The Mel Tucker period of Michigan State soccer is underway.

For actual this time. Lastly.

Nicely, in all probability.

The whole lot is on a week-to-week foundation across the faculty soccer world this fall, as evident by the variety of video games which were canceled or postponed attributable to COVID-19 points. But even earlier than Tucker’s transition from Mark Dantonio’s regime was delayed a number of instances over the previous seven months, the Spartans had a big variety of questions.

And now, with video games set to lastly begin a month from Thursday, listed here are 5 urgent issues Tucker and MSU should determine.

Michigan State soccer coach Mel Tucker hugs Sparty throughout a broadcast of ESPN’s School GameDay on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, on the Breslin Middle in East Lansing.

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Will MSU and Rutgers really kickoff Oct. 24?

Whereas the prospect of one other likelihood at a fall season excited followers — who won’t be allowed within the stands at Spartan Stadium — it stays a fluid state of affairs whether or not the sport — Tucker’s debut and Greg Schiano’s return to the Scarlet Knights — will occur.

First, East Lansing has skilled a surge in COVID-19 circumstances since college students returned to off-campus housing in August. Ingham County well being officer Linda Vail earlier this week instructed Bridge Journal she would “completely” advise MSU to “name it off” if the sport was scheduled this week. After she urged a extra clear take a look at off-campus numbers, the college up to date its complete of confirmed circumstances Thursday from 499 to 1,219.

Inside 2020: Schedule loaded with robust assessments as Mel Tucker period begins

A Michigan State soccer participant walks again to his automobile at Spartan Stadium following follow on the campus in East Lansing on Monday, August 10, 2020.

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The Spartans’ athletic division launched its newest weekly coronavirus outcomes Wednesday as effectively, and 30 of the 328 athletes examined — practically 11% — examined constructive for COVID-19, as did two of 41 workers members. The college has not given a breakdown for what number of of these COVID-positive athletes are soccer gamers, although the soccer program quarantined for 2 weeks in late July and early August attributable to constructive outcomes throughout summer time exercises.

Every day testing is scheduled to start out for soccer by Sept. 30, and workforce positivity charge and inhabitants positivity charge thresholds should adjust to the Large Ten’s requirements on a seven-day rolling common. Something above 3.5% places a sport in danger, with outcomes above 7.5% forcing a seven-day shutdown.

Observe replace: Tucker brings warmth in 1st soccer follow since season reinstatement

That’s simply from the MSU aspect. Rutgers officers have sounded pessimistic since the Large Ten introduced its restart, with this assertion:

“Assessments of the circumstances at Rutgers, in addition to these for every opponent, might be made relating to all upcoming video games,” it learn, whereas including that “particular person universities might droop the return to competitors on a week-to-week foundation in the event that they or their scheduled opponents are experiencing vital destructive modifications amongst gamers and workers of inside the broader college group.”

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Who’s the QB?

New offensive coordinator Jay Johnson might want to decide fast on who will change three-year starter Brian Lewerke. The dearth of follow since MSU’s Pinstripe Bowl win in December ought to give Rocky Lombardi an edge over the following month. The redshirt junior is the one QB on the roster with any vital expertise, with three begins in 2018. He has been a workforce chief regardless of sitting behind Lewerke, and he has spent as a lot time in the summertime as he may engaged on timing together with his receivers.

Sophomore Theo Day and redshirt freshman Payton Thorne must present vital strides to problem Lombardi. That mentioned, they’re going to should be ready in case Lombardi struggles, notably with a schedule that features back-to-back street video games at Michigan and Iowa in Weeks 2-3.

New Michigan State offensive line coach and run sport coordinator Chris Kapilovic.

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Will the OL keep wholesome?

Working again Elijah Collins particularly desires to know this, because the returning sophomore starter fell simply shy of 1,000 yards final yr (988 yards on 222 carries) behind a patchwork group.

Final season, the Spartans ranked 113th out of 130 Soccer Bowl Subdivision groups at 127.2 speeding yards per sport; it was the second-worst common in Dantonio’s 13 seasons at MSU. The worst? That will be 2018, at 124.eight yards.

MSU’s offensive linemen missed a mixed 42 video games in 2019, as 11 gamers began and the Spartans used seven completely different beginning mixtures. 2018 wasn’t a lot better, with 9 completely different beginning mixtures up entrance and no beginning lineup lasting greater than two video games.

The upside? New offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic inherits 11 veterans with a mixed 125 video games of beginning expertise, together with all 5 positions. The Spartans received kids J.D. Duplain, Nick Samac and Devontae Dobbs necessary on-the-job coaching final season.

Michigan State senior defensive sort out Naquan Jones goes by drills throughout follow in August.

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Who’s subsequent on protection?

Getting defensive finish Jacub Panasiuk again from a late summer time opt-out provides D-line coach Ron Burton a veteran move rusher. Linebacker Antjuan Simmons and security Xavier Henderson additionally began each sport final yr. However MSU loses eight starters from 2019, and plenty of of final yr’s backups didn’t get vital taking part in time behind them.

Senior defensive sort out Naquan Jones is a breakout candidate, however he has not been an every-down participant but. His cohorts on the road, apart from Panasiuk, are pretty inexperienced. The state of affairs behind the road is barely higher: Linebacker Noah Harvey and cornerback Shakur Brown, each juniors, began the ultimate 5 video games final season. Defensive backs Kalon Gervin and Tre Individual even have expertise, whereas sophomore Julian Barnett’s transfer from receiver to cornerback may assist offset the early NFL departure of Josiah Scott.

The laborious half for Tucker and his workers might be discovering those that can play quick in his new system with out a regular offseason to study it. Tucker’s expertise as a defensive coach ought to assist him assess expertise rapidly and simplify what he and new coordinator Scottie Hazelton keep in mind.

Michigan State linebacker Antjuan Simmons throughout follow Monday, Sept. 21, 2020.

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What are lifelike first-year expectations for MSU?

With a 27-24 document over Dantonio’s last 4 seasons, MSU entered January 2020 with out a lot buzz. However Dantonio’s sudden retirement and the hiring of Tucker electrified the fan base for the primary time since 2017.

Nonetheless, Tucker confronted an uphill process. His first month was spent assembling a workers and placing names to faces with gamers, then got here the shutdown 4 days earlier than spring practices had been supposed to start. He and his workers’s first likelihood for all of them to work collectively in a full follow with pads will not come till subsequent week. All whereas making ready for the East division gauntlet that features Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State.

Attending to 4 wins within the eight regular-season video games could be a big achievement. Assuming, in fact, that the Spartans get eight video games in in any respect.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Observe him on Twitter @chrissolari. Learn extra on the Michigan State Spartans and join our Spartans e-newsletter.

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This text initially appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State soccer: 5 burning questions for Mel Tucker period begin