Michigan State counting on high-powered offense to finish opponents
MSU offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin knows how close Michigan State was to having a successful season in 2004. MLive.com reports that Baldwin and the Spartans are still haunted by two games in particular, the Michigan and Ohio State games.
Beating Michigan and Ohio State in succession would have made the Spartans the talk of the nation, especially since they would have been sandwiched between victorious 51- and 49-point explosions against Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Instead, those losses continue to haunt Baldwin and the Spartans, who stumbled to a 5-7 record, a 4-4 mark in the Big Ten and no bowl.
Going into a season with an established starting quarterback for the first time since taking over as MSU’s offensive coordinator in 2003, Baldwin has confidence in the Spartans’ ability to score.
But with the team’s most worrisome questions needing to be answered on defense, Baldwin knows his offense can’t afford to squander too many golden opportunities.
“We worked all spring on finishing, because had we finished against that team down the road, instead of kicking the field goal from (inside) the 3, we win that football game,” he said. “If we finished against Ohio State on our last (lead-providing) drive, we win that football game.
“So, it’s up to us offensively to finish.”