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Michigan State Football: 3 improvements to make before Youngstown State

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 3, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker claps as fans cheer as he walks off the field after their win over the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field. The Michigan State Spartans won 38-21. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker claps as fans cheer as he walks off the field after their win over the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field. The Michigan State Spartans won 38-21. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive tackle Kyle King (54) tackles Northwestern Wildcats running back Andrew Clair (11) at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive tackle Kyle King (54) tackles Northwestern Wildcats running back Andrew Clair (11) at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Third and fourth-down defense

I was going to choose passing defense for this spot, but I think that will take a back seat on Saturday afternoon as the Penguins didn’t really throw the ball much in their opening win over Incarnate Word. And it’s not like the Penguins were up so big that they didn’t need to throw, they were in an overtime battle and came out on top 44-41.

Youngstown State’s quarterback, Demeatric Crenshaw, was 9-for-12 with 112 yards and a touchdown while the rushing offense went wild. In fact, Jaleel McLaughlin had a Kenneth Walker III-type game with 29 carries for 242 yards and two touchdowns, and the Penguins finished with 351 rushing yards as a team.

So that’s where my next biggest worry comes into play: third and fourth-down defense.

Against Northwestern, the Spartans were able to force plenty of third and fourth-down situations but the Wildcats converted more than Mel Tucker would have liked. The Wildcats were 8-for-19 on third downs and 4-for-5 on fourth downs. That’s not going to cut it.

Michigan State’s defense needs to add that clutch gene and really treat third and fourth downs like potential game-winning or losing situations. They need to come up with more clutch stops.

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