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Michigan State football grades vs. Iowa: Spartans learn to finish

Michigan State football grades vs. Iowa: Spartans learn to finish

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EAST LANSING – Free Press sportswriter Chris Solari rates Michigan State football on a scale of A to F following the Spartans' 32-20 victory over Iowa on Saturday night.

Offense: B-plus

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It wasn't exactly a coming out party for Aidan Chiles, even though the second-year quarterback finished 22 of 30 for 256 yards and a touchdown. MSU continued to struggle to actually score touchdowns and hit four field goals in the first half. But the longer the game lasted, the more united the Spartans appeared. The Chiles delivered big passes to freshman Nick Marsh and senior Montorie Foster Jr., including an 18-yard touchdown to Foster in response to Iowa's first score early in the second half. The offensive line provided movement along the front of scrimmage, while the running backs and Chiles rushed for a season-high 212 yards.

That included a tough night of running from Kay'ron Lynch-Adams (15 carries, 86 yards) and a fresh finish from Nate Carter, who punctuated his nine-carry, 49-yard night with a 1-yard TD to win the game with just over two minutes left in the game after the Hawkeyes had made it a five-point game.

The second half showed that MSU might be able to turn things around toward finishing drives, although penalties again became an issue. But the Spartans' dominating 39:44 time of possession and 486 total yards against a top-30 defense suggest they are on the verge of a complete breakthrough.

Defense: A

Joe Rossi's defense immediately set the tone with a three-point stop, swarming Iowa's star running back Kaleb Johnson on the first two plays of the game. Then they did it again. And again. MSU played as close to a perfect first half as possible, throwing a shutout and holding the Hawkeyes to just two first downs and 58 yards in 19 plays.

There were a few misses after halftime, between the game's only positive drive from Iowa QB Cade McNamara to open the third quarter and Johnson's 75-yard TD run that tied the game late. But the Spartans held Johnson to just 23 yards on his other 13 carries and stifled the Hawkeyes to 283 yards by forcing McNamara to try to beat them — something he also failed to do during his time at Michigan in 2021.

Credit to MSU's front four for neutralizing Iowa's offensive line, allowing second- and third-level defenders to punish Johnson and the other Iowa rushers with hit after hit. The Hawkeyes averaged just 2.6 yards per carry and McNamara averaged just 6.5 yards per pass attempt and 13.6 yards per completion.

Special Teams: B

From Jonathan Kim's school-record six field goals, the four in the first half proved crucial to the win as MSU's offense continually faltered in Iowa territory. He missed his first shot of the season from 55 yards at the end of the first half, but he made up for it by making a 55-yard throw early in the fourth quarter and then breaking his 46-yard record. Kim and MSU's offense essentially gave Ryan Eckley an off night; He didn't punt, but saved all seven of Kim's field goal attempts and his two PATs. One area of ​​concern, however, was Kim's kickoffs – Iowa got back into the game with two return-assisted touchdown drives that gave the Hawkeyes the ball at their own 42 and 31, respectively.

Coaching: A

Jonathan Smith and his assistants spent the bye week examining the Spartans' weaknesses and strengths. It worked, and the coaches also conveyed to their players that what they thought could happen would happen against Iowa – and eventually it happened. We thank Rossi for the gang-tackle mentality that the MSU defense displayed all night long and forced McNamara to try to win the game, but we also commend offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren for his creative playcalling , which suit the best characteristics of Chile, and for maximizing the Marsh and Foster litters. He also switched to Lynch-Adams as the primary running back more often – the role reversal seemed to benefit both backs.

Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.

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