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Michigan State Football: 5 areas of concern following spring 2019

By Connor Muldowney

LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 17: Defensive back Lamar Jackson #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers interferes with wide receiver Cody White #7 of the Michigan State Spartans on a pass in the second half at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 17: Defensive back Lamar Jackson #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers interferes with wide receiver Cody White #7 of the Michigan State Spartans on a pass in the second half at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 27: Rocky Lombardi #12 of the Michigan State Spartans drops back to pass the ball during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium on October 27, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 27: Rocky Lombardi #12 of the Michigan State Spartans drops back to pass the ball during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium on October 27, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2. Backup quarterbacks looked shaky

This is a bit similar to the running back situation although the Spartans do have a starter with plenty of experience and who has shown the ability to perform at an All-Big Ten level.

Brian Lewerke eased fans’ worries ever so slightly during the spring game, completing 14-of-20 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns. He looked more calm in the pocket, had more zip on the ball and went through his progressions without making any vital mistakes.

The concern here is more so for the backups. Rocky Lombardi has experience and showed last season that he can come in and win tough games — Purdue at home. He’s a tough kid with a strong arm, but accuracy was a major concern during the spring game, dating back to last season where he just couldn’t seem to hit his targets consistently.

Theo Day, a redshirt freshman, very well could be the eventual successor to Lewerke but he didn’t show much during the scrimmage and made some shaky throws, including blowing a wide open dump to Noah Davis in the end zone — basically threw it right at the dirt with no defenders around.

If Lewerke suffers another injury this season or is not 100 percent healthy, should the coaching staff be confident in the backups? Right now, that’s a major concern.

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