Michigan State football: Report card for deflating loss to Washington

Sep 17, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies defensive lineman Tuli Letuligasenoa (91) tackles Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) for no gain during the second quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 17, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (2) catches a pass against the Michigan State Spartans during the second quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

Secondary: F

You know the old saying “if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all”? Yeah, well that doesn’t apply to Michigan State’s defense.

Scottie Hazelton had arguably his worst game as the defensive coordinator outside of 2021 Ohio State. Not one aspect of the defense looked ready to defend Michael Penix Jr. and Co. and it showed. They were able to move the ball with ease all over the Spartans and it’s shocking that the Huskies didn’t score 40 points.

Chester Kimbrough came back down to earth although the first big play that he gave up early he actually covered well, he just didn’t turn around and make a play on the ball. That’s a pre-Mark Dantonio-type defense that killed the program from 2001-06. That can’t happen.

Outside of Kendell Brooks making a couple of nice hits again, the secondary didn’t have any memorable plays and it looked like it was cooked all game long.

While it’d be easy to blame the players, this is a schematic issue and changes have to be made before they play quarterbacks like CJ Stroud, Sean Clifford, and JJ McCarthy.

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