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An up and down season for Michigan State's football team to be sure and I'm hearing all the criticism around town about how the Spartans played Saturday night at Minnesota.  Poor decisions on play calling, poor penalties, crazy substitutions, etc.  All probably with merit because after all MSU lost the game.  It's a team clearly that is wildly inconsistent-- capable of good play one moment and Keystone Koppers the next.  But for sure, they struggle to run the ball and defend the pass and those were concerns coming into the season.

Part of their running game problem is inexperience and size.  They could use more speed but the line doesn't block all that well either and on the goal line it's almost hopeless.  But then such plays shouldn't be called anyway.  And the secondary hasn't had a lockdown corner nor safety in some time.  MSU's defensive backs have made poor plays in all three of Mark Dantonio's seasons and the defensive backfield positions are very difficult to fill.  That's why NFL teams gobble up good college defensive backs quickly.

Motivation will be a key part to the next three games.  How much does MSU want to play its best?  You answer the question, I don't know.  I don't think State played like a team possessed at Minnesota and I didn't expect such-- the Iowa game took a lot of emtion out of those players which I fully expected.  This is a team that has some very good moments and plenty of frustration too-- five loses by 23 points.  But it still adds up to five losses and if similar play continues from the past few weeks, MSU is not done losing this season.