Ground Game Featured In 45-7 Victory over CMU

Sept. 24, 2011

By Steve Grinczel, Online Columnist

Michigan State running back Le'Veon Bell was so efficient while carrying the ball against Central Michigan Saturday in Spartan Stadium, even his stumbles appeared well-choreographed.

Early in the second quarter, Bell swept left and into the defensive secondary where a Chippewas defender was squared-up and waiting to make the tackle. But before Bell could put a move on the would-be tackler, he tripped slightly over his own feet, or the yard line, or a blade of grass.

"No, I definitely stumbled," Bell said with a laugh after his three-touchdown performance paced MSU's 45-7 victory. "I almost fell, but by the time I got my balance back he thought I was going to go outside and stiff-arm him again. So I went under and he went over the top of me and I made him miss."

Bell picked up 30 yards on the play, rushed for 20 more two plays later and completed the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run.

With 81 yards on eight carries against CMU, Bell was the primary beneficiary of the directive head coach Mark Dantonio issued after the Spartans were held to 29 yards on 23 carries in the 31-13 loss at Notre Dame a week earlier.

Michigan State would run the game effectively against Central Michigan, Dantonio promised in no uncertain terms, and, it did.

"I think it was more attitude than anything," Bell said. "We were just determined to run the ball. We might get stopped for a 2-yard gain and it might be second-and-8, but we were going to run it again just to wear them down over the course of the game.

"We want to do that week in and week out."

The 3-1 Spartans still haven't produced a 100-yard rusher in a game this season, but a look inside the numbers shows how dominant they were on the ground:

-- Michigan State outrushed the Chippewas, 197-21; -- Bell averaged 10.1 yards per carry; -- Larry Caper added 52 yards on 11 carries and Edwin Baker contributed 49 on 16 attempts while Nick Hill had 20 yards on eight tries; -- Seventeen of MSU's first 24 plays were rushes en route to a decisive 14-0 lead.

"We had some explosive runs, which to me, we were lacking," Dantonio said. "Those are good things when you have those. Le'Veon had a couple big runs. He's a guy who can catch, he can block, and he can run the football. He's a load; he's 235 pounds.

"I thought all of our running backs ran hard. You saw them breaking tackles, and we talked about that. So it gives us a variety of different people to use. Whoever's hot, that's who gets used. You better have a good week of practice."

The running backs were only one part of the equation, however. They owe much of their success to a patchwork offensive line that lost right tackle Skyler Burkland (ankle) for the season, and starting center Blake Treadwell (knee) and back-up tackle Jared McGaha (knee) for this game and possibly more.

Sophomore Micajah Reynolds, who shifted back from defense to offense and split time at left tackle with Dan France, acquitted himself quite well, center Travis Jackson made his first career start, which was delayed four games by a sprained ankle, and Fou Fonoti held his own at right tackle.

"We can't do anything without those guys," Bell said. "They went out there with an attitude. They were determined we were going to run the ball and they were going to protect (the quarterback).

"Micajah did a great job today, especially with this being his first time back. He didn't miss a beat. He played offense before and he really showed it today, and all week in practice. We just have to execute, drive through our blocks and run hard. If we do that, the running game will always be there."

Dantonio was encouraged by the way the offense responded to his challenge.

"I thought we protected pretty well and were able to execute," he said. "We did score 24 points in the first half as an offensive football team. I thought that was production."

Bell, who grew up outside of Columbus, hopes to duplicate his success in next Saturday's Big Ten opener at Ohio State.

"I'm going to compete, just like I do everyday in practice, and I'm sure the other backs will too," Bell said. "It will be a good competition. I get to go back and play in my hometown, so I'm going to be ready and prepared.

"This is a huge game for me."

Running backs coach Brad Salem wants the running backs to go into each game with a chip on their shoulders.

"Our mind-set is to run angry," Bell said. "That's what Coach Salem always tells us. Run like we're mad at something, so we'll be tough to tackle. We're all strong guys, so that's what we all try to do."

Bell showed off that aspect of his game when late in the first half, he finished off a 17-yard run, to the CMU 13, by hitting Chippewas cornerback John Carr so hard he ended up flat on his back.

"It was a two-minute situation and I had to get out of bounds," Bell said. "I saw that he kind of broke down (into a tackling stance), so I just lowered my shoulder and whatever happened, happened. I was just trying to get some extra yards and he ended up falling down.

"It got my team excited and that's what I want to do. I want to provide a spark for my team and uplift everybody."