Snap counts and PFF grades: Michigan State’s late-season personnel changes
Following a 38-3 loss to Ohio State on the road, there aren’t many noteworthy grades to look at.
But, as we continue to look forward in the midst of this disappointing Michigan State season, we can examine some trends and how some young players are doing.
Here are some snap counts and grades from Pro Football Focus following the Spartans’ defeat by the Buckeyes on Saturday night:
* With only 23 snaps, Nathan Carter had the lowest workload of any offensive player for the Spartans this season, but he still received the highest grade of any offensive player (72.6). For the first time this year, he split snaps almost evenly with Jaren Mangham.
With two of the team’s top wide receivers out due to injury (Jaron Glover and Tre Mosley both missed the game), Tyrell Henry has seen a notable increase in snaps over the past two weeks. Against Rutgers, he only played seven snaps; in two weeks, he has now played 46. In terms of grades, he was the third wideout for the Spartans.
* Defensive tackle Jalen Sami saw his largest number of snaps this season at 36 and was Michigan State’s highest-rated defensive player at 77.5. He was credited with two stops. The Spartans’ four highest-rated defensive players were all interior linemen: Simeon Barrow, Ken Talley and Maverick Hansen were next on the list.
* Of his five starts, quarterback Katin Houser’s grade was the second-lowest. His downfield throw average was a season low of just 7.3 yards. As per PFF, he was also put under pressure 12 times, which is a season-high.
* Michigan State’s team grade in pass blocking was the lowest (31.3), second only to the Washington game in the season. In run blocking, it performed the best.
