Mark Dantonio Addresses the State of Michigan State with the latest information from Spartan Football

Mark Dantonio with the latest information from Spartan Football: Q: How are you as coaches and players regrouping? Dantonio: As coaches we were out

Mark Dantonio with the latest information from Spartan Football:

Q: How are you as coaches and players regrouping?

Dantonio: As coaches we were out recruiting, but I think we are. There is always disappointment when you lose a big football game but, young people are resilient. We’ll be able to move past that. We had opportunities to win the football game and we just didn’t take advantage of it ultimately and that is what cost us.

Hondo: You have talked a few times over the last couple of years about more mobility from the QB and running the ball. Do you need more of that from Connor so at least teams have to think about it?

Dantonio: Yea. I think that will come. You have to remember that he came out of the Jacksonville State game with a knee (injury) a little bit. After that hit. He pushed through it and was able to play and play well. I think there was a little bit of concern about him, the running aspect. I do expect that to happen. I think that is what is needed in college football. To be ultimately successful you have to be able to create and move the pocket. There is no question about that. I think he did that, really almost the first total three quarters and not so much in the fourth. I think that is going to come.

Q: Is the running game a big point of emphasis in the bye week?

Dantonio: You always want to stay balanced and be able to run the ball effectively. If you can do that it makes things easy. We need to continue to work towards that, but playing a good football team had something to do with it. You’ve got to stay balanced.

Q: is there a part of you that wished you didn’t have the bye?

Dantonio: I always get that question whether we win or lose. I don’t worry about it because you can’t control it. You take it as it comes.

Q: How is the competition on your team for spots?

Dantonio: I think always in the bye week you try to address different things. Make some corrections. As much as anything you want to stay the course, as it pertains to technique work and things of that nature. Do some of the things you need to do and move towards the next game, but not totally.

Q: How much did that Oregon game take out of you guys?

Dantonio: I don’t know. I don’t think it took anything out of us. I think when you have a chance to win and you got to think when you are up by nine in the third quarter with six minutes to go you got a chance, it’s just a disappointment. Young people are resilient. I think we are as well. It’s the beginning of the season so you just have to refocus and regroup and move to the next challenge. That’s what we have to do. If you don’t then there is danger of falling again. We’ll do that. We’ve always been like that. We are going to press on, but at the same time. You have to understand, you had a chance to win, you have to play with confidence and respond when there is an opportunity. One side or the other or special teams. You have to make good on some of the little things that are basically in your control. Some things are not in our control and some things are. The things that are in our control we have to be able to do.

Q: Where the communication mistakes on defense in one particular area?

Dantonio: When I said the miscommunication it was extremely loud there. We had it quitter for a while. But then it got very loud in the fourth quarter. They were making changes and checks at the offensive side of the ball and moving their people around which translates to us making changes as well. Some of that didn’t get done because I think it was loud. Whether it was a hand signal or whether it was an immediate yell to another player. Whatever it was we didn’t get it done. I don’t think it was a miscommunication and that is why we lost; I just think we blew some things. And then there were some things that were in our control and we didn’t do. From a technique standpoint.

Q: Are you surprised your run game went flat in the third quarter?

Dantonio: Yea. I think the way we were running the ball in the second quarter and the start of the third I think we needed to continue to do that. I don’t have an answer for that other than Oregon started to get us in passing situations and they’ve got a good football team.

Q: But you’ve had people stack the box before and still ran, was Jeremy’s ankle a reason for that?

Dantonio: Well you can look at that, but he played in the game, he was capable.

Hondo: Any depth chart changes YET with the ones?

Dantonio: Not as of NOW, but we are going to let some other guys compete and get some reps.

Q: What are your thoughts on PSU being eligible for playing in bowl games and for the championship?

Dantonio: I think it is a good thing. I think it is a good thing for Penn State and the Big Ten conference and the Penn State players. I applaud the people that made that decision. Those are young people. Those are the ones taking the hit.

Q: Do you think all of your goals are still there?

Dantonio: I think all of our goals are still there. The number one goal is to get into that playoff game. If we do that good things are going to happen. That’s what we can control. Some of the things we can’t control, but that’s what we can control.

Q: Tony Lippett has had an amazing first two games.

Dantonio: Tony has been a great player for us last year; I think he really responded last year. Then I think he has grown as a leader, I think he has outstanding skills and doing everything he needs to do.

Q: When you coaches were out recruiting what was the attention the Oregon game got?

Dantonio: For the most part I would say it is positive. I didn’t really bring it up. One guys said, “Weren’t you in that game on Saturday?” I said yea.

Q: After watching the film what was your evaluation of Connor’s play overall in that Oregon game?

Dantonio: I thought Connor played very well, but in the fourth quarter he needs to play better. He’d be the first to admit that. Coming down the stretch that is where your quarterback has to play very very well. He has opportunities to do those things and he is good enough. He’s proven he is good enough so his standards are extremely high. If it was last year at this time I would say he had an excellent game. But it is this year and this time and if you want to play at that level your quarterback has to play at that level. That is just the way it is. I’m sure he wishes he had a couple of plays back, because he has the ability to make those key plays.

Q: What is the status of 2014 LB recruit (Signed letter of intent did report to campus) Deon Drake?

Dantonio: Deon will forego his first semester here, and continue getting things squared away eligibility wise.