How Michigan State football can revitalize Brian Lewerke's game in 2019
Chris Solari(Note: This is part one of a series previewing Michigan State football’s 2019 position groups)
EAST LANSING — If any one player sparked Michigan State’s rise in 2017 and stumble in 2018, it was Brian Lewerke.
MSU coach Mark Dantonio has been quick to point to team-wide inconsistency and the glut of injuries the Spartans endured a year ago, and Lewerke experienced both in his second season as a full-time starter. Consequently, their offense all but vanished, and struggled to score.
He is back for his senior year and appears in control of the starting job, saying his right arm is 100% healthy as MSU prepares for its offseason and Aug. 30 season opener against Tulsa. And for the third straight year, Lewerke could be the Spartans’ most important individual performer in determining success.
What worked: There were times early in the season when it was clear Lewerke wanted to take more shots down field, one of the few knocks on him during the Spartans’ 10-3 season in 2017. Through the first six games, including an upset at Penn State won with his TD toss in the waning seconds, Lewerke completed 60% of his passes (135 of 225) for 1,587 yards passing (264.5 per game) with eight TDs and seven interceptions. With Lewerke’s arm ailing, Rocky Lombardi provided a strong backup performance against Purdue, with his 318 yards the second-most by a first-time MSU starter behind Ed Smith’s 324 in 1976.
What didn’t work: Lewerke, who ran the ball far less — and not as effectively — last season than he did in 2017, admitted he played through pain in his shoulder in going 5 of 25 for 66 yards in a home loss to Michigan. He missed three of the next five games. When Lewerke did play, making four more starts after the loss to the Wolverines, his accuracy and ability to stretch the field was still missing. Lewerke completed 43% of his throws for 453 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions in his final four appearances against U-M, Maryland, Ohio State and Oregon, in the Redbox Bowl. Lombardi fared little better in his next four appearances, including two starts, combining to go 41 of 106 (38.7%) for 411 yards (137 per game) with one TD and two interceptions.
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Who’s back: Brian Lewerke, sr. (2018 stats: 11 games, 54% completion, 185.5 passing yards per game, 8 TDs, 11 INTs); Rocky Lombardi, so. (2018 stats: 8 games, 44.2% completion, 92.3 passing yards per game, 3 TDs, 3 INTs); Theo Day, rs-fr. (4 of 12, 28 yards spring game); Eli McLean, rs-fr.
Who’s gone: Mickey Macius.
Who’s coming in: Payton Thorne (Naperville, Ill.).
2019 outlook: It might not have been as intended, but MSU enters the season with two QBs with multiple games of starting experience for the first time in Dantonio’s 13 seasons (Keith Nichol started only one game at QB in 2009 before moving to WR, and Connor Cook did not start in 2012 before taking over two games into the 2013 season). Last week's spring game proved there is no question this remains Lewerke’s job to lose, but he needs to display more of the dual-threat ability he showed as a sophomore and become a stronger voice of leadership under center and in the locker room. New offensive coordinator Brad Salem must maximize Lewerke’s legs to set up the pass, something MSU got away from last year after he had more than 3,300 total yards in 2017. Lombardi must bide his time patiently and continue to understand his backup role despite his game experience, and work in the summer and preseason camp to hold off Day for the No. 2 job.
[ Mark Dantonio wants Brian Lewerke to inspire, like he did in spring game ]
Contact Chris Solari at csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.