Michigan State football: Dreadful Defensive PFF Grades vs UCLA

On Saturday, Michigan State football hit the midpoint of their season with their Homecoming matchup against UCLA. The Spartans entered as favorites, but had an unexcusably lackluster performance, falling to the Bruins 13-38.

The defense was a tough watch, with the only high point being their two sacks. Who were the lone bright spots against the Bruins, and who’s game sunk the Spartans? Here are the top and bottom five defensive grades on PFF.

Top Five Michigan State football defensive grades, week seven

• LB Semaj Bridgeman: 74.7
• LB Aisea Moa: 74.6
• S Devynn Cromwell: 72.6
• DL Quindarius Dunnigan: 72.6
• EDGE David Santiago: 72.4

The main thing that stands out from these grades is that Bridgeman, Moa, and Cromwell all came into the game late, when UCLA had shifted to draining the clock. Bridgeman has provided limited, but good reps all season, but Aisea Moa saw an unexpected role decline. Moa was a player that was expected to see some snaps on the edge spot with Anelu Lafaele out, but instead the BYU transfer stayed on the sidelines most of the game.

Cromwell played late, and, based on what the bottom five grades will reveal, it can be argued he should have substituted in sooner.

Dunnigan and Santiago were players that needed to step up with Jalen Thompson out, and both had relatively good grades, via PFF. Dunnigan contributed half a sack, and Santiago added a QB hurry to go with his four tackles. In a surprise move, the team captain Dunnigan did not start on Saturday, with Kekai Burnett making the first start of his career.

Lowest Five Graded Defensive Spartans vs UCLA

• LB Darius Snow: 60.4
• LB Wayne Matthews III: 56.7
• CB Chance Rucker: 46.6
• EDGE Tyler Gillison: 46.1
• S Armorion Smith: 36.0

This list does come with as asterisk, as Aveon Grose was graded 60.0, which is the default grade for a snap with no action. He was exempt from this list as a result.

Snow saw extended snaps, but the ratings did not reflect highly for his play. Matthews III was sunk by three missed tackles, and his pass coverage was not rated much higher.

Chance Rucker got his first start of the year, but barely saw the field, only recording six snaps. Nico Iamaleava targeted Rucker’s man twice, and one of the throws resulted in a 26-yard gain. With only five other snaps to attempt to grade out well, it sunk his chances.

Gillison came in for the final defensive drive, and the last big UCLA run of the game came with him being sealed out of the play, tanking his grade.

Smith’s tape was a tough watch, and PFF agrees. The senior missed a team-high four tackles, and gave up two of his four targets for receptions. It’s clear he has become the guy to target for opposing teams, with the senior safety being a backup-turned-starter in Nikai Martinez’s absence.

The move to bump him down to nickel is not giving good results, currently. The Spartans were decimated by flat routes, slants, and crossing routes all afternoon against UCLA.

The Spartan defense has a much taller task this week, too. They travel to a top-five offense and the No. 3 team in the land, the Indiana Hoosiers.