Iowa, Michigan State eye turnovers as key factor

The last time Iowa football fans saw L.J. Scott, he was breaking their hearts.

The then-freshman running back for Michigan State fought and powered forward for the game-winning touchdown in the 2015 Big Ten Championship game. Scott was the leading rusher for the Spartans that season and backed it up again last year. He's carried the load, literally and figuratively.

Unfortunately for a guy who always will be the answer to that title game trivia question, he's carried the load for Michigan State's turnover woes early this season, too.

It's not all on him, of course, but he's taken the most heat because his are the most high-profile of the miscues. Three fumbles in three games, with one on the goal line against Notre Dame make up half of the six fumbles the Spartans have lost this season (of their nine total).

Iowa and Michigan State have played in many close, hard-fought games over the years. Traditionally, that's been because the two teams know exactly who each other are. The Spartans haven't been themselves for a while, and the turnovers are emblematic of that.

'You know, I look forward to seeing how our team handles the problems that we've encountered,' Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said. 'I'm not just looking at one guy. I look at the coaching staff, myself, our team, and get ourselves ready to go.

'Basic emphasis of football is hold on to the ball, don't turn it over. I don't know how many times I've talked about turnovers. We've been very good at that in the past, right now we have not. We need to change that. That's everybody's responsibility. We'll coach it, but at some point in time players make plays.'

Scott's fumbling is just the easiest example to find. Dantonio correctly pointed out ball security applies to quarterback Brian Lewerke and the rest of the offense as well. He likes how Scott has responded to the issues, with the senior even carrying a ball around the football facility these days.

Oh... oh no, Sparty... September 24, 2017

Oh... oh no, Sparty... pic.twitter.com/xfRX8goUyz

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX)

Iowa knows what that's like.

Current star running back Akrum Wadley lost his gig a few years ago because of fumbles. His fumble against Penn State on Saturday even prompted a question of Coach Kirk Ferentz on Tuesday as to whether or not anything lingered from that time. Ferentz flatly denied that, saying, 'we're so far removed from that. Four years ago he was reckless, not careless. … He's in the zone now. He's paying attention to things. That was not a matter of him being reckless or careless.'

Fair enough. But even if it's not a concern with Wadley individually, it is collectively.

The Hawkeyes aren't in much better shape than the Spartans in the turnover department right now. Iowa has fumbled eight times, losing six of those, bringing the turnover total to seven this year with a Nate Stanley interception. Ferentz said Tuesday he doesn't pay too close attention to stats, especially at this time of year — except for one measure.

'I don't get too worried about statistics overall this time of year, other than turnovers,' Ferentz said. 'We're finally even. That's a good thing. That was a big concern. Hopefully the worst is behind us, but there are no guarantees there. There are certain things that you watch at this point in the year.'

By 'even,' Ferentz means the Hawkeyes have forced seven turnovers as well.

That's where they and the Spartans differ, however. Michigan State has lost those six fumbles and Lewerke has thrown two interceptions, but the MSU defense has only responded with two forced turnovers of its own — both interceptions. Dantonio was asked about that margin in his weekly news conference, and assured those asking — and listening — it's not gone unnoticed. He pointed out 'over 10 years, I think we're something like 54-6, plus two turnovers.'

The Spartans traditionally are an aggressive, physical defense — 'they are who they are,' Ferentz said. When they're forcing turnovers, they're hard to beat — like most anyone. The lack thereof, and Dantonio having to address the ratio twice during media availabilities, has them irked.

2-Minute Drill: Iowa-Michigan State breakdown

Maybe Saturday won't provide the same legacy-defining stakes as that game in 2015, but if Scott and the Spartans want to at least repeat the result against a ball-hawking Hawkeye team, something from the start of the season to now will have to change.

'Those are the equalizing factors in a football game,' Dantonio said. 'I think that's how a football game gets lopsided at times. You look across the country, it's going all over the place. It always has been. We talk about what are the factors critical in winning in a football game, and we talk about that every single spring and summer practice and go over it again. Keys to winning, what are the keys to winning every week is turnovers. Ball security and getting them.

'Again, players make plays. You've got to play with reckless abandon, I think, on the football field and the ball has to come out.'

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com