After graduating a couple seniors from last season’s offensive line, the Spartans will work on opening up holes for their running backs in time for the fall.

“Our big problem right off the bat was the inability to establish a running game,” said quarterbacks coach Dave Warner, who was head coach for the White team. “I think when you go into a game like this, you mix up your offensive line. That certainly affects the guys because they haven’t been working together all spring, which showed (Saturday).”

The teams only had one run — a 31-yard dash by freshman Nick Hill — of more than 15 yards, and it was negated by a fumble at the end of the play.

The White team featured playmaking sophomores Larry Caper and Edwin Baker, but neither could get much going with very little running room on the field as they combined for 38 yards.

Hill and freshman Le’Veon Bell had some good carries for the Green team Saturday, combining for 71 yards and showing flashes in their first action with the team.

“I thought they ran hard,” said special teams/linebackers coach Mike Tressel, who coached the Green team. “Nick Hill had maybe the one explosive run of the day, and we lost the football at the end of it, and that can’t happen. But you got to see that Nick Hill and Le’Veon Bell are hard runners, and they’ll be great players. Our guys felt comfortable in having two high school senior tailbacks on the team.”

The Spartans can feel confident about their depth at running back as the two sophomores and two freshmen give them a young and talented backfield but will need to improve on run blocking to compete in a Big Ten Conference that’s stout in the trenches.

The lack of running room also can be viewed as a positive for the defensive front, which hurried to the ball carrier and didn’t yield much room. The Spartans ranked fourth in rushing defense and third in sacks last season and return a majority of their top pass rushers.

“We stopped the run more effectively,” head coach Mark Dantonio said. “I think our third down conversions played pretty well, which is indicative of good performance, and if you stop the run, that’s also a positive thing.”

MSU saw three running backs transfer last season, but should offer a mix of different styles with the returners. Bell has the size to be an effective inside runner, while Hill showed speed in getting to the outside Saturday.

Baker made an impressive move to get away from defenders during his fourth quarter touchdown reception, while Caper’s running ability was showcased last season.

MSU ranked sixth in the conference in rushing offense last year at 136.8 yards per game and has a lot of the tools to have a good running game this season if the offensive line plays well.

“Throughout our seasons here, we have been able to mix and run passes, which makes for a more efficient offense,” Warner said.

“It allows you to throw the ball better, especially down the field for a play-action pass. And we are not going to deviate from that, we are going to be a balanced offense.”