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With new quarterback Andrew Maxwell taking over and throwing to an inexperienced corps of receivers, Michigan State has leaned heavily on running back Le'Veon Bell, who already has 610 yards on 117 carries.
"Get him before he gets to you," Buckeyes safety Orhian Johnson said. "That's definitely the thing. You definitely want to get to him before he gets started because he's real top-heavy and you know he's going to run downfield. He's got good feet, so you can't just chop at him, but you have to make sure you get up there, you wrap him up and get your boys there for you."
It's hard to say what the outlook is among Michigan State players because they weren't available to the media this week. It's not unusual for the Spartans to close ranks before a big game, and this certainly qualifies.
"Has nothing to do with the press as much as it does with how we handle ourselves, our team, what we need to be dealing with and thinking about," Dantonio said. "I sometimes think that media talk and pressure sort of gets them thinking in different directions. I wanted to close our group and concentrate on us."
At least this time, Dantonio doesn't have to answer questions about facing his former boss. Now, Ohio State is just another strong program with an accomplished coach.
"The one who left two years ago won a national championship," Dantonio said, referring to Tressel. "It's just another great coach coming into our conference, doing his thing. I don't know what impact. It's a great conference. I just see it as another guy you've got to compete with recruiting on the field, tied together schematically, doing a great job, good recruiter. There's a lot of that going on in this league."
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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