Andrew Maxwell? Or Andrew Max-Really-Well?

Replacing a starting quarterback is difficult in college football. Cadence calls, audibles, route-timing, hand-offs, and on-field leadership. Replacing a three-year starter, team captain and the winningist quarterback in Spartan history is almost insurmountable.

Insert a patiently waiting-in-wings Andrew Maxwell, who had 52 career passing attempts prior to getting the starting nod as MSU’s 2012 signal caller. I’ve said from day one that it was up to Maxwell to control games but not take them over. Maxwell is a pocket passer in a Pro-Style Spartan offense. He’s not going to single handedly take games over, but simply needs to manage the offense.  

Four-games later the Spartans (3-2) have begun to wonder why they’re not winning. Any time a team loses, some of that falls on a quarterback’s inability to score more points than their opponents. I say that with the not-so-subtle caveat of last week’s West Virginia/Baylor shootout (final score: 70-63). But back to the Spartans. If I were to rank the top reasons why the offense is NOT scoring points, Andrew Maxwell would probably rank fourth. Did I hear someone say, “Prove it, chicken!” OK Biff Tannon it’s on.

Reason One: “Something’s WR-ong”
Maybe it’s the cafeteria food, maybe it’s remnants of ice-cream left from one of East Lansing legendary’s cold treats but Spartan receivers have a
case of the butterfingers (not the kind that comes in a waffle-cone). Over the last 3 games, MSU has 18 drops! Let me say that again, EIGHTEEN DROPPED PASSES! Bennie Fowler has dropped two that would have been sure touchdowns. In just his second season, wide-receivers coach Terrence Samuel is for some reason not correcting the issues of dropped passes and has not put his best squad forward. Now, before I bash an entire receiving corps let me say that Dion Sims has been a welcome surprise this fall, yet alarmingly our most consistent receiver. Did I also mention he’s just 15 pounds shy of 300 pounds? But with great footwork and soft hands, he should start taking a more leadership role in this group.

Reason Two: “Same OL-d Spartans”

Yes, I hate that line as much as anyone with half a pulse during the John L. Smith days. But I also hate to say it’s true in the case of the offensive line. Now, admittedly this group was touted as one of the big ten’s best. It’s also been badly riddled with injuries. However, this group was being billed during the pre-season as “big, strong and deep.” After watching the first 5 games this group is now “slow, soft and holy-crap-why-can’t-they-block.” Even some of the starters who had 10+ starts under their belts, were missing key blocks, getting zero line push and failing to protect the quarterback on simple three-step-drop passes. I don’t know what the solution is other than- just play better. Like Dantonio has said, it’s a simple game of “blocking and tackling.”

Reason Three: “Faux Coach Ro”

There’s no getting around it, but Offensive Coordinator Dan Roushar is not a Big Ten coordinator. A holdover from Dantonio’s days at Cinci, Roushar took over offensive mastermind Don Treadwell (now head coach Miami OH). The WR dropped passes have plagued MSU all season, so why is it that the highly touted transfer DeAnthony Arnett has gotten such little play time? If you’re answer is he’s still learning the playbook, then tell me what’s the harm if the one’s who know the playbook aren’t catching the ball! Even if he’s in there for 2 plays every series, running as a decoy or run-off flanker, our most experienced WR should be on the field. I also don’t know why it takes five weeks worth of dropped passes to replace a starting WR. This week we will see Aaron Burbridge get the starting nod over Bennie Fowler. The Rivals.com highest ranked WR in Michigan, hailing from the land of Drew Stanton and Agim Shabaij (Farmington Hills Harrison). Need more proof? How about four rushing attempts in the second half of the Notre Dame game? We’re not Hawaii. The running game is essential to the Spartan offense. Yet MSU had 84 combined rushing yards in their two losses and 655 rushing yards in their three wins. I think some of that falls on coaching. I understand that Le’Veon Bell can only carry the team so much, but that doesn’t me he should get every carry. Where have these other speedy back been? Senior TB Larry Caper, Nick Hill and even Jeremy Langford. By changing up the look of the backfield, could change the way plays are called. Le’Veon Bell is a great rusher, but this year has really struggled with trying to get around that edge on stretch plays and toss sweeps. Maybe a smaller speedy back could get that edge. Don’t get me wrong, there’s no better Spartan back than Bell, I’m just saying he shouldn’t get every carry. Besides FB Laurence Thomas doesn’t look too shabby catching passes out of the backfield.

And there you have it, three reasons before Andrew Maxwell. He’s 2^nd in the Big Ten in total yards (despite the aforementioned drops). He had three picks in the game against Boise State, and two of those (tipped) interceptions came off the hands of Spartan WRs. Maxwell has yet to throw a pick since.

Don’t get me wrong he’s no Kirk Cousins or Drew Stanton. He’s had a few miscues, thrown some misses and what I like to call “thrown-hospital-balls.” But has been playing better any other offensive player not named Le’Veon Bell. Still, football is a team game and the Spartans offense as a whole, are last in scoring offense (20) and 7^th in total offense (384.8). MSU has also played the Big Ten’s toughest schedule and the 11th-toughest in the nation. The Spartans are one of just three teams in the FBS to play three ranked teams before Oct. 1. With the gauntlet of their schedule (@U-M, @WISC, NEB) coming up this month it doesn’t get any easier. Strap-em-up fellas, it’s time to play. 

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