Ringer's early workload is a bit excessive
Alex Altman
In case you didn’t get the message, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio wants to run the ball this season.
Dantonio made that point abundantly clear once again Saturday, when he opted to run the ball on 52 of his team’s 68 plays from scrimmage.
There’s nothing wrong with pounding the ball down your opponent’s throat when your team possesses a clear physical advantage over the other team, and in that respect, I was satisfied with Dantonio’s old-school, “three yards and a cloud of dust” mentality against Eastern Michigan.
However, one major component of Dantonio’s game plan didn’t sit well with me: His use of star running back Javon Ringer.
Ringer rushed the ball 34 times Saturday, including 20 times in the first half.
I’m not saying he didn’t run well — he had 135 yards and five touchdowns — or that he isn’t capable of handling such a large role in MSU’s offense — he’s also returning kickoffs this season.
What I’m saying is that Ringer doesn’t run on unleaded fuel and that at some point this season, he’s probably going to run out of gas — especially if Dantonio keeps on burning him for this much mileage each Saturday.
“He can rest for six days,” Dantonio said after the game, a smug smile plastered on his face. “He’s the kind of player who wants the football.”
Yes, but is he the kind of player who can handle the football this many times each week?
Ringer has proven many things during his career, but one thing he’s yet to prove true is that he’s capable of being a workhorse that can sustain a high level of production over the course of a 13-game season.
Last season, Ringer ran the ball a career-high 245 times while sharing time in the backfield with another proven tailback, Jehuu Caulcrick. This season, without the benefit of having a proven backup to spell him, he’s on pace to run the ball an astounding 366 times.
With a weaker opponent standing on the other sideline, it would have been nice to see Dantonio save 10 to 15 of these carries for redshirt freshmen Andre Anderson and Ashton Leggett, both of whom played well in limited opportunities against the Eagles.
But as the nonconference schedule winds down and the Big Ten season begins, the physical pounding Ringer absorbs every week likely will take its toll and the magical things we’re used to seeing him do between the hashes might be impaired because of it.
Dantonio feels confident that won’t happen, but when your team’s MVP is the player in doubt, why take a chance by giving him 35 carries against a team like Eastern Michigan?
MSU finishes the season with games against Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Purdue and Penn State. I have a hunch Dantonio will want to call Ringer’s number more than a few times in those games, as well.
To ensure he’s able to do that, it would be prudent for him to limit Ringer’s carries the next couple weeks when two relatively weak nonconference opponents come to town.
No one knows how many carries Ringer is capable of handling, but there’s too much at stake to find out.
Published on Sunday, September 7, 2008
Comments
Average
09/07/08 @ 11:34pm
As much as I understand this concern of Ringer Wearing out, or getting Injured I know Ringer is Doing the right thing by remaining on the field. He Can do it because he is a great athlete, and all we can do is speculate about what our spartans should do because we are not great Athletes. HE should be in getting used to the heat of Battle and training his body to prevail in the last 4 mins of a game, which is the most critical time in many games. In any team effort, each individual knows that he or she must give EVERYTHING and sacrifice their body for the team. Jesse Miller is out there every snap of the game on the offensive line and I don’t see an article about that. JAVON IS A GREAT ATHLETE, But he is one aspect of MSU football team that must be utilized at every moment. So Don’t Fret, Javon is a strong enough back to withstand the Season and the NFL. Also, you have to think, he gets a fairly large break when the Defense is out.
GO STATE, Go JAVON, Go DANTONIO!
word
09/08/08 @ 3:08am
I seen an interview with him after the game and they told him he had 34 carries and he was shocked it was that many…he’s that good of an athlete. That many carries doesn’t bug me. I do however wish he wasn’t returning kickoffs, I don’t think it’s a running back’s job, it’s to easy of a way to get hurt. Maybe Otis Wiley should have a go at it, he seemed to do pretty well returning punts. Ringer is more of a power runner anyway, and although he is fast, some of the more taller guys can sustain their speed for longer and be able to blow by the spread out group of tacklers in a kickoff return. Ringer is built to power though a more condensed group of guys and shoot out with speed.
Joe
09/08/08 @ 11:02am
Altman wrote; “In case you didn’t get the message, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio wants to run the ball this season.”
Don’t be a simpleton, he has to run the ball. His quarterback is a park statue. A 5th year senior who plays like a freshman, Hoyer had to be benched early to allow him to regain his focus.
'06 Alum
09/08/08 @ 11:56am
Joe – While I’m not commenting how Hoyer played, he does play better when he throws less and doesn’t try to do too much. However, he was not benched to regain his focus. Dantonio said before the game that regardless of the situation, Cousins would play the 2nd series of the 2nd quarter. And that’s what they ended up doing. It was a bonus that the game was still close so he could get used to it, instead of just washed up minutes.
Craig
09/08/08 @ 12:20pm
Please leave the coaching to the coaches!
spartygirl
09/08/08 @ 1:16pm
Can we say one-dimensional offense? Maybe Ringer wouldn’t have to run the ball so much if we actually had a decent quarterback. I hope Dantonio has something up his sleeve, because if this is his entire offensive plan, the Big Ten season is going to be ugly for the Spartans.
Craig
09/08/08 @ 3:18pm
One-dimensional is right! Ringer’s all he’s got. Dantonio made the decision early – before the spring – to go with only one quarterback who has no highlights films after 5 years. Who would have guessed? Dantonio should have! If you are going to play a freshman caliber player, it might as well be a true freshman.
fortune
09/08/08 @ 3:20pm
Does the coach think he can undo four years of not progressing? If he hasn’t learned it by now, he isn’t going to learn it this season. Start the freshman!
dan
09/08/08 @ 4:40pm
Do any of you get the concept of saving the playbook for better opponents? Why open things up against a team when you can overpower them with the running game alone?? Prior to spewing negativity all over this aritcle try to think about why you would make these same calls. Get a clue and get some perspective on what’s going on here.
It seems to me that if you were all so smart than you would have a multi-million dollar contract to coach the team….you don’t…..because you don’t know enough to coach. These coaches are smarter than you think.
fortune
09/08/08 @ 5:26pm
dan;
Oh, yeah, that’s the reason. Yeah, yeah, that’s the story. Ooh, ooh, your smart enough to be a real-live coach. Oh, oh I’m so glad you set those yahoos straight. They are not smart, not smart at all. These coaches ARE smarter than we think – and you are too! Oh, smart … so smart! Oh, thank-you!
Joe
09/08/08 @ 5:27pm
dan
Did you and SoCal Spartan form a chapter of idiots anonymous?
Craig
09/08/08 @ 5:52pm
dan – your post is laughable, except … I think you believe it!
laughable
09/08/08 @ 11:11pm
Craig, you’re just laughable.
Craig
09/09/08 @ 8:23am
laughable, You aren’t!
Smokey
09/09/08 @ 1:54pm
The dude who wrote this is an idiot for three reasons.
1. Ringer is a stud, he benches 2x his weight, squats 3.5x his weight, is a black belt in taekwondo (this matters because as a former wrestler/boxer myself, I know that nothing strengthens the bones/tendons/ligaments more then hitting a heavy bag). I am not saying ringer is indestructible….but he is the most indestructible player on the team.
2. Ringer wants to be a first round draft pick, not fifth round. If he continues to only have 10 carries a game the NFL scouts won’t take a second look. In the off season he DEMANDED from Dantonio that he get 30+ carries a game, and Dantonio is obliging. Not to mention they want to ring up the stats so we can start the RINGER FOR HEISMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! campaign.
What I am worried about is the fat butts up front block better for JA-VON the greatest running back the green and white have ever had.
Smokey
09/09/08 @ 1:54pm
Oh wait that was only two reasons….
Sorry, I’m really high right now. This kush is potent stuff….
Dan
09/09/08 @ 2:41pm
fortune etc. Did I say that I was a coach? Or smart? NOPE. Just pointing out the stupidity on this site. The team won, easily, and without using more than a handful of plays. The coaches are not dumb, why ask stupid questions about their calls when it’s obvious that there are ulterior motives here?
)
P.S. I do believe it, and the more you guys post the worse I feel about attending the same school as you. (you really got in
valhalla
09/10/08 @ 8:51am
I agree with pounding the ball against lesser opponents. Getting pass happy provides more oppurtunity for freak plays that keep lesser teams in the game. While the running game is not immune, it is less likely. Also, why show your play book to better opponents coming up, if there is no need.
But once the game is in the bag sit him down. It isn’t an issue of wearing him out. I’m sure he won’t get too tired running 40 times, especially if he is having success. The concern is the probability of him getting injured vs the probability of winning the game. One bad step or hard hit and he is gone (or worse plays on at 50% while claiming he is fine).
If we are lossing or it is close, by all means keep him in, but once we have a three score lead, start letting the second stringer get some experience. This makes the backups better and reduces the chance that ringer will be injured (Remember Stanton getting injured on a kick off return. He was only playing a few plays a game that season. He wasn’t getting worn out. Each play was a one time risk where there was no real need.).
As far as the comment about Ringer demanding 30 carries, if that’s how Dantoino runs the team (I don’t think he does), lets start lookin for a new coach, because the players shouldn’t be making those kinds of desicions. My concern is the Heisman campaign attempt. I’m hoping Dantonio is strong enough to ignore it, but the marketers love the hype it creates for the university.