Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State football's 35-13 win over Western Michigan
A lot of what MSU hoped for … but plenty to chew on
There were elements of Michigan State’s performance Friday night that were as promising as a Spartan fan’s August dreams. There were other times when that game stopped being fun for most of the folks at Spartan Stadium and those bleeding green elsewhere.
Quarterback Payton Thorne was sometimes fantastic and sometimes just a little off, finishing 12-for-24 for 233 yards and four touchdowns passing, with one pick. He made some awesome deep throws, while other more routine passes sailed on him. He threw the sort of interception MSU should hope he gets out of his system — trying to do too much, running left, throwing back across his body. Just unnecessary. Harmless on this night. It won’t always be.
MSU’s receivers lived up to the hope and hype, with seven different players getting at least one reception, four different guys catching touchdown passes — beginning with freshman Germie Bernard’s 44-yard catch and go, before tight end transfer Daniel Barker’s one-handed grab, a 41-yard catch by the beloved Keon Coleman and, finally, Tre Mosley's score on a 43-yard dart to put the game entirely away.
Notice whose name wasn’t mentioned — Jayden Reed, who had his moments, too, and will be needed more in other games. But MSU’s receivers are going to give defensive coordinators a lot to deal with.
That part of Friday night will be satisfying. So will how MSU responded late. There are also things to be concerned about — from WMU’s success offensively on the ground on key downs and through the air in the second half, to injuries to Xavier Henderson and Darius Snow.
MSU’s offensive line got it going after a while, which was important. WMU is a fairly formidable and seasoned defense. But the Spartans will have to run on better defensive fronts in the weeks ahead.
Overall, this was a good, semi-satisfying win, because the Spartans looked like dynamite for a minute, like they might run away with things, and then had to gather themselves to hold on and pull away.
It got too close for comfort to be fully enjoyed. And yet there’s a lot to like.
The transfer portal giveth again
I can’t imagine there’s a coaching staff out there that’s better identified and recruited talent out of the transfer portal to this point, or more acutely filled its immediate needs than Mel Tucker and Co. Because this isn’t just a Kenneth Walker thing any longer.
MSU put on a transfer portal clinic at times Friday night with its newcomers — from tight end Daniel Barker (Illinois) and running backs Jalen Berger (Wisconsin) and Jarek Broussard (Colorado), to defensive end Khris Bogle (Florida), linebackers Aaron Brule (Mississippi) and Jacoby Windmon (UNLV), and cornerback Ameer Speed (Georgia).
Mel Tucker has talked about how chaotically everything moves with the portal — how you have to figure out who’s available, whether they actually make you better, and then quickly recruit them against sometimes a number of other suitors. These relationships aren’t built like they are with high school kids. It’s more transactional, a business decision on both ends.
Bogle off the edge defensively flashed in the first half, with a couple memorable tackles, including a sack. Brule had a nice spin move and sack on third down. Windmon was as good as anyone defensively, with four sacks and a forced a fumble. His late-third quarter ankle tackle of WMU QB Jack Salopek help force the Broncos to settle for a field goal, keeping MSU up by a somewhat breathable margin, 21-13. His final sack late in the fourth quarter just about clinched the win.
"He's probably our best pass rusher," Tucker told the broadcast in the moments after the game.
It certainly looks that way.
MORE: 'I just go out there and play, man': Jacoby Windmon keeps cool after monster Michigan State debut
Barker, who looks the part of a prototypical NFL tight end, hauled down a one-handed touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone to put MSU ahead 14-3. Berger and Broussard both looked like backs who can get things done – Berger bigger but shifty, Broussard with more wiggle, his legs moving a million miles an hour. Berger’s patient 50-yard run in the fourth quarter was one of the bigger plays in the game.
Last year’s transfer class made an impact, too — most notably defensive back Kendall Brooks from Division-II North Greenville in South Carolina, whose firm hit on WMU running back Sean Tyler jarred the ball loose and killed a promising WMU drive.
It’s a roster that, in Year 3 under Tucker and Co., could still have a number of debilitating holes. Instead, while it's not a perfect roster — we saw that in the second half — the transfer portal has quickly fortified things throughout, perhaps even more so than a year ago.
MORE: Couch's grades for Michigan State's performance against Western Michigan
Two extremes in MSU’s kicking game
If only MSU could punt its field goals. Because sixth-year senior punter Bryce Baringer is a serious weapon. Meanwhile, at kicker, the Spartans looked shaky out of the gate, with freshman Jack Stone missing a knuckling 44-yard attempt wide left. That’s a not a gimme field goal. It was his first career try. And so nobody should overreact. But … it was not a pretty kick. We’ll see where MSU goes with that position and how Stone does on upcoming kicks. It would be wise to get him a couple more shots before the Spartans head to Washington in two weeks.
Baringer, on the other hand, is going to win the Spartans a game this season they might not have won otherwise. His 67-yard punt to the WMU 4-yard line changed the feel of this game early, which, in hindsight, wound up being critically important to the Spartans’ win. That punt flipped the field after WMU forced a quick three-and-out. MSU spent most of the first half with great field position, which helped the Spartans jump out to a 21-3 lead.
Baringer is as good as they come in the college game. MSU has had great punters before. It makes a difference.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State football beats Western Michigan, 35-13: 3 quick takes
