Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State football's spring game

Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch gives his initial thoughts on the Spartans after their spring football game Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

1. Connor Heyward looks headed for a big role in MSU's offense

EAST LANSING – There is always the danger of winning the Chris D. Rucker/Trishton Jackson MSU spring game award, unofficially given to the player who generates the most headlines on one Saturday in April and is never heard from the following season. 

But if Connor Heyward is healthy, after Saturday’s spring game, I feel good in predicting the 6-foot, 230-pound sophomore will play a sizable part in MSU’s offense this season, in several roles. 

He seems to have a knack for the game, as both a running back and pass catcher (and even as a thrower on trick plays, as we saw on a late 2-point conversion Saturday). His 6-yard touchdown run Saturday was an example of patience — letting blocks develop — shiftiness and power. He dragged three tacklers into the end zone on the play. He had another run for nine yards that showed both shiftiness and burst. And a couple of catches that showed sure hands and an understanding of where to be for the quarterback. 

LJ Scott and Heyward should be a nice 1-2 punch, with Heyward’s versatility increasing his role. It’ll be interesting to see if someone like incoming freshman La’Darius Jefferson pushes for time. Jefferson looks like an electrifying prospect. But these two, Scott and Heyward, are a nice backfield either way.

MORE:5 observations from Michigan State's spring football game

SPRING GAME EDITION:Turning point, unsung hero and what's next for Michigan State football

2. Rocky Lombardi and the pecking order at QB

Brian Lewerke’s job is safe. We knew that. His back-shoulder 30-yard touchdown pass to Darrell Stewart was the best throw of the day, the accuracy of it a reminder of the difference between Lewerke and the two quarterbacks beneath him on the depth chart.

I also thought there was a clear difference in polish between redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi and true freshman early enrollee Theo Day.

Both have live arms. You can see that. Lombardi, while he missed badly a few times, also looks like he could be a functional and entertaining Big Ten QB pretty quickly. He completed several darts over the middle for chunks of yardage and showed the ability to extend plays with his feet and the arm strength to complete passes downfield on the move. 

Lombardi finished 10-for-22 passing for 135 yards and a touchdown. Day was 4-for-10 for 52 yards and an interception. MSU should be happy with what it saw from its backups, especially Lombardi, who looks close enough to be ready by this season, if needed.

GRAHAM COUCH:Rocky Lombardi is the player to watch in MSU's spring game

3. A few thousand hardy, faithful souls

At least it didn’t rain or snow. Credit the roughly 3,000 fans who showed up to Spartan Stadium for Saturday’s spring game for sitting through temperatures in the low 30s, made more pleasant by a consistent and brisk wind.

I can’t imagine choosing to sit through this game given that it was televised.  

Spring game attendance, almost everywhere, is about two things: intrigue and weather. A new coach, a new quarterback, an anticipated young player, that’ll draw. So will 70 degrees.

MSU had neither going for it. The Spartans could return 21 starters next year, including their kicker and punter. Fans have already seen most of these guys. And they had a bone-chilling day.

It’s just bad luck. And, since the game is free, irrelevant bad luck. There’s nothing really lost. There is no way to anticipate weather in April. Next year, it might be 60 degrees on April 7 and 30 degrees two weeks later. MSU should keep scheduling the game as it best fits its practice and offseason conditioning schedule. 

It made for a November-like setting. The Rutgers game, perhaps. Hard on the offenses. Worse on fans. Props to those who suffered through it in the stands. I hope it came with an upgrade to your season-ticket package.

Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.