Michigan State: Notebook

Michigan State needs more TDs in red zone

Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

East Lansing -- A lot has changed for Michigan State's offense since Javon Ringer rushed for a school-record 22 touchdowns last season.

This season's Spartans have had trouble scoring touchdowns when they're in the red zone.

"We felt like we were going to score points," quarterback Kirk Cousins said after last week's 42-34 loss at Minnesota.

Cousins and tight end Dion Sims accounted for the lone red-zone touchdown in the loss, an 11-yard scoring strike.

Ringer, a former All-American, had a knack for getting into the end zone, and through nine games last season, he helped the Spartans score touchdowns on 23 of 39 (58.9 percent) trips into the red zone.

This year's team is 15-of-30 from inside the red zone, and has had to rely on 12 Brett Swenson field goals.

"Part of it is a little bit of inexperience at running back, part of it is blocking schemes, part of it is maybe a selection of plays and part of it is great defensive play," Mark Dantonio said of the Spartans' lack of red-zone success.

Changes could be looming heading into Saturday's game against Western Michigan (noon, Big Ten Network).

The Spartans could use more tight ends in short-yardage situations, giving running back Ashton Leggett and fullback Andrew Hawken more opportunities to find the end zone.

Asked if backup quarterback Keith Nichol could get more reps closer to the goal line, Dantonio scoffed at the idea.

"I think you're reading too much into that," he said.

Why the switch?

Nichol played a series against Minnesota near the goal line, but it started inside MSU's own 10 late in the second quarter.

The move to switch quarterbacks at that time seemed odd, since Cousins threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Brian Linthicum the previous series.

Dantonio's explanation: "That was the decision we made at that point in time. We went with it. We're going to give (Nichol) an opportunity. We still have faith in him."

Mum on suspensions

Criticism of officials appears to be at a high this season after several questionable calls across the country and recent disciplinary actions handed down to coaches by conferences.

A Southeastern Conference officiating crew was suspended last month after calling penalties the league said weren't supported by video evidence.

Last week, the Pac-10 suspended an official for missing a face-mask penalty in the Oregon State-USC game.

"I think that if you have a job, you're held to some standard," said Dantonio, when asked if he supported possible suspensions of Big Ten officials. "But that's not my decision. I'm not qualified to make decisions on other people and their jobs."

elacy@detnews.com.