Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: 3 biggest concerns heading into 2022

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 30: Charles Brantley #0 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a fourth quarter interception with teammates while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 30, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 30: Charles Brantley #0 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a fourth quarter interception with teammates while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 30, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Michigan State’s Chester Kimbrough, right, carries the ball he intercepted as he celebrates with Charles Brantley after beating Nebraska in overtime on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 271a
Michigan State’s Chester Kimbrough, right, carries the ball he intercepted as he celebrates with Charles Brantley after beating Nebraska in overtime on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 271a /

1. Pass defense

When Mel Tucker added guys like Ronald Williams, Chester Kimbrough, and Marqui Lowery from the transfer portal last offseason, did anyone really believe that the secondary would be the weakest position group on the entire team? I certainly didn’t. I actually believed it would be a major strength, especially with Xavier Henderson, Darius Snow, and Angelo Grose returning.

There were flashes of brilliance shown by each of these guys, but teams took advantage of a disjointed unit that hadn’t played together a ton, throwing for over 320 yards per game on the Spartans.

Michigan State had talent in the secondary but there was just no consistency and it felt like when one guy struggled, the entire unit really fell apart. And that happened often.

Obviously the biggest concern heading into the 2022 season would be the nation’s worst passing defense and it’s ability to improve. If the pass defense doesn’t improve drastically, Michigan State could be in big trouble this season against the likes of Michael Penix Jr., Tanner Morgan, Taulia Tagovailoa, CJ Stroud (and those elite receivers), Graham Mertz, Cade McNamara or JJ McCarthy, Connor Bazelak, and Sean Clifford.

Basically, the Spartans are facing a prolific passer every single week. The secondary needs to improve and hopefully that’s a lock with Henderson back and Ameer Speed transferring in.

Next. Top 5 MSU football teams since 2000. dark

Home/Spartans Football