Michigan State Football: 3 takeaways from win over Northwestern in Week 4
By Dante Pryor
2. Northwestern’s offense isn’t good
Northwestern’s struggles in this game was a combination of Michigan State having on of the best defenses in the country, and the Wildcats not having the horses on offense to generate any big plays. You can motion and window dress as much as you want, but when you don’t have the speed to take shots down the field the defense crowds in on you, and that’s what the Spartans did to the Wildcats.
Hunter Johnson had to throw into tight coverage all game long because his wide receivers couldn’t get away from Michigan State’s defensive backs. The offensive line couldn’t move the Spartans and the Wildcat run game never got going. It seemed as if Spartan senior line backer Joe Bachie was in on every run play all game long.
Northwestern couldn’t find their run game against the Spartans. The run game is the foundation of what they want to do offensively. Neither Drake Anderson nor Isaiah Bowser could get things going on the ground for the Wildcats. Their offensive line couldn’t get in a rhythm blocking, and the running backs couldn’t get away from Spartan line backers.