Spartans searching for consistency after fifth-straight loss
Some positives, lots of negatives lately for Michigan State.
EAST LANSING - Following Michigan State’s fifth straight loss - a 31-10 defeat to rival Michigan - head coach Jonathan Smith's postgame reflections carried a familiar mix of optimism and frustration. The Spartans remain winless in Big Ten play, but Smith - once again - said he saw glimpses of progress amid the pain.
Defense Shows Signs of Growth
Michigan State’s defense, often its Achilles’ heel this season, delivered one of its better performances of the year. Despite giving up 31 points, the Spartans limited Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood to fewer than 100 passing yards - something no other team had done all season.
“Defensively, we really kept ourselves in the game,” Smith said. “They had a critical hold for a field goal, 10 points at half, and in the third quarter there were a couple long drives where we couldn’t get off the field. But I thought the effort was there - not a lot of missed assignments.”
Even so, Smith admitted the recurring theme has been that effort alone isn’t enough.
Frazier Sparks the Ground Game
For much of the season, Michigan State’s offense has been lopsided - early on it was the passing game that carried the load while the ground attack sputtered. On Saturday, the roles reversed...
