After two weeks of nagging injuries, the MSU football team’s defensive line is back to full health and ready to take on another stout opposing offensive line this week.
Head coach Mark Dantonio said defensive ends Trevor Anderson and Brandon Long, who were each slowed by injuries against California two weeks ago, and the rest of the defensive line will need to get a push up front Saturday against Florida Atlantic. The Owls have yet to allow a sack through two games and allowed 15 sacks last year, good for 13th nationally.
Defensive ends Dwayne Holmes, a senior who started against Cal and made two tackles, and Colin Neely, a sophomore with eight tackles and a half-sack this year, will also see time against an offensive line that returns four starters from 2007.
“We’ve got some different pieces,” Dantonio said. “What we have to do is continue to play consistent and apply some pressure to the quarterback.”
Dantonio lauded the play of senior defensive tackle Justin Kershaw, who was named the team’s defensive MVP against Eastern Michigan last week, as well as lesser-known sophomore tackle Oren Wilson.
He added that the entire line will need to keep their hands up for deflections against Florida Atlantic quarterback Rusty Smith, last season’s Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year, because of the 6-foot-5-inch passer’s low delivery point.
Running by committee
MSU backup running backs will continue to see some carries as the season progresses, with up to four tailbacks behind starter Javon Ringer possibly toting the ball.
Redshirt freshman Andre Anderson received the bulk of the leftover carries last week, taking eight handoffs for 75 yards. Junior A.J. Jimmerson, who has been battling a foot injury, redshirt freshman Ashton Leggett and freshman Glenn Winston, who has yet to take a carry, could all receive handoffs throughout the year, Dantonio said.
“We’ll see as they mature,” he said. “That takes some time because we want them to play with some confidence.”
Each tailback will back up Ringer, who was named one of three Big Ten Offensive Players of the Week after his career-high five touchdowns and 135 yards on 34 carries.
Injury report
Converted free safety Kendell Davis-Clark is day to day with a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Eastern Michigan game and forced him out of the California game early. He was not listed on MSU’s depth chart Tuesday.
Senior wide receiver Deon Curry is still fighting a back injury but coaches are hopeful he can return to the young receiving corps this week. He was listed behind redshirt freshman B.J. Cunningham and sophomore Mark Dell on the depth chart Tuesday.
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