What are the most important fixes that need to be made in order for Michigan State football to find success in 2017?

If you asked Mark Dantonio what he’s most looking forward to in 2017, he’d probably tell you the fact that he doesn’t have to think about Michigan State football’s 2016 season anymore. The Spartans are desperately working to put this terrible calendar year behind them, and with the necessary moves and discipline, they could get back on track.

Don’t get me wrong, the 2017 season won’t be all sunshine and daisies. No, the Spartans will suffer through growing pains, which isn’t surprising given that a majority of the team will be made up of first-year starters.

Still, the potential for Michigan State is there and this season could be a stepping stone for bigger and better things, if the right fixes are made.

What fixes need to be made to Michigan State in 2017 in order to ensure a bowl berth? Hint: there’s not one quick fix for anything.

5. Defensive line tweaks

Honestly, a lot depends on the decision of Dantonio to either suspend or further discipline senior defensive end Demetrius Cooper. The fourth-year star had a rough 2016 which was filled with both on-field struggles and off-field issues. He will be a key part of the line if he does return.

The right players need to be found early instead of having inconsistent contributors starting week in and week out. Last season, the coaching staff was too content with the line they had instead of making constant changes to fix the issue. If the line isn’t producing, make tweaks along to way to shake things up and find the right unit.

With the offseason attrition that this unit suffered through, the defensive line is likely the unit with the least depth on the entire team. The staff needs to somehow figure out how to make it work and the unit needs to work together to surprise some teams.

Although the depth isn’t great, guys like Cooper, Naquan Jones, Mike Panasiuk, Raequan Williams, Kenny Willekes and a number of incoming freshmen and upperclassmen have the skill to compete at a high level.