Michigan State Football: 3 biggest questions for Spartans in spring 2021
Mel Tucker is building his roster, slowly but surely, and he’s also getting his first real spring with Michigan State football.
A year ago, the pandemic hit and he was unable to get any practice time with his new team which led to a lack of chemistry when fall ball began. Sure, the coaching staff was able to Zoom with the players, but it just wasn’t what the team needed with a new system being put in place. This led to a 2-5 season and last-place finish in the Big Ten East — but the Spartans did show potential with two ranked victories.
Now that spring ball is here and the Spartans are getting their first full offseason with Tucker at the helm, what questions are facing this team?
3. Has the offensive line progressed?
Chris Kapilovic was one of the best hires Mel Tucker made to his coaching staff but he inherited one of the worst groups in the Big Ten from the previous few seasons.
The veteran offensive line coach even admitted that 2020 was rough but there’s going to be a turnaround and whether that happens immediately in 2021 remains to be seen.
Kapilovic says MSU's 2020 offense was the least productive offense he's been a part of. Said it was hard to digest, and adds that it wasn’t from a lack of effort.
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) March 26, 2021
Michigan State brings in some talented newcomers in early enrollee Ethan Boyd who added about 35 pounds since he got to campus and Arkansas State transfer Jarrett Horst. Those two alone could boost the line in 2021 but we can’t forget about the the talent that was already on the roster in Kevin Jarvis, Nick Samac and JD Duplain. They also have 2020 recruiting class weapons such as Dallas Fincher and Justin Stevens.
It’ll be interesting to see if the line has taken that next step in year two of Kapilovic and if it can help shake that “least productive offense” label.