MSU football: What we learned, what to watch for this week
Three things we learned
• Quarterback concerns: Tyler O’Connor exposed some flaws against Notre Dame, and Wisconsin exploited them Saturday. The fifth-year senior threw three interceptions, struggling against the Badgers’ pressure. His passes were occasionally short and behind his receivers. He locked in on Jamal Lyles and was picked off to set up Wisconsin’s second TD, then threw his second interception while trying to force the ball into a tight window to Monty Madaris with Donnie Corley open downfield deep.
• Missing Bullough: Linebacker Riley Bullough did not play due to an undisclosed injury, and the senior captain’s presence was missed greatly in the middle of the defense on critical downs and distances. The Badgers converted 7 of 16 third downs, including 5 of 7 in the first three quarters when needing 8 or more yards for a first down. Wisconsin also converted a pair of fourth-and-1 plays on their first TD drive with the same fullback draw, directly into a gap that Bullough traditionally would occupy.
• Youth movement: MSU played four more true freshmen against the Badgers, making six from Mark Dantonio’s best recruiting class to see the field immediately. Thiyo Lukusa played in the first quarter at left guard, while Trishton Jackson joined classmate Donnie Corley at wide receiver briefly early then again late in the game. Josh King and Auston Robertson both got in at defensive end in the fourth quarter when the outcome was determined. Dantonio reiterated again Saturday that those five, along with defensive tackle Mike Panasiuk, that “we need to play those guys” now that they’ve seen game action.
Up next for the Spartans: Indiana
Fast facts
Matchup: No. 16 Michigan State (2-1, 0-1 Big Ten) at Indiana (2-1, 0-0).
When: 8 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana.
TV/radio: Big Ten Network, WJR-AM (760).
Line: TBD.
Know the foe: Indiana welcomes the Spartans after falling at home Saturday to Wake Forest, 33-28. Despite his five interceptions, Lagow completed 28 of 47 passes for a school record 496 passing yards and three touchdowns. He is averaging a Big Ten-best 334 yards per game and now has seven TD passes on the year, ranking second in passing efficiency to Ohio State’ J.T. Barrett. Running back Devine Redding still hasn’t scored, but he is averaging 104.3 yards through three games despite just getting 68 Saturday against the Demon Deacons. Indiana had 611 yards in that game. Defense, however, has been the Hoosiers’ weakness under Wilson – they are allowing 351.3 yards and 22 points per game.
Three things to watch
• Stamina test: MSU will need all of those extra bodies when it faces an Indiana team that thrives in coach Kevin Wilson’s no-huddle, hurry-up offense. The Hoosiers average more than 30.67 points while holding the ball 30 minutes, 15 seconds per game. Indiana kept things close last year through three quarters until the Spartans ran off a 24-0 fourth quarter in which it controlled the ball for more than nine minutes.
• Special teams issues: Kevin Cronin made it three straight weeks with a kickoff that went out of bounds, setting the Badgers up with short field on its first TD drive. Jake Hartbarger dropped a high punt snap from Collin Caflisch that set Wisconsin up for another. Darrell Stewart Jr. took a punt that was 5 yards deep in the end zone and ran it out to only the 15-yard line, eventually being replaced by R.J. Shelton. Shelton also struggled to generate anything on punts, with Brandon Sowards taking over there late in the game.
• Giving it away: Both MSU and Indiana struggled with turnovers in their losses this week, with the Spartans committing four turnovers and muffing a punt snap for essentially another. Hoosiers quarterback Richard Lagow was picked off five times against Wake Forest, which scored 17 points off those picks. The Demon Deacons also added another TD after a missed Indiana field goal attempt. Indiana’s junior college transfer hadn’t thrown a pick before Saturday.
Couch: MSU has issues to solve - starting at QB - before it resurfaces
Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@chrissolari.
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