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Michigan State Football: 5 biggest questions facing offense in 2019

By Connor Muldowney

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 13: Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions hurries Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 13: Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions hurries Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Rocky Lombardi #12 of the Michigan State Spartans prepares to take a snap from offensive lineman Matt Allen #64 in the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Rocky Lombardi #12 of the Michigan State Spartans prepares to take a snap from offensive lineman Matt Allen #64 in the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

4. Can the offensive line take that next step?

Michigan State had arguably the worst offensive line in the Big Ten last season. OK, so maybe that’s tough to judge since there were some teams who couldn’t seem to do much of anything up front, but the Spartans slacked off after the first few games.

Was it due to injuries? Maybe that had something to do with it, but it’s not like the depth was absent. There were plenty of young guys ready to step in, but no one could really stick.

Guys like Luke Campbell, Cole Chewins and Tyler Higby who were expected to take that next step actually regressed. All three of those guys were once locks to be starters and now it’s unclear whether any of them are guaranteed a starting spot for 2019.

The offensive line was the reason for plenty of the offense’s struggles in 2018. They couldn’t seem to open any holes in the run game, didn’t give Brian Lewerke or Rocky Lombardi time to throw and just didn’t get any push.

Things must change in 2019 now that Jim Bollman is the offensive line coach, his natural coaching role.

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