Michigan State football: Is there a RB controversy in East Lansing?

Michigan State football might just have a running back controversy on its hands with Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams and Nate Carter?

The number of anti-Nate Carter texts I received from friends on Friday night during the Michigan State football season opener against FAU was alarming. I did my best to calm their nerves in real time. I’m not sure they bought it. Now that the dust has settled, let’s talk about why Carter is still ‘the guy’.

Whether you watched the game live or just read the box score, you’re likely thinking the same thing: Why is Carter getting all the carries? Why isn’t Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams getting more chances?

Given the recent history of transfer MSU running backs, I understand why one would want the new guy taking more snaps.

Kenneth Walker III has forever changed our opinion of running backs.

I mean come on… look at this box score.

Chances are, you’re thinking one of these three things:

• Kay’Ron had better vision and made plays happen
• Kay’Ron made the right cuts
• Nate only ran into the offensive line

I’ll admit, KLA’s stat line looks awesome — 11.2 yards per carry is K9-level good. His explosive plays were admittedly awesome. Can’t argue that.

Watching in real time, though, Carter’s box score does not tell you the whole story. From the naked eye, you could tell Carter never had a chance. FAU’s defensive front was on him immediately.

This morning, I spent time trying to find stats on Carter’s yards before contact (YBCON). I wanted to validate what I thought I saw.

Come to find out, fellow MSU fan and host of the Locked on Spartans podcast beat me to it. Although not the actual YBCON stat, he reviewed the tape. What he discovered completely validated my thoughts.

• Carter carried the ball 19 times
• 11 times the defense hit him at or behind the line of scrimmage
• 11/19 times Carter was hit before he had a chance to gain positive yards

Simple math here: Carter needed to break tackles just to avoid a negative play 58 percent of the time.

That alone is more of an indictment on the offensive line during those specific plays than it is of Carter’s ability.

I mean come on. Look at this. Prime Barry Sanders isn’t getting positive yardage here. Well, maybe Barry… but you get the point.

On the other hand, 63 of Lynch-Adams’ 101 rushing yards came from one play. Let’s take a look at what he was working with.

Pretty big difference, eh?

All I’m trying to say is: don’t write off Nate Carter quite yet.

Yes, Lynch-Adams looked awesome. Yes, Carter appeared to struggle.

I’m just adding color as to why there was such a discrepancy between the two.

Maryland on Saturday should paint a better picture for us.