Michigan State Football: Report card from win over Western Kentucky

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Michigan State’s Jacub Panasiuk, right, celebrates his sack with teammate Maverick Hansen during the third quarter in the game against Western Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.211002 Msu Wku Fb 187a /

Defensive Line: B-

The defensive line, like the offensive line, made some solid plays but overall didn’t show out consistently enough for it to receive a higher grade.

When a quarterback drops back to pass 64 times and there are only three quarterback hurries and three sacks, that either means he’s either figured out where to throw before the play even starts and he’s taking advantage of soft coverage or the line isn’t getting enough penetration.

You can’t be mad at three sacks, however. Could it have been more? Absolutely. The line has had a bad habit of closing in an opposing quarterback and having him cornered in the pocket but somehow letting him slip through and pick up yards with his legs. I’ve seen it in back-to-back weeks now and also saw it against Miami — those plays kill momentum.

Jacub Panasiuk followed up his best game of the season with a two-sack effort against the Hilltoppers and Maverick Hansen also chipped in a sack.

Jeff Pietrowski had another solid game with four tackles, Drew Jordan chipped in three, and Simeon Barrow, Jacob Slade, and Michael Fletcher all had two.

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