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Michigan State Football: 5 players who need to step up vs. Indiana

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

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Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O

Which five Michigan State football players need to step up against Indiana this weekend?

It’s been a rough week for Michigan State football. After putting together a 36-0 run to beat Notre Dame on the road in Week 3, the Spartans couldn’t do anything on offense against the Wisconsin Badgers, falling 30-6 at home. Everyone seemingly jumped off the bandwagon and national analysts went from praising the Spartans to criticizing them.

While it’s true, Michigan State has a ton of work left to do, there have still been positives to take away from the loss to the Badgers. For starters, the defensive front-seven held Wisconsin’s run game in check and the defense, as a whole, just needs to improve on third downs.

If Michigan State stops the Badgers are a few more third downs and forces them to punt, the game could have been completely different. The same could be said if LJ Scott didn’t fumble a ball in Wisconsin territory which was returned 50-plus yards for a touchdown.

Many opportunities were marred by turnovers, namely three interceptions thrown by Tyler O’Connor.

No one is perfect, but here are five guys who desperately need to step up this weekend and play nearly flawlessly for the Spartans to take down Indiana on the road.

Demetrius Cooper

DE, Junior

I hate to say it, but the lack of production from Demetrius Cooper at the defensive end position is one of the reasons why Mark Dantonio decided to burn the redshirts of true freshmen Auston Robertson and Josh King.

While not many coaches are as conservative as Dantonio when it comes to redshirting a majority of the freshman class, it was still a tough decision to make, but he made the correct one. The defensive line has taken a huge hit, in terms of depth, and the Spartans just haven’t been able to get much pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Through three games, Cooper has just six total tackles and 0.5 sacks. Coming into the season, he was expected to be the next Shilique Calhoun, but he has failed to live up to the lofty, unfair expectations.

Still, if Michigan State is going to have success on defense against the Hoosiers, Cooper is going to need to find his way into the backfield on a regular basis.

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans center Brian Allen (65) prepares to snap the ball in the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Line

OL, Michigan State

Notre Dame felt the wrath of the ever-improving Michigan State offense line a week ago, but the group seemed to take a step back against Wisconsin in Week 4. There were very few holes for running room. Michigan State had 27 carries for just 75 yards and Scott finished with 61.

Michigan State racked up 250-plus yards against the Fighting Irish on the ground because the running lanes were so vast, but everything was clogged up against the elite defense of the Badgers. It may have had something to do with constant blitzing, or maybe it was just the fact that these guys were missing assignments.

Either way, it’s pretty clear that the trenches need to be won by the Spartans on Saturday against the Hoosiers if they’re going to win the game. The battle in the trenches is always most important and if O’Connor gets more time to throw the ball then that means the run game will open up as well.

Brian Allen and Kodi Kieler might be the most reliable guys up front for Michigan State, but David Beedle, Benny McGowan, Miguel Machado and Brandon Clemons need to step up. This is a group effort.

Sep 24, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook (12) eludes a sack by Michigan State linebacker Shane Jones (49) during the third quarter of their game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY Sports

Shane Jones

LB, Junior

The only reason Shane Jones is listed in this spot is because he’s facing a tough task of replacing Riley Bullough — potentially — this weekend. I say potentially because Bullough still may play on Saturday, but he won’t be on the field 100 percent of the time like he usually is.

Don’t get me wrong, Jones played a great game against Wisconsin in place of Bullough. He finished with six total tackles and 0.5 sacks, but that’s not why I’m calling him out here. Heck, I’m not calling his play out at all, just stating how he is going to need to be on his ‘A’ game at middle linebacker for the Spartans to win.

A few years ago when Jones committed to Michigan State, people believed that he was going to be the next great Spartan linebacker. Michigan State has a long line of success at the position and Jones would just join the illustrious group.

However, he has been buried on the depth chart thanks to the emergence of Riley Bullough and the numerous other linebackers who have made impressions.

It’s Jones’ time to shine in the middle, and he’s going to need to do so against an elite offense in Indiana.

Sep 24, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Wisconsin running back Dare Ogunbowale (23) is dragged down after a short gain by Michigan State defensive back Demetrious Cox (7) during the second quarter of their game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY Sports

Demetrious Cox

S, Senior

Michigan State’s secondary made freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook of Wisconsin look like a senior captain. He was making throws against soft coverage all day long and the Badgers were picking up first down after first down after multiple third down tries.

The Spartans’ defense just couldn’t find a way to get off the field, and part of it has to do with poor defensive schemes being dialed up as well as lack of solid coverage.

Senior captain Demetrious Cox just hasn’t stepped up in the way that many believed he would after being named one of the three leaders of the team. He’s earned the respect of his teammates off the field, but now he has to earn it from opponents as well as his teammates on the field.

Far too often, the senior safety has been caught out of position, allowing 10-15 yard passes. Sure, he’s doing a solid job of keeping plays in front of him, but he needs to come up on receivers and make a stop — especially in zone coverage.

Cox has all the potential in the world to be an All-Big Ten safety, but he needs to realize that the secondary is struggling, and he’s one of the reasons why.

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O

Tyler O'Connor

QB, Senior

Woof. That’s the one word I used to describe Tyler O’Connor’s performance against Wisconsin on Saturday. He looked confused, threw into double-coverage, showcased a weak arm and panicked under sight pressure. This was not the calm, cool and collected O’Connor we were used to.

Must Read: MSU Football: 5 overreactions from Wisconsin loss

Through three games, O’Connor has thrown as many touchdowns, five, as interceptions and his accuracy is headed in the wrong direction.

We knew what we were getting from O’Connor when he was named the starter. He probably wouldn’t wow anyone with his arm, but he would be a reliable passer who would hold the Spartans over until they settle on a starter in 2017.

The fifth-year senior has been suspect through three games this season and you might be saying, “Well, he played just fine against Notre Dame and Furman,” which is only half-true. His numbers looked fine, but he threw a costly interception against Furman which almost led to the tying touchdown and he had a few poor throws against the Irish to wide open receivers.

If O’Connor wants to keep his job past the Indiana game, he’s going to need to step up in a big way. No more panicking under slight pressure or throwing it away when there’s a wide open receiver streaking toward the end zone.

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