4 Winners, 5 Losers From Michigan State Football’s Win Over Toledo

Michigan State football fans walk out of Spartan Stadium with a 30-20 win over the Toledo Rockets after their first chance to watch a Pat Fitzgerald-led team. While the team walked away with a win, there are plenty of things to be happy about, while also some questions that still need to be answered. Who won the season opener, and who lost?

Winners

WR Rodney Bullard Jr.

One of the biggest questions about this offense was the wide receiver position. Who was going to be the guy that stepped up and made an impact?

That answer, at least on Friday night, was Rodney Bullard. He was WR1, and you saw the chemistry and trust that Alessio Milivojevic had in the senior receiver. On the biggest play of the night, Milivojevic went to Bullard and scored the game winning touchdown on 4th-and-1. It wasn’t just that moment, there were several second-level throws that Bullard found space in the defense. That’s a big reason his 7 receptions for 90 yards and 1 touchdown saw him lead the team in receiving yards.

K Liam Boyd

Any question that Spartan fans had about kicking was thrown out the window tonight. The player of the game went 5-for-6 on the night and had what turned out to be the game-sealing 51-yard field goal to give Michigan State football a 10-point lead.

It wasn’t just the fact that he went 5 for 6 on the day. It was also because of how easy he made them look. The boot from 51 yards out likely could have been made from 55+ yards. Boyd could truly be a huge weapon for this offense, and he deserves a ton of praise for Friday’s win.

QB Alessio Milivojevic

Tonight, what fans are excited about with the quarterback were on clear display. His toughness, but also his ability to make throws, particularly layered throws. There were some very well thrown layered throws over the defense that Alessio had. His accuracy going 26-for-34 on the day was also a bright spot with his accuracy.

Milivojevic did a really good job of spreading the ball around and only had one throw that was a mistake he will want back on film. It was a very good game from Milivojevic and it’s something for the staff and quarterback to build confidence on.

DT Eli Coenen

The Illinois transfer made his name and impact known today. Without the one big run given up, the run defense was great and Coenen was a big part of that. Besides the 71-yard run, the Spartans only surrendered 19 carries for 6 yards.

Not only that, but Coenen added 2 pressures, 1 sack and a huge batted ball down when rushing the passer. The batted ball occurred on a third down to force a Toledo punt on their opening drive. The Coenen transfer generated some buzz when he announced his commitment to MSU, but today showed fans exactly why there should be more stock bought in the defensive tackle.

Losers

CB Chuck Brantley

It was a rough welcome home for Chuck Brantley. He was the corner that got beat bad on a double move, allowing a 60-yard touchdown for one of Toledo’s two plays that accounted for nearly half of their offense.

Brantley also allowed a 31-yard catch and committed a defensive holding, and saw himself pulled from the game for Tyran Chappell by the time the fourth quarter rolled around.

OG Conner Moore

It was a rough night for Moore. The converted tackle was called for a holding penalty that set a Spartan drive back and forced a Liam Boyd field goal, along with allowing a sack.

EDGE Isaac Smith

Smith returned for his second year in action for the Spartans, and was non-factor against the run and the pass. The Texas Tech transfer started, but only recorded one tackle and was frequently subbed off the field in favor of Anelu Lafaele, Trey Lisle, and Derrick Simmons during the contest.

Red Zone Playcalling

Offensively, Michigan State football had issues scoring touchdowns. During in-conference games, this team can’t be settling for attempting 6 field goals and expect to win. In the first half alone, the Spartans settled for two redzone field goals, despite very favorable first down spots to begin their redzone trips.

The drives were stalled from self-inflicted mistakes that put the offense behind the chains. Finishing drives with touchdowns will be something that MSU has to get better at, and hopefully should be better at next week when another MAC program, Eastern Michigan, comes to town.

Lockdown Defense Showing Cracks

This was a game where the big play kept Toledo in it. The Spartans had one lapse on defense and Toledo put 6 on the scoreboard. In the future, this will be a massive area. If they can prevent, or at least limit, the big plays, that should dramatically help the defense going forward. The game was not as pretty as fans hoped for.

With that being said, it was a win in week one. Most teams around the country face similar issues with miscommunications in the secondary with a new coach. These are fixable mistakes and not instances of a player underperforming.

If the Spartans do not take the film and apply it on the practice field for the next games, it could be a long season. If they take it and learn and apply their knowledge, the team will be the elite player development team that Pat Fitzgerald wants. What truly matters at the end of Friday night is that MSU is 1-0, even if they have areas to get better.

Michigan State football will matchup with Eastern Michigan on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST next week.