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Michigan State Football: Can offensive line truly improve in 2019?

By Stephen Robb

LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans leads the team on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans leads the team on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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Last season was an abysmal year for Michigan State football’s offense. One of the bigger issues was the offensive line, but can this unit be better in 2019?

Michigan State had an elite defense that, at times, spent too much time on the field, which led to teams taking advantage.

Mark Dantonio prides himself on being able to run the football and control the clock. However, the injuries piled up and the offense was anemic. The narrative at the end of the regular season was if MSU could just get healthy enough on the offensive line that they would be much more competitive.

Then the Spartans laid an egg against Oregon in the RedBox Bowl with the final score being 7-6. Michigan State continued to struggle to open holes and provide the creases for the running backs. The RedBox Bowl was supposed to be the redemption for the offense to fix the problems that plagued it all year, yet it was more of the same. It led to the shakeup on the coaching staff with no staff firings.

Spring practice is in full swing and the storyline early is that the offensive line is getting positive reviews. It’s difficult to determine what this means.

On one hand, what’s Dantonio supposed to say? On the other, we will all hope that if this line can take the step forward like many believed it would in 2018, then it will cause problems for the other teams in the East.

Jim Bollman is now coaching the line and he has the experience at the highest level with one of the better programs in the Big Ten, Ohio State.

He previously coached tight ends in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears in the late 1990s. It was his stint as Ohio State’s offensive line coach and offensive coordinator that brought the Buckeyes out of the shadow of John Cooper.

Can Bollman get the offensive line into a cohesive unit that can dominate at the point of attack? It remains to be seen, however, he certainly has the resume and experience to do it.

Next. 5 reasons Michigan State can win national title. dark

We will find out on Aug. 30 when Tulsa comes to East Lansing.

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