Couch: Revival of O-line pushes MSU into title contention
EAST LANSING — Of all the reasons for Michigan State to revel in Saturday’s feel-good 55-16 thumping of Penn State, none is greater than this:
Through 26 throws against college football’s most prolific pass rush, Connor Cook never felt the hot, musty breath of a defensive lineman.
He wasn’t sacked or knocked to the ground. Or clubbed by a wayward forearm.
MSU’s senior quarterback and his tender right shoulder weren’t touched.
“Not once,” he confirmed.
The offensive line that a week ago pushed around Ohio State in front of a backup quarterback, protected its most valuable asset Saturday like a crazed mother bear.
This is why MSU can win both a Big Ten and national championship — the sudden late-season revitalization of a once-heralded group that for so long was beset by injuries. The Spartans can ride these guys and play with anyone.
Last week opened eyes to the possibility. Saturday was proof.
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“I think they played their best game today,” Cook said, after completing 19 of his 26 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns. “When I can stand back there with time and feel safe, it’s a pretty good situation.”
There was no alternative for this offensive line Saturday. Just as there was no alternative a week earlier than to bully the Buckeyes on the ground.
Cook is right. Saturday was the offensive line’s best day — displaying a versatility and completeness to its dominance. More so than a week ago, when wind and rain and irrational fury helped to empower its awakening.
This offensive line began this season pegged as one of the elite units in college football, touted as the best group of the Mark Dantonio era.
Injuries to tackles Jack Conklin and Kodi Kieler and All-American center Jack Allen made it considerably less than that most of the way. The Spartans couldn’t run the ball effectively for months and, at times, they couldn’t protect Cook. At Rutgers in October, for example — with a patchwork crew and a couple starters dragging their legs in front of him — Cook was knocked to the turf nine times.
By Rutgers, mind you.
Cook rescued the Spartans that night. He took the pounding without complaint and delivered several of the biggest throws of his career.
It’s partly why the Spartans are here in this position — heading to Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship game next week and, at 11-1, in control of their path to the college football playoff.
Cook couldn’t be that player Saturday. His sprained shoulder still isn’t completely right after the hit he took against Maryland two weeks ago. So it was the offensive line’s turn to carry the day and advance the season.
The difference now is MSU is no longer in survival mode. No longer limping along, escaping defeat week to week.
“I’d say we’re peaking at the right time,” Allen said of a line that also helped MSU rush for 188 yards and two touchdowns Saturday — 9 of those yards coming on a touchdown run from Allen, lined up in the backfield for one play in the fourth quarter. “We’ve had guys go down, and people have had to play different positions. I think everybody stepped up on the offensive line, and on the offense to kind of help balance things out.”
It helped Saturday that Penn State played mostly without hobbled sack leader Carl Nassib. It helped that Cook is savvy enough to know when to get rid of the football. And that MSU’s play calling was adjusted to feature quicker and shorter throws.
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The Spartans are far from perfect. But they look ready. As ready as they’ll be.
And just good enough to make what’s ahead interesting.
They’re not what they thought they’d be in August. But they’re capable, tough-minded, reasonably healthy and adaptable.
Led by an offensive line that arrived just in time.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.