Michigan State Football: Top 5 X-factors vs. BYU

Sep 2, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O

Who are Michigan State football’s top X-factors for this weekend’s matchup against the BYU Cougars?

How tough of a season has it been for Michigan State football so far? Well, it’s rare to see a Mark Dantonio-coached squad so frustrated and seemingly overmatched, but that’s what fans and media members have witnessed through four games.

It’s surprising to watch this team crumble under the pressures of late-game situations — the Spartans thrived in those moments last year. Heck, just look at the Iowa, Ohio State and Michigan games from a season ago. This year, the Spartans have lost two games thanks to late-game meltdowns.

Against Wisconsin, Michigan State was shut out 17-0 in the second half to lose 30-6 and against the Hoosiers last week, Michigan State was out-scored 24-14 in the final 18 minutes plus overtime.

BYU presents another difficult challenge for the Spartans as the Cougars have a potent offense behind the veteran arm of Taysom Hill and strong legs of 700-yard rusher Jamaal Williams.

Michigan State is going to need to stand up and deliver in a must-win situation Saturday afternoon. Here are the five biggest X-factors for the Spartans.

Offensive Line

OL, Michigan State

This one couldn’t be any more obvious. The Spartans’ offensive line has struggled mightily through four games and it honestly might be the most important position group come Saturday.

Michigan State needs to win the trenches in order to head into Week 7 with a 3-2 record. It’s tough to wrap my mind around the struggles within a position group that has excelled for the past few years under Mark Dantonio, but with the personnel losses, it’s not overly-surprising.

Brian Allen has moved from guard to center and Kodi Kieler made the switch from center to left tackle to maybe bolster the line a bit. It’ll be interesting to see if these moves pay off, and if I were a betting man, I’d say they will.

The offensive line will be a major X-factor for the Spartans on Saturday.

Nov 14, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Darian Hicks (2) gestures to the sidelines during the 1st quarter of a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Darian Hicks

CB, Senior

Darian Hicks gets bullied by his own fan base. He’s picked on week in and week out because of his mistakes from the previous games, but in actuality, he has been a much-improved cornerback in 2016. He doesn’t have the same cover skills as Vayante Copeland, per say, but he is making do with what he has.

Hicks has been sticking to opposing receivers like glue and occasionally a breakdown in coverage will happen on his side of the field and people will just assume it’s on him.

If you go back and watch the Furman, Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Indiana games, you’ll realize he was locked in on receivers and didn’t let up many, if any, long gains. He kept receivers in front of him and I’ve been especially impressed with his ability to defend the slant route this year.

The reason people see Hicks involved in more completions than anyone else is because opposing quarterbacks have been picking on him every week. They just assume he’s the weak link of the defensive backfield when he’s actually much better this season. In fact, he has 14 total tackles, six pass deflections and an interception through four games.

Right now, he’s listed as probable for Saturday’s game with a hip issue, but he’s still very important to the defensive game plan.

Oct 1, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) runs the ball in the second half of the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Indiana Hoosiers beat the Michigan State Spartans by the score of 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

R.J. Shelton

WR, Senior

Honestly, R.J. Shelton could be one of the top X-factors on our list every week. He has the ability to change a game from an offensive point of view, and he did so against Indiana in Week 5. The senior receiver had his best game of the year, catching seven passes for 141 yards and a touchdown.

Shelton’s early touchdown, an 86-yarder, gave the Spartans a 7-0 lead in the first half and it looked to be the winning score after two and a half quarters. However, a complete meltdown on both sides of the ball allowed the Hoosiers to get back into it and win, in overtime, 24-21.

I predicted he would be a breakout player last week, and I was right. I think he has the same capabilities this week as he faces a lackluster defensive backfield that allows over 310 yards per game through the air.

The senior receiver doesn’t necessarily need to break free for another long touchdown reception, but if he can give Tyler O’Connor a safety valve and a reliable target all game, the Spartans will be just fine.

Sep 24, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook (12) eludes a sack by Michigan State linebacker Shane Jones (49) during the third quarter of their game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY Sports

Shane Jones

LB, Junior

It can be argued that the ‘Mike’ linebacker, or middle linebacker, is the quarterback of the defense. He is in charge of covering the most ground and he’s responsible for changing up defensive calls for his linemen and even diagnosing a play before it happens.

Unfortunately for the Spartans, their defensive quarterback is out for a third straight game on Saturday as Riley Bullough has been fighting through a shoulder injury. His absence has been evident over the past few games as he was voted a captain for a reason this offseason.

Junior Shane Jones has done a solid job filling in for him, recording 10 total tackles, a forced fumble and 0.5 sacks over the past two starts, picking up right where Bullough left off. He’s not the same player, but he’s doing a heck of a job.

Against a strong run game from BYU Saturday, Jones is going to be one of the most, if not the most, important players on the field. If he can step up and close running lanes for Jamaal Williams, the Spartan defense will flourish. If not, he will rush for over 200 yards for the second straight game.

Jones needs to have a big day for this defense to succeed.

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O

Tyler O'Connor

QB, Senior

Have you found yourself doubting Tyler O’Connor through the first five weeks of the 2016 season? Well, you’re certainly not alone. Michigan State’s fifth-year senior quarterback has definitely underwhelmed fans, members of the media and even his coaches, but he still remains the most important player on the field.

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There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s the top X-factor for Saturday’s game against the BYU Cougars, and he should be. The quarterback is coming off a nice rebound game against Indiana, but still has plenty of work to do.

BYU has a lackluster secondary which just gave up over 450 yards passing to Toledo’s Logan Woodside last week and has allowed an average of about 310 yards per game through the air. The poor passing defense is a major reason as to why the Cougars are just 2-3 to start the season.

If O’Connor can take advantage of those early-season struggles by the Cougars’ secondary, he will help engineer a huge, much-needed victory. If not, the senior quarterback might find angry fans with pitchforks and torches outside his house Saturday night.