The Michigan State offense has a problem, and it starts up front.
Through five games, the Spartans have given up 17 sacks, the most in the Big Ten, and that number has become a flashing warning sign for a unit that was supposed to be the foundation of the team. Michigan State spent the offseason trying to fortify the offensive line, bringing in players such as Ben Murawski, Nick Sharpe and Trent Fraley with the idea that this group would help set the tone for the whole offense.
That plan has not held up.
Continuity has been a constant issue since Week 1. Sharpe missed the season opener, while returning starter Connor Moore has now missed a game and is still playing through injury. Fraley has been a bright spot and has played very well, but the line as a whole has not come close to functioning the way Michigan State needed it to.
The results have been ugly. Opposing defenses have been able to attack the Spartans with confidence, and Michigan State has struggled to consistently move fronts even against MAC competition like Toledo. The line has looked disjointed, and the communication issues have been hard to ignore.
That leaves plenty of heat on offensive line coach Nick Tabacca and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, who have not gotten this group ready to the level expected. For a program that talked about winning - or at least competing - through the trenches and through physical play, the early returns have exposed a front that looks unprepared and out of sync.
And the problems are not confined to the line.
Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic is feeling the weight of it all. The redshirt sophomore had shown extreme poise in his four starts last season, looking calm and confident behind the line.
That version of Milivojevic has not shown up this year. He now looks uncomfortable in the pocket, and that has shown up in errant throws and forced passes.
At the same time, Milivojevic has not had much help from his receivers, who have struggled to consistently create separation. That has made it harder for him to get the ball out quickly, and the whole offense has fallen into a loop: coaching, line play, quarterback play and receiver play all feeding off one another in the wrong direction.
For Michigan State to find any kind of rhythm, one part of that chain has to break.
Saturday brings a chance to start there. Illinois has allowed just three sacks through its first five games, which gives Michigan State’s offensive line a chance to settle down and regain some confidence.
In Other News...
Michigan State Volleyball Just Passed A Big Early Big Ten Test
Michigan State volleyball kept its early Big Ten momentum rolling with a five-set win over USC at the Galen Center, a result that showed just how steady this group has been through the opening stretch of conference play. The Spartans improved to 13-1 overall and 3-1 in the league, and they did it with a balanced effort that included a .333 hitting percentage, a lead in kills and digs, and key production from senior standouts Karolina Staniszewska, Zora Hardison and Alanna Bankston.
For a team trying to establish itself in a deep conference, wins like this matter because they travel. Michigan State had to grind through a tight match on the road and came away with a victory over a USC team that entered at 7-7 overall and 1-3 in Big Ten play. It is still early, but the Spartans already look like a group that can win in different ways, and this one served as an important proof point before the schedule gets any tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Suddenly Has An Offense Problem It Can't Ignore
Michigan States trip to Wisconsin laid bare a growing issue the Spartans can no longer treat as a temporary slump. The 31-3 loss dropped them to 2-3 and exposed an offense that never found a rhythm, even as Dion Crawford tried to keep the defense active by leading the team in tackles. On the other side of the ball, the Spartans simply never threatened enough to make the game feel competitive.
Alessio Milivojevics struggles at quarterback have put more pressure on Nick Sheridans offense to find answers quickly, and the situation got even more complicated with backup Cam Fancher dealing with an injury. Joe Rossis defense has had to shoulder too much already, and the imbalance is forcing Michigan State to confront how much needs to change if it wants to stabilize the season before the margin for error disappears entirely. [Read more 🡒]
Kenneth Walker III Is Giving Michigan State Fans A New NFL Brag
Kenneth Walker IIIs first month in the NFL has given Michigan State fans a fresh reason to keep one eye on Sundays. Through the opening four games, the former Spartan has surged to the top of the league in rushing yards and yards per carry, turning himself into one of the early stories of the season and putting his name in some rare company.
His start has been so explosive that Pro Football Focus says it is the best rushing opening over the past 15 years, and he also owns a Chiefs franchise mark for production through four games. The bigger question now is how long he can keep this pace going, with a touchdown total that is already trending toward something eye-catching if the workload and efficiency hold up. [Read more 🡒]