This spring, head coach Mark Dantonio said a duo of talented sophomores are working on solving that problem.

“I think Edwin Baker and Larry Caper have both been outstanding,” Dantonio said. “Our running back situation looks very, very good.”

Caper led MSU on the ground last season with 468 yards and six touchdowns, while Baker was close behind with 427 yards and one touchdown. Both sit atop this spring’s depth chart.

Although Caper only is preparing for his second season at MSU, he said the experience he and Baker got last year has made a world of difference.

“One year under my belt has just made me feel more comfortable,” Caper said.

In addition to his freshman season, Caper said he is using the offseason to become a better running back by increasing his acceleration, learning everything there is to know about the offense and gaining nearly 15 pounds.

Similarly, Baker said he has become a “student of the game” this spring, working on running harder and improving his pass blocking.

As is the case for most teams with more than one running back vying for playing time, Baker and Caper said they use the competition to make each other better.

“That’s what we strive for,” Baker said. “I see him make a good run, and I’m like, ‘I gotta make a good run.’”

Although Dantonio has tabbed Baker and Caper as his best backs, the carries will not be limited to the duo. Freshman running backs Le’Veon Bell and Nick Hill, who enrolled early to participate in spring practice, also have impressed the coaches and will see the field next season, Dantonio said.

“Those guys are very good players,” Dantonio said. “They’re going to play a lot of football here.”

Defensive mix-up

MSU ranked in the bottom half of the Big Ten in many defensive categories last season, including last in pass defense, red-zone defense and turnovers forced.

Dantonio said some changes — which he hopes won’t be too complicated — are being made in MSU’s defensive schemes this spring.

“(The changes) will be comprehensive in order to keep things simple enough where people can come in and play immediately,” Dantonio said.

Instead of strictly using a 3-4 defense in typical passing situations, Dantonio said the Spartans will start using the defense more often on regular downs.

Sophomore linebacker Chris Norman said the team’s old 30 defense is very similar to the 3-4 the Spartans now are playing, making the transition relatively simple.

That easy transition — and more playmaking opportunities for linebackers — makes Norman excited for the change.

“I love the 3-4,” he said. “That’s the defense we played the most in high school. I had a lot of fun with it, and I think I’m going to have a lot of fun with it in college.”

Despite the similarity between the two defenses, Norman said the Spartans have some adjusting to do before the defense can be used in games.

“We just installed it so we got to get a lot more used to it,” Norman said. “We have to see how it works on Saturdays.”

Switching sides

After starting the final 11 games at right tackle last season, senior D.J. Young is spending the spring getting adjusted to left tackle.

Young, who is listed as the starting left tackle on MSU’s spring depth chart, said the transition has been an easy one.

“Moving over to the left side, that’s my position right there,” he said. “I’m just left handed so I always felt more comfortable on that side.”