Michigan State University Athletics
Post-Game Quotes: Ohio State
11/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio
Opening statement…
Disappointing outcome, obviously. When you look at the football game, you get on a wave of momentum going on the other side of the field, and things just don't go right. We didn't separate our receivers. We didn't throw the ball accurately. We couldn't protect our quarterback. We couldn't run the football, compounded by a couple of other things, offensively, with turnovers.
Defensively, didn't tackle well. We got outflanked, which is coaching. We didn't pressure their quarterback well enough and we couldn't stop the run, so consequently, a meltdown happens, and you have to give Ohio State credit. A lot credit. They came in ready to play a football game. Obviously, we could not match up with them in terms of the momentum of the game and the different things that happened in the football game. Consequently, you see what happens. They sack us six times, a couple of them were at the end, but anytime you give up three or four sacks, negative things are going to happen.
We had an opportunity early in the game. Our best drive was probably our first drive, but we sort of petered out a little bit. And then they snap the ball over the quarterback's head, and we gotta get that ball (Ohio State's second series), and maybe it could've gotten a little interesting, but too many things going on in that football game to win the football game.
On what MSU can take away from this game…
I believe if you look for things, there's always value in any experience that you have, no matter how negative it can become, there's going to be value in that, if you learn from it. You're right, we've scratched and scrambled to wins and we've won at the end of games and things of that nature, and we've played extremely hard. Very difficult to continue to play hard when it's 35-0, or 35-3, at half. You have to come out and try and take one play and put it on the back of another play and just try and get better as you go, and move it, but it's difficult to do. There's going to be something to learn from every experience we have. We have a lot of young players. Some of it, you just have to play better, too. We'll learn our lessons in those areas.
On the Ohio State secondary…
Well, I don't think we threw the ball effectively. Last week, (Brian) was on top of it, this week, not so much. Consequently, I go back to what I said before, you have to be able to run the ball too. They pressured us, their front seven is very good, front four, and the different people that they play. The back end, they pressed us, and we didn't win enough. Some of the times we did win, the ball was not there for us, whether it was pressure, or because of accuracy, or whatever the case.
On the flip side of things, we've played pretty well defensively throughout the entire year, and really, we just came apart. We didn't tackle well enough, we got outflanked, as I said…when we did pressure and move our gaps, we got stuck on a block, which creates a seam, and they go for an 82-yard touchdown run. That can be devastating at times. Through nine games, we've given up about (87) yards rushing a game, and we gave up 300-some. Which I wouldn't have thought was going to happen. So you've got to deal with it.
On the Ohio State pass rush…
It was a little uncomfortable in the backfield. It's a team game. When (Brian's) throwing well, he's usually got good protection, or there's separation, or there's some different things going on. We didn't attack the perimeter well enough. It's all encompassing.
