Michigan State’s new offense already has a few wrinkles on tape, and Nick Sheridan didn’t waste time showing them in his first game calling plays for the Spartans.
The overall result against Toledo was solid enough to count as a mild success. Michigan State moved the ball consistently, controlled it for more than 43 minutes and stayed clean with no turnovers or pre-snap penalties. The one glaring issue was finishing drives once the Spartans got near the end zone, where the offense came away with field goals instead of touchdowns.
Still, Sheridan’s debut offered some clues about how he wants this group to function. One of the clearest was Michigan State’s use of a jumbo package, bringing in a sixth offensive lineman. Second-year player Antonio Johnson handled that role and logged five offensive snaps against Toledo, the first game action of his college career.
That was a bit of a surprise, especially with Michigan State having more depth on the offensive line than it did a year ago. A second offensive tackle such as Rustin Young or Robert Wright Jr. could have fit there, but Johnson got the nod and appears to have earned it in practice.
“He earned the opportunity to play,” Sheridan said Tuesday about Johnson. “He did things in practice that we felt like he deserved to play in the game.
So that was a small sample size of a role for him, and then we'll see moving forward what that looks like. But he's a young player that we're excited about for sure.
I thought he did a nice job.”
Another player Sheridan found a way to get involved was quarterback Cam Fancher. The backup came in for one snap, and it was by design rather than necessity.
Alessio Milivojevic was not injured; Michigan State simply wanted another quarterback look on film. Fancher’s only play was a designed run that went for three yards.
That usage fits what Fancher brings. The sixth-year senior has played at Marshall, Florida Atlantic and UCF, and his mobility is one of his biggest strengths. Sheridan made it clear that experience and effort have earned him a role.
“Cam's had a real nice camp,” Sheridan said. “I really do.
He's been awesome to our team, for [Alessio Milivojevic], in the room, for our group on offense. And, you know, as we mentioned, if they deserve an opportunity to play, then we try to find roles for them.
We'll see what that looks like each week.”
“And that's for every player, not just for Cam, but running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, offensive alignment. If we feel like they've earned it in practice and there's an opportunity to help us win, then we're open and interested in playing as many guys as we can.”
Sheridan also dipped into the wildcat look a couple of times. Michigan State scored its first touchdown of the Pat Fitzgerald era out of that formation, with Cam Edwards taking the snap and finishing the play. Against Toledo, Sheridan returned to it with Edwards lined up at quarterback on a fourth-and-short, though that attempt didn’t work.
There’s a sense that more of those looks could be waiting down the road. Edwards and Fancher both give Sheridan options for trick plays, and Carson Gulker may be another piece still being held back.
He played only one snap against Toledo, even though he can run, pass and throw. It wouldn’t be surprising if Michigan State waits for Notre Dame or the Big Ten schedule before leaning harder on him.
For now, Sheridan has already shown that this offense can be more creative, and the Spartans have at least one game of evidence that the operation can be clean. The next step is obvious: turn those drives inside the red zone into touchdowns.
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