![]() The Buckeyes scored touchdowns on five of their six first-half possessions and the Spartans made the least-threatening quarterback Ohio State has had in some time look like a Heisman Trophy contender. They don’t have the playmakers right now to bother an opponent of Ohio State’s caliber. The Spartans ended with just 182 total yards and never appeared capable of reaching the end zone, in part because they were 2-for-14 on third downs. MSU ultimately scored just a field goal, bringing its offensive point total against its three top-tier opponents this season to 10. Unfortunately for the Spartans, it was inconsistent and never continued beyond the Ohio State 35-yard line. MSU’s offense showed some life out of the gate, the sort of execution and juice needed to hang around in a game like this. Let’s hear your thoughts on these most recent hires.Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch grades Michigan State's performance in the Spartans' 38-3 loss at Ohio State on a scale from 1-10. It remains to be seen if another coach will be added to the defensive side of the ball. In addition to Rossi, Smith is bringing his defensive line coach and secondary coach from Oregon State with him to East Lansing. It looks like Rossi will also be working specifically with the linebackers in addition to being the coordinator (please pull Windmon from the portal). But in the previous years under Rossi’s watch, they gave up 22.4, 30.1, 18.3, and 13.3 PPG. Minnesota’s defense took a step back this past year, giving up 26.9 PPG. Otherwise, I do not see the point in moving from one middling Big Ten program to another, especially one like MSU that, for now, it seems will have some major holes in its roster next year. Furthermore, I must admit I do not understand this move from Rossi unless this is based on a significant pay raise. I imagine they do not just based on the geography where each has been, so I cannot say for sure how Rossi became a candidate for this position. I am not sure if Smith and Rossi have any connection in the coaching family tree. So, at least on paper, it seems like he is a more accomplished defensive coordinator than the individual who previously held that role at MSU. In 2021, he was nominated for the Broyles Award, given to the country’s top assistant coach. Prior to joining the Minnesota staff in 2017, he was the DC for Rutgers, where he coached for five seasons. Minnesota Gophers Defensive Coordinator Joe Rossi is coming to East Lansing to take on the same position for the Spartans. (Speaking of the portal, just a reminder that I am keeping track of things in the article pinned in the upper right corner of the TOC home page.) Maybe some of the WRs who have entered the transfer portal decide to stick around now. This is probably the best coach who could have been brought back from the Tucker years, so this should be a positive for the team. He has been on the MSU sidelines for four seasons. Hawkins played for MSU in the late 80s and early 90s under George Perles and earned All-Big Ten honors twice before playing nine seasons in the NFL. First, though, we got news this afternoon that new HC Jonathan Smith is retaining at least one member of the prior regime in WR coach Courtney Hawkins. A big piece of the puzzle was announced over the weekend, and we will get to that in a minute. The Spartan football coaching staff is getting closer to becoming complete.
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