Upon Further Review: Florida Atlantic

Sept. 12, 2010

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery | Highlights

Although Detroit is only 90 miles away from East Lansing, for several Spartans, Saturday's 30-17 win over Florida Atlantic was a chance to play in their hometown in front of even more family and friends.

Sophomore Edwin Baker made the most of his opportunity. A native of Highland Park - a small town completely surrounded by the city limits of Detroit - he rushed for a career-high 183 yards on just 15 carries (12.2 avg.), including an 80-yard touchdown burst in the third quarter that gave MSU a commanding 27-7 lead. Initially an inside handoff, Baker busted through would-be tacklers around the line of scrimmage and bounced to the sideline, and from there, he was gone to the end zone for the longest run of his career.

"Playing in front of your hometown, it doesn't get any more special than that," said Baker, who is fifth in the nation in rushing through two games with his 150.0-yard average. "There is nothing more important than family. My family keeps me up and going through tough times; they always benefit me."

Also a short drive from Motown is Inkster, home of Keshawn Martin. The electric return man was at it again on Saturday, racking up more than 200 all-purpose yards. In the first quarter, his career-long 47-yard punt return set up MSU's first TD of the game, a 9-yard rush by freshman Le'Veon Bell. He also compiled 89 kick return yards, including a 46-yarder, and caught two passes for 53 yards.

Defensively, sophomore linebacker Chris Norman, who went to Detroit's Renaissance High School, came up with a career-high 10 stops. He was a key reason the Spartans held the Owls to just 45 yards rushing, marking the second-straight week MSU has allowed less than 100 yards on the ground.

While the hometown Spartans were doing their best to lead the team past a pesky Florida Atlantic squad, they weren't the only ones contributing.

Inkster native Keshawn Martin thanks the Spartan fans as he runs up the Ford Field tunnel after MSU's win over Florida Atlantic.

Senior defensive end Colin Neely put pressure on FAU quarterback Jeff VanCamp all afternoon and tallied a career-best three tackles for losses (16 yards). He teamed up with Kevin Pickelman on an 11-yard sack in the second quarter.

Senior linebackers Greg Jones and Eric Gordon continued their remarkable consistency, sharing the team-high with 11 tackles each. Jones and Gordon have combined for 637 career tackles during their time in East Lansing - the most of any active linebacker duo in the country.

"Defensively, I thought we played really well, but there is definitely room for improvement," said Gordon. "I feel we stopped the rush well and tackled well, but one thing is that we need to be able to get off the field. I also think we are going to have to play a little better in space, and we have to get off the field on third downs. We had plenty of opportunities. We had a few third and longs and we gave up big plays. Next week, we can't give up the big plays."

If there was one unit that shined the most on Saturday, it was special teams. Not only were Martin's returns giving MSU excellent field position, but one of MSU's biggest question marks turned into a strength in the cozy conditions of Ford Field.

Sophomore Dan Conroy, who battled all spring and preseason camp to become the starting placekicker, solidified his position after going 3-for-3 on field goals against the Owls. His week began with news he received a scholarship, and he responded by connecting on three field goals, all more than 40 yards out, including a career-long 50-yard effort in the fourth quarter which gave MSU a 30-14 advantage. Conroy is now 4-for-4 on the season and 5-for-5 in his career on field-goal attempts.

"That was my longest attempt and actually (special teams coach Mike Tressel) was getting the punt warning ready," remarked Conroy. "I said, `coach, come on, you have to let me kick this. I mean it's a 50, but come on.' He then gave me the green light and I went out there and did my thing."

It was the best birthday present he could give his father Larry.

"He is a happy man with today's performance, I'm sure, and then also earning a scholarship," Conroy said.

Head coach Mark Dantonio was equally pleased by the work of his special teams unit.

"Great job by our special teams when you look at how we won the field position battle," said Dantonio at his post-game press conference. "Conroy, three big kicks, to come out and do that really in his first opportunity to kick three of them and be perfect on that...great job by him. Also, Keshawn Martin with his returns, set up and different things. That's a big positive. And then Kevin Muma kicking off, he had great coverage down the field so those three factors I think lead to, I don't know if I want to say dominance on special teams, but I think today was a very big special teams day."

With the Spartans now 2-0, they will welcome the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame to Spartan Stadium for an 8 p.m. prime-time, nationally televised showdown.

"As I said before, we work to get better, we're chasing perfection," said Dantonio. "Notre Dame comes to us but we're getting ready for that game. That will be exciting, it's a night game. The atmosphere, it's going to be exciting."

The No. 44 decal will be on the back of every Michigan State helmet this season as a tribute to injured fifth-year senior fullback Josh Rouse.

THIS ONE'S FOR ROUSE
Josh Rouse wasn't able to make the trip to Detroit for Saturday's game against Florida Atlantic in Ford Field, but his presence was everywhere.

The fifth-year senior fullback, who had emerged as one of the team's leaders in the offseason, underwent successful surgery last Tuesday morning after he injured his neck early in the season opener.

He was there on Friday with his father Jim at the Skandalaris Football Center to send the team off to the Motor City. But the team didn't forget about Rouse in his absence.

A prominent "44" decal was placed on the back of MSU's helmet for the Florida Atlantic game and will remain there throughout the season.

Following a tackle on special teams against the Owls, newly converted fullback TyQuan Hammock - moved from linebacker due to Rouse's injury - jumped from the pile and held up a four on both hands.

"Josh has been an extraordinary leader for our football team and will continue to do so," said Dantonio at his weekly press conference, just after Rouse got out of surgery. "We're looking for a full recovery for him."

"Josh Rouse is a tremendous leader for our football team," said captain Kirk Cousins. "It really hurt to see him go down, but at the same time, the theme on the sidelines against Florida Atlantic was `let's do this for Josh, let's do this for 44.' We sort of carried him with us to Detroit, and he'll be with us on the sidelines against Notre Dame. We'll draw strength from him not only this Saturday, but all season. With the way he leads and his presence, he'll be a great help for us, even though he's not going to help us on the field, his inspiration will go a long ways for us."

Although the bigger picture looks good for Rouse after a potentially life-altering injury, he will unfortunately have to miss the rest of the 2010 season - this on the heels of sitting out of all 2009 with a toe injury. The emotional impact of his loss will keep him on the minds of his teammates throughout the fall. He will still be a leader on the team, just in a different form. He will be at meetings, in the locker room, on the sidelines. This season, No. 44 will take on a whole new meaning for the Spartans.