Michigan State Football: 5 things we want to see from new offense in 2019
3. More passes on first down
For the past few years, the offense has had a common theme: run on first down, run on second down and pass on third-and-long.
That type of predictability has worn down the fan base and revitalized opposing defenses. Dave Warner was content with running twice before being forced to throw the ball 8-10 yards down the field, but his routes would be short of the sticks so it would be all for nought.
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Sure, there’s a chance that a pass on first down could result in an incompletion and a second-and-long, but it could also yield a big play that gets the offense into some solid field position. It could even gain 5-6 yards which could set up a second-and-short with a run play or even a play-action to open things up.
Defenses didn’t have to do much thinking against Michigan State last season because they just assumed first down would be a run, stacked the box and held the Spartans to just 1-2 yards or even a loss, anyway.
More passes on first down, please. Heck, even a down-field pass every now and then would be nice.