Michigan State football: Examining the Spartans’ offense through 10 games

Michigan State sure loves the flea-flicker, huh?

It’s worked several times this season, most recently during the Spartans’ 40-21 win over Maryland in East Lansing.

Payton Thorne’s 52-yard trick connection with Montorie Foster during the first drive vs. the Terrapins was a prime example of the Spartans’ creativity on offense. They’re not afraid to take risks, and they have the manpower to execute. That’s a nice recipe.

Kenneth Walker III, running back, is the linchpin of the whole thing. But MSU has a variety of options, so it’s not a one-man show.

At 9-1, the Spartans are still in the hunt for a Big Ten title. There is plenty of competition, namely Michigan and Ohio State, but MSU is certainly still in the mix — and that’s largely due to their offense, which is ranked No. 24 overall. Averaging a footstep or two away from 450 yards per game (448.9), Michigan State has one of the country’s most explosive sets. Scoring-wise, MSU is No. 26 (34.6 PPG) overall and No. 3 in the Big Ten.

Only Ohio State and Michigan score more points than the Spartans, who are a decimal away from being tied with the Wolverines (34.7 PPG) for No. 2 in the Big Ten.

Racking up stats is easy when you have 2 of the top-ranked players in all-purpose yardage. Walker is No. 5 in the nation (155.8 YPG) and WR Jayden Reed is No. 13 overall (138.8 YPG). On Saturday, Walker rushed 30 times for 143 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Reed had 6 catches for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns. They didn’t quite hit their season averages vs. the Terps, but they were — as usual — key pieces to the victory.

There is no other team in the county that has 2 players among the top 15 all-purpose yard producers — and that’s saying something. That fact, alone, makes for a potent offense — but there is more up the Spartans’ sleeve.

And we’re not just talking about Jalen Nailor, either. One of the fastest WRs in the country, Nailor is an invaluable piece to MSU’s game plan. However, Tre Mosley has crept up as a main option as well. He has 30 catches for 416 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Nailor has 6 touchdowns to go with 32 catches for 584 yards.

Montorie Foster has been a quiet contributor. His 52-yard TD on Saturday vs. Maryland was a career-long, on top of it also being his 1st touchdown.

QB Payton Thorne has choices when he’s looking downfield. Nailor and Reed are obviously the top targets, but players like Mosley really add depth to the mix. Tyler Hunt, a TE, usually comes up with 1-3 catches, just like Foster — but it’s not always about quantity with Hunt, it’s about quality. He’s been a great late-down option for Thorne.

Thorne has 21 TDs on the year and is fast approaching the 3,000-yard mark, which would put him in a club with the likes of Kirk Cousins and Connor Cook (3K single-season).

There is no wondering why the Spartans pack such a punch on the offensive side of the ball. They have all the ingredients, right down to the role players who complement the stars — or sometimes, they end up shouldering the load when the stars — which isn’t often — aren’t providing the bulk of the production.

Michigan State can be dangerous. It’s vulnerable in regard to pass defense, which is another story, but they have enough talent to keep up in high-scoring games, if necessary — and having that is what keeps MSU on the winning end of Saturdays, and it’ll be what eventually props them into a major bowl game (or even the CFP, if things fall into place).

Adam Biggers

Adam Biggers brings his expertise on the Michigan beat to Saturday Tradition. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.