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V-Cast: Michigan State making progress against the run, could use some help off the edge

On3 imageby:Paul Konyndyk•04/17/25•

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EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State has just one more practice on Saturday before wrapping up its second spring football practice under head coach Jonathan Smith.

After practice on Thursday, Smith spoke with SpartanMag and other media outlets covering his program. He expressed optimism about the direction of his football team based on what he and his coaching staff have seen over the course of 14 practices this spring.

After Smith’s press conference SpartanMag staffers Jim Comparoni and Paul Konyndyk stepped outside the Duffy Daugherty Football Building to check in with news, notes, and analysis on Michigan State football in the latest V-Cast.

V-CAST TOPICS

Stop the Run: In year two under veteran defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, Michigan State appears to have the framework for a solid run defense. That’s important because being able to stop the run against teams outside the upper echelon of the Big Ten is pivotal for the Spartans to take the next step as a program and put together a winning season. With depth on the interior defensive line, depth at linebacker, and veteran safeties, the Spartans should be difficult to run against given their scheme and personnel.

Getting better at man coverage: One of the areas that has stood out to Smith and his coaching staff this spring is the improvement that Michigan State has made in playing man coverage on the back end. Smith singled out the strides that his defense has made in man coverage this spring when asked about areas where he feels his team has taken strides over the course of spring football. Corners coach Blue Adams, who also met with media after practice on Thursday, echoed that sentiment. Adams believes that having better size in the defensive backfield has helped Michigan State improve its man coverage in comparison to last season.

Could use some help on the edge: Michigan State lacks a big-time sack threat off the edge at the rush-end position and the Spartans just lost a functional rush end to the transfer portal in Anthony Jones. The Spartans did a nice job of bringing in an experienced rush end in Air Force transfer David Santiago, who played 500 snaps a year ago for his former team. The Spartans believe that Santiago can help them on the field this season, and Michigan State may be able to get additional production out of Tyler Gillison, a transfer from Cincinnati who did not play last season due to injury. Wisconsin transfer Anelu Lafaele is a wildcard as a promising redshirt freshman who has yet to play a snap at the collegiate level. Given Michigan State’s current personnel situation at rush end, dipping into the portal for additional help at a pivotal position is advisable.

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