It's pretty clear that Scottie Hazelton thinks his defense has a chance to put its best foot forward going into the off-season with a strong performance against Pittsburgh. Whenever Hazelton is asked about the secondary, he always points out that the rush and the coverage need to work together. That's his way of challenging the guys he works with directly in practice - defensive ends - to elevate their play. Michigan State is always talking about next man up and playing with whatever hand its dealt, but I guarantee you that one of the things that Hazelton really wishes he had was real depth. His reaction to Comps question about getting Henderson back healthy says it all. Henderson played too many snaps by necessity and he wasn't the only one. Michigan State wore down as a defense this season and lack of depth was part of the problem. The thing that separates elite teams from very good teams is a quality depth and the ability to overcome injuries. Michigan State had as good a season as it could have had given the schedule and the roster. I am looking forward to seeing what this defense can do against a good Pitt offense. Can these guys get momentum going into off-season?
Here is my notebook from today.
michiganstate.rivals.com
Here is my notebook from today.
Spartans Illustrated: Michigan State Spartans Football & Basketball Recruiting - PEACH BOWL: Hazelton seeking cohesive performance from defense
Can a healthier MSU defense deliver a complete game performance against Pitt?
