With college football at its midway point and the bye week behind the Spartans, MSU is ready to tackle the second half of its season.
But MSU (3-2 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) was expected to be sitting with the big boys by this point in the season, at least according to most preseason predictions.
The Spartans were ranked 18th in both preseason polls and selected by the media to finish third in the Big Ten. And with five games at home to open the season, all the predictions seemed reasonable.
But MSU stumbled out of the gate, dropping games against California (4-2) and No. 8 Notre Dame (5-0).
A 39-24 win against Northwestern (2-4, 0-2) righted the ship in time for the bye week, and now the Spartans look to build momentum with a win against No. 17 Iowa (5-1, 2-0) in Iowa City on Saturday.
So it seems like the perfect time for a midseason report card.
Coaching: C
The Spartans came out each of the first four games flat, seemingly lacking all drive and preparation.
Yes, much of that blame should go to the players themselves. But it still is the coaching staff’s responsibility to guard against that happening.
After every game, win or lose, Spartan head coach Bobby Williams sounded like a broken record, admitting he didn’t know what the problem was and that he’d have to watch the game film and make some changes. Yet, nothing changed.
Against Northwestern, the Spartans started better, but it still wasn’t an impressive start.
Offensive coordinator Morris Watts said the coaching has to shoulder some of the blame. But he also said the players need to step it up.
“I think it’s an attitude,” he said. “It’s a confidence thing, too - that you feel that you can play that way. You understand that you have to play that way and you make yourself play that way for four quarters
“I think it’s a swagger that you have. We’ve got to have that swagger that we can be as physical as anybody.”
Spartan head coach Bobby Williams is in his third full-season at the helm. And this season is looking eerily similar to last season, in which MSU finished 7-5.
Offense: B-
An overall lack of consistency at just about every position is keeping the Spartans from going full throttle. At times it flashes its potential, but at other times it goes three-and-out.
“I’d have to say very average,” quarterback Jeff Smoker said of the offense. “I think we should have been doing better. We have the potential to do better.
“I still think we will reach our potential, but I can’t say we’re there yet.”
Offensive line: C
Everything starts up front on offense, and that’s exactly why the Spartans attack has been inconsistent.
The line returned seven Spartans who saw significant playing time last season. Inconsistency was understood last season, but there’s no excuse for it now.
Senior left guard Paul Harker said the unit hasn’t let the inconsistency get it down. Instead, he said they’ve been focused on making the proper improvements.
“We’re constantly learning,” he said. “There’s always room for improvement.”
Quarterbacks: B-
After leading the conference and ranking sixth in the nation for passing efficiency last season, there was plenty of lofty expectations for Smoker this season.
But the 6-foot-3, 214-pound signal-caller isn’t performing at the same level as last season. He’s not playing poorly, as his efficiency rating ranks 23rd nationally, but both fans and the coaching staff were hoping for more.
“He’s had some great throws. But he’s had some throws that could have been better,” Williams said. “He’s going to get there. He works at it every day.”
But against the Wildcats, Smoker found seven different receivers while completing 62.5 percent of his passes. If he can sustain that down the stretch, the Spartans will be in good shape.
Running backs: C+
The Spartans have assumed the tailback by committee approach this season, with senior Dawan Moss and freshmen David Richard and Jaren Hayes all fighting for a piece of the pie.
Hayes has all but fallen out of the equation. Richard has been gaining momentum. Moss has had just two good games, but his other three were miserable.
Richard said both he and Moss are similar backs, adding splitting time makes sure there’s always a fresh back in the Spartan backfield to punish defenses.
“That way (Moss) can get a rest and I can get a rest,” he said. “I think its working just fine.”
MSU’s 168.6 rushing yards per game is deceptive, however, the Spartans only clipped the 100-yard mark twice this season. The first came against Eastern Michigan (369 yards) and the second came against Northwestern (276 yards).
Wide receivers: B-
Rogers is by far an A+ and graduating with honors. But nobody else has shown up. Well, they’ve never really been given a chance.
The Heisman Trophy candidate has snagged 32 receptions for 687 yards and seven touchdowns. The rest of the receivers have tallied just 18 receptions for 234 yards and two touchdowns.
Rogers will continue to show why he’s the best receiver in the nation. But until another receiver has his number called and rises to the occasion, the passing game will remain unbalanced, which is just one of many factors making consistency a lost art in the Spartan offense.
Tight ends: A-
By the far the most consistent unit on offense. And who would have thought so after losing Chris Baker last season?
But sophomores Eric Knott and Jason Randall have both begun to blossom.
Knott has flashed the talents that made him the nation’s top tight end recruit out of Henry Ford High in Detroit. His 19 receptions, 204 yards and three touchdowns are all second on the team.
Randall, who even Williams said was mainly just a blocker, has flashed some unexpected receiving skills of late. His six receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns have all come in the Spartans’ last three games.
“I play my role. He plays his role,” Knott said. “I know what I have to do when I’m called in and he knows what he has to do. It’s all for the team.”
Defense: B-
As a unit, the MSU defense has been solid. It ranks third in the Big Ten and 40th in the nation, yielding 333.4 yards per game.
Its strength is without question its pass defense, which ranks third in the conference and 33rd in the nation at 184.6 yards per game. But its run defense is definitely a weak spot, as it ranks eight in the conference and 64th in the nation at 148.8 yards per game.
Defensive line: D+
When the run defense is as bad as the Spartans, the guys up front take the fall.
Other than sophomore defensive end Clifford Dukes, who has three sacks, the front line isn’t even hitting opposing quarterbacks with a gust of wind. They’re not collecting any tackles for loss, as only eight of MSU’s 28 are from the defensive line. And again, Dukes is responsible for three of them.
The Spartans just don’t have a big run stuffer - the guy who not only commands the double team in the middle but handles it. And there’s no one on the roster who appears ready to fill that role.
Linebackers: B-
Up to this point in the season, sophomore Ronald Stanley and juniors Mike Labinjo and Monquiz Wedlow have been it, literally. The three haven’t played bad, but considering they haven’t had any help its understandable they’ve been getting worn down.
And with Labinjo’s move to the inside, the unit hasn’t been able to apply pressure on quarterbacks. But again, there’s only so much they can do without fresh bodies spelling rest.
Look for redshirt freshman Seth Mitchell and junior Chris Smith to help out with the issue of depth now they’re healthy.
Secondary: A-
Led by senior strong safety Thomas Wright, the Spartans secondary has been great.
Wright and sophomore free safety Jason Harmon led MSU in tackles with 42 and 36, respectively. The duo has snagged the only five picks the Spartans have tallied, with Wright pulling down three.
An improvement up front, and thus an improvement against the run defense, could help the unit chalk up a few more picks.
Seniors Cedric Henry, Broderick Nelson and DeMario Suggs have held down the fort on the corners. None have looked like superstars, but other than a few slips here and there none have looked bad.
“Little mistakes can make it seem like a team is doing a lot against us when they’re really not,” Wright said. “We’re doing pretty good.”
Special Teams: B
Kickers: B
Sophomore place-kicker David Rayner has been solid, connecting on 7-of-9 field goals, including two from beyond 50 yards.
His solid play has invoked the confidence of Williams, which could prove vital down the stretch in the Big Ten.
Junior punter Jason Daily started off strong, but has since struggled. His recent streak of shank punts grant reason for concern, but he’s still shown a consistent ability to place the ball inside an opponent’s 20-yard line.
Coverage: C
MSU gives up 21.9 yards per kickoff return, ninth in Big Ten, and already have allowed a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown. Needless to say, both of those facts aren’t good.
The Spartans have to do a better job in coverage.
Returners: A-
Ziehl Kavanaght’s 88-yard punt return against Northwestern was a product of hard work. Kavanaght had broken two big returns earlier against the Wildcats, only to see both negated by penalties.
But the performance made it clear, the threat always is there.
“Coach has been putting a lot of emphasis on it,” Kavanaght said. “People are just working hard in practice and its showing up in games.”
Averaging 23.3 yards per kickoff return, MSU ranks 25th in the nation, and combined with Kavanaght, the unit provides the Spartans with consistently good field position.
Overall: B-
The Spartans have the talent, there’s no question. But they need to find consistency on both sides of the ball to make a serious run at anything.
Williams has plenty of positives to build on. Now all that’s left is to see whether he can put it all together.
“I think its going to be a very tough race,” Williams said. “Each week is going to be critical.”
Staff writer Romando J. Dixson contributed to this report.
Eric McKinney can be reached at mckinn54@msu.edu.
