Michigan State football: With run game starting to click, Spartans need more TDs

EAST LANSING – Aidan Chiles saw this coming, even if it took Michigan State football a half season for it to come to fruition.

The sophomore quarterback knew and sensed the Spartans’ offensive line and running game would produce. Even if the first six games showed otherwise, averaging only 120.2 rushing yards to rank 102nd nationally going into their bye week.

“I don’t think they were ever struggling. I think we just weren’t clicking as an offense,” Chiles said Tuesday. “I don’t think it was on them. That O-line does great things.”

Michigan State running back Nate Carter (5) runs against Michigan defensive back Makari Paige (7) during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

For two straight games, the line and running backs put together resurgent performances on the ground. MSU followed its season-high 212 rushing yards in a win over Iowa with 163 more in Saturday’s 24-17 loss at Michigan, with the blockers carving out holes and Nate Carter and Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams churning their legs and getting the larger chunks that coach Jonathan Smith pleaded for early in the season much more frequently.

“It’s been really a collaborative effort for us as an offensive staff, and obviously (offensive coordinator Brian) Lindgren, to get the run game going, something that was lacking,” running backs coach Keith Bhonepha said Tuesday. “I think about my group – just more emphasis on not being decisive … and not being hesitant in the hole. And I think the guys are really starting to believe in that based on the O-line, the tight ends, the receivers (blocking), and then us doing a great job up front of trusting where those spaces will be.

“Using the verbiage that I like to use, it’s puncturing in the hole. And I think that’s really been the big difference as a group.”

The…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-run-game-101011670.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2024-10-30 10:10:11

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