Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: 5 ways Mark Dantonio can turn program around in 2020

By Connor Muldowney

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 16: Michigan State Spartans head football coach Mark Dantonio looks at the score board late in the third quarter of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Michigan State 44-10. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 16: Michigan State Spartans head football coach Mark Dantonio looks at the score board late in the third quarter of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Michigan State 44-10. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Rocky Lombardi #12 of the Michigan State Spartans looks to pass against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at Spartan Stadium on November 24, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Rocky Lombardi #12 of the Michigan State Spartans looks to pass against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at Spartan Stadium on November 24, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

3. Find future quarterback in the final two games

This might be a tough decision for Mark Dantonio since he really likes Brian Lewerke and believes he can be a good starting quarterback, which he has the potential to do but inconsistency hurts him. But getting backup quarterbacks some decent reps over the final two games will be important moving forward.

See, because it’s Rutgers and Maryland, the games shouldn’t be completely out of hand (Michigan State needing comebacks) and that could mean Lewerke gets the start, mounts an early lead and then hands the reins to Theo Day, Payton Thorne or Rocky Lombardi.

The staff desperately needs to figure out who the starting quarterback will be next season and the only way to make sure it’s not a disaster is to get the young guys some experience.

We’ve see what Lombardi brings to the table, so maybe focusing more on Day and Thorne would be good, especially since the latter may have the highest ceiling and has never seen the field. The staff really likes what it has in Thorne.

So let Lewerke build a lead and throw all the bowl scenarios out the window. It’s time to build toward the 2020 season and that means getting the young quarterbacks extended some reps.

Home/Spartans Football