Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl 2012: Grading TCU and Michigan State's Performances

Offense was hard to come by in Tempe, Ariz., on Saturday evening. Michigan State leaned on the reliable Le'Veon Bell and seasoned kicker Dan Conroy to emerge as the champion of the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, as the Spartans beat the TCU Horned Frogs 17-16 in a defensive tug of war.

For the second straight year, Conroy's leg was the difference in a Michigan State bowl win. His 47-yard field goal with just over a minute left was the game-winner. After the 2011 season, his 28-yarder in the third overtime beat Georgia, 33-30, in the Outback Bowl.

Both the Horned Frogs and the Spartans ended the 2012 season with 7-6 records, but Michigan State will have a little better taste in its mouth going into spring practice.

Let's see how the Spartans and Horned Frogs graded out after the game.

Quarterbacks

Connor Cook and Andrew Maxwell, Michigan State: C+

Mark Dantonio rotated Cook and Maxwell throughout the game, and Cook proved to have the hotter hand. When the game was on the line, Dantonio turned to Cook to lead the Spartans down the field.

Neither QB played exceptionally well, but each one had his moments. Maxwell was able to extend some plays with his feet. Cook led the Spartans on the longest TD-scoring drive in their bowl history when he guided a 90-yard drive in the second half. 

Cook went 4-of-11 passing for 47 yards. Maxwell went 6-of-15 for 28 yards.

Trevone Boykin, TCU: D-

Boykin made some plays with his legs to begin the game, but beyond that there was not much good to be said for the Horned Frogs QB. He made some bad decisions and was inaccurate throughout the game. 

Boykin's line was 13-of-29 for 201 yards and an interception.

Running Backs

Michigan State: A

Le'Veon Bell put the team on his shoulders in the second half. After being held to only 38 yards in the first half, Bell finished with 145 yards on 32 carries. Michigan State fans are just praying that this was not his last game in a Spartan uniform.

TCU: C

Michigan State held Matthew Tucker and B.J. Catalon in check most of the night. Tucker scored TCU's only TD on a four-yard run in the first quarter. Beyond that, there weren't many bright spots for TCU's running backs. Tucker and Catalon finished with 28 and 20 yards rushing, respectively. 

Wide Receivers

Michigan State: C

Neither team's WRs helped the QBs out on Saturday night. There were dropped passes throughout the night. Michigan State earned a better grade because one of its wide receivers found the end zone. Connor Cook found Aaron Burbridge with a pass in the third quarter to give the Spartans their first TD.

TCU: D

With the exception of a few big plays by TCU wide receiver Josh Boyce, there wasn't much to be happy about with the TCU wide receivers. There were a lot of drops at critical times. On more than one occasion, TCU wide receivers would run routes a couple of yards short of the first-down markers on third down. That is bad fundamentals.

Tight Ends

Michigan State: C

Dion Sims hauled in three catches for 24 yards and was critical in the blocking game, helping to open running lanes for Le'Veon Bell throughout the game.

TCU: D

A tight end from TCU did not have a catch. The Horned Frogs did have some early success running the ball to the outside due to adequate blocking by their tight ends.

Offensive Line

Michigan State: C

Michigan State had a hard time combating the speed of the TCU defensive line early in the game. There were also many mental mistakes; in the second half, MSU would appear to assert its physical running game when a holding penalty negated any momentum it had.

TCU: C

TCU did not have a lot of success running the ball between the tackles. Later in the game, the Michigan State defensive line was manhandling the TCU offensive line. 

TCU QB Trevone Boykin had to scramble more times than he would have liked to escape pressure from the MSU defensive line.

Defensive Line

Michigan State: A

Michigan State's defensive line played as advertised. Running lanes were minimal for TCU's running backs. Later in the game, the physicality of the Spartans defensive line appeared to take a toll on TCU's offensive line.

TCU QB Trevone Boykin felt pressure much of the night and wasn't able to stay in the pocket long. He was sacked four times.

TCU: B

The speed on TCU's defensive line caused Michigan State problems in the first half.

But the Spartans held stellar TCU defensive end Devonte Fields in check for much of the night. They were one of the few teams to accomplish that task this year. He recorded a sack but was in on only four tackles.

Later in the game, the size of the Michigan State offensive line overcame the speed of the TCU defensive line, as running lanes began to open for Le'Veon Bell in the second half.

Linebackers

Michigan State: B

Michigan State's success at stopping the TCU rushing attack was due in large part to the play of the linebackers. Standout LB Max Bullough tied for the team lead in tackles with nine.

The Michigan State linebackers also excelled in pursuit. On numerous occasions, the TCU runner could not turn the corner because of the speed and angles taken by the linebacker corps.

TCU: C

TCU's linebackers played a pretty solid game. One play that sticks out is a big one, though—and it wasn't a positive play for TCU.

On MSU's first touchdown, TCU linebacker Joel Hasley was beaten on a drag route across the middle. After Hasley was beaten, he missed the tackle that allowed the Spartans TD.

Secondary

Michigan State: C

The weak link in Michigan State's defense was the play of the secondary. There were some big plays by TCU wide receivers like Josh Boyce, who had 91 yards receiving.

There were also a lot of missed opportunities, such as when an interception slipped right through the hands of a Michigan State defensive back.

TCU: B

Unlike the Michigan State secondary, the TCU secondary was the strength of the defense. The Michigan State passing attack was held in check for much of the night.

Cornerback Jason Verrett played a fantastic game. He had pass breakups and played a key role in run support. He recorded two pass breakups and made 12 tackles, including one for a loss.

Special Teams

Michigan State: A

Dan Conroy put the Spartans on top for good late in the fourth quarter with his 47-yard field goal.

Mike Sadler broke a Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl record with 11 punts. He averaged 43.7 yards per kick and pinned the Horned Frogs inside the 20 three times.

TCU: D

TCU didn't make many mistakes on special teams, but the one mistake it did make cost the Horned Frogs dearly.

Returner Skye Dawson tried to field a punt inside TCU's 10-yard line in the fourth quarter. He muffed it, and Michigan State recovered on the TCU 4-yard line. The miscue resulted in a Michigan State touchdown that gave it a 14-13 lead.

That error overshadowed kicker Jaden Oberkrom's 3-of-3 performance on field goals, including a 53-yarder to give TCU a late lead before Conroy's game-winner.

Coaching

Michigan State: A

Mark Dantonio decided to rotate two QBs in Saturday's game. That is fine, but when you have a hot QB, you should stick with him.

After Connor Cook led the Spartans on the most successful drive of the season in the second half, Dantonio reinserted his starter, Andrew Maxwell. Maxwell had not played as well as Cook for the entire night.

Dantonio regained his smarts on the last drive and threw Cook back out there to win the game. But why didn't he just leave Cook in after the TD drive? Switching QBs back and forth disrupts the the rhythm of the entire offense.

Luckily for Dantonio, his indecisiveness didn't come back to hurt him.

Dantonio made good adjustments at halftime and went back to the strength of the team. That is, running the football with Le'Veon Bell.

TCU: B

As we have come to expect from a Gary Patterson-coached TCU team, the Horned Frogs looked well prepared and played solid, fundamental football, committing only five penalties.

However, Dantonio made better adjustments at halftime, and it paid dividends.

Mental mistakes such as the fumbled punt return fall on both the player and the coaching staff.