Michigan State football experienced a disheartening defeat against Illinois, falling 38-16 on November 16, 2024, dropping their season record to 4-6.
EAST LANSING − Head Coach Jonathan Smith felt a wave of disappointment when he reviewed the game footage from Saturday’s match against Illinois. The analysis revealed an alarming number of issues with Michigan State football’s offensive line, which was integral to Illinois’ success in sacking quarterback Aidan Chiles five times and pressuring him on six additional occasions.
“We need to establish some things better. Protection wasn’t as good as even I thought. It wasn’t great on the field,” Smith remarked on Monday. “Looking at it again, there’s a lot of edges there.”
He emphasized that addressing the offensive line’s struggles is crucial for the Spartans, as it will not only accelerate the development of their promising sophomore quarterback but also enhance the overall effectiveness of their offense. The immediate goal for Michigan State is to secure victories in their final two games, which would earn them a spot in the bowl game for the first time since 2021.
The Spartans now face a quick turnaround as they prepare to host Purdue this Friday in a late-season night game with kickoff set for 8 p.m. at Spartan Stadium.
With a current record of 4-6 and a disappointing 2-5 in Big Ten play, Michigan State has struggled with inconsistent performance on the offensive line throughout the season, leading to a disturbing trend of losses, including six in their last seven games.
Currently, the Spartans have allowed a staggering total of 29 sacks in Big Ten play, with 26 of those coming over the course of the last six games. This season, their 32 sacks allowed ranks them tied for 13th-most nationally, placing them 119th in the Football Bowl Subdivision, with an average of 3.2 sacks allowed per game.
“Some of the protection issues, it started by just getting beat one-on-one, and then we did not do a good job of passing off a few line games,” Smith explained. He acknowledged Illinois’ defensive prowess, stating, “Give Illinois some credit, there’s some detail to those games, and they executed really well on two-man games.”
To counteract the growing pass rush, Smith suggested adjustments for Chiles, such as “changing the launch point” and “changing the timing of when the ball’s coming out,” emphasizing the necessity of quicker releases rather than deeper drops in the pocket.
Despite the mounting pressure affecting the entire passing game, senior wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. was vocal about the need for more aggressiveness in their offensive play-calling following the game.
“I feel like we got a lot of playmakers in our wide receiver room. And we just gotta be able to exploit matchups, especially when they going man-to-man coverage,” Foster said. “I feel like no team should be able to go man-to-man coverage against us.”
In the game, Chiles completed 23 of 40 passes for 256 yards, contributing two touchdowns with no interceptions, while also showcasing his versatility by running for 71 yards. However, the five sacks resulted in a loss of 31 yards, impacting his overall performance significantly. Although he managed to connect on a 52-yard touchdown pass to Aziah Johnson early in the game, Chiles’ average of 6.4 yards per attempt marked one of his lowest outputs of the season.
Foster conceded that the defensive pressure impacted their offensive timing and execution: “It’s definitely tough… But at the end of the day, we got playmakers. And I feel like if we get the ball into the right playmakers’ hands, we can do a lot of things.”
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
How does the team plan to improve offensive line communication and performance before facing Purdue?
**Interview with Head Coach Jonathan Smith of Michigan State Football**
**Editor:** Thanks for joining us, Coach Smith. Let’s dive right into Saturday’s game against Illinois. It was a tough loss, and your analysis suggests significant issues with the offensive line. Can you elaborate on what stood out in the footage?
**Coach Smith:** Absolutely, thanks for having me. Reviewing the game, it was clear that our offensive line did not perform to the level we need. We allowed five sacks and put our quarterback, Aidan Chiles, under pressure far too often. Protection breaks down can really derail an offense, and we’re seeing the consequences of that on the field.
**Editor:** You mentioned that the protection wasn’t as solid as you initially thought. What specific areas do you feel need immediate improvement?
**Coach Smith:** There are a few critical areas. First, we need to do better with individual matchups—some of our guys were consistently getting beat one-on-one. Second, we struggled in communication during pass protection, especially when it came to handling blitzes and stunts. It’s all about fundamentals, and we have to get those right to give our players the best chance to succeed.
**Editor:** With the season record now at 4-6, the pressure is on as you aim for bowl eligibility. What’s your message to your team heading into this week’s game against Purdue?
**Coach Smith:** We’ve got to stay focused and resilient. The opportunity to make a bowl game is still within reach, but it requires everyone to step up—especially on the offensive line. We need to learn from our mistakes against Illinois and turn that knowledge into action on Friday. The players need to believe in themselves and each other; cohesion is key.
**Editor:** What specific strategies do you plan to implement to address the offensive line’s struggles before the game against Purdue?
**Coach Smith:** We’re going to focus on the fundamentals in practice this week. We’ll run drills that emphasize communication and enforcing the basics of pass protection. It’s also important to give our offensive line some varied looks to help them prepare for what Purdue might present. We have to build their confidence so they can execute under pressure.
**Editor:** Your team will be playing under the lights at Spartan Stadium. How much of an advantage do you think that could be for your players?
**Coach Smith:** Playing at home, especially in a night game, is always an advantage. Our fans bring an incredible atmosphere, and it energizes the players. It’s up to us to channel that energy into a strong performance. We need the crowd’s support to help lift us, and in turn, we want to deliver a game they can be proud of.
**Editor:** Thanks for your insights, Coach. We wish you and the Spartans the best of luck in the upcoming game against Purdue!
**Coach Smith:** Thank you! We appreciate the support and look forward to making improvements on Friday night.
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