Shake-up of staff part of title chase
Injuries and an ineffective offense caused Michigan State to take a step backward after a 10-win season in 2017.
An offseason of change, along with the return of playmakers on defense, could be what the Spartans need to contend for a Big Ten East Division title.
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country entering the 2019 season. The Sentinel staff will take a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.
Today at No. 32: Michigan State
Coach: Mark Dantonio (107-51, entering 13th season; 126-68 overall)
2018 record: 7-6, 5-4 in the Big Ten Conference; fourth in East Division
Look back: The Spartans opened the 2018 season by winning three of their first four games for the second consecutive season, but they struggled during losses to Northwestern, Michigan, Ohio State and Nebraska. A 7-6 loss to Oregon in the Redbox Bowl capped an unsatisfying 2018 season for a team accustomed to being a factor in the Big Ten title race and playing in major bowls.
Offensive starters 9
Offensive starters lost: 2
Defensive starters 8
returning: returning:
Defensive starters lost: 3
Key losses: WR Felton Davis, RB LJ Scott, TE Matt Sokol, LB Andrew Dowell, DB Justin Layne, DB Khari Willis
Top returnees: QB Brian Lewerke, RB Connor Heyward, WR Cody White, WR Darrell Stewart, OL Matt Allen, OL Cole Chewins, OL Tyler Higby, OL Kevin Jarvis, LB Joe Bachie, DE Kenny Willekes, DB David Dowell, DB Josiah Scott
The Spartans put together one of their best defensive efforts in quite some time, leading the league in scoring defense (17.2 points per game) while leading the country in rushing defense (78 yards allowed per game) last season. It was the fifth time since 2012 that a Michigan State defense allowed less than 100 yards rushing per game in a season.
The unit returns a pair of NFL-caliber prospects in linebacker Joe Bachie, who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors after recording a team-high 102 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, and defensive end Kenny Willekes, who was named Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year after leading the Spartans in sacks (8.5), tackles for loss (12) and quarterback hurries (12).
“He’s a guy that is very explosive, very tough, hard worker, prepares, rubs off on everybody around him, and his intensity is contagious,” Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said of Willekes during Big Ten media day.
Weaknesses: Injuries set Michigan State back on offense last season, with the Spartans averaging less than 20 points per game for the first time since 2000. The dip in production prompted Dantonio to overhaul the offensive coaching staff during the offseason, promoting Brad Salem to offensive coordinator and demoting co-offensive coordinators Dave Warner and Jim Bollman.
Quarterback Brian Lewerke, who injured his shoulder midway through the 2018 season against Penn State, played hurt throughout much of the second half of the season, and it showed. He completed just 48% of his passes during the final seven games for 1,041 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.
“[He] got hit a little bit with the injury bug midway through the season, but I think his confidence is back,” Dantonio said. “He certainly is back and healthy. He’s bigger and stronger, he’s faster and he comes into his senior year with a tremendous amount of game experience.”
After producing three 1,000-yard rushers from 2012-14, the Spartans have struggled to develop a dominant rushing attack. Connor Heyward returns after leading the team in rushing yards (529), rushing attempts (118) and rushing touchdowns (5) last season.
Outlook: Dantonio hopes coaching-staff changes provide a spark for the Spartans, who were spectators in the race for the Big Ten title last season. It all starts at quarterback. If Lewerke can stay healthy, Michigan State could get back on track.
The defense returns eight starters from a group that was ranked among the best in the country last season. That’s huge with a schedule that features road contests against Northwestern, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan.