Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: 3 reasons Mel Tucker will get Spartans back on track

By Connor Muldowney

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 7: Head coach Mel Tucker of the Colorado Buffaloes hugs a fan who had rushed the field after the Colorado Buffaloes 34-31 overtime win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Folsom Field on September 7, 2019 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 7: Head coach Mel Tucker of the Colorado Buffaloes hugs a fan who had rushed the field after the Colorado Buffaloes 34-31 overtime win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Folsom Field on September 7, 2019 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 01: Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Mel Tucker looks on before the 2018 SEC Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 01: Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Mel Tucker looks on before the 2018 SEC Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

2. Defensive prowess

One thing Michigan State has been known for over the years is defense. Mark Dantonio came in before the 2007 season and brought a strong defensive mind with him as he was once the defensive coordinator at Ohio State for a national title team.

Mel Tucker brings that same attitude and prowess.

In fact, he began his career as a grad assistant at Michigan State under Nick Saban and we all know how he’s been as a head coach and defensive mind. He was then a defensive backs coach at LSU under Saban and then held the same position at Ohio State before being named co-defensive coordinator with the Buckeyes in 2004.

Tucker went to the NFL to become defensive coordinator of the Browns, Jaguars and Bears before heading back to college to join Saban again at Alabama as associate head coach and he was in charge of defensive backs. He followed Kirby Smart to Georgia as defensive coordinator and was one of the best in the country before taking the Colorado job.

While his defense wasn’t great in his first year at Colorado, he’ll have the money to build his ideal staff and that could start with guys like Chuck Bullough, Mike Tressel, Ron Burton and potentially even bringing back Harlon Barnett.

Defense wins championships and that’s what Tucker brings to East Lansing.

Home/Spartans Football