Michigan State's Mark Dantonio trying to protect QBs' psyche, health

EAST LANSING — Mark Dantonio won’t say who will start at quarterback Saturday when Michigan State football travels to Nebraska.

He does not want to tip his hand to the opponent. But he also admits he is working to protect the psyche of his quarterbacks.

Junior Brian Lewerke continues to be listed on the depth chart as starter against the Cornhuskers (noon, Fox) despite battling a right shoulder injury, and redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi remains at No. 2 quarterback.

“I really don’t think it’s in this team’s best interest to air those decisions prior to football games,” Dantonio said. “I think that’s something that needs to be kept in-house, for everybody’s best benefit. That’s how I handle those things.”

Dantonio started Lewerke in Saturday’s 26-6 loss to Ohio State, despite the quarterback admitting a week earlier at Maryland that his arm was in pain while making throws.

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“As you go thru things and go through practice, you’re trying to watch practice and to see if guys can make plays. There’s a base foundation for everybody,” Dantonio said. “I’ve always tried to be a guy that’s the coach that’s going to No. 1 protect our quarterback. Hopefully physically as much as we can from a protection standpoint and play-calling and things of that nature, and then secondly from an emotional standpoint and a public standpoint. So I’m gonna stay with our quarterback, the guy that’s brought us a certain amount and level of success. I think that’s warranted to do that.”

Lewerke was 8-of-16 for 84 yards against the Buckeyes before being lifted for Lombardi on the final drive of the opening half.

Dantonio said he made the decision to change quarterbacks “very tentatively, to be quite honest with you.”

“Because I’m concerned about a person’s psyche. I’m concerned about people’s confidence, and I want them to have the best opportunity to be successful,” he said.” I’m concerned about the well-being of a young man, all of our guys, everybody. I’m trying to do the very best I can to make sure that psyche is intact.  So when you lift a guy, especially at a leadership position — who is your captain — that’s a big decision, especially when he wants to play.

“Ultimately, you have to do what is best for the team in that situation. But your belief system has to be strong enough that you’re gonna stand the test of time a little bit, that you’re gonna stand the public opinion poll a little bit, and side with him. And that’s what I do.”

Lombardi played into the fourth quarter, finishing 7-of-19 for 92 yards and with 49 rushing yards, but Dantonio pulled him after a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers. Lewerke re-entered and went 3-of-12 for 44 yards on those final possessions, saying after the game it was tough to find the ability get his arm ready after the layoff.

“When we make a decision on a quarterback — first of all, when anybody is hurt or battling through any kind of injury — we first of all talk to our doctors, our trainers, the family, the player, outside consultants, specialists. Anybody that is involved in the decision-making process,” Dantonio said. “And then at that point in time, we’re gonna make a decision, and that decision is going to be based first of all on his safety — which should be well-documented with the number of players we’ve had out this year — and then secondly on his ability to compete and play at a high level, and our ability to win with that individual. We make decisions. And as we go forward, those decisions become complicated at times. But we do the very best we can, and everybody is involved.”

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Lewerke, who got injured at Penn State on Oct. 13, is just 27-of-73 for 291 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in the three games he has played while battling the shoulder issue.

“Is he injured or is he hurt? He’s probably hurt with an injury,” Dantonio said. “But who’s not hurt at this point in the season a little bit? Some guys play through a little bit of pain, and that’s what he’s trying to do. And he should be applauded for that.”

Whether Dantonio has made the decision already on who will start is unclear. Last week, Lewerke said, he knew all week he would start against the Buckeyes while Lombardi knew early in the week that he would start against Purdue.

“We make what we think are the best decisions to win," Dantonio said.

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Theme of the day

Dantonio continued to press for the need for the offense — in particular the run game — to do more than it did in Saturday’s loss to Ohio State.

The Spartans currently rank 110th out of 129 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in total offense at 351.7 yards per game. They are 116th in rushing at 118.4 yards per game and 117th in scoring at 21.7 points per game.

And though MSU ranks 68th in passing at 233.3 yards a game, Dantonio believes the lack of productivity starts at quarterback and play-calling.

“If you’re quarterback’s playing well, you’re gonna be successful usually,” Dantonio said. “There’s a lot of things that go into that. Receivers and timing, offensive line protection, the ability to run the ball consistently — or at least well enough. That’s an easy question to ask and probably a difficult question to answer. That’s why you do self-scouts and spring evaluations.

“We need to be better.”

Positive takeaway

On William Przystup, MSU’s fifth punter this season: “The amazing thing about it is, as you go through the season and in August, there’s Jake Hartbarger getting the reps and the backup punter I think is maybe Rocky at that time, so (Przystup) is not getting the reps. Then all of a sudden, after the Purdue game when Tyler Hunt went down, he starts to get the reps. He did a fantastic job for us Saturday for a guy walking out there for the first time punting. He has a very calm demeanor and good nerves for it. And he got it done.”

Negative takeaway

On issues with offense: “Last year, we had some production I think especially from our quarterback position and wide receiver positions. This year, I would say it’s the injuries. It’s always something every year you gotta deal with. A lot of things are predicated with how your quarterback plays. That’s college football, that’s pro football, that’s high school football.”

Quote of the day

On QB criticism: “Everybody’s an armchair quarterback. You can go back to 2013, and there are armchair quarterbacks here.”

Dantonio’s insight

On putting Lombardi in for Lewerke on Saturday: “When you get to the point in the game where you see how things are playing out, you may have to alter your decisions. And that’s what we try and do. I don’t want to be led in that direction by fans or by media. I make those decisions on what I think is best.

“Wise is a tough word to use. Is it wise? I do the best I can to make good decisions that are gonna help us win football games.”

Opponent talk

On playing at Nebraska: “Outstanding environment, one of the great venues in college football. They’re a greatly improved football team. Coach (Scott) Frost is building a foundation there. It begins with his first year there, and he’s got a track record as an outstanding coach thus far. I expect that to continue. They have some outstanding players, especially offensively. … They’re putting up big numbers offensively.”

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!