Defense Rules In Showdown of Spartans and Wolverines

Chase Winovich (15) and Mike McCray lead a Michigan defense that is one of the best in the country (Michigan Daily)

Ever since Michigan running back Mike Hart uttered the famous phrase about Michigan State being the Wolverines "little brother," things have ratcheted up a notch or two.

The Spartans have won seven of the last nine meetings, including the improbable 27-23 victory in Ann Arbor in 2015, on a botched punt snap that was returned for a touchdown with no time left on the clock. Michigan hasn't lost a game at home to teams not named Ohio State since that contest, and is 15-2 at home in Harbaugh's tenure.

Some Michigan fans will say the Spartans are actually the biggest rival -- though that's borne out of not being able to beat the Buckeyes, the true top rival, in forever -- and Spartans coach Mark Dantonio says it should be treated differently from other games.

“You play in a rivalry game, it's not just another football game. It means more,” Dantonio said. “It means more for your fans. It means more to the players on your team from instate or from that particular rivalry position, however -- whatever rivalry game it is. It just means more.

"(Hart's comment) really hasn't changed it for me. It's really sort of still the same as far as how I've always approached it ever since I was an assistant here. I guess that's a rallying cry for some, but I am who I am and I just react the way I react sometimes. We get ready to play; they have got a good football team. I have a great amount of respect for what they have accomplished down there. Always have had that. My goal when I came here was to make that a rivalry. I think it's a rivalry. We'll leave it at that."

Both squads are fixtures near the top of the national defensive rankings, Michigan ranking first in total defense and Michigan State fifth. The Wolverines are one of just four teams in America allowing opponents less than four yards per play (3.52), and they've been especially stingy against the run, allowing 69.3 yards and just one touchdown.

"We've got to get our tailbacks going, our running game going a little bit better," Dantonio said. "But the running game on is predicated on so many other things on other levels. ... The main focus is we have to find different ways to do things. We did that against Iowa and it worked out."

Running the ball against Michigan is easier said than done, especially since the Wolverines have been able to get opponents behind the chains for most the season. Michigan is third in the nation in opponents third down conversions, allowing just over 19 percent.

"We're playing at a very high level, our linebackers and our defensive line are playing extremely well as is our secondary," UM coach Jim Harbaugh said. "We look at it as an all-11, a team defense approach. That's the style of the defense that (coordinator) Don Brown has implemented."

It may or may not be a good sign that quarterback Brian Lewerke is Michigan State's leading rusher, with 248 yards. On one hand, he has versatility and can make some plays on RPO, but it also means that the Spartans power run game isn't clicking the way it should be. Running back L.J. Scott was a darkhorse for conference honors in the preseason, but has averaged just 3.7 yards per carry with just one touchdown.

Lewerke found a new best friend last week in receiver Felton Davis III, who grabbed nine passes for 114 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Michigan State's win over Iowa last weekend, but the air attack is still largely a work in progress. Michigan is fifth in the country in sacks (18), so Lewerke will have to be at his best to avoid negative plays.

Michigan State QB Brian Lewerke (Detroit Free Press)

"I think he's always been a good quarterback, he's definitely getting better and better. Ascending as he goes," Harbaugh said. "You can see it game by game. Very talented thrower, very good arm talent. He's athletic and is able to and has the instincts of a runner and is able to pick up yards as a ball carrier. He has an ability to make the big play and seems to be in command when he's on the field. All really good things."

Michigan is powered by defensive end Chase Winovich, who has 5.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. Active linebacker Devin Bush adds 4.5 sacks as well as an ability to drop into coverage, and captain Mike McCray has 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks, and provides immeasurable leadership to a young but talented unit.

The Spartans will be facing John O'Korn at quarterback, and he pushes the ball down the field better than incumbent Wilton Speight, who is out with an injury. O'Korn played well in relief against Purdue, and has a robust 11.4 yards per attempt while completing over 70 percent of his passes. He may be asked to throw a bit more as Michigan State is stout against the run, ranking 16th nationally with 96 yards allowed per game. 

"John's done a fantastic job ever since he got here in every role that he's been in," Harbaugh said. "He's acquitted himself well, including coming off the bench and leading our team to victory against Purdue. I think that speaks volumes."

Ty Isaac has been the Wolverines lead back, averaging 6.3 yards per carry and 89 yards per game. Grant Perry has paced an unspectacular receiving corps, catching 13 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. 

Michigan State is led by end Joe Bachie, who has 34 tackles and four tackles for loss. Linebacker Chris Frey is one of the most active members of the Spartans D, amassing 20 stops and 2.5 sacks. The Spartans allow just 18 points per game and are keeping opposing passers to a paltry 48.2 completion percentage, so Michigan will have its work cut out.

"If you're going to play well defensively in any game, you have to tackle well," Dantonio said. "You have to play the ball well in the deep part of the field and match them up and protect the quarterback. That's our mindset as we go into any football game, but I thought we played extremely well up front and we won at the line of scrimmage (against Iowa), which you have to be able to do."

The teams will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night, which will add a little bit of juice to the proceedings -- though that likely won't be needed, as both teams have plenty on the line.

“I understand that there’s night games and I’ve said this before: I think as a player there’s an exciting part of that, especially the way the pants, the silks, there’s a shine there kind of like…yeah, night games are cool," Harbaugh said. "Yeah, there’s a part of me that’s excited about that. I think there’s a part that excited the players as well, playing under the lights.”

After winning just four games last year, Michigan State is trying to get back to the top of the Big Ten, which is where it was in 2015. Beating Michigan in Ann Arbor will go a long way toward reaching that goal, and the fact that it's a rivalry contest would make it even sweeter. Some coaches will downplay that aspect, but not Dantonio.

"I think that's all coach talk, personally," he said. "I think coaches know what games are important. They understand. They can stand up here and say, `well, this is just another football game,' but it's not.

We play in a Championship Game; it's not just another football game. You play in a rivalry game; it's not just another football game. It means more. It means more for your fans, it means more to the players on your team from instate or from that particular rivalry position, whatever rivalry game it is. It just means more. And I think it's great for college football. I think it's what makes college football in a lot of ways. I think people anticipate these games, look towards the schedule and probably look at the season, and as they are getting their season tickets and say, `Oh, we have that particular game,' whatever it is, wherever you're at, at home this particular time.

"So I think that's pretty traditional across this country, and that's how we've approached it here. Doesn't mean that anybody else has to approach anything in this type of way but that's how we've approached it here."