Through four games, Michigan State's offense is tied for 90th in the nation with 381 yards per game, and have committed eight turnovers — three lost fumbles and five interceptions.
This isn't where co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner wants his offense to be a third of the way into the season.
“The word ‘potential’ has been out there since January, and we certainly haven’t reached that yet,” Warner said to reporters Wednesday. “We certainly haven’t come anywhere close to that. We talk about what we’re capable of as an offense, and I think we all know that we haven’t gotten there yet.”
Warner said the offense wants to have balance, but MSU's averaging 129.8 rushing yards per game — 104th in the nation.
Warner said this can be difficult to do, especially when quarterback Brian Lewerke is throwing 249.75 yards per game, almost double the run production.
“If you’re throwing the ball well, obviously the tendency is to just keep throwing it, but we still need to put the ball in our tailbacks’ hands,” Warner said.
With running back LJ Scott out for the foreseeable future with an ankle injury, the running game has weighed on the shoulders of Connor Heyward and La’Darius Jefferson, who are both still learning the position. But Warner said he’s been impressed with both so far.
“Connor, obviously, has been here a little longer so he’s had a little bit more experience on his side as far as making that transition,” Warner said. “He’s done a great job of it. We all know he’s a versatile guy, can do a lot of things.
“As far as La’Darius, he's made the transition exceptionally well. He’s done a great job of running between the tackles for a guy that really, probably hasn’t played running back.”
Coach Mark Dantonio said on Tuesday he originally offered a scholarship to Jefferson for him to be a linebacker. But he said he saw too much of Le’Veon Bell in Jefferson to not put him at running back.
“Le’Veon did so much as a high school player and I knew (Jefferson) could play probably outside ‘backer if he didn’t play tailback and keep hearing all the different things about him as leader as well,” Dantonio said. “But I just kept watching that film and watching him take the ball on his quarterback, midline options and duck it up inside and make abrupt cuts. I thought, I just kept saying, ‘Hey, if he learns how to play at tailback and continue to make those abrupt cuts, staying vertical with his pads low and running through tacklers he’ll be an excellent tailback’ so we decided to take him, or offer him.”
Heyward, who mostly played wide receiver and safety at Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Georgia, is also adjusting to being in the backfield.
“Last year, I played a lot, but not really,” Heyward said after practice Tuesday. “My role wasn’t as valuable as it is now.”
Lewerke limiting turnovers; Getting used to injured wide receivers
Until the rushing attack improves, Lewerke and the pass offense will need to stay even keeled.
But two of Lewerke’s weapons, wide receivers Cody White (broken left hand) and Darrell Stewart Jr. (unknown injury) – who didn’t dress in MSU’s 31-20 win last Saturday – are out until further notice.
Lewerke’s five interceptions and two fumbles lead all Big Ten quarterbacks in turnovers.
“I think we’ve done a good job of not fumbling, now it’s just me not throwing interceptions, so we gotta clean that up," Lewerke said.
Out of the starting receiving core — White, Stewart and Felton Davis III — the only one that's available is Davis, who Lewerke said will likely draw more attention from defenses.
He also said Northwestern probably knows this as well.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
“They might throw a couple double teams on him, but I’m still focused on trying to get him the ball,” Lewerke said. “I have full confidence he can catch it every time I go there.”
Senior Brandon Sowards is replacing White, and sophomore Laress Nelson listed second in the depth chart behind Stewart.
“Sowards has been here awhile, he knows the plays, he’s one of the faster receivers if not the fastest on the team,” Lewerke said. “So he’s got the speed, he knows everything and it’s just the matter of getting him the ball.”
Lewerke said he doesn't see the changing wide receiver line up hindering the offense.
“Obviously, the main guys have been in, but I still have relationships with all of the guys. I don’t think that’s gonna be an issue for us at all," Lewerke said.
