Michigan State Football: Report card for Week 4 win at Indiana

As previously mentioned, the coaching staff seems more than content with allowing short and intermediate completions as to avoid getting burned deep, but that has gassed this secondary week after week. The Indiana matchup was no exception.

Not having Josiah Scott for another week has been rough for this secondary, but Josh Butler has held his own, for the most part, outside of a holding call in the first half which ultimately led to a pick-six by Shakur Brown. If not for that hold on Butler, Brown wouldn’t have entered the game for him and been in the right place for a tipped-pass pick-six.

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Once again, Justin Layne had a strong game and he finished with seven tackles. He continues to show lockdown potential. He also made some noise on blitz plays, making Peyton Ramsey get the ball out before he would have liked. Layne is improving as a tackler, too.

Butler, on the other hand, had four tackles and a pass deflection.

The safeties had another up-and-down performance, but they didn’t allow anything behind them other than a 65-yard catch and run in the fourth.

Khari Willis had four tackles, David Dowell had seven tackles, Matt Morrissey had two and Xavier Henderson one. Overall, these safeties must be better for Michigan State to have a chance at a Big Ten title.