Aidan Chiles continues to show that he’s not the problem
After yet another frustrating loss for Michigan State football, it would be tempting for fans to place the blame on the quarterback, especially given that the offense managed only 16 points and 345 total yards.
However, this defeat was far from Aidan Chiles’ fault.
The play-calling was predictable and conservative, the offensive line struggled significantly, and the run game disappeared. The offense’s issues stemmed more from the offensive coordinator, the line, and consistently unfavorable field position than from Chiles himself.
Despite being frequently pinned deep in their own territory, Chiles performed admirably, completing 23 of 40 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. He made solid throws throughout the game while facing relentless pressure, finishing with 40 rushing yards despite being sacked five times.
Without Chiles, the game wouldn’t have been as close entering the fourth quarter; Illinois held only a 24-16 lead at that point. Unfortunately, the Spartans allowed two touchdowns in the final 15 minutes, resulting in what appeared to be a much more one-sided game.
Still, some fans called for Chiles to be benched or criticized him heavily, even though he played his best game of the season outside of the earlier win against Iowa.
It makes little sense, and it’s frustrating to deal with fans who consistently scapegoat the quarterback. Nevertheless, Chiles showed he could be the future of Michigan State football on Saturday, even as his offensive line and coaching staff let him down once again.
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