Josiah Scott handles hype, first interception with aplomb Land of 10
Josiah Scott calls it his “Spartan Dawg” mentality. The Michigan State freshman cornerback wants to be the best. And once he gets there, he wants to make sure nobody catches him. After his first week, Scott was already deemed the best — at least according to Pro Football Focus, which rated him the best true freshman of college football’s opening week. So, what was the next step? Not getting complacent. He had to go out against Western Michigan and prove he could do it week in and week out.
Notes: Michigan State keeps faith, ball in LJ Scott’s hands when it counts Detroit Free Press
LJ Scott wanted the ball. Mark Dantonio obliged. With Michigan State facing a fourth-and-1 near midfield Saturday against Western Michigan, Scott went up to his coach on the sideline during a time-out. “I was actually kind of in Coach D’s ear asking for the ball,” Scott said.
Couch: Michigan State’s defense makes an impression – these Spartans might just be OK Lansing State Journal
Michigan State’s defense is in better shape than I thought. Or at least it’s better than USC’s defense — which is something considering how those two programs finished last season and the expectations for both entering this one.
Two games in, zero touchdowns allowed by Michigan State defense MLive
The Michigan State player who notches the biggest bone-crushing hit each week is awarded a bone to carry around. The defender credited with the most destruction gets a sledgehammer. Those individual awards are part of a collective effort that, through two games, has been solid for the Spartans.
Stewart comes up short of end zone, big for MSU again Detroit News
Darrell Stewart Jr. saw the end zone and was getting ready for the celebration, the first touchdown of his career only steps away. The Michigan State sophomore receiver came up 2 yards short in the opener last week against Bowling Green, but that was about to go out the window as he took the ball around the left end on a jet sweep and scampered toward the end zone.
Overheard after Michigan State’s win over Western Michigan Saturday Detroit Free Press
Here’s what Michigan State and Western Michigan football players and coaches said after the Spartan’s 28-14 victory at Spartan Stadium
Spartan coaches maintain faith in LJ Scott Detroit News
For the past week, there was some question where LJ Scott stood in Michigan State’s running game. The junior running back — Michigan State’s leading rusher each of the past two seasons — had fumbled twice in the season-opening win over Bowling Green. The first came near the goal line on the first drive of the game and the second was picked up and returned for a touchdown.
‘Goal-line Stu,’ Darrell Stewart, still seeks first TD Detroit Free Press
Darrell Stewart has a new nickname, all because he fell short. The 6-foot-1, 198-pound sophomore fell a yard short of the end zone on a 46-yard rush late in the third quarter of Michigan State’s 28-14 win over Western Michigan on Saturday. He was taken down by Broncos cornerback Obbie Jackson, brother of MSU receiver Trishton Jackson.
Grading Michigan State’s win over Western Michigan MLive
Michigan State improved to 2-0 with a 28-14 win against Western Michigan on Saturday. Here are snap-judgement grades for the Spartans in their victory against the Broncos
LJ Scott holds on to the ball, has redemptive performance for Michigan State MLive
Just when Michigan State needed him most, LJ Scott looked like LJ Scott again. Michigan State faced a 4th-and-1 early in the fourth quarter on Saturday, holding a 21-7 lead over Western Michigan early in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Spartan Stadium. Scott, to that point, had rushed for just 19 yards on the day. On the season, he was averaging a dismal 2.8 yards per rush and had given up two costly fumbles.
Brian Lewerke shows off speed while setting career high MLive
Eric Assoua had a fraction of a second to make a decision. The Western Michigan defensive end could target either Michigan State running back LJ Scott or quarterback Brian Lewerke. Assoua chose poorly, and he wasn’t the only one.
Michigan State says seven fumbles in two games is ‘unacceptable’ MLive
They’ve come from strips, bad snaps and just plain drops. They’ve come from quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. With a hefty seven fumbles through just two games, there’s no easy solution to what’s become one of Michigan State’s biggest issues. “Obviously that’s unacceptable,” Michigan State co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner said of the fumble total. “It’s something we continue to stress but obviously we need to do more of it, because I mean you can’t do it.”
Defensive line excels vs. Western Michigan Spartan Avenue
The defensive line’s domination in overwhelming the offensive line consistently forced Bronco quarterback Jon Wassink to throw hastened and errant passes which otherwise may have been completed. Wassink threw for just 79 yards, completing 12-of-27 passes (he had 37 yards in the game’s first 55 minutes).
LJ Scott bounces back after fumbling issues against Bowling Green State News
In last week’s 35-10 win against Bowling Green State University, the Spartans fumbled the ball a combined four times, losing three of them. Out of those three lost fumbles, LJ Scott accounted for two. On Saturday against the Broncos, Scott didn’t let the ball hit the ground once. Scott said he tried to put the fumbles last week “behind him.” “As far as individually, I knew I had to step up and bounce back for the team,” Scott said.
How does 2017 Michigan State, off to a 2-0 start once again, compare to the 2016 Spartans so far? Land of 10
The Michigan State players shared mixed opinions Saturday about having a September bye week for the second straight season. Coming off a 28-14 win over Western Michigan at Spartan Stadium, the 2-0 Spartans won’t play again until Sept. 23, when they will host Notre Dame for an 8 p.m. ET game. Once again, they’ll get a weekend off before facing the Irish.
Lewerke proving he can be Michigan State’s next great quarterback isportsweb
Jeff Smoker, Drew Stanton, Kirk Cousins and Connor Cook are among the names of great quarterbacks to play at Michigan State. Each player had unique characteristics that made them great, but now Brian Lewerke has taken over the reins as starting quarterback for the Spartans and is trying to create his own legacy. The hype surrounding Lewerke this offseason was massive. Players, coaches and fans new he could play, but could he live up to this massive hype?