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Michigan State Football spring game 2017: 5 things to watch for

By John Buhler

Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan State Spartans Mark Dantonio walks on the field during a warmup prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan State Spartans Mark Dantonio walks on the field during a warmup prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Michigan State Spartans had a miserable 2016 NCAA season. Here are five interesting storylines about the team before they play their annual spring game.

2017 has to be better than 2016 was for the Michigan State Spartans. While they play in a brutal Big Ten East division with the likes of Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, Michigan State has been a perennial power under head coach Mark Dantonio.

However, 2016 was an utter disaster. Michigan State went from winning the Big Ten Conference Championship in 2015 to finishing a horrendous 3-9 in 2016. The Spartans were going to take a step back last year, but nobody saw that kind of collapse coming. They’ll have to be better this fall.

The first step back in the right direction for the Spartans would have to be a good showing in their annual spring game. Here are the five storylines to keep an eye on when the Spartans take to the gridiron to scrimmage among themselves on April 15.

5. Safety dance

Michigan State knew that senior safety Demetrious Cox was going pro this spring. However, Montae Nicholson’s leaving for the NFL Draft a year early does not bode well for the safety group on the Spartans secondary.

With the Big Ten getting better at quarterback across the board, Michigan State will have to find some answers in the back-end of their defense. Hopefully, that is by the end of the annual spring game on April 15. Michigan State will struggle to hang with the big dogs in the Big Ten if it slows down the passing game in the secondary.

This gives guys like Khari Willis and Grayson Miller opportunities to take charge in the Michigan State secondary. Miller has had more on-field experience that Willis, but Willis came into East Lansing with more praise than his secondary battery mate.

Other players like Kenney Lyke and Demetric Vance will have their chances to crack Dantonio’s safety rotation. Basically, Spartan Nation will be getting a safety dance in the Michigan State spring game. Expect a lot of interesting looks in the Michigan State back-end during this glorified scrimmage.

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