The Spartans rank last in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game.
EAST LANSING — The numbers are glaring.
Through two games, Michigan State has 69 carries for just 228 yards.
That ranks the Spartans dead last in the Big Ten and 115 th out of 129 teams in the nation in rushing at 114 yards per game.
And this is for a program that, in 12 seasons under coach Mark Dantonio, has built a reputation for pounding the rock and returned four of five starters on the offensive line, along with running back LJ Scott, who led the team in rushing each of the last three years.
«We need to play better running the football and getting the tough yards,» Dantonio said, «and there’s a lot of things that are involved in that.»
Michigan State vs. Indiana: Scouting report, prediction
It starts up front and Michigan State’s offensive line struggled the first two games. Left tackle Cole Chewins has played just one snap while battling an undisclosed injury, the center spot remains a toss-up between Tyler Higby and Matt Allen and left guard David Beedle was injured late in the loss at Arizona State on Sept. 8.
«When you talk about the offensive line… four guys can play well and one guy can make a mistake and it makes all of them look bad,» Dantonio said.
Chewins and Beedle are both questionable for No. 24 Michigan State (1-1) at Indiana (3-0) on Saturday (7:30 p.m., BTN) in its Big Ten opener and Dantonio said it will be a game-time decision between Higby and Allen for the starting center spot. Allen, a redshirt sophomore, is the younger brother of former Michigan State standout centers Jack and Brian Allen. He has yet to start a game in his career but played sparingly last year and split snaps with Higby through the first two games this season.
«Just kind of like everybody else, trying to work hard and earn my spot,» Allen said. «I’m not really ever happy with being in the two spot, but whatever happens, happens. If coach goes back to putting me with the ones, I’ll take on that role. If he decides to keep me with the twos, I’ll keep that role as well.»
While Michigan State’s offensive line remains in flux, there’s uncertainty in the backfield as well. Scott is questionable after he suffered an apparent leg injury in the third quarter against Arizona State and didn’t return.
Scott, who opted to return for his senior season instead of leaving for the NFL, has 30 carries for just 103 yards and no touchdowns and is averaging a career-low 3.4 yards per rush. Sophomore Connor Heyward has provided a spark in a backup role with 10 carries for 64 yards and two touchdowns while true freshman La’Darius Jefferson had three rushes for 20 yards in his college debut at Arizona State.
The personnel the Spartans, who are coming off a bye week, will have available against Indiana is unclear but what’s obvious is they are focused on attempting to improve the rushing attack. Michigan State has found some success on the edge, including using quarterback Brian Lewerke in speed option plays. However, moving the ball between the tackles hasn’t been effective as the Spartans are averaging just 3.3 yards per carry.
«I think you’ve got to always get the ball on the perimeter, but you also got to be able to get the tough yards up inside too,» Dantonio said. «There’s a lot of different things that are involved in that and you’ve got to have a great passing game as well.»
Brian Lewerke gives himself B-minus grade through first two games
Lewerke leads the Big Ten with an average of 300.5 passing yards per game and has completed 69.4 percent of his throws with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He has been more accurate early in his second season as the full-time starter, but Michigan State’s running game has regressed this year, despite returning so many key pieces.
«We’ve been here for a while, so we’ve got I guess what you would say is a pretty vast background in terms of what we’ve done,» Dantonio said. «There’s a lot of different things we’ve done over the years here and so we’ve got to look back and ask ourselves ‘what’s going to be best that we use and what’s going to be most productive?'»
Indiana is off to an unbeaten start and has won three straight for the first time since the start of the 2015 season. However, the Hoosiers’ rushing defense ranks 13 th in the Big Ten and 95 th in the nation at 187.3 yards per game allowed. Michigan State will be tasked with attempting to establish a ground game for the first time this season against a team that has struggled against the run.
«I think you’re going to see us playing a lot tougher,» Allen said, «a lot stronger.»
