Michigan State football had a disappointing weekend, falling to Washington after a putrid first half that saw their defensive backs get torched and their offense finding little to no rhythm.
Mel Tucker spoke to the media on Monday about what he saw, what changes we may see, and more, which you can see below.
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Mel Tucker on the game tape
MSU coach Mel Tucker at the podium, says team got back 6 a.m. Sunday and watched game on flight. "It was exactly what we thought we'd see. Very disappointing."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 19, 2022
Mel Tucker on pass defense
Tucker on pass defense: "We didn't have anything schematic. … It was mostly communication or technique, some type of eye discipline or an alignment error."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 19, 2022
Tucker on missed assignments
Tucker says MSU had "twice as many missed assignments in the first half as we did in the second half." Said the errors were in all three phases.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 19, 2022
Tucker on Minnesota's star running back Mo Ibrahim
Tucker on Minnesota RB Mo Ibrahim: "He runs the ball the way you're supposed to run the rock."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 19, 2022
Tucker on Minnesota
Tucker says he's really impressed with Minnesota. Says they have one of the best OLs in the nation, good RBs and efficient in pass game.
— Matt Wenzel (@mwenzel2) September 19, 2022
Tucker on Minnesota: "We're expecting them to come in here and be great and ready to go."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 19, 2022
Tucker on Payton Thorne
Tucker said QB Payton Thorne "is alive" after taking some big hits and played better vs. Washington than he did the first two games. "He threw some very nice balls, and he used his feet. He's hypercompetitive, as you could see."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 19, 2022
Tucker on lack of pass rush
Tucker said it was evident MSU didn't get much of a pass rush. Watched a continuous copy of the first half of the Washington game "- just how it happened" – at 7 this morning with the whole team to show details and discipline lacking. "Death by inches was the story of the day."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 19, 2022
Tucker on three categories of players
Tucker on 3 categories of players: "Guys you can trust, you know what you're going to get; guys in the middle you should be able to trust that (need to) get better. And guys you just can't trust right now & you're not sure what you're gonna get when they step on the field."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 19, 2022
Tucker on if he takes Washington passing success personal
Tucker, who coaches CBs, on watching MSU give up nearly 400 yards to Penix: "Hell yeah I take it personal. I take it all personal. … The resume is on the tape. Right now, I'm a horseshit football coach."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 19, 2022
Tucker on personnel changes
Tucker says personnel changes likely coming, referring to the secondary.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 19, 2022
Tucker on team confidence
Tucker: "We're a very inconsistent football team right now. I think the collective confidence of the team is as confident as it can be coming off a performance like that. … You gotta look at some of the individuals that are gonna have a role in the game." Competency needed.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 19, 2022
