The Spartans beat Wisconsin 34-28 in double OT, and that means Spartan players, coaches, students, fans and alumni are entitled to celebrate.
Yet, it’s hard to believe it was the Spartans first victory since beating lowly Akron on Sep 10, and the first victory over a Power 5 team this season and when you peel back the onion, plenty of problems persist so this is not exactly a time to be giddy.
Where is the discipline and where are the fundamentals?
Regardless of the victory, the Spartans still rank #100 or worse in 12 statistical categories including “key” categories such as Total Offense (#103), Rushing Offense (#116), Red Zone Offense (#100), Total Defense (#103), Pass Defense (#107), and 3rd Down Defense (#108).
And while the Spartans netted 389 Yards of Total Offense vs Wisconsin (modest by all measures) the Spartans compiled a paltry 99 Yards Rushing.
Problematically, that meager production was offset by 9 “bone headed” penalties for an astounding 103 Yards (-103 yards).
And of course we can’t forget an abundance of head scratching coaching decisions, so if we combine dismal statistics, penalties and head scratching “bone headed” coaching decisions it means there are plenty of “fixes needed” if the Spartans hope to eke out a dismal 6-6 record.
But, let’s start with bone headed penalties and ask: what in the world were they thinking?
Unsportsmanlike Conduct:
On the fourth play of the Spartans second series, O-Lineman, Jarett Horst, a transfer from Arkansas State, drew a 15 yard “unsportsmanlike” penalty (2nd of the season for Horst) as he demonstrated his ongoing propensity to commit flagrant fouls.
In this case he threw a Wisconsin player to the ground, and to a national TV audience it looked as though Horst was auditioning for WWE. Regardless, it was a “Bone headed play”…but what in the world was Horst thinking?
Targeting:
And “what in the world was Michael Fletcher thinking?”.
He was called for “Personal Foul”, or specifically, throwing an old fashioned “forearm” at the head and face mask of RB, Braelon Allen after Allen was lying defenseless on his back, on the ground. It was a potentially dangerous infraction, yet Allen was OK, while Fletcher was ejected.
Unnecessary Roughness:
Meanwhile, Brandon Wright hit RB, Braelon Allen out of bounds and flagged for “Unnecessary Roughness”. Wright’s penalty helped sustain Wisconsin drive and led to their next score. “What in the world was Brandon Wright thinking”?
Punt return nullified:
With a tick less than 13:00 min at start of 3rd Qtr, and with Wisconsin leading 14-7, the Badgers had possession, the football rested 4th & 12 at Wisconsin 17 and punted to MSU 19 where it was gathered by Jayden Reed.
Reed seemingly embarked upon an 81 Yard “game tying” Touchdown, but not so fast: Germie Bernard was flagged for “block below the waist” and the Touchdown was nullified.
That bone headed penalty nullified a game tying Touchdown, so let’s ask, “what in the world was Germie Bernard thinking”?
False Starts:
And finally, the Spartans got called for 3 False starts, including two false starts by O-Lineman, Brian Greene (another transfer from the portal), but what was Greene and the rest of the Offensive line thinking?
Or, maybe they weren’t thinking?
Bone headed coaching decisions and lack of preparedness:
There have been plenty of questionable play calls this season, but two series against Wisconsin stand out as game changing and “bone headed”: one in the 1st Qtr and the other at the end of regulation.
Let’s take a look at those bone headed coaching decisions:
1st Qtr:
After Wisconsin etched a 7-0 lead, the Spartans received the ensuing Kickoff at their 25 and commenced their second possession at 8:01 of the 1st Qtr.
To their credit, the Spartans embarked upon a 65-yard drive to Wisconsin 10 yard line. The drive was methodical, but then football logic went missing.
Immediately below is a sequence from the 10-yard line:
- Berger between Tackles for 3 yards
- Berger between Tackles for 6 yards
- Berger between Tackles…no gain!
After moving the football 65 yards in 10 plays, the Spartans ran 3 plays between the Tackles for just 9 yards. Then Collins got the call and ran between the Tackles…again…but he was thrown for a 1-yard loss.
So, the Spartans attempted 4 Rushing plays from the 10 yard line and netted 8 yards and the series was stopped at the 2 yard line. Do you think Wisconsin Defense was caught off guard by those 4 plays?
So, here is my editorial comment: what in the world were Mel Tucker and Jay Johnson thinking?
Wisconsin is not the dominant Rushing Defense of 2021 when they ranked #1 in the land, but their Defense is still formidable, and running 4 consecutive plays between the tackles from the 10-yard line in any Big Ten game could properly be described as nonsensical.
Of course, that ill-fated series will conveniently be forgotten because Wisconsin took possession on downs, and then attempted a pass from their two-yard line which was intercepted by Jacoby Windmon and two plays later the Spartans tied the score 7-7.
Yet the tying score doesn’t diminish the bone headed sequence that nullified a viable scoring opportunity after a 74 yard drive.
End of regulation (another series of bone headed plays):
Wisconsin tied the score 21-21 with just 1:55 remaining, but the Spartans received the ensuing Kickoff with an opportunity to score a winning Touchdown in regulation…literally a Two Minute Drill.
The ball rested 1st & 10 at MSU 22, the Spartans mixed a combination of Shotgun and No Huddle and moved the football 34 yards to Wisconsin 44.
At that point, the Spartans were behind the chains and the ball rested 3rd & 8. In desperation, Thorne went off script for 8 yard scramble to the sideline and got a 1st down at Wisconsin 36: there were 40 seconds remaining which seemed ample assuming efficient time management.
Curiously, Elijah Collins was called to run at the middle of Wisconsin Defensive Line.
Of course, in a two minute drill, targeting receivers at the sideline are a Quarterbacks best friend to move the chains and stop the clock, yet the Spartans chose to run the middle which meant the clock would run and the Spartans were forced to call a Timeout.
We should also note, the Spartans had been incapable of running the football with efficiency for the entire season, and incapable of running between the tackles for most of this game, so what was the temptation to run between Tackles in 2 Minute Drill?
Regardless, Collins gained 3 yards and the ball rested 2nd & 7 with just 34 sec remaining, and the Spartans were behind the sticks.
Where was the urgency?
Curiously, Collins got the ball yet again and gained 5 yards between the tackles: now the football rested 3rd & 2 at Wisconsin 28 with just 27 sec remaining and the Spartans were forced to call another Timeout.
I would like to offer this editorial comment: what in the world were Mel Tucker and Jay Johnson thinking?
This was a “BONA FIDE” 2 min Drill, whereby the Spartans were trying to win their first Big Ten game of the season, yet the Spartans coaching staff was treating it like a preseason scrimmage by running at the middle of Wisconsin’s formidable Defensive Line, getting minimal yardage and calling precious Timeouts.
On the next play, the Spartans finally attempted a pass, but instead of “going vertical” or taking a shot at the End Zone (or proximity thereof), the Spartans threw the football laterally to Jayden Reed and Reed was thrown for a 1 yard loss.
What in the world was Mel Tucker thinking?
Let’s be honest, a swing pass to the short side of the field on 3rd & 2 from the 28 wasn’t going to surprise Wisconsin D…and it didn’t.
Now, the ball rested 4th & 3 at Wisconsin 29, meanwhile, tick, tock, tick, tock, time was ticking off the clock and only 15 sec remained.
Now what?
Given the fact down & distance was 4th & 3, you could argue the Spartans should pass vertically (Hail Mary if you like) because the FG unit had only converted one (1) FG in 4 attempts this season (worst in the Big Ten) including one FG that was blocked, so a 46 Yard FG was exceedingly low probability.
In addition, the ball rested at the right hash mark which is the wrong hash mark for a Left Footed kicker.
Yet, as we have witnessed so many times under this coaching administration, the script for good play calling and efficient time management was seemingly lost and Mel Tucker in consultation with Offensive Coordinator, Jay Johnson decided to throw football logic to the wind and deploy their FG unit.
What were they thinking?
Given 15 sec remaining, the FG unit was seemingly discombobulated and the exchange from Snapper to Holder (Baringer) was mishandled.
Baringer went off script and attempted a pass, but it was intercepted by Wisconsin and just like that, the Spartans opportunity to win in regulation, went “Poof” as the Spartans were totally inefficient executing the “Two Minute Drill”.
But let’s be candid, coaching mismanagement will conveniently be forgotten because the Spartans got a victory in Double OT, yet it doesn’t negate the fact it was horrible play calling compounded by deplorable time management, so we can make this clear, the Spartans won’t be so fortunate in future games against Michigan (7-0), Illinois (6-1), and/or Penn State (5-1).
At the bottom line (season of unfulfilled dreams):
At Big Ten Media Days, Mel Tucker alluded to the fact he had the Spartans prepared to compete for a National Championship, but that romantic notion was scuttled after a beat down at Washington.
Then double digit losses followed against Minnesota, Maryland and Ohio State, meanwhile post season goals were painfully downgraded after each loss: from National Championship to Big Ten Championship; then B1G East Championship; then New Year 6 Bowl; then “any” Bowl; and now the Spartans are simply hanging on for dear life and “hoping” for a victory anywhere they can find it.
Where are future victories? 3-3 Rutgers? or 3-4 Indiana? Maybe, but when we consider the broken fundamentals of Spartan Football cited herein (broken Offense, broken Defense, a plethora of undisciplined penalties and an abundance of “bone headed” coaching decisions), it will be virtually impossible for the Spartans to win on the road at #4 Michigan, #16 Penn State, or #18 Illinois…and that means 3 losses and that means a losing season.
How patient do Spartan fans want to be?
Mel Tucker was given a $90 Million contract and his coaches are paid nearly a million each to bring a championship to Michigan State University, but as cited herein, I see a broken product and I don’t see a championships anytime in the near future.
When will Spartan coaches be held accountable?
I’m just asking.
Thank you for reading and I always welcome your comments and opinions.
