After surrendering 772 yards and 69 points combined in its last two losses, MSU's defense will get shaken up for Saturday's game against Northwestern.
Most glaring are the position changes for two Spartans who have started every game in 2006. Junior Sir Darean Adams has spent all seven games at bandit, a hybrid of the linebacker and safety positions, but now is listed on the depth chart as the starting strong safety. Junior Nehemiah Warrick — at 203 pounds, almost 30 pounds lighter than Adams — will take over at bandit.
"We flipped Nemo and Sir Darean because we felt it was going to provide us with the best opportunity to be a little bit more successful and get them to do things right," defensive coordinator Chris Smeland said Monday at the team's weekly press conference.
Warrick has registered 41 tackles this season at strong safety. Adams has 26 tackles and an interception.
The defensive line also could see two new starters next time it takes the field. Junior Jonal Saint-Dic could replace sophomore Justin Kershaw, who has started all seven games at defensive tackle.
"We have a very competitive situation there with Jonal and Justin," Smeland said. "We got quality practices from both those guys last week."
Senior defensive tackle David Stanton is now listed as the starter over junior Ogemdi Nwagbuo. Despite not starting, Stanton has one more sack than Nwagbuo and the same number of tackles through seven games.
The shuffling of the defensive front is not directly aimed at generating more pressure, but instead at creating competition among the players, Smeland said. MSU's defense is last in the Big Ten with seven sacks.
Contraction team
Junior Bobby Jones, a backup defensive tackle, has become the sixth MSU football player to be suspended or kicked off the team this season.
"Bobby — and I'll just leave it at that — has been dismissed," Smith said, declining to elaborate.
Jones had two tackles last week against Ohio State.
Four players, including starting tight end Kellen Davis, were suspended indefinitely for what police said was their involvement in a fight the week before the Michigan game. A fifth player, junior safety Mike Bell, was charged with assault and battery stemming from an early September incident and hasn't played this season.
Injury report
Injuries knocked several key Spartans out of the Ohio State game, but none appear serious enough to cause anyone to miss significant action.
Seniors David Herron Jr. and Drew Stanton got banged up but should be OK for the game against Northwestern, head coach John L. Smith said.
Stanton had his thumb drained of blood last week after hitting it on a helmet, Smith said.
Senior cornerback Greg Cooper was knocked unconscious in the third quarter Saturday and taken off the field on a backboard, but he should recover to play in the near future.
"He feels pretty good about trying to get back this week," Smith said. "Now, whether or not (doctors) let him back, I don't know."
The team could be without starting wide receiver Matt Trannon (ankle) and starting left tackle Mike Gyetvai (shoulder) for the second straight week. Smith said Trannon was "doubtful" to play against Northwestern, and a decision on Gyetvai would be made by team doctors. Neither player saw action against Ohio State.
