MSU FOOTBALL: POINT/COUNTERPOINT

Each week, Lansing State Journal reporter Joe Rexrode and assistant sports editor Barry Kiel debate a topic related to Michigan State football.

This week's question: What is the biggest problem with this Michigan State defense?

• Barry Kiel: There are a few to choose from, but the lack of any consistent pass rush is definitely the biggest issue. The Spartans aren't getting any pressure unless they blitz - and even then, the blitzes usually aren't getting there quickly enough. The secondary hasn't been great, but the lack of a pass rush makes those guys look far worse than they are.

• Joe Rexrode: I'll go with the secondary. It all goes hand in hand, but MSU is second in the Big Ten with 30 sacks. Yes, it has required a lot of blitzing. And yes, that puts pressure on the defensive backs. But they have to make more plays, period.

• BK: No question, the defensive backs have to do a better job, but too often they just haven't had much of a chance. MSU's sack total is deceiving. The number looks good, but there is no consistent pressure. With the time Adam Weber and Joey Elliott had to throw on most plays, I think even you would have been able to get open downfield. Now, actually catching the pass ... that's a different matter.

• JR: And with receivers running free the way they have been this season, you might complete a pass or two against MSU. One team in college football has allowed more touchdown passes than MSU's 24 - Idaho with 26. And the Spartans have five picks! That's an incredible lack of effectiveness from a secondary that was supposed to be a team strength.

• BK: All secondaries need at least some help from the guys up front. If a quarterback has time to scan the field, check out the cheerleaders, then re-scan the field, someone is going to break free eventually. Interceptions usually happen when QBs are hurried and throw before they want to. That's not happening much against MSU lately.

• JR: But 30 sacks means these quarterbacks are seeing some pressure. I think expectations have to be taken into account here. We knew front-four pass rush was going to be an issue. But based on how the secondary played last season, there was reason to believe it would play well this season. It hasn't. Not often enough, anyway.

• BK: Ask Weber, Elliott and Wisconsin's Scott Tolzien how much pressure MSU put on them. The Spartans had three sacks in those three games combined. The secondary has been disappointing, but the bigger problem has been the pass rush. I'd think even you could see that.

• JR: Jimmy Clausen, Tate Forcier and Mike Kafka saw heat, but they threw it around the yard, too. See a common thread? Your reasoning and MSU's coverage have been similar in 2009: consistently weak.