Michigan State Holiday Wish List 2018: Wish No. 5 for Spartan fans

Michigan State’s 25 wishes list continues today and throughout this week. What is the No. 5 wish for all Spartan fans?

Here is wish No. 5 on our Michigan State fan wish list as we count down to wish No. 1.

Wish No. 5

The Michigan State quarterback situation in 2019 is seen as a success with it being utilized and helping the team succeed similar but not necessarily to the level like with the quarterback state of affairs of Alabama this season with Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts.

We are in the top five of wishes for Spartan fans so don’t be surprised that these wishes are elaborate, unique, special, controversial and/or complicated. However, allow for an explanation before you pass judgement and you may see that this and any other wish in the top five makes sense in the hopes and aspirations of Michigan State fans moving forward into 2019.

First, if you read the wish correctly I’m not suggesting that Brian Lewerke and Rocky Lombardi morph into Tagovailoa and Hurts 2.0. What I am suggesting is that, one, Lombardi doesn’t transfer before the start of the season even if Lewerke is without doubt the No. 1 quarterback moving forward.

Second, Lewerke plays so well that there is not a need to have Lombardi as a starting quarterback for the Spartans in 2019 midway through the season.

Third, both stay healthy and, if need be, Lombardi can step in and contribute without Michigan State suffering a loss to a team that they would have beaten if Lewerke had played the whole game. Lastly, Lombardi can be used in certain packages to give the offense a different look somewhat similar to what Florida did with Tim Tebow when he was a freshmen and ran for over 450 yards with eight touchdowns and passed for over 350 yards and five scores.

None of the above hopes and dreams matter if Lewerke is not just the Lewerke of 2017 — where he passed for almost 2,800 yards with a 20-to-7 touchdown-to-interception and ran for over 550 yard with five scores — but him being a more efficient passer who can use his feet to avoid sacks and costly turnovers.

I’m not  also suggesting that Lombardi needs to go full Tebow 2006 mode, but he needs to be ready to help the offense in any way he can. He needs to complement Lewerke and aid in getting the Spartans off to a good, if not great, start in 2019.

Look at the last two seasons at Alabama and the back-and-forth utilization of their quarterbacks which put itself in the best position to win each game.

Hurts did not transfer after being the starter for Alabama for the vast majority of the 2017, even after he threw for just under 2,000 yards with a 15-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. But he struggled in a loss versus Auburn and was pulled in the second half of the national championship after throwing for only 21 yards.

In 2018, Tagovailoa has been, for the most part, dominant and brought the Crimson Tide offense to a whole new level on their way to a very convincing 2018 regular season that once again landed them in the College Football Playoff.

Like with Clemson’s quarterback situation, some were expecting Hurts to transfer but he didn’t. When Tagovailoa took over for Hurts in the second half of the national championship game last year, Hurts would take over for Tagovailoa in the SEC Championship game against Georgia this season.

After two interceptions and a minor injury to Tagovailoa, he came in and completed 7-of-9 passes for 82 yards with one touchdown. He also ran for 28 yards and a touchdown as well. He led them to an overtime victory over the Bulldogs just like when Tagovailoa lead the Crimson Tide to an overtime victory against Georgia in the national championship last season.

Once again, Spartan fans are not wishing for both of their quarterbacks to play like Bama’s but they expect them to step up when needed and lead the offense.

It would have been helpful and very satisfying if during the Northwestern game when Lewerke was struggling that Lombardi could have come in a lead a couple of drives propelling the Spartans to victory. Same being said, if Lewerke could have just come in for a struggling Lombardi and played and lead Michigan State to one drive that resulted in a touchdown against Nebraska, Michigan State fans would be feeling a lot differently now about the future outlook of the program and more short term, the chances of beating Oregon in their bowl game and hoping for a Big Ten title in 2019.

No one is suggesting that Michigan State can have as equal as productive quarterback play as Alabama. However, with a very strong possibility of the Spartans having an amazing defense in 2019, if Michigan State can have two quarterbacks that can get along, be productive and efficient and most importantly score a touchdown or two when needed, a Big Ten championship is possible.

In 2019, Michigan State can be one of the best teams in the Big Ten when all is said and done. They must avoid injuries especially with Lewerke in order for that to happen. However, both quarterbacks must stay healthy overall and must avoid costly turnovers and lead a touchdown drive when needed to complement the strong play of the defense.

As we are now in the top five of wishes on our way to No. 1, expect them to be what is exactly needed in order to win championships.