Michigan State football grades vs Toledo: Special teams saves the day

EAST LANSING – Free Press sports writer Chris Solari grades Michigan State football after the Spartans’ 30-20 win over Toledo on Friday, Sept. 4 at Spartan Stadium.

Offense: B-

This unit looked like a work in progress that has some upside. At times, MSU’s offense looked dominant – and it should have, since the Spartans had the ball for an overwhelming 43 minutes and 16 seconds. The run game looked improved, with UConn transfer Cam Edwards putting his powerful legs, elite vision and quick-cut ability on display behind a massive and overhauled line that featured left tackle Ben Murawski, left guard Conner Moore and center Trent Fraley paving the way.

Together, they put 66 rushing yards and a touchdown on the board in the first quarter. Then Murawski left the game. Then backup running back Marvis Parrish left.

Then Edwards. The Spartans had 84 yards rushing in the final three quarters, though Edwards returned to the game late to help salt away the win.

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Even before that, though, MSU struggled in the Toledo end of the field and kicked four field goals – two of those coming on drives that began across midfield. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic picked up the slack in the fourth quarter after the Spartans lost the lead, showing better velocity on his throws and decisions on when to take off running – and going north/south instead of east/west in those moments. He caught a vibe with wideout Rodney Bullard Jr., to reclaim the lead, completing two throws of 26 yards apiece and then a 5-yard go-ahead touchdown and a 2-point conversion.

Defense: C+

Perhaps because expectations are greater in coordinator Joe Rossi’s third season at MSU – and possibly since Pat Fitzgerald is a defense-minded coach – this unit didn’t live up to expectations in its scant 16:44 of field time. The Spartans gave up two explosive plays – a 60-yard TD pass with a coverage bust from cornerback Charles Brantley and a 71-yard TD run – that accounted for nearly 50% of the Rockets’ yards.

Losing linebacker Jordan Hall for a long stretch with an apparent right arm injury proved problematic from a communication standpoint. MSU managed just two sacks, one of which came from an intentional grounding and the other on a Tre Bell cornerback blitz. But edge rusher Kenny Soares Jr. athletically plucked a tipped-to-himself interception and the defensive line allowed just 6 rushing yards on the Rockets’ other 19 attempts, including a smothering on the final two drives with Hall.

Brantley had a costly hold before giving up the long TD, and fellow cornerback Tyran Chappell had a pass interference penalty late in the game. Those kind of flags and assignment errors are must-fixes heading into next week’s game against Eastern Michigan.

Special teams: A+

There is a reason Fitzgerald hired – and has talked up – special teams coach LeVar Woods. It showed in many facets against the Rockets, starting with new kicker Liam Boyd’s five field goals in what would have been a perfect game had he not had a 54-yard attempt blocked. Boyd also sent six of his seven kickoffs for touchbacks to neutralize Toledo’s return game. Punter Rhys Dakin, a transfer from Iowa; didn't get much work; his lone 44-yarder pinned the Rockets at their 8 late in the third quarter. Add in new kickoff returner Kenneth Williams’ 47 yards on his only chance, and you have as precise a day as Woods could have hoped for.

Coaching: B

Fitzgerald had his team prepared for adversity to hit, and it did, via injuries, cramping and self-inflicted mistakes. He preached to the Spartans about responding instead of reacting, and they did just that. Rossi’s defense swarmed to the ball with intensity and effort on most instances, another wish-list item. Nick Sheridan called a solid and balanced game on offense, with a tone-setting fourth-down call to go for a TD instead of a field goal and showing the trust in Milivojevic to make the play. And for a bunch of good coaches who’ve (mostly) never called a game together, the potential for improvement between the first and second time out is immense.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.