Assistant Coaches Press Conference Coverage

MSU Game Notes vs. Northwestern | MSU Depth Chart vs. Northwestern

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State assistant coaches Dave Warner and Mike Tressel spoke to the media Wednesday afternoon, to review the Spartans' 31-20 win over Central Michigan, and preview this Saturday's game as No. 20/19 Michigan State hosts Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 6 at noon in Spartan Stadium in MSU's 103rd Homecoming game. The contest will be televised on FS1.

The Spartans improved to 3-1 overall after defeating Central Michigan in East Lansing last Saturday, 31-20, to wrap up nonconference play, while the Wildcats (1-3, 1-1 B1G) fell at home to No. 14/15 Michigan, 20-17.

Saturday's game marks the 57th meeting between Michigan State and Northwestern. The Spartans lead the all-time series 37-19, including an 18-8 record in games played in East Lansing. MSU 12th-year head coach Mark Dantonio is 5-4 in his tenure against Northwestern, while 13th-year Wildcat head coach Pat Fitzgerald is 4-6 in his career against Michigan State.

Michigan State ranks first in the FBS in rushing defense, allowing just 40.3 yards per game (161 yards total through four games). The 161 rushing yards allowed in the first four games of the season is the lowest total by a Power 5 team since 2008, according to STATS.

The Spartans have limited their opponents under 100 yards rushing in seven straight games, dating back to last season, the longest stretch for MSU since 2012-13 (last three games of 2012; first nine games of 2013). In the Dantonio era, Michigan State has held its opponent below 100 yards rushing in 76 of 149 games (51 percent); MSU is 66-10 (.868) during those games.

MSU is one of only three teams in the FBS, along with Georgia and San Diego State, to not allow a rush of more than 20 yards this season. The longest rush MSU has given up was a 16-yard run by Central Michigan's Jonathan Ward. MSU also has only given up eight rushes of 10-plus yards, second fewest in the FBS (San Diego State, 5).

This year's theme for Michigan State's 103rd Homecoming is "Celebrate Unwavering Courage." The 2018 MSU Homecoming Parade begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5; the parade starts at the Hannah Community Center, travels down Abbot to Grand River, and into campus at the Farm Lane entrance. For more information on Homecoming, please visit homecoming.msu.edu. Member of the Little Rock Nine, Civil Rights activist, and Michigan State University alumnus Ernest Green has been named the 2018 Homecoming Grand Marshal. Green was one of nine teens who helped integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.

The last two years against Northwestern, Michigan State has set a school record for most passing yards in a game. The Spartans threw for 424 yards against the Wildcats in 2016, and topped that mark with 445 yards last season in Evanston. Brian Lewerke accounted for all of the 445 yards passing in 2017, which was also a school single-game record, along with his school-record 475 yards of total offense.

The following is a select transcript from Wednesday's press conference:

Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Coach Dave Warner:

On Northwestern's defense…
As always, good defense. (NU defensive coordinator Mike) Hankwitz has been there for a long time, known him for a long time, and he always runs a very strong, but nothing complicated about his defense, you already know where they're going to be, but it's still difficult to plan against. They have a scheme that's been very good. We did not run the ball on them last year, we've got to find a way to get some yards on the ground game and not rely on the pass.

On offensive balance against Northwestern…
We need to be balanced. We threw the ball well on them (last season), but we lost the football game and that's the bottom line. Our formula is to be balanced, we run the ball 35-40 times a game, we end up winning a lot of those games, so we just need to find ways to get some yards on the ground and mix in the pass. Obviously, hopefully he has a big day passing, we need him do that, but we also need to try to stay balanced.

On fine line of wanting a balanced offense…
It mostly depends on how Coach Dantonio is in my ear, how hard he's screaming in my ear. We try to make sure we're running the ball enough and we might not be getting the yards that we want to get running the football, but I think it's still important that we keep banging away in there and trying to get positive yards. It's definitely a difficult thing to try and weigh, especially if you're throwing the ball well. If you're throwing the ball well, the tendency is to keep throwing it. We still need to put the ball in our tailbacks' hands, we've got some good tailbacks and obviously we know we have not run the ball well, but a lot of that so far has been because we haven't gotten those big explosive plays. We've been somewhat steady getting three, four, five yard gains that's not enough, but what has sort of been missing is those explosive runs.

On being solid on first down…
We've been better, we've been better. We need to continue to do that, yes.

On Coach Dantonio's opinion on play-calling…
He's great on game day and certainly he has his opinion on things, but very rarely does he call for something that he definitely wants. He's going to suggest things, which is his job, a lot of them are good suggestions. But game day is great with him, he's great.

On how well he knows Coach Dantonio from being on staff together for so long…
I know what he wants, no doubt, I know what he wants. We meet before games and it's normally the same talk about what he's looking for as we go through the game plan offensively, it's normally the same thing that he tells me. So I know going into the game what he's looking for and what he wants.

On if there is a time the team has had more injuries that keep players out at the same time…
Probably not, but maybe we have been lucky up until this point. Fortunately we probably have more depth at some positions, especially running back and receivers. It's opportunities for other people and that's the way we look at it. Guys need to step in and this is their chance. You want to play? Here you go. Show us what you can do.

On working with Brian Lewerke to re-gain or learn trust with new receivers…
I think it happens naturally. I think throughout the course of the week when you sort of know who's going to be out there he needs to communicate with those guys. I think he normally does that to try and tell guys where he's expecting them route running wise.

On molding Connor Heyward and La'Darius Jefferson into running backs…
Connor has obviously been here a little bit longer so he's had a little bit more experience on his side as far as making that transition; he's done a great job of it. We all know he's a versatile guy, can do a lot of things. As far as La'Darius he has made the transition exceptionally well. He's done great job of running between the tackles for a guy that really probably hasn't played running back. I mean he's done a great job in pass protection, so I've been extremely happy, we've been extremely happy, with the progress he's made to a point now where we put him in at any time and feel like he can execute our offense.

On an overall grade he would give his offense…
Overall we're not anywhere close to where we want to be. The word potential has been out there since January and we certainly haven't reached that yet. Haven't come anywhere close to that and we talk about what we're capable of as an offense and I think we all know that we haven't gotten there yet.

On pass protection skills of La'Darius Jefferson…
I think he's just got football savvy, football knowledge, whatever you want to call it. He does things, even some things that he hasn't been coached to do. Some guys just have that football knowledge. He does a great job with the little things. He may be as good as anybody we've got in the backfield right now pass protection-wise.

On getting Weston Bridges more involved…
Yeah you know we're back to that old deal again with a lot of backs and they all want carries, all want to play. With four of them that we feel good about all of them, there's only so many guys that can be in there at once. Feel good about all of them, yes, but as we know there's only going to be one or two of them in there at a time.

On if offensive line is turning a corner health-wise…
Hope so, hope so. That's obviously the key as it always is. No matter how the offensive line is playing that's where our offense starts is up front and I think we made progress last week. But again, by no means are we where we think we're capable of being as an offense.

On how losing Cole Chewins impacts the offensive line…
Cole was sort of a leader from a knowledge standpoint, knew everybody's job, what everybody was doing and would communicate that so him being in there helps that from that standpoint. Now that he's coming back, he's been playing for us, so hopefully he's able to play a little bit more this week and sort of be that glue that holds us together.

On how LJ Scott helps during game day while he has been out…
LJ has been fantastic, he's been a fantastic team player. Obviously he wants to play as bad as anybody, but he is still a leader in our running back room and on game day on the sideline, I know he's down there, he's with those guys, he's talking to them and he's taking over to the offensive line for adjustments between series. He's been fantastic, can't ask anything more of him.

On caution while getting LJ Scott back to full health…
A little bit maybe, but at the same time he's a running back and it's different. If he's not able to be close to 100% it's tough for him to be LJ Scott. When we feel like he is able to perform at a level that LJ wants to perform at you'll see him.

On differences of calling a game from the box compared to on the field…
I've never really called a game from the sideline, we just have such a big play menu that it's a lot easier for me to have everything right in front of me. Especially when you talk about some situational stuff, whether it be third down or a red zone situation, stuff like that. I like to have everything in front of me.

On what Brian Lewerke can do better short-term…
I don't know if he's said this or feels this, I don't know, but I think he may have been pressing a little bit through four games resulting in some turnovers. Obviously the turnover situation is one that we feel that we need to correct. We've had a couple red zone turnovers that if you take those out of the equation all of a sudden you put a few more red zone scores on the board and you're maybe feeling a little bit better. So I think just not press, just play the game, let guys do their job whether it's receivers or handing the ball off or dropping the ball down to the backs, just let them do their work and I think in the long run he'll play better and I think we can be better.

On Brian Lewerke getting the ball to tight ends more with receivers hurt…
I think that it's not that we have not tried to get the ball to our tight ends. I guess just through his read progression it just may be a confidence level on his part. He's targeted other guys more, but we want to and need to get the ball to the tight ends. We know that and we're trying to do that so hopefully before long we can get them a couple catches.

Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Mike Tressel:

On if you lose a running back like (Northwestern running back Jeremy) Larkin this early, how do you scout them as a team...
You'd say they become a different team... maybe, the personnel always changes things but Northwestern does what they do and they do it really well so they'll continue to run outside zone with all the pullers in front of it and they'll continue to run the inside zone and they'll continue to throw those check downs and bubbles to the back because their backs can catch regardless of whose out there so they adapt well. It fits right within their scheme, they're good to go.

On Northwestern shifting (wide receiver/running back Solomon Vault) player back to running back from wide receiver...
He played tailback before he was moved to receiver, he's sort of a do-it-all type of guy but he's certainly a guy you have to be prepared for wheeling out of the backfield and running routes out of the backfield because he can certainly catch.

On happy with number of linebackers utilized so far...
Yeah, we've been able to rotate both our outside linebacker positions quite a bit and quite honestly Byron Bullough is fully capable of rotating inside, it's just a little bit harder to rotate that communicator out but we've been able to play a lot of guys at the outside positions. They've all been playing pretty well, it keeps them fresh and I think people are happy with the rotation.

On evaluation of how after the first couple weeks with a lot of yardage given up and if the pass rush has steadily gotten better and what would attribute that to...
Pass defense is team defense. I mean it's pass rush, it's pass coverage, it's the underneath coverage with the 'backers, it is one hundred percent team defense you can't point out any position like, defensive backs, and say that. I will say this, I think we've looked at it, and teams are 75% pass against us and averaging over 55 pass attempts a game I think, so there's going to be some yards when that happens. We need to make those turn into more negative plays. There needs to be more strip sacks, there needs to be more interceptions, things like that, because when people do drop back and pass 55 times you ought to be able to pin your ears back and get after it.

On idea of making a team one-dimensional...
Right, yes that is the idea, and it has to result in some bigger plays and if the quarterback can stand back there and pass like pass skelly, and he gets four tries to get 10 yards, usually he's going to get 10 ten yards. But now you add some of the other aspects, specifically being able to get after him and make him uncomfortable. We need to end up getting some big plays before the ball gets down the field. There will be yards though and that's okay.

On following up from what Coach Dantonio said about the inability to get the pressure against (Northwestern quarterback Clayton) Thorson...
Well with Northwestern, they get rid of the ball quickly. They understand first down, second down, and they really try to stay on track and stay on schedule. Gain five yards on first down, try to make sure the third downs are short and mediums and not long and that way they never have to keep the ball in the quarterback's hands too long. If its third-and-12 the quarterbacks probably going to have to hold onto the ball a little longer and that's when your pressure can really get to be a factor, but if all you're throwing is quick game, it doesn't really matter how many people you bring.

On experience from being a position coach and now defensive coordinator and what (MSU defensive ends coach) Chuck Bullough has meant to defensive ends...
He's a football junkie and we've got a group of guys in the defensive end rooms that are just like that. He meshes really well with the Kenny Willekes and the Drew Beesley's and all those types of guys. They want to sit in there, they want to talk ball with him, they want to find ways to make things happen. Probably the hours spent in the defensive end room has grown a whole bunch and yes, he's doing a good job, and we're getting a lot of guys that are getting the opportunity to play, and I think this past week he saw some added pressure and it's starting to pay dividends in terms of getting after the quarterback.

On difference in viewing and calling the game from upstairs in booth or on field...
You know, I think calling the game it's pretty comparable. I try to stay away from the action a little bit when I'm calling the game, but the bottom line is to be able to be down there and look guys in the eyes and make adjustments face to face between series and also be able to make the punt game adjustments and stand out there and make the punt calls as they're running out onto the field... those are things you only can do from the field, so as long as you can keep yourself emotionally out of the mix when you're actually calling the plays, I think upstairs and downstairs are pretty comparable.

On if he sees himself staying there for the rest of the season...
I don't know that it is something I need to commit to because I tried to commit to something that I honestly thought was the truth before and it got changed (laughing), so how am I supposed to commit right now then you call me a liar (smiling).

On Coach Dantonio's ownership with the defense and how relationship has been as defensive coordinator and if feel like there's latitude to be him...
Yeah I do, I do, because I also know he's been in the situation as a coordinator, a defensive back coach where he's felt a squeeze where he's had to do things one way or another during his career at certain points, so he definitely does, but it is his defense and it is his team so certainly we do things the way he wants them done.

On how Coach Dantonio has told media several times about his uncle (Jim Tressel) never once telling Coach Dantonio to change a play, and if has reminded him of that...
I have not reminded him of that (laughing). I tell you what though, I do know this... my uncle used to come in periodically at the beginning of the week, particularly during big games, and he would walk in and say "you know, Field 8 looks awful good this week", and Field 8 was about as base of defense as you could be and it was sort of his way of reminding to just play good, sound, fundamental defense. You don't have to get crazy, you don't have to out scheme it, and I think that's what Coach D has allowed us to do here over our 12 years... play our base football and play it fast, play it hard, play it well.

On if such thing as a coach's coach...
Coach Dantonio is a coach's coach based on the track record of the assistants staying around, and I think that that's more than me saying it. The track record of people wanting to stay here tells you that he's a coach's coach.

On any true freshman players that haven't been on the field yet that are itching to...
Michael Dowell is doing a great job, haven't seen him out on the field yet. I don't think... without having a roster in front of me I'm thinking mostly the guys that you've seen are going to be the guys that you will see, however, there will be some guys that we're going to try to get their four games in since the rules now allow you to get four games in.

On Kalon Gervin...
Gervin, absolutely. You could see Gervin, absolutely.

On if reason haven't seen Gervin yet being the other players in front of him having success and experience...
Right, Shakur Brown, and Trey Person, those guys have been in our system, they know a few more of the adjustments. The adjustments that you put in during a week of game planning, they aren't new, they aren't the first time they've ever heard those things, and if they're doing a good job you're going to give them that opportunity, but I wouldn't be shocked to see Gervin either, no.

On Xavier Henderson being on field and his progress...
He's doing a good job, happens fast. There's always going to be growing pains regardless of who the person is. We're excited about his growing reps and I think they'll continue to grow and get better.

On bringing in Morrissey and Simmons for nickel defense...
Yeah, we got some guys that can run, we got some guys that can cover. There's a lot of speed on the field, there's no doubt about that, so we're excited about that group and we're able with those bodies to continue to change up what we do and bring some different coverages and do some things that maybe we haven't done at this point.

On Brandon Bouyer-Randle getting closer to quarterback and pressuring...
I'm proud of the way that (Bouyer-)Randle is out there giving effort every single play. I mean he is impacting the quarterback ...there is no doubt about that.

On his improved ability to defeat blocks...
I think the fact that it's become an every time thing for him is resulting in more plays being made. If you get 20 reps in, and you bust your tail all 20 of them, and you have his talent, you're going to have an impact more often. So his mentality has flipped a switch, where he wants to be an impact (player) every single play and we're seeing the results of that.

On some differences in players reactions compared when he's on the field compared to when he upstairs...
You may have to ask them that (laughing). I don't know the answer to that, I just know it's a little bit less of the telephone game. The bottom line is you have to be able to separate yourself from the emotion when you're calling the play, whether you're upstairs or downstairs, and you have to be able to make adjustments with the players whether it's from the upstairs or the downstairs, but I think the last couple weeks it's worked well and well see how it goes.

On what made Northwestern successful in last season's game...
Probably mistakes, I mean you can't play three plays well and one play poorly, especially when that one poor play is a big play, and if you look at every one of those overtime periods there was at least one play that was a significant chunk and put us in a mode where were really behind the sticks and were the ones on the defensive instead of being able to be on the offensive. So you just need to be sound every single snap and Northwestern's offense is the same type of deal, you need to execute every single snap. This is an interesting game because we do what we do, they do what they do, no one for the most part is trying to trick each other, we're trying to out execute each other. It's always a good game in that regards.

On who is his main eyes from up top...
Well (defensive ends coach) Coach Bullough from the front seven perspective: linebackers, protection and run game and (assistant defensive backs coach) Coach Treadwell in terms of the back end and the routes, so those are the two guys we're communicating with upstairs.

Michigan State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Drew Beesley

Brandon Bouyer-Randle

Weston Bridges

Shakur Brown

Byron Bullough

Cole Chewins

Michael Dowell

Kalon Gervin

Xavier Henderson

Connor Heyward

La'Darius Jefferson

Brian Lewerke

LJ Scott

Kenny Willekes

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