Mark Dantonio couldn't get out of his own — and Michigan State football's — way
Shawn WindsorIt’s hard to remember a more brutal loss than what happened to Michigan State football Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium.
It’s also hard to know what Mark Dantonio was thinking when the play clock was ticking down and his team was waiting for him to make a decision.
Eighteen … 17 … 16 …
Michigan State trailed by three against Arizona State Saturday evening when the Spartans moved the ball to the Sun Devils’ 26.
Stunning loss: Michigan State burned by Arizona State
Fan reaction: How did Michigan State blow this?
It was first down. MSU had no timeouts. Eleven seconds remained in the game. Or: enough time to take a shot in the end zone. If it doesn’t work, an incomplete pass stops the clock and the kicking unit sprints onto the field to try to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Yet Dantonio couldn’t decide. So, he stood there. His offense, which had struggled again but was finally moving the ball, stood there, too.
Fifteen … 14 … 13 …
Finally, Dantonio sent out his kicking team. The ball was snapped. The kick flew through the uprights. And Matt Coghlin, who’d already missed two field goals, made amends.
Until a flag dropped. MSU had 12 players on the field.
Dantonio's view: What the officiating crew needs to look at
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But don’t blame the players. Dantonio’s indecisiveness got in the way.
And when Coghlin had to kick again — from five yards farther back — he missed. Don’t blame the kicker, either.
Again, blame the coach. He froze.
And it cost MSU a win.
"Initially we were going to try to take a shot (to the end zone)," Dantonio said. "And then I said hey, 'let’s kick it.' If we catch the ball and we’re not in the end zone, the game is probably over."
It's also probably over if the ball is caught in the end zone. The gamble works both ways.
For everything he has done at MSU, and he’s done enough to get him a win away from history, Dantonio’s stubbornness can still get him.
Playing it conservatively when MSU had a chance to ice the game, for example, the Spartans ran on first and second downs before trying a third-down pass.
Or taking too long to decide that Elijah Collins is the best running back on the team. Or insisting on sitting him to spread the ball to runners without Collins’ gifts.
Twice against ASU, Dantonio and his offensive coordinator, Brad Salem, called for runs to Connor Heyward and second-and-longs. Predictably, the plays went nowhere.
That’s fine. Not every play is going to go some place. But giving an offense its best chance is critical when the offense lacks a certain kind of dynamic play.
Still, the game was there to win in the most Dantonio of ways. The defense had been dominant, save for a few personal foul penalties and the late drive in which ASU scored its only touchdown. And the offense finally got moving in the fourth.
And scored its first touchdown in a way that would’ve fit snugly into a history-making win.
After another dominant defensive series, ASU punted to the Spartans’ steadiest receiver, Cody White, who got the return job because of an injury to Jalen Nailor.
White caught the kick and slipped down the right side of the field, dodging defenders all the way to the Sun Devils’ 35. A holding penalty nullified the return and MSU had to start at its own 30. Meanwhile, White ran off the field holding his left arm.
So here they were, the best receiver hurt on the sideline, two offensive linemen down to injury, an uneasy crowd, and an offense that had moved the ball but still didn’t look completely sure of itself.
Now the offense had just lost nearly 40 yards of field position because of a penalty.
Collins started the drive with a two-yard run. With White sidelined, Dantonio called on freshman receiver Julian Barnett, a rangy, speedy playmaker who offers a different kind of dynamism than the steadier veterans.
On second-and-8, Lewerke hit Barnett on a slant and the freshman burst through a seam, leaned left, then back right, and rolled down the field like a tornado over the plains. It was startling, and fair to wonder why Barnett doesn’t get more opportunity in games.
The next play, Barnett jumped before the ball was snapped. MSU moved back five yards. The freshman went back to the sideline.
First-and-15.
Maybe Barnett isn’t ready in every way. But he sure looks ready in the essential way: talent.
And if that’s frustrating — to see glimpses of speed and dynamism from players Dantonio stashes on the sideline — well, that’s how he runs his program. It’s worked.
Mostly.
It just hasn’t as much lately. Even though White returned and caught a pass and MSU marched into the end zone on the strength of Darrell Stewart’s route-running and Collins’ running. Even though Dantonio's way gave his stellar defense a chance to protect a 7-3 lead and win the game.
MSU could've won. Should've won.
If the coach would stop taking his foot off the gas.
Contact Shawn Windsor: 313-222-6487 or swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @shawnwindsor.
