As I sit here watching the game tape from Michigan State's disappointing 2023 season, where they averaged just 21.3 points per game and ranked 98th nationally in total offense, I can't help but think about something that former Philippine basketball legend Jimmy Alapag once said about Filipino players being technically skilled but needing NBA-level work ethic to truly succeed. That exact same principle applies to what our Spartans are facing right now - we've got the raw talent, but we're missing that disciplined, systematic approach that turns potential into consistent production on the field.

I've been following Michigan State football for over fifteen years now, through the highs of the Rose Bowl victory and the frustrating seasons where we just couldn't get the offense clicking. What strikes me most about our current situation is how much it mirrors Alapag's observation - our players clearly have the physical tools to compete in the Big Ten. Jayden Reed is an absolute weapon when we get him the ball in space, and Payton Thorne has demonstrated flashes of brilliance that make you believe he could be one of the conference's elite quarterbacks. But talent alone doesn't win football games, and that's where we're falling short.

The fundamental issue I see is that our offensive scheme feels outdated, almost like we're trying to win 2023 games with 2018 strategies. We're running too many predictable first-down runs that average just 3.2 yards per carry, putting us in obvious passing situations on second and long. Our play-action game lacks the deception to truly fool defenses, and our screen game - which should be a weapon against aggressive Big Ten fronts - has been largely ineffective. I counted at least six screen passes against Washington that gained two yards or less, and that simply won't cut it against teams like Ohio State and Michigan.

What we need is what Alapag described - that NBA-level work ethic and discipline applied to how we approach offensive football. For me, that starts with embracing modern analytical principles. The data clearly shows that being aggressive on fourth down in opponent territory pays dividends over the course of a season. Teams that go for it on fourth and short between the 40-yard lines convert at roughly 60% success rates, yet we punted in those situations eight times in our first five games last season. That's leaving points on the field, plain and simple.

I'd love to see us incorporate more RPO elements into our offense, particularly with Thorne's decision-making skills. The beauty of RPOs is that they put defenders in conflict, and with our receiving corps, that should create favorable matchups all over the field. We ran RPOs on just 18% of our offensive snaps last season according to my charting, while teams like Ohio State were closer to 35%. That discrepancy matters, and it shows up in the win column.

Another area where we need significant improvement is in situational play-calling. I keep thinking back to the Minnesota game where we had first and goal from the three-yard line and ran three straight inside zone plays without once threatening to throw. That kind of predictability makes offensive coordinators around the league cringe. We need to develop what I call "personality packages" - specific formations and plays for specific situations that defenses can't easily anticipate. The best offenses in college football have these built into their weekly game plans.

Player development is another crucial piece that ties back to Alapag's philosophy. We're recruiting three and four-star athletes, but are we developing them with the same intensity as programs like Iowa or Wisconsin? I'm not convinced we are. Our offensive line technique has been inconsistent, particularly in pass protection where we allowed 29 sacks last season. That's simply too many, and it speaks to a need for better fundamental coaching and more disciplined practice habits.

What I'd really love to see is us establishing what I call an "offensive identity" - something that when people watch Michigan State play, they immediately recognize what we do well. Whether that's a power running game complemented by deep play-action shots or a quick-passing attack that stresses defenses horizontally, we need to pick an identity and drill it relentlessly. Great offenses don't try to be good at everything - they excel at a few things and force opponents to adjust.

The good news is that improvement doesn't require a complete overhaul. With some strategic tweaks and, as Alapag would emphasize, a renewed commitment to disciplined preparation, I believe we can see significant offensive growth this season. It starts with playing to our players' strengths rather than forcing them into a system that doesn't maximize their talents. If we can increase our red zone efficiency from last season's 78% to somewhere in the mid-80s, that alone could translate to an additional win or two.

At the end of the day, football comes down to executing when it matters most. We have the skilled players that Alapag described - now we need to develop them with the work ethic and strategic discipline that turns close losses into program-defining victories. The foundation is there, the talent is there, and with some adjustments to how we approach offensive football, I'm optimistic that we'll see a much more productive Spartan offense this fall. After all, it's not about reinventing the wheel - it's about polishing what we have until it shines.