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Rapid Reaction: Michigan State’s defense crumbles in road clunker vs. Washington
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Final Score: No. 11 Michigan State 28, Washington 39
Brief Recap: Well, that’s not how that was supposed to go. With a 2-0 record, Michigan State entered Week 3 looking to sweep nonconference play and get ready for B1G action right around the corner.
Unfortunately, the Spartan defense – and the longstanding passing game woes – reared its ugly head once again. The issues that plagued the unit consistently in 2021 cropped up once again, and the Spartans never had an answer.
Washington should be commended for a good game plan and a variety of looks employed by head coach Kalen DeBoer and starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr., but this is not the outing the Spartans were expecting from a team looking to build off the success of last season.
The good news is the loss to Washington doesn’t impact the conference picture. The bad news is it’s hard to envision the defense standing up against any of the elite competitions in the B1G without serious adjustments moving forward.
Key Moment: It’s hard to believe after looking at the final score, but Michigan State actually recorded an early stop in the game. On Washington’s second drive of the game, the Spartans posted a goal-line stand to keep the Huskies out of the end zone after a 14-play drive.
Unfortunately, starting at the one-yard line was not optimal, and the Spartans suffered a safety after Jarek Broussard fell in the end zone. The safety was a big hit, but it also gave possession right back to the Huskies and forced the MSU defense back onto the field.
By the time Michigan State’s offense finally found its footing, Washington was already out to a 22-0 lead in the second quarter.
Key Player: Facing a big hole early, the running game of the Spartans was essentially a non-factor for Michigan State. Jalen Berger and Broussard were bottled when called upon, but the circumstances of the game dictated Michigan State look to the air all game long.
Payton Thorne did all he could to keep the Spartans in the game and produced some solid scoring drives against the Huskies. Had the defense gotten some stops and leveled the playing field, the Spartan offense was doing enough moving the ball to provide a glimmer of hope.
Unfortunately, the defense did not get enough stops to give the offense a chance in this one.
Key Statistic: 397, passing yards allowed by Michigan State. Sometimes the game is that simple.
The Huskies completed passes to 9 different receivers in the game, and 5 players had 2 or more catches in the win. Ja’Lynn Polk was Penix’s favorite target, finishing with 6 catches for 153 yards and 3 touchdowns in the win.
What it means moving forward: Michigan State was never likely to go undefeated, and a trip to the west coast is never easy, regardless of the circumstances. Washington was a quality opponent and always presented a tough task.
However, the way Michigan State lost the game presented some worrisome signs. While Washington’s game plan under DeBoer was fantastic, it’s just a small glimpse of what the Spartans will have to face in the B1G East.
Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State all look electric on both sides of the ball to start 2022. If the Spartans are going to compete in the East, they’ll need to address the defense – and fast.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.