. Run game is a disaster

The coaching staff needs to figure this out. The offensive line is causing major problems in the run game and even caused problems early on in the passing game.

Brian Lewerke and the passing offense will always figure things out, though, while the run game will be harder to solve with the line playing as poorly as it has been. Michigan State finished with 131 rushing yards which was salvaged by a late 75-yard touchdown run by wide receiver Jalen Nailor.

Michigan State did have two rushing scores against the Hoosiers on Saturday night, but they were both by unlikely sources. One was by the aforementioned Nailor and the other came on a fake field goal option to Matt Coghlin. That can’t happen moving forward into the heart of Big Ten play.

The Spartans need to establish the run which means the passing attack will open up more, but the offensive line needs to be more consistent.

It’s not all on the running backs, as we saw Saturday, as neither La’Darius Jefferson nor Connor Heyward were able to find big running lanes.

This is becoming a problem.

Home/Spartans Football