Dantonio: Running Back Logjam A 'Fluid Situation'
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio admitted in his press conference Tuesday that it was difficult to spread the ball amongst multiple running backs. But for a team that moved up to fourth in the country after a 31-28 nonconference win over top-10 Oregon, it's a good problem to have.
"It's just hard to split carries with three backs, quite honestly," he said.
The running back logjam is a "fluid situation," according to Dantonio, and there's no guarantee that one player will be the starter from week to week.
"I ask our coaches how we're going to play the players," he said. "I listen to them. They spend the time with them in the meetings. They spend time with them watching practices. It's a pretty fluid situation because I think we do have four. Any one of those four could become the guy."
Those four include Madre London, LJ Scott, Gerald Holmes and Delton Williams. London has combined for 31 carries for 162 yards and two touchdowns in the first two games of the season, while Scott has collected 24 carries for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
Holmes didn't get a carry against Oregon, but had nine against Western Michigan two weeks ago for 54 yards and a touchdown. And Williams, who was the third-leading rusher last year with 326 yards, hasn't gotten a carry this season after being suspended indefinitely during the offseason, then rejoining the team.
With so many options at tailback, Dantonio said that it could be any man's opportunity to take charge at the position.
"We'll ride the hot guy, there's no question about that," he said. "When I figure out who the hot guy is, I usually say, 'Get the guy in there, at some point.' I think it's a great situation we have right now. All those guys are big, physical, they run hard and are great people."