Grinz on Green Blog

Sept. 24, 2011

By Steve Grinczel, Online Columnist

Set off enough explosive plays, and the defense will eventually crumble.

That may sound like a theory, but it's not.

In addition to getting the running attack back on track, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio put a premium on producing plays of at least 15 yards in Saturday's game against Central Michigan.

The Spartans had just four so-called "explosive plays" in the 31-13 loss at Notre Dame a week earlier, all through the air. By definition, Michigan State had six, according to quarterback Kirk Cousins, by halftime of the 45-7 victory over the Chippewas.

But this time, three came on the ground as MSU controlled the line of scrimmage, and a handful of other plays came close to the criteria.

For all intents and purposes, Michigan State cracked the game open with its second, and what amounted to the game-winning touchdown, in the second quarter when running back Le'Veon Bell set up his second of three touchdowns with by gashing the CMU defense with runs of 30 yards and 20 yards - both on second-and-6 situations - on an all-rush possession.

"We have six things that we talk about that are critical to winning," Cousins said. "They did a study in the NFL to prove it, and one of those six things are explosive plays, which are plays of 15 yards or more.

"We look to have four runs and four passes every game that are 15 yards or more. We try to get a total eight if we can't get four and four, so I think we probably had that today. When we do have eight or more explosive plays, we typically win the football game. That's something we're always looking for."

Bell's first touchdown, on the game's initial drive, came after a 54-yard pass play from Cousins to wideout B.J. Cunningham.

"A play like that weakens (the defense)," Cunningham said. "They just, `Aw man, we have to step it up.' Coming out the gate and being able to run the ball like we did, and to throw the deep ball and score real quick, shows we were controlling the tempo of the game."

Following middle linebacker Max Bullough's second career interception, a drive-opening 19-yard pass from Cousins to running back Edwin Baker put MSU in position for the Dan Conroy field goal that made the score 24-0.

Bell's third touchdown came on a drive was set up by two explosive plays - a 15-yard reception by wideout Tony Lippett and his own 17-yard catch-and-run. Bell's scoring run was impressive, but at 13 yards didn't qualify as an explosive play.

In fact, each of MSU's six scoring drives included at least one explosive play.

"One of the measurables for us is explosive plays," said offensive coordinator Dan Roushar. "In each of our three wins I think we've had significant numbers of explosive plays. We've got guys on the outside who can make plays, and we have guys who when we hand it to them can make plays.

"I think that's very important to our success."

Running back Edwin Baker, who also had 49 yards on 16 carries, said that pounding a defense for 3 yards and a cloud of dust time after time exacts a toll on it, but explosive plays add fuel to an offense's fire.

"Any team that's able to run the football repeatedly for positive yards is going to wear a defense down and that's what we did today," Baker said. "The big plays give us energy and excitement. We have to make a lot of those next week (at Ohio State).

"When you're pounding the football, big runs are eventually going to come."