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Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch grades Michigan State’s football team on a scale of 1-10 after its 38-7 home loss to Ohio State.
OFFENSE: 4
When you total 246 yards, turn it over twice in the red zone (three times overall) and score only once, you’d think it was an entirely dismal day offensively. But that’s not the case. MSU was effective moving the chains in the first half and hit Ohio State with six plays of 15 yards or more. Aidan Chiles, for a while, was the best he’s been yet, completing 10 of his first 12 throws — including the sort of deep out to Nick Marsh that’ll eventually have you playing on Sundays. But the attack also fizzled in the second half and the mistakes in the first half kept the outcome from having a chance to be interesting.
DEFENSE: 5
During Ohio State’s initial drive, it looked like it could be a long night for MSU’s defense. But the Spartans used a penalty to help force a field goal and then hung in there and made a couple huge stops when the outcome was still in doubt — an interception by Jordan Turner, whose return to the 12-yard line set up MSU only touchdown, and a three-and-out after Chiles’ fumbled when the officiating crew missed a blatant grab of his face mask. Emotions were high in that moment and MSU’s defense came through with a disciplined stand. The Spartans’ were too often beaten on third down and, when they did come up with a stop, they three times gave up a score or first down on fourth down, though one touchdown came after an unbelievable catch by Ohio State freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith.
SPECIAL TEAMS: 4
Ryan Eckley averaged 46.6 yards on five punts, including a 58-yarder, but the one punt that really mattered he shanked, a rare error by MSU’s sophomore star. Eckley’s 27-yard punt late in the second quarter gave the Buckeyes a short…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-grades-spartans-061632395.html
Author : Lansing State Journal
Publish date : 2024-09-29 06:16:32
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