There’s nothing wrong with pounding the ball down your opponent’s throat when your team possesses a clear physical advantage over the other team, and in that respect, I was satisfied with Dantonio’s old-school, “three yards and a cloud of dust” mentality against Eastern Michigan.

However, one major component of Dantonio’s game plan didn’t sit well with me: His use of star running back Javon Ringer.

Ringer rushed the ball 34 times Saturday, including 20 times in the first half.

I’m not saying he didn’t run well — he had 135 yards and five touchdowns — or that he isn’t capable of handling such a large role in MSU’s offense — he’s also returning kickoffs this season.

What I’m saying is that Ringer doesn’t run on unleaded fuel and that at some point this season, he’s probably going to run out of gas — especially if Dantonio keeps on burning him for this much mileage each Saturday.

“He can rest for six days,” Dantonio said after the game, a smug smile plastered on his face. “He’s the kind of player who wants the football.”

Yes, but is he the kind of player who can handle the football this many times each week?

Ringer has proven many things during his career, but one thing he’s yet to prove true is that he’s capable of being a workhorse that can sustain a high level of production over the course of a 13-game season.

Last season, Ringer ran the ball a career-high 245 times while sharing time in the backfield with another proven tailback, Jehuu Caulcrick. This season, without the benefit of having a proven backup to spell him, he’s on pace to run the ball an astounding 366 times.

With a weaker opponent standing on the other sideline, it would have been nice to see Dantonio save 10 to 15 of these carries for redshirt freshmen Andre Anderson and Ashton Leggett, both of whom played well in limited opportunities against the Eagles.

But as the nonconference schedule winds down and the Big Ten season begins, the physical pounding Ringer absorbs every week likely will take its toll and the magical things we’re used to seeing him do between the hashes might be impaired because of it.

Dantonio feels confident that won’t happen, but when your team’s MVP is the player in doubt, why take a chance by giving him 35 carries against a team like Eastern Michigan?

MSU finishes the season with games against Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Purdue and Penn State. I have a hunch Dantonio will want to call Ringer’s number more than a few times in those games, as well.

To ensure he’s able to do that, it would be prudent for him to limit Ringer’s carries the next couple weeks when two relatively weak nonconference opponents come to town.

No one knows how many carries Ringer is capable of handling, but there’s too much at stake to find out.