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Michigan State Football: 5 takeaways from BYU loss

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

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Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell (4) is blocked by Brigham Young Cougars offensive lineman Tuni Kanuch (78) during the second half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

What did we learn from Michigan State football’s Week 6 loss against the BYU Cougars on Saturday?

Watching the Spartans fall lifeless to a mid-level BYU team was disappointing. Even more upsetting was the fact that Michigan State football fell below .500 for the first time since 2012. This team isn’t playing like a cohesive unit and that, in turn, is causing dysfunctional play.

The Spartans have now lost three straight games, starting with a 30-6 defeat at the hands of Wisconsin. The offense has been mediocre ever since it took a 36-7 lead over Notre Dame four weeks ago. Since that touchdown to give the Spartans 36 points, Michigan State has been out-scored 90-21 in second halves.

In fact, Michigan State gave up 21 straight points to the Fighting Irish in that game after the score. Also, the Spartans allowed 17 unanswered points to Wisconsin in the second half of the first loss in 2016. Then, Indiana out-scored Michigan State 24-14 in the second half and overtime. Lastly, BYU out-scored Michigan State 28-7 in the second half.

This team has yet to put a full game together and that might cost it a bowl bid. Let’s take a look at the five takeaways from the BYU loss.

5. Play-calling is still awful

Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) is up ended by Brigham Young Cougars running back Brayden El-Bakri (35) during the second half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

The play-calling has been horrendous. There’s no way around it, Dave Warner is not getting the job done from up in the booth. Sure, he’s been the offensive coordinator during the most successful era of Michigan State offense in school history, but it seems like Connor Cook was bailing him out.

Having an average quarterback has magnified the issues in the play-calling and it starts with predictability.

Michigan State started the game off strongly, passing multiple times on its opening drive, leading to a touchdown on a 70-plus yard push over seven minutes. It was methodical and resembles the Spartans’ drive against Iowa last year in the Big Ten title game that took over nine minutes.

Still, the Spartans were switching up the plays and keeping BYU on its toes. Then the second quarter began and Michigan State didn’t run a single pass play. Not one.

Mind you, this BYU team allowed 53 points and over 450 passing yards to Toledo the week before and the Spartans attempted zero passes in the second quarter. That’s unacceptable.

That, and the fact that a BYU assistant coach admitted that MSU didn’t do anything different from what they planned for is flat-out embarrassing.

Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O

4. Tyler O’Connor isn’t the answer

This one’s easy. Tyler O’Connor just isn’t good enough to lead this team to consistent victories. After opening his career 3-0 as a starter — with wins against Ohio State and Notre Dame — he has been pedestrian, at best. He’s 0-3 in his last three games with 545 yards, three touchdowns and three picks.

O’Connor’s 55 percent completion rate during that time has been underwhelming, too.

Getting off to quick starts is crucial when it comes to winning games. Putting a team away in the first half or before the fourth quarter is a skill that makes a quarterback great. O’Connor doesn’t have that potential.

Take a look at the last three games. Against Wisconsin, Michigan State had just six points at the half, trailing 13-6. Against Indiana, the Spartans were up 7-0 at halftime. Lastly, against BYU, Michigan State had a 7-3 halftime lead. That’s 6.7 points, on average, over the past three first halves.

Not shocking that all led to losses and O’Connor has been mediocre in each of the performances. It’s time for a change. Time to breathe life into this offense and that will come with either Brian Lewerke or Damion Terry under center.

O’Connor is a great kid and fearless leader, but he’s nothing more than a backup.

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans linebacker Jon Reschke (33) and linebacker Riley Bullough (30) celebrate interception of Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14)(not pictured) during the second half a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

3. Riley Bullough, Jon Reschke are severely missed

Jamaal Williams gashed Michigan State’s defensive line and linebackers for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. Heading into the game, the Spartans had held opposing run games to just over 100 yards per contest, ranking 15th in the country. BYU had its way with the Spartans’ front-seven.

A major factor in that lack of success on the defensive side of things was the absence of a dynamic duo. Riley Bullough and Jon Reschke are arguably two of the best linebackers in the Big Ten and they have missed yet another game.

Bullough hasn’t played since the Notre Dame game because of a shoulder ailment while Reschke hasn’t seen action since Wisconsin thanks to an ankle injury. Rumor has it that Reschke could be out for the remainder of the season, which would be a huge blow for Michigan State.

Getting taxed for 260 rushing yards was something Michigan State would never have allowed with Bullough and Reschke in there and it seems like this defense misses those guys more and more each week.

Riley might be back this week, but don’t expect Reschke back any time soon. Still, the return of Bullough will give this defense a major boost.

Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Gerald Holmes (24) runs the ball for a touchdown during the 1st quarter of a game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

2. Run game is completely underwhelming

This team has too many talented running backs to account for just 85 yards on 32 carries. What was even more concerning about the ground game against BYU was the fact that Damion Terry was the second-leading rusher even though he came in for less than a whole quarter.

Terry finished with 29 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, second only to Gerald Holmes. The latter played solid through the first half, accounting for 57 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, but the fact that he was the only back to get a bulk of the carries was surprising.

LJ Scott is thought to be the starting running back, but he was suffering through an apparent leg injury. He was probable for the game, but only recorded three carries for nine yards on the game. Madre London added a carry for four yards.

This team just doesn’t have an identity in the run game. At the beginning of the year, the coaching staff made it clear that it wanted one true No. 1 back, and Scott was the guy. He has since seen his carries decrease over the past few weeks and that’s disappointing.

There’s no way Holmes, London and Scott should combine for only 70 yards on 19 carries. Too much talent for that.

Is the offensive line to blame?

Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) runs the ball for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

1. Defensive line looks lifeless

Another game without a single sack. Michigan State’s defensive line has gotten zero push since that Notre Dame game and that’s why offenses have no problem sitting in the pocket and picking apart the secondary and linebackers on third downs.

Must Read: MSU Football: 3 things we learned from BYU loss

Michigan State has been solid on first and second downs all season long, but when third down rolls along, it’s almost a guarantee that the opposition is going to pick it up. In fact, BYU was an impressive 10-of-16 on third down and the Spartans continue to be one of the worst defensive teams in the Big Ten in those situations.

Taysom Hill was able to sit back in the pocket and wait for receivers to run their routes for 4-5 seconds before pressure even got to him. He completed 18-of-27 passes for a season-low 138 yards and that’s just because the secondary played well.

Fans can get upset with the secondary all they want, but the truth of the matter is the defensive line isn’t doing its job. Zero sacks for a second straight game is unacceptable for a MAC team, let alone one of the best defensive teams in the Big Ten.

When Malik McDowell returned from his one-half suspension for targeting, pressure came quicker, but Hill still got the ball out in time, or scrambled for a first down.

Changes need to be made on the defensive line moving forward because five sacks in five games is atrocious.

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