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Michigan State Football: A look at offseason moves and program direction

By Ryan Kay

EAST LANSING, MI - AUGUST 30: General view as fans make their way to the stadium prior to a game between the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on August 30, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - AUGUST 30: General view as fans make their way to the stadium prior to a game between the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on August 30, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 27: Wide receiver Jalen Nailor #8 of the Michigan State Spartans rushes past linebacker Ja’Cquez Williams #30 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Michigan State Spartans won 27-21. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 27: Wide receiver Jalen Nailor #8 of the Michigan State Spartans rushes past linebacker Ja’Cquez Williams #30 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Michigan State Spartans won 27-21. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

Offensive outlook

Jay Johnson is Michigan State’s new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Chris Kapilovic is the new offensive line coach for the Spartans and maybe the most intriguing hire for Michigan State this offseason. Courtney Hawkins, who was a former first-team All-Big Ten wide receiver at Michigan State, is now the wide receivers coach for the Spartans. Ted Gilmore who coached at Wisconsin is now the tight ends coach.

No offensive coach from last season’s staff was retained by Mel Tucker and the new offensive coaching staff looks to make some changes to help improve the offense’s productivity and efficiency for this upcoming season.

Depending on how you look at it, Michigan State lost four starters on offense. They lost three to graduation and another as early entry to the NFL draft. The biggest losses are starting quarterback Brian Lewerke and wide receiver Cody White.

However, they do bring back their starting running back as well as bring back almost their entire offensive line back. The biggest question mark is who will be the starting quarterback entering fall camp. It looks like, at minimum, the offense in 2020 will be improved if only slightly in terms of efficiency.

Johnson, the new offensive coordinator, is looking to improve Michigan State’s offense as production which has steadily declined since a very dynamic 2014 season, needs to drastically improve. He, as well as Kapilovic, looks to not completely revamp the overall concepts of the Spartan offense but to improve and show better results especially when it comes running the ball which used to be a strength in East Lansing.

Johnson will be expected to modernize the offense by using more pass game concepts that utilize run-pass options.

Also new to this staff and helping to improve the offense is Gilmore who, as mentioned before, is the new tight ends coach. He was Wisconsin’s wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator the last three seasons. Peagler is the new running backs coach and before being at Colorado, he coached at both Minnesota and Georgia. Hawkins is the new wide receivers coach and he is the only former Spartan player on the new coaching staff.

All look to improve the passing game in some way shape or form as well as developing a solid offensive line to protect the quarterback and create a consistent run game.

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