EAST LANSING >> Saturday wasn’t about showing how good Michigan State football is going to be in the fall.

Instead, the Spartans’ annual “Spring Showcase,” the final practice of the team’s spring program, was an opportunity for the team to realize how far it’s come in just a short few weeks.

The modified scrimmage that took place in front of a crowd of a few thousand at Spartan Stadium was a mixed bag of sorts.

Mistakes happened on both sides of the ball, with the defense whistled for multiple penalty flags and the offense seeming to have some miscommunication, at times, as well as off-the-mark throws.

But there were also plenty of positive items to note heading out of the modified scrimmage that displayed only the “base package” of what Michigan State is hoping to do in the fall.

For starters, Smith said Saturday was the best the offensive line had looked all season. Incoming freshman Nick Marsh also dazzled, recording three catches, including a 75-yard touchdown reception to start the second half. And the defense got three consecutive stops at the 1-yard line, forcing the offense to end the drive with a field goal.

Oregon State transfer Aidan Chiles came to Michigan State with a lofty national ranking and high expectations and handled his green and white debut with poise. He completed seven of his 14 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. He also had a 17-yard scramble in the third quarter for a first down in Saturday’s scrimmage.

“Today was great,” Chiles said. “Going through spring ball and the spring game, really just shows us how much we’ve improved since Day 1. Us being able to gather and really put everything together as one, it really showed me some today and I felt proud of us today.”

Smith and others joined Chiles in noting that the team that took the field on Saturday was different from the one that came together on March 19 for the team’s first spring practice.

“That why you coach. You enjoy improvement in that process that takes,” Smith said. “We got a long way to go and I enjoy this coaching staff, I enjoy that process of improvement and development, especially working with a group. These guys like football. They like being around it, they like practicing, they like studying it, so as a coach, you kind of enjoy that part of it.”

The past 15 practices were a critical step in Smith and his staff laying the foundation for what they want Michigan State’s football program to be after a disappointing four-year span under Mel Tucker during which the Spartans managed to make only one bowl appearance.

Smith came in hoping to make Michigan State a place players want to come and develop. Through the first few months of his tenure, he’s established an open-door policy that’s been well-received by players. But as much as the past few weeks have been about everyone meeting and getting acquainted with one another, it’s been about learning the schemes Michigan State is going to be running on the gridiron this fall.

It’s a tall task to ask college-aged kids — to forget what they previously knew and learn what they are going to be asked to do. But Smith is pleased with what the team’s accomplished in such a short period of time.

“We got some things established in all three phrases, just how we practice, how we communicate,” Smith said. “Our growth defensively and communication practice 1 through 15 is night and day because that’s a huge part of it.”

But here comes an additional wrinkle to Michigan State’s process: With the NCAA transfer portal open, it’s hard to say for certain how many players who suited up for Saturday’s open practice will be here when the season kicks off on Aug. 31 against Florida Atlantic.

The Spartans have already had at least three players enter the portal this week, including defensive lineman Simeon Barrow Jr., who would be one of Michigan State’s biggest portal losses since Smith took over in November. It’s uncertain how many more players could choose to leave with the portal window remaining open until April 30.

“The roster is always going to be fluid,” Smith said. “So we’ll see how the dust settles here in a week and a half. We’re always going to be looking to add quality to our roster really at all positions.”

Michigan State football will get somewhat of a break in May. Smith said the players will meet with their individual position coaches this week and will have a one-on-one meeting with him in the near future to discuss how this experience has gone thus far and where players might see room for improvement.