Jonathan Smith updates injuries for MSU and provides outlook for Nebraska game
Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith gives an update on previously injured players, previews Nebraska and more.
A bye week for the Michigan State Spartans came at the right time. It gave coaches a chance to reassess the team ahead of this Saturday’s game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on the road (4 p.m. Eastern Time on FS1). It also gave players a chance to recover after the team has been riddled with injuries in the Spartans' past two matchups.
The Cornhuskers also had a bye last week which makes it an equal playing field, MSU head coach Jonathan Smith said, as neither team has new film to study and both teams will be rested.
“You’re always looking at their previous game pretty heavily,” Smith said about watching film during the bye week. “I think there is some clarity when both teams have a bye, so there’s not going to be any new tape. Some of the decisions you can make earlier because you're not waiting on their final game.”
Going through the bye week the first three days, the Spartans focused on self-evaluation, then switched gears later in the week by watching tape and preparing for the game against Nebraska.
Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola has been highly effective in the air, averaging 284 passing yards per game. Smith noted this, and paired with Nebraska's balanced pass/run option game, it will be challenging for MSU to stop with a quarterback like Raiola leading the Cornhusker offense.
“The quarterback can change his arm angle, you know he’s a gifted player,” Smith said about Raiola . “Their ability to stay out of third-and-long because of the passing, they’ve got some weapons they’re throwing to and they've got some coaches over there. I mean, (head) Coach (Matt) Rhule, Coach (Dana) Holgerson (Nebraska offensive coordinator), they know what they’re doing offensively and it shows up on tape.”
On the injury front, multiple injuries took place in MSU’s recent games against Youngstown State and at USC. A couple of those injuries are serious and will take some players longer to recover, as others may return to action as soon as this week. Linebacker Wayne Matthews III is the most promising update given from Smith.
Matthews suffered what initially appeared to be a seriously scary injury late in the second quarter against USC, as he was carted off of the field and immediately taken to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, he was able to fly back with the team and has lightly began practicing late last week.
“Actually, he was able to move around late into the week,” Smith said about Matthews. “It was nice to have the bye for him to adjust and he’s been able to lightly practice. We’ll see how it goes through the week, but he’s got a chance to play this Saturday."
