Michigan State football: Can Spartans get back to contending under Mel Tucker?
New staff will have to find a quarterback if they want success
Most of the time when a program loses a multi year starting quarterback, it’s a big loss due to the playmaking ability and leadership of said quarterback.
I think that the Spartans losing Brian Lewerke could actually improve the offense if they can find a capable replacement as he was a turnover machine, throwing for 13 interceptions last year and had accuracy issues dating back to an injury in 2018.
There is no guarantee that anyone on this roster is capable at leading the offense any better than he did, but the guy that is going to get that first crack is Rocky Lombardi, who has backed up Lewerke the past two seasons. Lombardi has not been very good in limited action and that is why it would not be a surprise to see him pushed by sophomore Theo Day or redshirt freshman Payton Thorne.
The Spartans must get more out of the quarterback position if they are to compete in the Big Ten this season.
The running game will be in good hands with Elijah Collins, who burst on to the scene last season as a redshirt freshman and nearly finished the season with 1,000 yards. Collins is a big and powerful runner at 6-foot-0, 217 pounds and should be even better this season with a full year of experience under his belt.
Last year’s backup Anthony Williams Jr. is back, but was not very reliable last season and will need to step up because I have a feeling that the Spartans will try to lean on the running game with the uncertainty at quarterback.
The receiving corps is going to be missing some key contributors from last year’s team, but there is some talent in the group. Darrell Stewart Jr. was a veteran for the group last year, but is now fighting for a spot in the NFL and Michigan State will be relying heavily on Jalen Nailor to stay healthy, which is something that he has not been able to do up to this point.
The most exciting addition at receiver will without a doubt be Jayden Reed, who had to sit out last season after transferring from Western Michigan where he was a Freshman All-American in 2018. This is a young group that has some potential, but how much of that potential gets unlocked all comes back to the quarterback situation.
The offensive line was a major weakness when it came to run blocking last season, but oddly enough they were one of the best in the country in pass protection. The Spartans’ offensive line will be anchored by two senior starters in Matt Allen and AJ Arcuri. This is yet another unit that will have to improve upon last season and outplay expectations if the offense is going to be better than it was last year.