EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State's defensive front seven turned heads last year, when the Spartans led the Big Ten in both rushing and total defense.
In MSU's 2012 season opener, the group -- which defensive end Marcus Rush says calls the "Spartan Dogs" -- served notice that it could be even better than a year ago by shutting down traditional offensive powerhouse Boise State at Spartan Stadium.
Rush and outside linebacker Denicos Allen said the "key" to their effectiveness, beyond simply the talent level, is truly playing as one.
"Chemistry is the key for us," said Rush, who last season was selected as a freshman All-America by The Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America. "We play well together and do it the right way.
"And we are together all the time off the field as well. The only people we really hang out with are each other.
"(Middle linebacker) Max Bullough and (defensive tackle) Ty Hoover are probably my best friends. But I'm good friends with (end) William Gholston and everybody. We're a family, for sure."
Allen added, "We go at it together non-stop, and hustle and play for each other. We have that swagger that we can't be stopped."
Central Michigan, which beat Southeast Missouri State, 38-27, in its opener, is the next challenge for the Spartans, on Saturday in Mount Pleasant. The Chippewas have an experienced quarterback in Ryan Radcliff, whose 6,930 passing yards are second most in school history, but nothing like the firepower Boise State brought to East Lansing.
The Spartans made a definite impression in shutting down the Broncos.
"Michigan State is a very talented team, and they have a very strong front seven," said Boise State offensive guard Joe Kellogg after the Spartans' 17-13 win on Aug. 31. "They gave us trouble. They were moving a lot. I think we could have executed better, but they outplayed us tonight. They made more plays than us.
"It is probably the best front seven that I have played against, in my 23rd start."
Boise State leads the nation with a 41.95 scoring average per game since 2000, and was denied an offensive touchdown for the first time since Sept. 27, 1997.
The Broncos have played the likes of Georgia, TCU and Virginia Tech the past two seasons, but Kellogg said the Spartans were superior up front to any team he's played.
"That was a huge compliment coming from him because they've played some pretty talented defenses," Spartans outside linebacker Chris Norman said.
Norman and Bullough join quarterback Andrew Maxwell as this year's tri-captains, and so much of the team's leadership flows out of the front seven.
The group has to overcome losing two starters in defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, a second-round pick by the Green Bay Packers, and nose tackle Kevin Pickelman. Both were central in Michigan State leading the conference with 100.5 yards rushing and 277.4 yards total offense allowed per game.
With Micajah Reynolds and Anthony Rashad White filling those tackle spots, and Hoover seeing considerable playing time up front, the Spartans limited Boise State to 37 yards on 24 carries and 206 yards total offense.
"We stayed in our gaps, did what we are supposed to do and played hard," Rush said of stopping the Boise State running attack.
Although Boise State passed for a modest 169 yards, the Spartans had no sacks and just two quarterback hurries.
Rush said quarterback Joe Southwick's three-step drop approach had much to do with that. MSU coach Mark Dantonio agreed, also pointing out that he sees a need for improvement by some players and in overall unit function.
"I thought we played well up front against the run," Dantonio said. "They did a good job protecting the quarterback. But Boise, last year when I watched all their film, gave up eight sacks the entire season. Four of them, I think the quarterback just fell down and took the sack. He didn't get pressured. He just sort of tripped on something. So they protect the quarterback very well. That is built in for them.
"But our guys up front can play. They need to continue to try and improve. I think we can make improvement there as well. We haven't played as well as we have in the past at certain positions. Again, you're nitpicking, saying, ‘What can we do to get better?'
"But I thought Max Bullough played very, very well, and Denicos Allen played very, very well. I think those are the two guys from the front seven that played extremely well."
Even without Gholston, the unit's most heralded player, making a single tackle, the Spartans virtually shut down Boise State.
Bullough led the team with seven tackles and broke up one pass, and Allen made three tackles and recovered one fumble. Gholston did break up one pass and had one quarterback hurry.
Norman said the high expectations of Dantonio and defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi are the most important factor in their success.
"It's the expectations," Norman said. "Coach Narduzzi expects you to win every play. He gets after us in practice and gives us that mind-set. You can hear him shouting, ‘Win every play!'"
Narduzzi gnaws at perfection like a dog on a bone, and his "Spartan Dogs" often come close to attaining it for him.
