Defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton runs drills during Michigan State University’s spring football practice at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, April 16, 2022 (Jenifer Veloso | MLive.com)Jenifer Veloso

EAST LANSING – With a 52-0 win against Akron three weeks ago, Michigan State picked up the first shutout since Mel Tucker took over the program in 2020.

In the two games since, the Spartans (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) have been shredded on defense while suffering back-to-back losses to Washington and Minnesota. They gave up 73 points combined and allowed more than 500 yards of total offense in each of the double-digit defeats.

There’s a difficult schedule ahead for Michigan State and questions about the confidence level of the defense.

“You show them the truth,” defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton said on Tuesday. “You say here’s the truth and as we go through and we watch the game tape, that’s what we do. Are we super far away? No. Do we have little things that are adding up that are making us seem far away? Sure. And those are the things that we really got to tighten up.”

Washington jumped out to a 22-0 lead in the second quarter and scored touchdowns on five of its first six possessions en route to a 39-28 win. Minnesota built a 17-0 lead in the first half and never punted while winning 34-7 in East Lansing last week.

There were the same problems in both losses as Michigan State couldn’t defend the pass, didn’t get enough stops on third down and didn’t generate pressure while failing to record a sack. Plenty of the ire from the fan base has been directed at Hazelton, who received a contract extension and raise to $1.1 million a year in the offseason. Now in his third season with the Spartans, Hazelton said his focus remains on his team and improving.

“Can we see what we need to improve on?” he said, “Can we see who the guys who are battling and fighting and scrapping and working hard every day are doing to get better and as long as we can see that you try to block out all the outside noise as you go.”

Mel Tucker ‘determined and optimistic’ Michigan State can make much-needed changes

Following back-to-back losses, Tucker on Monday said there would be scheme adjustments and personnel is continually evaluated. He declined to go into specifics about how the Spartans would make changes with a difficult schedule ahead that begins with a trip to Maryland (3-1, 0-1) on Saturday. Improvements need to be made if Michigan State is going to be effective slowing down opposing offenses.

“When we go in there, we just look at things that we say, hey, we can do this and this better, as we look at the overall stuff. … This is things that we need to tighten up and we need to look at those things,” Hazelton said. “That’s what we’ve been working on throughout the week as we go. … There’s a lot of bang-bang plays out there that we say, we just need to tighten up an alignment or tighten up a position or something like that and then those bang-bang plays will be made. That’s really what’s been hurting us a little bit is the little details, it’s the death by inches stuff as we line up.”

While reviewing film, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon saw what Hazelton was referring to, including missed assignments and the wrong alignments.

“You know you can make that play so of course you can get frustrated,” Harmon said, “but you just know the next time you get in you’ve got to make that play.”

Tucker served as a defensive coordinator in the NFL and at Georgia and Hazelton is one of three assistants on his staff with defensive coordinator experience. Hazelton says it has been a “collaboration” all year working with Tucker.

“He’s great because he stays neutral on it – this is the truth, this is who we are,” Hazelton said of Tucker. “We’re not worried about those things out there. We’re worried about, listen, let’s turn on the tape and see what we do, see what we can do well, see how we can take advantage of those spots that we do well in and let’s look at the things we do poorly and see how we can improve those things. And that’s really what it’s about, it’s about looking inside.”

Three improvements needed for Michigan State’s offense

Michigan State finished last in the nation in passing yards allowed in 2021 but Tucker expected the team to be better in that area this year. Even with all five starters returning from the secondary (safety Xavier Henderson missed the last three games due to a right leg injury) and better depth at cornerback, the Spartans were torched through the air the last two weeks. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. threw for 397 yards and four touchdowns while Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan completed 23 of 26 passes for 268 yards and three scores.

The Spartans are tied for first in the nation with seven fumble recoveries but are one of only four teams without an interception. Hazelton said the team will continue to mix up zone and man coverage along with press and playing off.

“As we continue to go,” Hazelton said, “we’ll continue to see what we’re good at and continue to play those and it will change up depending on what it is.”

Through three games, Michigan State’s run defense was solid and allowed only 89.7 yards per game. Then Minnesota racked up 240 yards and a touchdown on 48 carries while wearing down the Spartans, whose offense couldn’t stay on the field. That came along with the run-heavy Golden Gophers opening the game with Morgan throwing the ball around, which defensive end Jacoby Windmon said wasn’t the expected gameplan and they didn’t anticipate the quarterback to be as effective with his legs as he was.

“We put up our goals every week and they understand what it is,” Hazelton said. “No matter what on defense, as you move around you put the stress somewhere. … They all know, hey, we’re challenging this position group here.”

Michigan State needs to make drastic improvements quickly to avoid season falling apart

Minnesota’s effective rushing attack came against a defense that is shorthanded, especially up front. In addition to Henderson being out the last three weeks and it unclear when he will return, there were three other starters out. Defensive tackle Jacob Slade missed the last two games, defensive end Jeff Pietrowski was injured against Washington and didn’t dress for Minnesota and linebacker Darius Snow suffered a season-ending injury in the opener. Defensive end Khris Bogle, who started in place of Pietrowski, was injured in the first half last week and didn’t return while starting tackles Simeon Barrow and Maverick Hansen both missed time after getting banged up in the game.

Hazelton said there’s clearly a difference when missing experienced players. He also said if Michigan State didn’t have the depth it did coming into the season, the defensive problems could be worse.

“Whoever’s in the game at the time, it doesn’t matter if it’s a third-team guy,” Hazelton said “that guy has to be a starter and has to understand that he has a role that’s important to the team or else he wouldn’t be out there and that we trust him, and we do trust these dudes. And we’re going to better and we’re going to get it right.”

Tucker on Monday said a defensive player gathered the rest of the unit on Sunday to rewatch film of the loss against Minnesota and break down what went wrong. Harmon said it was Windmon, an offseason transfer addition from UNLV, who called the meeting.

“When you have leadership like that and you have guys that care and love this game, they’re going to get together, they’re going to fix it,” Hazelton said. “And as we get some experience, we’re going to continue to get better and better throughout the year.”

Very little went right for Michigan State’s defense the last two weeks and the offense struggled as well. Hazelton said the staff doesn’t hesitate to point out where they made mistakes.

“As coaches,” he said, “you look at things and you evaluate yourself first all the time. … We’re asking them to take ownership in the things that they do so you walk into the room and the first thing we do is say here’s what I need to improve on. We’re in this together.”

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