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Michigan State Football: 5 players who need to step up vs. Illinois
Oct 22, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Michigan State Spartans linebacker Riley Bullough (30) is ejected from the game in the first quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
These five Michigan State football players need to step up on Saturday if the Spartans plan to beat Illinois.
Can you believe the ‘down-year’ for Michigan State football has been 2-6? Some people were expecting a 7-5 finish, at the very least, but starting the year with two wins and then following that up with six straight losses has been almost unbelievable.
This team has too much talent to be four games under .500 at this point in the year and they nearly pulled off an upset against Michigan last week if it wasn’t for three empty red zone trips. The Spartans may have earned some confidence from the 32-23 loss against the nation’s No. 2 team, but we will find out for sure on Saturday.
Facing a fellow 2-6 squad, Mark Dantonio’s Spartans are expecting to come out on top, but it’s not going to be easy. Time to tune out all the hate and doubt and focus on stopping a six-game skid.
Here are the five players who need to step up on Saturday in order for the Spartans to start the turnaround.
Demetrius Cooper
DE, Junior
Demetrius Cooper has not lived up to the expectations bestowed upon him prior to the season. However, those high hopes weren’t necessarily fair nor warranted seeing as people expected him to be the second coming of Shilique Calhoun. Filling the shoes of two-time All-American hasn’t been easy for Cooper and he’s crumbled under the pressure.
Cut him a break, though. It’s not easy when everyone just expects you to pick up right where one of the best defensive ends in school history left off. He did have a solid 2015 season as Calhoun’s backup, but he has taken a major step back this season.
The junior defensive end still holds his starting position, though. Dantonio must believe that the talent level is there and he has yet to put it all together. The pressure placed on him may have been a little too much.
Facing a mediocre offensive line in Illinois should give him some confidence moving forward. Heck, he did nearly record his first full sack of the season against Michigan, but Wilton Speight somehow got the ball away with Cooper wrapped around his waist.
It’s time for him to step up against the Illini.
Oct 29, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Football wide receiver Monty Madaris (88) attempts to make a catch over Michigan Wolverines cornerback Jourdan Lewis (26) during the second half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Monty Madaris
WR, Senior
Prior to the season, I predicted a breakout year for senior wide out Monty Madaris. Through the first few games, it looked like I might be right. He was the favorite target of Tyler O’Connor, catching 12 passes for 174 yards through the opening three games of the season.
Madaris was sure-handed and he had some speed to burn. He wasn’t the fastest guy on the field, but he had enough of a burst to get open more often than not. That, and his route-running ability was good enough to shake defenders. Since then, he has just six catches for 70 yards and his first touchdown.
The senior wide out has fallen off quite a bit and he’s looking more like the Spartans’ third or fourth option behind R.J. Shelton, Donnie Corley and even Josiah Price.
Don’t get me wrong, he has the talent, but his confidence has been shaken. Ever since he went reception-less against BYU, he hasn’t been the same. He had a chance to put the Spartans in a good position to score against Maryland and extend a lead two weeks ago, but he fumbled at the Terrapins’ 5-yard-line.
It’s time for the senior wide out to step up again and play like the same guy who caught five passes in two of the first three games of the season. No more one or zero catch games. He needs to take advantage of a favorable matchup in Illinois.
Sep 2, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Demetrious Cox (7) block a pass intended for Furman Paladins wide receiver Andrej Suttles (3) during the second half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Demetrious Cox
S, Senior
Demetrious Cox has not been the guy who people were expecting to see at the beginning of the season when the senior was named a captain. He is a tremendous leader on and off the field, but his play has not lived up to the hype.
The senior safety had been listed as questionable for Saturday’s game against Illinois, but if he does see the field, he’s going to need to be on his ‘A’ game in order for the Spartans to win. Playing at a high level coming off an injury isn’t likely, though, but he needs to limit the miscommunications that have driven fans and coaches insane.
Flashing back to the Maryland game a couple of weeks ago, Cox had one of the more egregious missed coverage assignments of his career when he let a Maryland receiver slip behind him while he went to cover someone else and it was probably the easiest touchdown catch of his career.
That can’t happen against an Illinois squad that might now be on its third quarterback and whose top receiver could be out as well.
Cox needs to play with some confidence and think back to what earned him the starting job in the first place. He can’t be out of place again.
Oct 29, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O
Tyler O'Connor
QB, Senior
Tyler O’Connor is getting yet another shot. This is the third time this season he has been named the starter. First, it was prior to the season-opener. Then, it was after the Maryland game. Now, it’s because of an injury to Brian Lewerke who likely would have been the No. 1 option to start against an Illinois secondary that ranks 29th.
Illinois allows about 203 passing yards per game, but the Illini have played four straight opponents that like to run first or just don’t have great offenses. Michigan may be the only exception in there with Wilton Speight, but they didn’t need to pass much against Illinois since the Wolverines were up by such a wide margin early.
O’Connor has a multitude of weapons at his disposal. If he wants a deep threat, he has R.J. Shelton or Donnie Corley. Both of those guys can be intermediate route runners along with Felton Davis and Monty Madaris. If he’s in need of 5-10 yards, he can sling it to tight ends Josiah Price or Jamal Lyles.
Also, he has LJ Scott behind him in the run game. Defenses respect Scott’s ability to rack up yardage, so they are forced to step up in play-actions, allowing O’Connor to be more effective in those situations.
Michigan State is going to need a big game from the fifth-year senior if it wants to come out victorious for the first time since mid-September.
Oct 15, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans linebacker Riley Bullough (30) tackles Northwestern Wildcats wide receiver Macan Wilson (15) during the second half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Riley Bullough
LB, Senior
Another senior who needs to step up big-time on the defensive side of the ball is Riley Bullough. The middle linebacker has been guilty of a number of missed tackles this season as well as some bone-headed plays against Maryland.
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In fact, that Maryland game was probably the worst performance in a single game during his four-year career at Michigan State. The senior hurt his team by racking up three personal foul penalties, including a targeting which caused an ejection. All of this happened within the first 11 minutes of the game and Michigan State’s defense was not the same.
When Riley is playing the way he’s capable, he can be the Spartans’ best defender. However, when he’s flying around and trying to make the big hit instead of an easy tackle, that’s when he can be ineffective.
Too many times this year I’ve seen him over-pursue on a play or just slip off a defender when he could have made an easy tackle. He needs to settle down, step up, wrap up and make the players he is capable of making.
The Spartans need the senior captain to play one of his best games if the Spartans want to end this horrid six-game losing streak.
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