Michigan State looks to shut down Indiana Hoosiers' rushing game
EAST LANSING — With Indiana on deck for Michigan State, defensive tackles coach Ron Burton is looking to eliminate the Hoosiers’ run game.
The Spartans limited Minnesota to just 74 rushing yards in last Saturday’s 30-27 win on the road, Burton said stopping the opponent’s running game is always the primary goal of the defense.
“It’s always paramount and that’s what we’re going to do,” Burton said. “That’s the centerstone of what we’re able to do on defense — being able to stop the run and then work from there. I think that’s a part a defensive philosophy that all coaches have. When you can stop the run that allows them to be more one-dimensional and then you put yourself in the position to put some pressure on the quarterback.”
MSU is the No. 8 in the nation at stopping the run and No. 3 in the Big Ten, behind only Wisconsin and Michigan. The Hoosiers are winless in conference play, though they posted 177 rushing yards against then-No. 4 Penn State two weeks ago and 105 yards against U-M last week — a change from the 17 yards they rushed for against Ohio State to start the season.
Burton said once MSU is able to stop the run, they can shift their focus on quarterback Peyton Ramsey.
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“He’s a triple-threat, that’s why he’s in the game,” Burton said. “He was a nemesis to their defense as a freshman and they knew what they had in this young man. He’s a coach’s kid and he understands the game and he’s poised and he understands the game and that’s a good thing for them.”
Whenever Ramsay isn’t in the game for IU, Burton said Indiana’s other quarterbacks — Richard Lagow and Mike Majette — also do a good job at getting rid of the ball quickly.
“I think they play to the strengths of the quarterback who is in the game,” Burton said. “I think the other kid, Lagow, had a quicker release and what he had to get done. (Peyton Ramsey) had a lot of mobility that allows him to do other things and makes him a triple-threat.”
JACKSON TO RETURN: After sitting out against Minnesota with an undisclosed injury, sophomore wide receiver Trishton Jackson is expected to return and play against Indiana on Saturday, according to wide receiver coach Terrence Samuel. Jackson started the first four games of the season and was dressed against Michigan, but didn’t catch a pass.
DANTONIO WATCH: MSU coach Mark Dantonio was added to the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list on Wednesday.
Also on the 20-coach watch list are Wisconsin's Paul Chryst, Penn State's James Franklin, Ohio State's Urban Meyer, Notre Dame's Brian Kelly and Alabama's Nick Saban. Finalists will be named in December, with the winner to be announced Jan. 10 in Houston.
LEARNING TO FINISH: Though MSU held on for a win against Minnesota, Burton said a serious lapse in concentration and effort on defense is what kept the door open for Minnesota to mount their near-comeback.
“Finish — That’s what the game’s all about,” Burton said. “You have a young set of guys out there sometimes and it’s about finishing the game. That was our big deal with them, finishing in the fourth quarter, and we didn’t do that.”
“And experience is the true teacher. We’re constantly building on that. Everything is something new and you put it in the bank and learn from it and our kids are doing that and we have to continue to finish and learn from our mistakes. That’s the game and that’s daily life.”