No. 1 defense comes to ’Shoe on Saturday

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Michigan State isn’t ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.

It’s defense, however, is ranked as the best in the country.

The Spartans are listed No. 1 in total defense in the nation heading into their Big Ten opener at Ohio State on Saturday.

It’s a point of pride, but nothing more; there are too many games left on the schedule.

“You can sit there and say, ‘OK, this is what we’ve done thus far in four games; let’s move to the fifth game and see if we can continue doing it,’” Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said. “It should give our players a sense of confidence.”

The Spartans (3-1) are giving up 172.25 yards a game. Alabama is second at 184, followed by Central Florida (190), Virginia Tech (231) and Florida (232). (LSU, considered by many to have a defense chocked with NFL first-round draft picks, is 20th at 289 yards a game against a much more difficult schedule.)

The Buckeyes, also 3-1 going into the game, are well aware of the Spartans’ impressive stats.

“Michigan State is probably as good up front as we’ve seen,” Ohio State interim coach Luke Fickell said. “They’re going to definitely get on your guys outside. They’re going to put pressure on you, whether it’s with four, five or six men. I think we understand that. How we handle it will be the key.”

Ohio State left guard Jack Mewhort said Spartans’ game film is like watching a horror movie.

“I’ve been watching a lot of film. They’ve got good players,” he said. “They don’t do as much stuff as we’ve seen with other teams but that’s because they’ve got good guys who can play more straight up. We’re preparing for that.”

Granted, Michigan State’s defense hasn’t exactly been tested by top-10 teams.

It held Florida Atlantic to 48 yards of offense, Central Michigan to 112 and Youngstown State to 254. In the Spartans’ only loss, a 31-13 setback at Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish picked up 358 yards.

The Spartans are eighth in the nation in scoring defense (11 points a game).

“Thus far we’ve played well on defense,” Dantonio said. “But in the end, it’s the points you give up. We can’t forget about points you give up is the ultimate — which we’re doing well in that, too.”

Linebacker Max Bullough with 24 tackles, linebacker Denicos Allen (five tackles for a loss), “star” (a hybrid of a defensive back and linebacker) Chris Norman (18 tackles), strong safety Isaiah Lewis (two interceptions) and tackle Jerel Worthy (the team’s top pass rusher) lead the Michigan State defense.

The unit will go against Ohio State’s freshman quarterback, Braxton Miller, who is making his second college start on Saturday. The Buckeyes are last in the Big Ten in total offense (341 yards a game).