Michigan State football grades vs Notre Dame: Toughness, not results

SOUTH BEND, IN – Free Press sports writer Chris Solari grades Michigan State football after the Spartans’ 27-10 loss at No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday.

Offense: C

If we’re grading on a curve, the Spartans did enough good things, at times, to show they are embracing new coach Pat Fitzgerald’s demands for being tougher and more physical. At times, the offensive line gave Alessio Milivojevic blocking to set up and throw deep. At times, the sophomore quarterback delivered with his arm and legs. At times, Cam Edwards ran behind his linemen and found holes. But those times also were fleeting and not enough to overcome protection issues that led to four sacks, including three in the fourth quarter – most importantly two on the first three plays after Milivojevic moved MSU to midfield while trailing by 10 points. He threw two interceptions partly due to his coverage misreads.

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Backup QB Cam Fancher scored the Spartans’ only TD, a dynamic run play in which he bounced off tacklers, and he also had what would have been a touchdown pass dropped by wide open running back Kenneth Williams in the end zone.

MSU finished with just 167 total yards on 45 plays, a modest 3.7 yards-per-play average, but also managed just 40 of those yards in the second half and converted on just four of 11 third-down attempts in the game.

Defense: C

As with the offense, a curved grading scale would account more for MSU flashing boatloads of toughness while hunkering down to force two field goals on Notre Dame possessions after big plays. It would for sure give bonus credit for the takeover play of linebacker Jordan Hall, who had six tackles in the first seven defensive snaps and finished with a game-high 13.

It also would point to holding Notre Dame to 4-for-12 on third-down tries. But the Spartans also gave up first downs on two of three fourth-down plays for the Irish. Joe Rossi’s secondary struggled from the outset and throughout the game, with quarterback (and Saline product) CJ Carr dissecting them for 234 yards passing, including four plays of at least 21 yards, to account for nearly two-thirds of his passing yards. Cornerbacks Charles Brantley and Tre Bell both had costly pass interference penalties, the Spartans’ only flags in the game. And defensive end Kenny Soares Jr. appeared to have Carr contained in the second quarter, only for Carr to roll over on him and throw for a first down while Soares was celebrating what he thought was a sack. The Irish scored a touchdown five plays later.

Special teams: B

Punter Rhys Dakin had his first punt attempt in the opening quarter blocked when upback Brennan Parachek whiffed on a block. Notre Dame recovered it in MSU territory and used the short field to score its first touchdown. It was another costly gaffe in a close game, but also the only mistake by the group. Keshawn Williams snuffed out a baffling decision on a fake punt attempt by the Irish in late in the first quarter, giving his team some juice and the ball back at midfield.

Kicker Liam Boyd booted a 32-yard field goal and also delivered three touchbacks on his three kickoffs to prevent any returns. Dakin’s second punt was a booming 57-yarder that pinned the Irish at their own 9 in the fourth quarter. And Williams had two solid (but not spectacular) returns on kickoffs.

Coaching: B

Fitzgerald said he was “pissed” after the game that the Spartans lost and let a massive upset – and potential signature win – slip through their hands. He put some of it on himself and his coaches for not having the team prepared for the “first-round knockout” that Notre Dame likes to put on teams early – the Irish hit a 61-yard pass on the first play from scrimmage and went up 10-0 on their first two possessions.

But when he takes a 10,000-foot overview – and removes his emotion while watching the costly mistakes – Fitzgerald will see a team that played with the type of tenacity and physicality he has promised since taking over in December. The Spartans also displayed plenty of resolve in bouncing back from most of their mistakes to remain within two possessions – after entering as nearly a 30-point underdog – going into the final quarter.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football grades vs Notre Dame: Toughness, not results