Michigan State football: 3 goals vs. Rutgers in Week 7

3. Cut down on penalties

Michigan State leads the Big Ten in penalties with 40 through five games. Rutgers, by comparison, has 24.

Without even looking at the stats, I know they are terrible with false starts and illegal procedures on offense, and just way too many roughing the passer calls on defense. I like the aggressiveness when it comes to a pass rush but it’s easy to see when the quarterback has the ball and doesn’t have the ball.

Offensively, pre-snap penalties are a result of coaching and players being held accountable. The coaching staff has been a circus but that doesn’t mean fundamentals get pushed aside. It’s not the same players jumping early so that makes me believe it’s not a priority with the coaching staff. If it was the same person, I would say that one specific player should see less playing time, but when the unit isn’t disciplined and cohesive, it’s costing the whole team.

Giving the opponent a free 76 yards per game is the difference between winning by one and losing by two and this team isn’t good enough to overcome these small mistakes.