Michigan State shields Brian Lewerke, Rocky Lombardi from QB haze

EAST LANSING – Michigan State football players walked out of the indoor practice field back to the locker room Tuesday evening, leaving behind two quarterbacks to talk about the position.

Of course, neither Matt Sokol nor Cody White have played QB since high school.

The tight end and wide receiver were the only offensive players made available to the media, left to explain how teammates Brian Lewerke and Rocky Lombardi are handling the Spartans’ uncertain quarterback spot in preparing for Saturday’s road game at Nebraska (noon/Fox).

“Those dudes, those two guys are real close together,” said Sokol, a senior who played quarterback for Rochester Adams. “I’ve been happy to see how they each collaborate, help each other out, want to see each other succeed.”

In other words, he can’t say who will start on Saturday, either.

And neither would coach Mark Dantonio on Tuesday during his news conference. 

The reason? He does not want to tip his hand to the opponent for preparation purposes.

But he also admits he is working to protect the psyche of his quarterbacks.

“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.”

Lewerke continues to be listed on the depth chart as starter against the Cornhuskers despite the junior’s battle with a right shoulder injury. Lombardi, the redshirt freshman, remains at No. 2 quarterback after spending one week listed as co-starter.

Neither QB was made available for media interviews Tuesday.

MORE MICHIGAN STATE

Inside the Spartans: MSU's quarterback juggling has been baffling

Seidel: Michigan State football must start Rocky Lombardi for rest of season

Michigan State football offense needs 'better' game-planning, execution

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. He also played almost the entire game against Michigan a week after getting injured at Penn State on Oct. 13.

“As you go through 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.”

White, a second-year sophomore who played quarterback at Walled Lake Western, said there really isn't much of a difference in Lewerke and Lombardi. 

"We know we’re gonna make plays for both guys, no matter who’s in there," White said. “... I think they’re handling it well."

Lewerke was 8 of 16 for 84 yards against Ohio State before being  replaced on the final drive of the first 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."

Lombardi played into the fourth quarter, finishing 7 of 19 for 92 yards passing 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 his final possessions, saying after the game it was tough to find the ability get his arm ready after the layoff.

Dantonio was asked Tuesday if it is “wise” to play a quarterback in Lewerke who “can't make all the throws.”

“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,” Dantonio said. “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.”

Dantonio said his process in making the decision to play Lewerke, or any player who wants to play through an injury, is to consult with doctors, medical specialists and trainers, as well as the player and his family.

“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,” Dantonio said. “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.”

Lewerke 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 already has made a decision on this week's starter is unclear. Last week, Lewerke said he knew all week he would start against the Buckeyes, and Lombardi knew early in Purdue week that he would start.

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

Neither White nor Sokol would give a hint, either.

“I’m gonna hold that up to coach D,” White said. “But for me, I just try to make plays for the offense. For us as a receiver group, we just go in there, and whoever is back there, we just try to make plays for them and make sure they’re comfortable.””

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