
Michigan State running game just isn't the same without LJ Scott
Michigan State fans have been spoiled by LJ Scott’s brilliance through his first three years, where he gained 2,571 yards and made a ton of big plays.
He’s missed when he’s gone, as was the case Saturday night against Indiana. Scott missed the game with an ankle injury, and the Spartans struggled on the ground because of it.
Scott dressed during warmups, but the senior running back wasn’t ready to play. Scott suffered an ankle injury early in thee second half of Michigan State’s 16-13 loss at Arizona State on Sept. 8.
“He’s gotten progressively better over the course of this week,” Dantonio said of Scott after Saturday’s game. “But he hadn’t practiced, so we didn’t play him. We just didn’t feel like playing a guy if he couldn’t practice.”
Scott should be back to practice this week, which is a good thing. The Spartans have their last nonconference game this week against Central Michigan, so there is no need to rush him.
But it’s clear that Michigan State needs him.
On Saturday night, if you take out Jalen Nailor’s great 75-yard run, the Spartans otherwise ran the ball 39 times for just 56 yards. That’s barely more than a yard per carry, which stinks.
Having Scott back healthy would help. But it’s the same along the offensive line, which has been dealing with injuries all year as well.
Those injuries along the offensive line have certainly hurt. During the win against Indiana on Saturday night, right guard Kevin Jarvis (ankle) and left guard Luke Campbell (leg) both went out and didn’t return. There’s been a lot of shuffling there, and it’s led to some struggles.
Michigan State also did not start left tackle Cole Chewins and or left guard David Beedle, but Beedle played extensively Saturday and Chewins made a brief appearance. Beedle hurt his leg at Arizona State, and Chewins aggravated an undisclosed injury there and played just the first snap.
Matt Allen started at center and played most of the game. Tyler Higby, who had started the first two games in the middle, shifted to left tackle and played well as Campbell made his first start at left guard until he got hurt. MSU also used redshirt freshman Blake Bueter at both guard spots with in-game injuries to both Jarvis and Campbell.
“We got quite a few guys that are coming in and out, and we had some other guys who went down tonight,” MSU coach Mark Dantonio said after the game. “How substantial that is, I’m not sure.”
It’s going to be interesting to see who actually shows up healthy for Saturday’s home game with Central Michigan. That’s a lengthy list of injuries and a lot of shuffling around.
Until that unit is healthy and Scott is 100 percent and ready to go, this unit might continue to struggle. It didn’t cost them Saturday night, and it probably won’t this Saturday either, but there are tougher games down the road.