Michigan State Defensive Veterans Picking Up New System Quickly

New Michigan State defensive coordinator Joe Rossi has been impressed with the returning Spartans and how quickly they have adopted his scheme.

It's not easy to learn a new system, especially when one is being implemented in a program a player has already been a part of and grown accustomed to.

But that has not stopped the progress of some of Michigan State football's defensive leaders, who have quickly adapted to the new defensive scheme Spartans defensive coordinator Joe Rossi has taught throughout spring practice.

"I think the guys who have shown themselves, played the most football [have been the ones the catch on the quickest]," Rossi said when he addressed the media after the Spartans' spring practice last Tuesday. "We have guys who played a lot over the years. D. Harm [Derrick Harmon] is a guy who played a lot of football; Cal [Haladay] played a lot of football; Jaden Mangham played a lot of football. I'm seeing a lot of good stuff from all of the guys.

"Most of our guys have seen significant jumps. We just got to keep at it. There are more installs to come. We're making that final two-week push before spring ball ends."

Rossi, who coached at Minnesota over its last seven seasons, said working with the new group has been "awesome."

"We have a really good people here on the staff," Rossi said. "We have really good players in terms of people. It's the opposite of the last situation from this standpoint. We've been there for a while, the system's been in place.

"Now, this is starting over. Every time there's a new challenge, we all feel the energy to it, you kind of have to up your game a little bit. It's been fun."

Rossi has plenty of experience coaching in the Big Ten, as the longtime college coach spent four seasons at Rutgers prior to joining Minnesota (Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, Rossi's third season with the program). Along with some other roles he held, Rossi served as a defensive coordinator at both Rutgers and Minnesota.

Rossi played defensive end at Allegheny College prior to his coaching career. He was named a three-time All-North Coast Athletic Conference honoree as a member of the Gators.

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