Michigan State fell to 2-2 after an embarrassing 34-7 loss on Saturday to Minnesota. Within the two game losing streak, there has been a lot of heat put on Spartans defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton due to the lack of competitiveness the defense has had during the two game losing streak.
The Michigan State defense is going to need to take a step up if there is any hope for the Spartans to turn this season into even a minor success.
Take a look at what Hazelton had to say about his defense and the state of the Michigan State season:
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Hazelton: "We really talk about as a family – football and my family – about blocking out the outside noise." Discusses "the truth" being inside him.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 27, 2022
Michigan State DC Scottie Hazelton here. "When we go in there, we just look at things where we say, 'Hey, we can do this, this and this better.'" Adds that "we just need to tighten up an alignment" and "death by inches stuff" killing his unit.
— Ryan Black (@RyanABlack) September 27, 2022
Hazelton: "The truth is, it goes back to this question, 'How is the room?' As guys listen to outside sources, they can get knocked down."
— Ryan Black (@RyanABlack) September 27, 2022
Hazelton says it is not a personnel problem. "Those guys work like crazy…. If we're going into a war or something was going to happen, there's a lot of dudes in that room that you would say, 'Hey, come with me.'"
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 27, 2022
Hazelton on the loss of Xavier Henderson: "When you have a guy like that out, it's harder. … That does impact you as a team."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 27, 2022
Hazelton says MSU coach Mel Tucker "is great, because he stays neutral. … It's about looking inside. Just like when everything else in life goes (bad), just look at yourself first and say 'OK, what can I do to get better?'"
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 27, 2022
Hazelton: "No matter what on defense, as you move around, you put the stress somewhere. And they all know we're challenging this position group here." Focusing on pass puts stress on DL to stop the run, for instance.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 27, 2022
Hazelton on what he shows his players to try to boost confidence after the past two weeks: "You show them the truth. … Are we super far away? No. Do we have little things adding up that makes it seem like we're far away? Yes."
— Ryan Black (@RyanABlack) September 27, 2022
Hazelton on Mel Tucker’s input: “We’ve been a collaboration all year.”
Says he’s in and out of meetings and with Harlon Barnett, etc., there are a lot of good defensive minds in the room.
— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) September 27, 2022
Hazelton: "As coaches, you look at things and you evaluate yourself first all the time. … When you walk into the room, the first thing we do is say, Listen, this is, here's what I need to improve on. We're in this together."
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 27, 2022
