Michigan State's third-down issues tied to pass rush problems
EAST LANSING – Of all of the problems Michigan State has endured during its first three-game losing streak since 2009, one in particular is the most problematic for Mark Dantonio’s defense.
Getting off the field on third down.
The Spartans have been decent on first and second downs. Their past three opponents, however, have converted 54.2% of their third-down attempts and continued to wear down their defense.
Suddenly, MSU’s “money down” has suddenly gone broke.
“It’s very frustrating because that’s our down to celebrate,” linebacker Chris Frey said this week. “We expect to come off the field as we go out on the field on third down. It’s tough to go out there on third down, you get the call, and you’re back out there and it’s first down the next play.”
The Spartans’ past three opponents have converted 26 of 48 third-down attempts the past three weeks. Their 45% allowed for the season so far is the worst of any of Dantonio’s 10 defenses since arriving at MSU in 2007 and ranks as the program’s worst third-down conversion rate allowed rate since 2005.
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Generating more of a pass rush has been a major point of emphasis to help fix that problem as MSU prepares to face Northwestern on Saturday (3:30 p.m./Big Ten Network).
“I think it’s us getting to the quarterback, getting the quarterback uncomfortable, not letting him sit in the pocket and step into throws,” linebacker Ed Davis said this week. “If we don’t get there, we gotta at least put some pressure in his face or make him throw it quick. I think that’s probably one of the main reasons why we can’t get off the field on third down.”
The Spartans (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) have just five sacks through five games and didn’t record one in their past two losses to Indiana and BYU. Their last sack came at the 10:32 mark of the third quarter of the loss to Wisconsin on Sept. 24. That’s 160 minutes and 32 seconds (plus the untimed overtime period at Indiana) of football without a sack.
“It’s a combination of things,” co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel said. “If our coverage could make (a QB) hold on to the ball for one more count, all of a sudden instead of five it’s 15 sacks. But the bottom line is this: our D-line right now is putting pressure on themselves to get home. It’s been a big emphasis – last week too – and we didn’t come up with any sacks. I feel pretty good that we’re putting together a plan that will allow all those guys to cut it loose.”
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The Spartans have twice had just 20 sacks in a season under Dantonio (2010 and 2012).
However, it’s beyond just that. For instance, Demetrius Cooper had Taysom Hill stopped for an apparent sack last week before the BYU quarterback escaped and picked up a short run past the yard marker.
Injuries along the front seven also have hurt that pass rush. MSU played last week without defensive tackle Raequan Williams, who leads them with three sacks, and Malik McDowell for a half. Linebackers Riley Bullough and Jon Reschke also have been out for much of the past three games, and both are critical to attacking opposing offenses on blitzes and dropping into coverage.
“Sometimes we rush four. We're not rushing three that often,” Dantonio said. “Sometimes there's coverage, there's coverage sacks. Sometimes there's not. Sometimes we're blitzing at times. Zone pressuring. Zero pressuring. Man pressuring, things of that nature.
“We got to get home. We've had the guy in our grasps a number of times and he's gotten out. That's something that's got to get fixed, and there's got to be more production, period.”
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The Spartans’ offensive woes against BYU kept their already-depleted defense on the field more often. MSU has been outscored 100-56 in the second half and overtime this season. In the past three games, they have been outscored 69-21. The Cougars converted 10 of their 16 third-down attempts and scored 21 fourth-quarter points to pull away.
Northwestern (2-3, 1-1) enters with a 36.1% conversion rate on third down, 11th in the Big Ten and 94th nationally. The Wildcats also have allowed 3.20 sacks a game, which ranks 115th in the nation. Sophomore quarterback Clayton Thorson has been dropped 16 times through five games.
“I just keep saying it,” Frey said. “We need to execute our third-down calls much better, get more pressure, play better in the secondary and across the board.”