Three MSU questions: Careful when wishing for coaching staff changes
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch answers three key questions after the Spartans’ 45-12 season-ending loss Saturday at Penn State
Should Mark Dantonio shake up his coaching staff?
Only if he thinks it’s necessary. Dantonio said Saturday evening that he’s not considering letting any of his staff go. The visceral social media fan reaction is for Dantonio to make wholesale changes. Be careful what you wish for. Michigan State’s rise had a ton to do with coaching continuity. The MSU brand doesn’t recruit like Michigan, Ohio State, Texas or USC. Relationships do — the same assistant coach being in the same high school year after year.
MSU’s staff didn't have a good season. They’ve got a 3-9 football team. That’s on them as much as anyone — play calling, player development, recruiting. But when you go 36-5 over the last three seasons, with this same staff, you get a mulligan. Before this year, Dantonio had done at MSU what had never been done in the modern era. Nick Saban didn’t know how to do it, George Perles couldn't do it and on and on. So here’s guessing you and I don’t know how to do it at MSU.
It’s fair to be critical of this staff. It’s a well-compensated group of men who are paid to win. They didn’t win this year. But they’ve won a lot. If this year’s troubles linger next year, it’s a different conversation.
Who is MSU’s quarterback next season?
I had written off Damion Terry before Saturday. I still think it’s a long shot that beats out Brian Lewerke to be MSU’s starter next year. But Terry was impressive. Not perfect. He couldn’t get the ball in the end zone and still is inaccurate with his deep passes — I’m not sure that’ll ever change. But he moved the offense, completed two third-down throws on long drives and ran for another. He had swagger Saturday. If he brings that to spring practice, he might make this interesting. That said, if Lewerke improves as much this spring as he did week to week this season, I think he’ll win the job, unless Messiah deWeaver lives up to his name immediately.
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Will MSU be back among the elite next year?
I doubt it. It depends how you define elite. If Big Ten East Division-champion Penn State is elite, then perhaps. The Spartans should be considerably improved, provided they find a quarterback, the offensive line picks up where it left off and a couple of these young defensive linemen turn into pass rushers. There are still some “ifs” next season. And while I do think this year will create sweat equity and hunger on the roster, learning how to win is something this group still has to go through. Best guess, MSU will be 8-4-ish, a decent step on the way back up.