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Just a week after Tyler O'Connor led Michigan State to what, at the time, looked like an impressive road victory over Notre Dame, the fifth-year senior is feeling the heat. That's because of the way O'Connor played in a 30-6 loss at home to Wisconsin in the Big Ten opener, throwing three interceptions and getting pulled late in the game for redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke.
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It was the first time Michigan State failed to score a touchdown in a Big Ten game since 2010, but coach Mark Dantonio wasn't putting all the blame on his quarterback.
"Football is a simple game in some respects but in other respects it becomes a complicated game and it's all tied together much like any puzzle," Dantonio said. "So the quarterback gets pressured, things start to happen in a negative way. Receivers are locked up, they can't get off press coverage and there is nobody to throw to then pressure starts to come even more because you can't hold the ball forever back there. And there are also times you got to find the open guy.
"So it's an accumulation of things and obviously we made some trips to the red zone and didn't score points. Gotta score touchdowns to win football games. ? But with all that being said the quarterback is gonna get more criticism and more praise probably than he deserves, on both ends of the stick. But that's the nature of college football and football in general and you have to be able to accept that in a position of leadership, including the head coach."
O'Connor was the first to take the blame following the loss, and to this point, there doesn't appear to be any plans to make a change at that position despite O'Connor's five interceptions through the first three games.
Lewerke played the final series against the Badgers and completed two of four passes for 26 yards after an interception on his first throw was negated by a pass interference call on the Badgers. Junior Damion Terry did not play because of a minor injury, Dantonio said after the game.
While discussing Lewerke's limited action, Dantonio did leave the door open for changes down the road.
"He needs to get better and he'll have his opportunities as the season moves forward," Dantonio said of Lewerke. "At this point in time there is no quarterback controversy. Now there may become one at some point. It's about production. But there were a lot of things that entered into this one yesterday. You could probably take 15 snaps which were very, very good from our quarterback and then you could also take 15 that weren't good. You've got to correct those.
"You can also take some ones that were completely somebody else's issue. We just keep trying to work it."
No. 18 Michigan State (2-1, 0-1 Big Ten) will get a chance to work through it when it travels to Indiana on Saturday night.
While quarterback play will continue to draw much of the attention, Dantonio seems just as concerned with the lack of pass rush, not just against Wisconsin but through the first three games. Dantonio decided to take the redshirt of defensive ends Josh King and Auston Robertson late in the game against the Badgers and they should see more playing time moving forward.
But it was the lack of pass rush that helped Wisconsin be so effective on third down, Dantonio believes. The Badgers were 5-for-8 on third down in the first half and were often converting long-yardage situations.
"We couldn't get off of third down and (Wisconsin QB Alex) Hornibrook was right on the money, and we've got to pressure the quarterback and do the things that we have to do," Dantonio said. "As I said yesterday, the game is won up front, and if you look at our quarterback's performance and theirs, I think there is a difference, and that difference in some parts is related to pressure on the quarterback."
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
--QB Tyler O'Connor struggled mightily in the loss to Wisconsin, throwing three interceptions and missing open receivers at various times in the game. The fifth-year senior how has five interceptions in three games and was replaced by redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke for the final series. There are no plans to make changes at this point, but it's fair to say O'Connor needs to show marked improvement to remove any doubt.
--WR Donnie Corley was as frustrated as anyone with the offense's lack of production in the loss to Wisconsin, jumping up and down in the end zone when O'Connor instead threw an interception into triple coverage. The freshman had four catches for 84 yards, but he also has the ability to break games open if the quarterback can find him.
--LB Shane Jones could be entering the most important stretch of his career as the junior stepped in for the injured Riley Bullough (shoulder). There's no set timetable for Bullough's return, meaning it's up to Jones to make the defensive calls as the middle linebacker. The Wisconsin game was a good start as he had six tackles, including two for loss.
--S Demetrious Cox led the Spartans with 14 tackles in the loss to Wisconsin, but he had his issues in pass coverage and was caught flat-footed several times on third down. The fifth-year senior is the leader in the back end and has been steady throughout his career, making it likely he'll bounce back this week.
--CB Darian Hicks has been the target for many opposing offenses and he has had his share of struggles. But the senior was solid against Wisconsin, getting an interception and breaking up two more passes while also collecting a tackle for loss. He and sophomore Vayante Copeland have formed a strong tandem at corner through three games.
