Michigan State Football: 3 goals and a prediction vs. Maryland

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 09: Tunmise Adeleye #52 of the Michigan State Spartans tries to get into the backfield against Parker Mitchell #76 of the Richmond Spiders during a game at Spartan Stadium on September 09, 2023 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) /

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Michigan State’s assistant head coach Chris Kapilovic on the sideline during the football game against Washington on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. /

2. Use the correct offensive line combination

Whatever lineup offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic has put out the first three weeks of the season isn’t the correct one. Procedure penalties, missed assignments, and just straight-up getting overmatched at the line of scrimmage.

This was supposed to be a strength of the team and so far, I am far from impressed with what I’ve seen, especially from the upperclassmen. Averaging 144 rush yards per game is good for 13th in the Big Ten while 3.6 yards per carry isn’t any great shakes either.

Establish the run, drain the clock, keep the Maryland offense off the field, and use the run game to open up the play-action pass. I can’t exactly blame this entirely on the players since Jay Johnson’s run scheme/game plan is head-scratching at best ($50 says the first play of the game is Nathan Carter through the B gap for a gain of two) but combine it with JD Duplain giving the “olé” to the defensive tackle and the play goes from a 6-yard gain to a 1-yard gain.

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