Indiana Hoosiers

Michigan State Football: 3 things we learned vs. Indiana

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The mistakes continued Saturday night for Michigan State football but what did we learn from the loss?

It was another sloppy game for Michigan State football. The mistakes continued for the Spartans Saturday night against the Indiana Hoosiers.

Must Read: MSU Football: Top 50 players in school history

The Michigan State offense remains ugly and downright awful. Is it just Tyler O’Connor? No. This team is still playing ineffective football. This is different territory for MSU, closely compared to the 2012 season. Yes, they’re replacing guys all over the offense and, yes, the defense is going to be different without stalwarts like Silique Calhoun and Lawrence Thomas.

However, this is the fourth game for the offense and it is not getting any better. In fact, it looks worse, if that’s even possible. Let’s take a look at what we learned from the loss against Indiana.

3. Tyler O’Connor is just not ready

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Yup, that is right. Tyler O’Connor just looks worse than before. Sure, we can blame it on the offensive line, which is coming, or we can blame it on the receivers. Yet O’Connor just does not look comfortable back there. He appears lost and confused at times. This does not look like a fifth-year senior quarterback who understands the offense. Instead, this looks like a player who just cannot pull it together for an elite Big Ten program.

Routine balls are just thrown behind players. It’s O’Connor’s legs that keep MSU in some games but there’s not good quarterback play, and it shows. O’Connor has proven in this game that it’s time for a quarterback change. There are just too many drives left on the field.

2. The defense is still tough, but breaks down

The defense, without linebackers John Reschke and Riley Bullough, was still able to perform admirably. The defense played well considering Darian Hicks remains the weak link. The pass rush and pressure got there tonight. Tyson Smith was there to make a play in the fourth quarter but he simply needs to look back. The defense just cannot play perfect. The offense is putting too much pressure on the defense by not scoring.

1. The offensive line needs work

Michigan State may suffer the rest of the season because the line play is just terrible. I still hold out hope that they are able to gel together and possibly became a unit come Michigan week, though.

David Beedle is continually struggling along with Josiah Price. It’s amazing how many penalties these two have accumulated together. It would make me pull any fledgling hair I had out. There is talent on this offensive line and yet it’s being used poorly.

This team is just not ready. It’s a six or seven-win squad, unless the players decide to own this season and get better. The coaching is not the problem, the players MSU has recruited are not the problem. Ownership and leadership has been vastly lacking on this MSU team.

This team has not taken responsibility yet for its season. It’s frustrating for Spartan fans because this team is talented, but there is no production on the field.

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