Dantonio: Spartans improved against high-speed offenses

After struggling with an uptempo offense against Central Michigan, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said his team is ready to handle Northwestern’s fast-paced offense following two successful defensive outings against similarly paced Michigan and Illinois.

“We’ve practiced for two weeks of that tempo,” Dantonio said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “This tempo may be a little bit faster … so we’ll see. But it goes back to making plays and being in a mindset of making plays instead of standing and watching.”

Dantonio said the team has to get a “great pass rush” against the Wildcats, but with strong performances on the defensive line, the idea of pressuring the quarterback isn’t as far-fetched as it seemed two weeks ago.

MSU’s depth also will play a key role Saturday. In last season’s 37-20 win against the Wildcats, Dantonio cited the team’s ability to have a fresh unit in the game as a reason for success.

Dantonio said it takes a complete team effort on defense and conditioning especially is important.

“Because we have to stay fresh at certain positions, you’ll see different guys playing,” Dantonio said. “We have the depth to be able to do that.”

Another issue Dantonio touched on is the threat of long drives and how the Spartans handle it and respond.

“If you get into the 11th play of the drive, and, in the Central game … they just systematically went down the field and you get into that 12th, 13th, 14th play of a drive, you find yourself standing there watching them complete passes rather than reacting and that’s when the negative things start to happen for us,” Dantonio said.

“It’s a mindset, it’s certainly film study, it certainly is being able to operate in your system and being able to play well in space and tackle.”

On depth

After several weeks of madness, MSU’s depth chart finally is starting to work itself out. Only two starting positions remain with an “OR” — quarterback and X receiver.

Sophomores Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol remain entrenched at quarterback and sophomore B.J. Cunningham and junior Mark Dell are battling at receiver, two competitions that have been ongoing.

Elsewhere, sophomore Trenton Robinson has moved from free safety to strong safety. Robinson started three games at free safety but senior Danny Fortener has played well. Robinson now backs up junior Marcus Hyde.

And at running back, freshman Larry Caper and redshirt freshman Caulton Ray are the only two players listed.

Dantonio said this week’s practice will dictate whether the other backs — senior A.J. Jimmerson, sophomores Andre Anderson and Ashton Leggett and freshman Edwin Baker — see playing time Saturday.