Michigan State football: Revisiting Week 4 goals vs. Maryland

Another week is in the books and Michigan State football didn’t quite follow the goals I set for them ahead of the Maryland game.

Let’s revisit those goals.

1. Pressure the quarterback

While the Spartans finished with no sacks (again), there were plenty of plays where they brought extra pass rushers and disrupted Taulia Tagovailoa’s rhythm.

Unfortunately, there weren’t enough plays like that and when Tagovailoa got to sit the pocket and throw, he was lethal meaning that our defensive backs weren’t covering.

The defensive line was supposed to be the strength of the defense but it’s a linebacker (Aaron Brule) leading the team in sacks with a whopping two. Players like Simeon Barrow Jr., Derrick Harmon, and Jalen Sami were supposed to be difference makers in terms of interior pass rush and we just haven’t seen it.

The entire defensive line were supposed to provide relief for the defensive backfield yet, Penix Jr. and Tagovailoa had way too much time in the pocket and can deliver NFL throws.

Sure, CMU, Richmond, Nebraska, Rutgers, and Minnesota will provide a chance to give the defense a break, but there’s still four more games with good enough offensive weapons that are looking at their matchup against Michigan State and are salivating at the chance to put up big numbers.