Junior safety Montae Nicholson (9) responds to a question from the media during Media Day on Aug. 8, 2016 at Spartan Stadium. Media Day allowed for the media to converse with the team's coaches and players.
It’s hard to criticize a team that went to the College Football Playoff last season, but it’s no surprise that MSU’s defense, more specifically the secondary, proved to be the team’s Achilles' heel in the College Football Playoff.
The Spartans struggled with injuries all throughout the season which led to a lack of depth. When it became crunch time for MSU against Alabama, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban challenged his future coaching successor and got the best of Dantonio, resulting in a 38-0 rout on New Year's Eve.
But it’s a new year now — guys who saw time last season are now experienced leaders, and the Spartans’ depth chart is now healthy and replenished. And with many newcomers on the team, veteran leadership is going to be one of the most decisive factors that will affect MSU’s success.
“It was good getting guys experience last year because now I feel like this is one of the deepest secondaries we’ve had,” fifth-year senior Demetrious Cox said. “We can go two or three deep and I can be comfortable with Khari Willis, Grayson Miller or Tyson Smith or some of the younger guys playing too.”
The coaching staff also expects improvements from the secondary.
“I think we go pretty deep at safety and at corner,” head coach Mark Dantonio said at 2016 MSU Football Media Day. “There are guys like Vayante Copeland who are back which is big plus guys like (Darian) Hicks who got playing time last year, he’s back and has played very well.”
Many of the Spartans returning on offense are guys that saw significant playing time last season. Guys like fifth-year seniors Riley Bullough and Cox, senior Darian Hicks and junior Malik McDowel are all expected to spearhead leadership roles on the defense for the upcoming season.
Fifth-year seniors like McDowell and Bullough are vocal leaders that bring intensity both on and off the field. They have the potential to be the biggest playmakers on the defense, with the chance at recognition on a national scale.
“I’m actually more excited for the leadership this season than the skill level,” linebacker coach and co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel said. “There’s no doubt that Riley (Bullough)’s passion, his enthusiasm and his football intelligence and ability to study the game are great leadership tools. That lets the younger guys pick up on the same enthusiasm and the same love of the game. The more contagious it gets and the more it spreads.”
McDowell will be looking to improve from an already good season last year, where he recorded 13 tackles, 4.5 sacks and one interception in 2015.
“I think with success comes even more responsibility,” Dantonio said. “When it’s pointed out to you that you have that kind of ability then you have to play to that ability, that’s a challenge that everyone hopes to have in their football career. (McDowell) can get to that point where he’s playing like a first-team All-American. He can and he should, and I believe he will.”
With the season looming, Dantonio and his staff have high expectations for their defense.
“I think we have the players in place to be as good, if not better than last year,” Dantonio said. “We’ve got a lot of younger guys that are very talented but have very unique skill-sets. It’s too early to give details on everybody but I think our linebacker group and our secondary group has experience and that means being able to make adjustments from game-to-game.“
