Michigan State Outlook
Michigan State is rolling into this matchup with confidence following a thrilling 42-40 double overtime victory against Boston College. Quarterback Aidan Chiles has taken a significant step in the right direction, and his advancement as a passer showed last Saturday, as he went 19-of-29 for 231 yards and four touchdowns. A dual-threat athlete, Chiles has showcased his playmaking abilities early on and will look to continue his streak of impressive performances vs Youngstown State.
Part of Chiles evolution can be attributed to a strong offensive line that has been exceptional in pass protection. He has been afforded plenty of time to throw the ball, which has in turn resulted in a boost in confidence. Run blocking continues to be an area needing improvement, but there is still time for the Spartans to sort things out before conference play.
On defense, the Michigan State front seven has done a tremendous job in stopping the run. The Spartans held Boston College to just 67 rushing yards and 2.7 yards per rush, and against Western Michigan, MSU limited the Broncos to 27 yards on the ground and a 1.2 average.
LB Jordan Hall is making his presence felt in the middle of the Spartan defense. In two games, Hall has combined for 23 total tackles, 2.5 TFLs, one sack, and one forced fumble. If he keeps things up, he could cruise to the 100 tackle mark and be an absolute force in the Big Ten.
Areas of concern include the secondary and lack of pressure on passing downs. Blitz packages have failed to be successful and the backend has struggled with pre-snap communication, resulting in blown coverages. Boston College capitalized on these deficiencies, throwing for 390 passing yards and four touchdowns. In a league filled with talent at QB, it is imperative that MSU makes adjustments soon.
Keys to the Game
Beau Brungard is going to have to prove his worth as a pocket passer in this contest. The Spartans’ front line is disciplined and will hone in on eliminating the QB run. YSU’s wide receivers also need to execute at a high level, as there are a lot of new faces that are adjusting to the scheme. If the ‘Guins can connect down the field, this is a game where YSU can compete and keep it closer than many expect.
From a defensive perspective, shutting down Michigan State on first down has to be a priority. MSU doesn’t like playing behind the sticks, and prefers to position themselves in a good spot to convert third down. The D-Line has to shut down the run attack and allow the secondary to focus on limiting explosives.
