After two straight losses, the Spartans need to run from their problems before it's too late. They might want to consider putting the ball into the hands of their running backs — and now.
No. 21 MSU ran the ball only 16 times against Michigan and 17 times at Ohio State, producing back-to-back losses. Further enticing the Spartans to run the ball are the problems this week's opponent, Wisconsin, has stopping the run. The Badgers gave up 245 yards on the ground to Northwestern and 336 to Minnesota in the midst of a three-game losing streak.
The Spartans have lost when they can't run the ball, while the Badgers, who have had the ball carried against them 107 times in the past two games, have problems when opponents run.
But MSU players and coaches aren't about to change their game plan, claiming what they're doing suits them fine.
"Sometimes a screen (pass) is a rush for us, because that's what we're doing," running backs coach Reggie Mitchell said, referring to the short routes MSU favors. "Getting guys out to the flanks, getting a guy out on the perimeter - you get 5 to 6 yards that way, that's a run for us.
"We didn't go into the Michigan game trying to run the ball," Mitchell said. "And you look at what we did against Ohio State, our first nine or 10 plays may have been a pass - that's what we do. We're going to throw the ball, and when the run is there, we'll run it, but we'll be throwing it first."
Sophomore running back Jaren Hayes, who caught two balls for touchdowns against Rutgers, said going out and running routes can help the team just as much as taking handoffs.
"(The running backs) have to be able to make plays, too," Hayes said. "The receivers are making all the plays; we have to step up and make some plays, too.
"Those little screens and short passes, we have to act like they're runs and get 4 yards on those plays."
On the season, the running back corps of Hayes, juniors Tyrell Dortch and DeAndra Cobb and sophomore Jason Teague has caught 61 balls for 564 yards.
The player in charge of distributing the ball, senior quarterback Jeff Smoker, has mixed feelings about balancing the offense. Of course, he would like some of the pressure taken off his shoulders, he said, but at the same time, he wants to pass.
"Ideally we'd like to do both," Smoker said. "We're going to try. We mixed it up (Tuesday) in practice. Sure - I'd like to (develop a run) to ease the pressure - it would help.
"At the same time, I don't mind throwing 50 times a game or so."
Only once this season has a running back rushed for more than 20 carries. Against Louisiana Tech, Jaren Hayes ran for 140 yards on 30 carries, both season highs for any MSU running back this season. Despite those season highs, the Spartans lost for the only time before the month of November, 20-19 to Louisiana Tech. So what exactly are the Spartans supposed to do?
Stick to their game plan, which is pass first, run second, Mitchell said.
"I think in the Big Ten, you have to be able to run the ball, but you don't have to be a running offense in order to do it," he said. "We throw the ball to set up the run versus some people running the ball to set up the throw."
Mitchell remains confident that a solid rushing effort will only help the team, as it has in the past.
"When you look at some success we had earlier this year, we have been able to run the ball," Mitchell said. "And for us, if we rush for 100 to 125 yards a game, that's good."
