MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — What was the most pressing issue in the Big Ten entering Saturday’s games?
According to Gerry DiNardo of the Big Ten Network, it was improvement in the passing game by Michigan State. New quarterback Andrew Maxwell had sputtered in the opener with Boise State, and his receivers dropped some balls in a so-so effort.
DiNardo, the former coach at LSU, Indiana and Vanderbilt, reasoned that the passing game was the only ingredient lacking in State’s hopes of becoming one of college football’s premier teams. That’s why it was pressing in his mind.
After a slow start at Central Michigan, with Maxwell overthrowing several open receivers and nearly getting picked off by Central Michigan cornerback Lorenzo White, Maxwell began drilling the ball and hitting receivers in stride.
Bennie Fowler, a junior from Detroit Country Day, ended up being his favorite receiver.
Fowler caught eight for 99 yards and one touchdown after letting another score go right through his hands.
Maxwell spread out the ball to seven receivers — including defensive end Lawrence “L.T.” Thomas, a new “dual” threat — and completed 20 of 31 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
It was without a doubt the kind of quarterback performance that wins games. But what did it really prove beating the Chippewas, 41-7? Don’t get me wrong. It was a definite step in the right direction, but if Maxwell and company click like this next Saturday night at home against Notre Dame, it will mean so much more.
And after getting routed last year by the Irish, 31-13, in South Bend, the Spartans are eager to have a big game against Notre Dame.
“Notre Dame got a big win against us last year,” said Tony Lippett, who had two catches for 21 yards. “We want to come out and dominate. They dominated us last year at their place, and now we want to dominate. They are coming to our house.”
Keep in mind that the Spartans got waxed last year even with Kirk Cousins throwing for 329 yards. B.J. Cunningham grabbed 12 for 158 yards, but couldn’t find the end zone. Tight end Dion Sims caught the lone touchdown pass.
Central Michigan coach Dan Enos, the former MSU quarterback and assistant coach, said he was impressed with Maxwell. Then he rattled off the names of Cousins, Cunningham and receiver Keshawn Martin — all of whom are on NFL rosters.
“They’ve just got to get these guys up to that level,” Enos said.
And the players filling their shoes aim to do that.
“We do not know how long it will take us to match up to Kirk and B.J. and Keshawn,” said Fowler. “But we’ll get there.”
Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said the winds, pushing 20 mph at kickoff, affected Maxwell in the first quarter. But he picked it up after that.
“We had to get Maxwell and our wideouts going,” Dantonio said. “I thought we did that.”
The Spartans picked up momentum on the second touchdown drive that spanned the first and second quarters and never looked back.
Maxwell hit Fowler for 12 yards for the drive’s initial first down, and then fired an out-cut pass to Keith Mumphery that resulted in 29 yards with Mumphery breaking a tackle.
Maxwell’s 10-yard pass to Lippett over the middle against tight, one-on-one coverage put the ball on the CMU 11-yard line.
Two carries by Le’Veon Bell got it into the end zone from there, and the Spartans had hit stride.
“It always makes you feel good when you can move the ball like that,” said Maxwell, who credited his blockers for allowing him the time to throw.
The No. 11 Spartans (2-0) have not allowed a sack in two games, and the experienced and talented linemen such as right guard Chris McDonald and left tackle Dan France are the unsung heroes of this offense.
Bell had 18 carries for 70 yards and two touchdowns. Those are not statistics that will aid his Heisman Trophy hopes. But know this: The only reason Bell did not get more carries for more yards was because the game was not on the line. Had it been, he would’ve been there.
Still, Bell was smiling afterward. He enjoyed answering questions about his teammates.
“Maxwell is getting more comfortable,” Bell said. “He’s getting his feet wet.”
And then there was Thomas, moving into the backfield for the first time.
“L.T. has got the skills on the offensive side,” Bell said, “and he’s got the skills on the defensive side. He’s going to make plays for us.”
Dantonio elected to line him up at fullback or H-back for several plays.
Thomas, 6 feet 3 and 295 pounds, looked rather odd lining up in the backfield wearing his No. 8 – which belonged last year to Cousins.
He threw some blocks and also grabbed a 7-yard pass that brought to mind Chicago Bears defensive tackle William “The Refrigerator” Perry scoring a touchdown at fullback in Super Bowl XX against the New England Patriots.
“L.T. is a guy who obviously is a great football player,” Dantonio said. “We’ve got to get him going somewhere – whether it’s tight end, fullback or defensive end. He can move some people. But I still look at him as a defensive player down the road.”
State’s defensive line is so good that Thomas is having trouble getting much time there. Defensive end William Gholston stepped it up after getting nary a tackle in the opener, and led the team with seven tackles (two for losses), one sack, two quarterback hurries and a pass break-up.
“We didn’t give up any defensive TDs,” said Gholston, “but I felt we still had to cut down more on the yards we allowed.”
A greedy defender is a good defender. However, Gholston is a sharer. He offered reporters hot dogs from a box filled with them, but didn’t get any takers.
However, allowing just 245 yards will win on almost any Saturday. The lone Chippewas score came on Jason Wilson’s 55-yard return after picking off backup quarterback Connor Cook.
Next, the Spartans aim to shine on both sides of the ball against No. 22 Notre Dame – 2-0 after beating Big Ten conference dark horse Purdue, 20-17, on Saturday .
“We’ve got to show everybody every week that we’re a great passing team,” said Fowler.
Depending on Bell, who rushed for 210 against Boise State, to pull out every game against a Top 25 opponent is expecting too much.
“You don’t want to be an offense that is one-dimensional,” Maxwell said. “That can lead to becoming no-dimensional.”
