Mark Dantonio ecstatic about Michigan State football's defensive line

Editor's note: The initial story had statistics on Michigan State's defense that were inaccurate. Those have been corrected.

Not even 24 hours later, and Mark Dantonio’s review of Michigan State’s Big Ten-opening win at Indiana confirmed what he saw Saturday night.

The Spartans’ defense looked as impressive on film as it did on the field.

“I thought the scheme was good,” Dantonio said Sunday on a teleconference. “We brought people to the point of attack. We got good players up front, and they can not only hold their own, but they can make create some plays.”

It continued to start in the middle with MSU’s defensive tackles, Dantonio said. The nation’s top run defense held Indiana to a season-low 29 rushing yards and is now allowing 32.7 yards per game. San Diego State is second allowing 64.5 yards.

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MSU sits No. 123 out of 129 teams in passing yards allowed at 323.7 per game. The Spartans have given up three TDs through the air. The Hoosiers’ only offensive play of more than 20 yards was a 65-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Ramsey to Whop Philyor midway through the fourth quarter that the Indiana quarterback said he made an adjustment at the line of scrimmage.

“We gave up one play over 20 yards, which is very difficult in modern-day football,” Dantonio said. “We pressured the quarterback — basically, we had him for six sacks, and we forced him out of the pocket numerous times. He was under duress pretty much the whole night. We stopped the run and made the game one-dimensional in that capacity, and also two big fourth-down stops and an outstanding sudden change when they got the ball on our 7-yard line.

“We played extremely well but gave up the one big play, which we’re disappointed in, but it’s gonna happen.”

MSU is tied for 53rd nationally in total defense at 356.3 yards allowed per game. The Spartans were credited with four sacks but appeared to have two others, and defensive end Kenny Willekes led edge defenders nationally Saturday with 12 QB pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Willekes finished with eight tackles and officially one sack, though he appeared to have a second.

“Willekes played outstanding,” Dantonio said. “He was all over the place once again.”

More:Michigan State finds toughness, grit in win at Indiana

Delta changes

Dantonio also pointed to the job LB/DE Brandon Bouyer-Randle did in MSU’s third-down package as an edge rusher. The sophomore, like Willekes, was credited with one sack and had another QB hit in which he stripped the ball from Ramsey.

“We gave them various fronts in passing situations,” Dantonio said. "Brandon Randle had a positive game in our nickel front, our Delta front and applied pressure as well.”

MSU also used versatile fifth-year senior Matt Morrissey at weak-side linebacker in third-down situations, as well as true freshman safety Xavier Henderson. Dantonio said using that personnel grouping is like having six defensive backs on the field because Morrissey has spent most of his MSU career as a safety.

That was critical, Dantonio felt, because of issues the Spartans’ linebackers had in covering opposing running backs the first two games, and Indiana’s use of backs in the passing game.

“It’s basically like having dime in the game,” Dantonio said of Morrissey, who had two stops. “He played there last year, so he knows the position. … With the guys that (the Hoosiers) put at running back, when they want to throw the ball (they) are free-release and go down the field. We wanted to at least be able to have a cover guy in there that takes the edge off some of our coverage stuff.”

Offensive woes

Dantonio said he felt center Matt Allen and left tackle Tyler Higby “played steady” with both in the starting lineup together. Junior Higby had started the first two games at center, and Luke Campbell had been at left tackle. Campbell moved to left guard with David Beedle not starting.

Then Campbell and right guard Kevin Jarvis both got hurt. Campbell returned late, but Jarvis did not.

“Offensively, we gotta play better up front,” Dantonio said. “Had some big plays. I felt (receivers) Felton Davis and Cody White played outstanding, Jalen Nailor had some big, big plays. (Brian) Lewerke was sacked three times, but we pass protected much better, I felt. Got some one-on-ones with the backs in space — gotta make a play to make more yardage. And other times, it’s another issue.

“We didn’t run the ball I guess solidly when you throw it all out. … When you take out the 75-yard run, you got about 100 yards rushing, which is far more than 32 or 18 or whatever the opposing team got. But I still think we need to do it more consistently.”

The Spartans host Central Michigan on Saturday in East Lansing (noon, FS1).

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. 

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