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Michigan State Football: 5 takeaways from tough home loss to Northwestern

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 6: Running back Weston Bridges #27 of the Michigan State Spartans is tackled by linebacker Paddy Fisher #42 of the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Spartan Stadium on October 6, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 6: Running back Weston Bridges #27 of the Michigan State Spartans is tackled by linebacker Paddy Fisher #42 of the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Spartan Stadium on October 6, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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It was a rough game for Michigan State football on Saturday as Northwestern came to town and stole a win from the Spartans.

Michigan State has fallen from the AP Top 25, and it’s a deserved drop. In fact, there’s only one AP voter who has given the Spartans a spot in the rankings and after watching them lose to Northwestern, Michigan State isn’t currently worthy of a spot.

The Spartans aren’t currently one of the 25 best teams in the country, as evidenced by their play through the first five games of the season.

Mark Dantonio must find a way to turn things around after a 3-2 start and he might get some help from Joe Bachie who has vowed to call a players-only meeting.

Could a players-only meeting truly turn things around? It’s not that easy, but it could get the mindsets of the players on this team in the right place.

What’d we learn from the Spartans’ Week 6 loss against Northwestern?

5. Red-zone offense is a huge weakness

Watching Michigan State sputter in the red zone week after week is beyond frustrating. This offense has serious NFL talent from quarterback to receiver, but the lack of a push from the offensive line coupled with poor play-calling has led to big-time woes.

The Spartans got the ball into the red zone twice in the first half, settling for two field goals. Sure, Michigan State should have been able to get the ball down the field much easier against this Northwestern defense, but you take what you can get. Those two red-zone trips should have ended in touchdowns.

In the second half, the Spartans made it to the red zone two more times, finishing with a touchdown to Felton Davis III — which should be the norm — and a turnover on downs at the 1-yard-line.

The red-zone efficiency must be better and a touchdown rate of 25 percent just isn’t going to cut it in the Big Ten.

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