Michigan State turns to transfer tailbacks to jumpstart subpar ground attack

Michigan State's disappointing 5-7 record a year ago was the culmination of several issues which plagued the Spartans.

From a lack of depth in the trenches at offensive and defensive line, to subpar quarterback play from an injured Payton Thorne, to a lack of offensive balance due to an inability to establish the run. That last part is what MSU running backs coach Effrem Reed is focused on as the Spartans continue fall camp.

“I think for the most part we’re in a good spot and guys have been working hard," Reed said. "They understand as well that last year can’t happen again. There’s a standard at Michigan State when it comes to running the football, and for us we have to uphold that standard every day at practice.”

At the beginning of the offseason, Michigan State's coaches sat down and watched every offensive snap to try to pinpoint areas where the team could improve in 2023. In ways the Spartans' running backs can get better, Reed pointed to focusing on little details that have big consequences.

"There were times where we weren’t as detailed and disciplined as we should have been in certain situations," Reed said. "At the end of the day we have to be consistent with everything. If I tell you your toes have to be at seven and a half yards, that doesn’t mean seven, that doesn’t mean eight. It means seven and a half. So, those little details are going to take us a long way.

“If we’re running some kind of zone scheme, your aiming point is your aiming point. Press the line of scrimmage, make the right read, make the right cut and it’s the consistency factor – doing it over and over again.”

Incoming transfer tailback Jaren Mangham, who has four years of college experience under his belt, echoed Reed's observations from watching film of last season.

“The thing that I like most is that the things that needed to be fixed were little things," Mangham said. "I feel that there were a lot of mental errors and a lot of just little pieces that were missing...Not doing the right footwork, not reading the right [line]backer, or coming off late. It was just little things like that. One guy not really setting the edge, so then the run didn’t really hit the way it’s supposed to hit. And those are all fixable.”

A lot of pieces go into establishing the ground game. The offensive line, tight ends and running backs have to be on the same page. Downfield blocking from wide receviers helps spring big runs. The quarterback has to make sure the offense is lined up correctly and in the right play, based on what he sees from the defense.

Within all these moving parts, Reed highlighted the running backs' responsibility.

“Taking two yards, taking five, taking one – then breaking for 15," Reed said. "Letting the big ones come to you. I think last year, we had an issue where we were trying so hard to make the big play."

The shadow of Kenneth Walker III's outstanding 2021 season still hangs over Michigan State's program, especially the running back room. Not only did Walker's exceptional year raise the expectations of Mel Tucker's program to new heights — (too quickly if we're being honest) — but it also impacted the running backs approach last season, according to Reed.

"Everyone wanted to be Kenneth Walker," Reed said. "We’re coming off an 11-win season, obviously a Heisman trophy candidate who probably should have won the thing – but we’re coming off that year, with that guy and the next guy comes in and they want to be him. Well, everyone’s not Kenneth Walker. You’ve got to play your game, and guys were trying so hard to make the big play. Well, let’s be consistent and do our job and the big plays will take care of themselves.”

Another incoming transfer tailback with experience, Nathan Carter, expanded upon Reed's sentiments.

“At running back, you’ve got to understand you’ve got to be able to take what the defense gives you," Carter said. "If you try to make a big play, you’re going to miss the little things, especially with the way we run our offense.

“It’s one play at a time. So, for us at that position, we’re not trying to score a touchdown on each and every play. We’re trying to take what the defense gives us, make sure that our reads are right and then taking that next play. At the end of the day, if we do break a long one, then it is what it is, but our mindset is not to score a touchdown every time because that’s just not realistic."

A year ago, Michigan State has one of the worst ground games in the country. The Spartans ranked 111th in rush yards per game (113.0) and were tied for 89th in yards per carry (3.76) and rushing touchdowns (16).

Reed was an offensive analyst for Michigan State during Tucker's first year here, before being promoted to running backs coach in 2021. He's seen the highs and the lows of the Spartans' ground game. He knows the pressure the coaching staff, players and program are under to bounce back from last year's disappointment.

“Year 3 has got to be better. There’s no excuses," he said. "The continuity of our staff, we’ve been together this is going on Year 4 now, so there’s no excuses. For us, we’ve got to do a better job teaching, motivating and developing and, obviously, our guys have got to take some ownership as well."

Michigan State's running back room is deep. Mangham and Carter both have multiple years of game experience. Jalen Berger, the Spartans' leading rusher a year ago, also returns for his second season in East Lansing. Throw in veteran Jordan Simmons and young guys like Davion Primm and Jaelon Barbarin and there's enough talent in the room to allow MSU to be better on the ground in 2023.

It's about putting the pieces together and having them fit.

"We’re going to have a lot of good runners," Carter said. "We’re going to have an 1,000-yard rusher, we’re going to have some guys who are going to tote the rock for over 700 yards…That’s what we’re preparing for, that’s our goal and that’s what we want. Because that’s what we know is going to help our team win, is being able to run the football.”

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