How Michigan State Can Shut Down Oregon's Playmakers
Last year's Michigan State defense was led by the reigning Broyles Award winner at coordinator (Pat Narduzzi), a future first-round draft pick at cornerback (Trae Waynes) and an All-Big Ten first-teamer at safety (Kurtis Drummond), and yet it still allowed 46 points in a humbling loss at Oregon.
This year's defense loses all three of those leaders, and although it returns talent along the defensive line, it still has to play over its head—and way over how it played in Week 1—to win the rematch when the Ducks arrive in East Lansing this Saturday.
Sparty's most pressing issue is the depth of Oregon's playmakers. The Ducks lost Heisman quarterback Marcus Mariota to the NFL and running back Thomas Tyner to a knee injury, but Vernon Adams, Royce Freeman, Byron Marshall, Bralon Addison, Charles Nelson, Dwayne Stanford and potentially Devon Allen, along with a deep cast of younger players, will challenge the defense at every level.
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Michigan State looked vulnerable in a 37-24 win at Western Michigan, allowing more than 360 passing yards, but it still has the talent to stop Oregon with the right execution of a game plan.
Here are three areas of focus.
Tackle in the Open Field
On paper, converted running back Riley Bullough, the younger brother of former inside linebacker Max Bullough, enjoyed a breakout first start at his brother's old position. The younger Bullough recorded nine tackles and three sacks against Western Michigan, earning Player of the Game honors from fans who voted online.
But a closer look at Saturday's game shows that Bullough, along with multiple Michigan State defenders, struggled to break down and tackle in the open field. The Spartans made plays in the backfield but allowed too many short gains to become medium gains and medium gains to become long ones.
"We just have to focus on each drive, where we are staying intense and we are staying confident," Bullough said, per Jeff Seidel of the Detroit Free Press. "Myself, I missed a few tackles that I want back."
"[The tackles] will definitely be looked at more in depth in practice this week," safety RJ Williamson added, per quotes released by the school. "The key to doing all that is just leverage. You need to be out there focused and the way we play ball here at Michigan State if you miss a tackle there are 10 other guys running to the ball.
"You can’t be afraid to make a mistake."
Against most teams, that willingness to make mistakes forms a refreshing attitude. It's a big part of what makes this defense so great. But it's also what makes Oregon so nightmarish to prepare for.
The Ducks run an offense based on abusing teams who can't tackle. They isolate freak athletes on one defender, feed them in open space and punish the defense for big chunks of yardage. Those bubble screens and tunnel screens they're so famous for running? They'd stop if those things didn't work.
MSU needs to rectify its tackling issues, and fast. Especially with Adams playing his first FBS defense since replacing Mariota, Oregon will depend early on short, high-percentage throws.
A young group of Spartan linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks needs to keep those receptions in front of them, maintain concentration as a gaggle of linemen pull into space and then finish plays with authority. If Bullough and his teammates leave as much laundry on the field as they did in Kalamazoo, they won't hold the Ducks under 40.
Control the Clock on Offense
The best way to slow Oregon's offense is to exert preventative measures. It can't score if it doesn't have the ball!
However, it is almost guaranteed to score if it gets the ball too quickly. Opponents can't afford to go three-and-out.
Michigan State learned this the hard way in the second half of last year's game at Autzen, when the Ducks scored touchdowns on three straight and four of five possessions to pull close, take the lead and eventually run away with the win. Here is the pattern of Oregon's offensive possessions matched with MSU's offensive possessions; see if you can spot the trend:
| Q2 | 7 Plays, 15 Yards, 3:32 TOP | FG | 3 Plays, -13 Yards, 1:59 TOP | Punt |
| Q2 | 6 Plays, 38 Yards, 2:15 TOP | TD | 3 Plays, 4 Yards, 0:59 TOP | Punt |
| Q2 | 6 Plays, 66 Yards, 1:09 TOP | TD | HALFTIME | – |
| Q3 | HALFTIME | – | 3 Plays, -1 Yards, 1:27 TOP | Punt |
| Q3 | 8 Plays, 30 Yards, 2:38 TOP | FG | 4 Plays, 13 Yards, 0:56 TOP | Punt |
| Q3 | 6 Plays, 11 Yards, 3:13 TOP | Punt | 8 Plays, 59 Yards, 2:13 TOP | TD |
| Q3 | 3 Plays, 0 Yards, 1:09 TOP | Punt | 7 Plays, 59 Yards, 1:50 TOP | TD |
| Q3/Q4 | 3 Plays, -1 Yard, 1:45 TOP | Punt | 2 Plays, 54 Yards, 0:30 | TD |
Michigan State scored on four straight possessions, three times forcing a punt immediately afterward. The one time it didn't came right before halftime, so that shouldn't be held against it.
Then, after one measly Oregon touchdown drive, the wheels unhinged, and the car hit the pavement. It went three-and-out in 69 seconds, followed by an Oregon touchdown, and then three-and-out in 105 seconds, followed another Oregon touchdown.
This is not a coincidence, nor is it by accident. It's how Oregon likes to attack. The beauty of playing at such a high tempo is the pressure forced on opponents to keep the ball. The last thing a tired defense needs is to come back on the field in five minutes.
Early down rushing efficiency from Madre London and true freshman LJ Scott will be pivotal. If the running backs gain decent chunks of yardage on first and second down, it will keep the offense out of 3rd-and-longs, which in turn will keep quarterback Connor Cook from having to do too much, which in turn will lead to more first downs, which in turn will lead to longer possessions, which in turn will keep the defense off of the field, which in turn will throw a wrench in Oregon's offense.
Keep Vernon Adams in the Pocket
Another glaring aspect of why Oregon beat Michigan State last season: Mariota was the best player on the field.
"It was there for the taking last year for Michigan State," writes Chris Fallica of ESPN Chalk. "Oregon survived only because of the brilliance of Mariota, who made play after play on third downs."
Adams lacks Mariota's size and experience at Oregon, but he is every bit the athlete as his predecessor. He can replicate the Houdini escapes Mariota used to beat MSU last season. And if you're thinking, "I'll believe it when I see it," kindly watch the video below:
It's not like Adams can't throw the ball. He actually possesses nice touch. But running is still his security blanket, what he turns to when he plays on instinct.
He is more likely to struggle from the pocket—something MSU's home crowd should help with—than break from the pocket and create on his own, with his legs churning and his eyes downfield.
Sparty needs to make him one-dimensional.
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