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Published December 14, 2006
Defense won't rest
New MSU coordinator eager to tackle unit's recent struggles
By Joe Rexrode
Lansing State Journal
EAST LANSING - Pat Narduzzi is a name Michigan State fans may be hailing soon, if the statistics and testimonials mean anything.
Narduzzi, 40, is the Spartans' new defensive coordinator. He followed head coach Mark Dantonio from Cincinnati, where Narduzzi earned a reputation as a frenetic, hard-nosed tactician - and a guy who's ready for his own head coaching gig.
So Pat Narduzzi is a name MSU fans could be reminiscing about soon.
Or so it might seem.
"It's not a huge goal of mine," countered Narduzzi, who was briefly Cincinnati's interim coach and a candidate to replace Dantonio. "It's not an ego thing where I need to be the head coach and be that guy."
The increasingly frustrated MSU faithful hope Narduzzi is "that guy" in an important sense - the one who turns a powder-puff defense into something tough, organized and Big Ten-compatible. The Spartans' personnel situation would suggest Narduzzi's endeavor will take some time.
But again, he disputes the obvious assumption.
Outgoing and animated, Narduzzi likes to tell stories. At his initial meeting with reporters last week, he spun one about his first week as a defensive coordinator, at Miami (Ohio) in the spring of 2003.
Narduzzi inherited a pair of starting cornerbacks who "were awful because they were playing off receivers," he said. He installed his system, which typically involves corners pressing receivers at the line.
Miami's head coach was Terry Hoeppner. Its quarterback was future NFL star Ben Roethlisberger.
At the team's first scrimmage, "they didn't complete a pass," Narduzzi said, "and (Hoeppner) had the quarterbacks and receivers running all day."
Miami was No. 24 nationally in total defense in 2003, Narduzzi's only year there. He left a year later for Dantonio's Cincinnati staff, where his reputation bloomed.
"Pat is energy. I think he runs more than the players," ESPN analyst Chris Spielman said. "He's a very passionate coach and a very vocal coach, more vocal than coach Dantonio, who runs things with a professional approach. They go together well in that way.
"The kids really respond to him. They will play hard - those kids will be flying around. A lot of people talk about gang tackling, but these guys will really do it."
Bill Koch, who covers Cincinnati football for the Cincinnati Enquirer, said Narduzzi was "the best thing they had on that football team."
"It's hard to be a premier defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, because there's not much national attention," Koch said. "But now that he's in the Big Ten, I expect him to be a high-profile guy. ... His defense will be fun to watch."
'Keep rolling'
And it will be technically sound, Narduzzi promises. Dantonio, who won a national title as Ohio State's defensive coordinator in 2002, preaches, "you have to know what to do so you can play fast."
Blown assignments resulting from communication mix-ups plagued MSU's defense in four years under John L. Smith.
"If you guys are asking me next year - 'Hey coach, how about those communication problems?' - throw me out of the meeting room," Narduzzi said. "That should never happen."
Narduzzi uses a defensive huddle whenever possible, to ensure everyone gets the call. His defense is a 4-3 (four down linemen, three linebackers) with mostly zone coverage from his defensive backs - and lots of disguised blitzes.
Dantonio lets Narduzzi make all the calls during games, although Narduzzi says he sometimes asks his players what they want to do.
The Bearcats had some late-game letdowns early last season, so Narduzzi started coming downstairs from the coaching booth in the fourth quarters of games, to keep his players fired up on the sideline.
Dantonio was skeptical of the idea at first. Soon enough, he was asking into his headset: "Hey, when are you coming down?"
Despite playing a loaded schedule in 2006 - against more-talented teams such as Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Louisville and West Virginia - Cincinnati's defense ranked No. 34 or better nationally in six major defensive categories.
The Bearcats stuffed then-No. 7 Rutgers in a 30-11 upset win on Nov. 18, in what basically amounted to a nationally televised Narduzzi infomercial.
Now he's coming to MSU with his entire defensive staff, entering their fourth full season together.
"And that's huge, because you're not wasting time coaching coaches," Narduzzi said.
"When I found out he was coming I called him and said, 'I'm happy you're here with us, let's keep this thing rolling,' " said Harlon Barnett, who coaches the secondary. "We've got continuity and we plan on making this thing happen."
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