Michigan State’s defense learning to handle adversity as injuries create opportunities

Injuries have pushed more Michigan State defenders into action, giving them opportunities to gain experience and forcing them to learn how to respond when a play goes wrong.

For defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, that response is an essential part of their development. A cornerback will get beaten. A player will make a mistake. What happens next can determine whether that experience helps him improve.

"When you go against guys in that type of competitive situation, you're going to lose a lot," Rossi said. "So then it's, 'how do I deal with it?' Some guys have never had to deal with it, and the ones who've never had to deal with it got to learn how to deal with it, or else they're not going to be able to develop into their potential."

That adjustment can be difficult for players accustomed to being among the best on every team they have joined.

"Most of these guys have been 'guys' since the time they were playing youth football," Rossi said. "They were a 'guy' in youth football, they were a 'guy' in high school. They probably started getting recruited in their sophomore year. They have agents and everyone around them that says how great they are, and then they come into college, and they go against everyone else who has the same story."

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