EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Warren Sapp would have loved this. Russell Maryland and Bennie Blades too. Any of those vintage Miami Hurricane defenders who had "swag" before the word was invented.
This is Pat Narduzzi's defense. Michigan State's unit was sixth nationally in total defense while leading the Big Ten in total defense, rush defense and interceptions. And if, at the end of any particular tackle, pick, sack or humiliation, the Spartans let you know about it, well, we told you Sapp would have loved this.
"It's really the same style of defense," said Narduzzi, the Spartans' high-motor defensive coordinator, "back when Tommy Tuberville was defensive coordinator with Sapp and all those guys.
"It's funny you should say that ..."
That was 20 years ago when a 20-something Narduzzi was inspired by those great Miami defenses while at ... Miami. That would be the Miami bunch from Oxford, Ohio, in the early 1990s. Back then the young MAC grad assistant couldn't help being impressed by the dynasty developing in South Florida.
"Miami of Ohio visited Miami," Narduzzi said of a long ago coaching retreat. "That's really where we got the defense from. I've been running the same defense since then -- 4-3."
The scheme is not complicated, but as creative and intimidating as they come in this age of exploding offenses. In fact, this outpost is an outlier in the modern game. There are very few places nationally where they still play defense like this -- quick, rugged, right on the edge, if not over it. Most of the others are concentrated in the SEC.
Last season, national records were set in average yards per play, average touchdowns per game and average yards per pass. The numbers were second-best all-time in scoring, total offense and passing yards per game. To counter that, Narduzzi recruits speed, turns safeties into linebackers and linebackers into agile linemen, just the way Miami did back in the day.
This is also Narduzzi's office. Its walls are plastered with references to Spartan Dawgs. It's what the defense called itself in 2011. Narduzzi gives the squad that naming option each season. "In 2011," a poster reads, "we will set the standard nationally for the most reckless, disruptive force unleashed on any team."
The poster also contains keywords: Dominate, Turnovers, Swarming, Toughness and, yes, Swag. Swagger, baby. Somewhere Sapp is shedding a tear -- or perhaps drooling.
Like Miami of old, these Spartan Dawgs are scary good. Last season, five opponents were held to seven points or less. Narduzzi's unit had two players drafted (lineman Jerel Worthy, safety Trenton Robinson). There are more to come in the future, starting with junior defensive end William Gholston.
But the Miami comparison? Best keep it on the down low for now. As much as Narduzzi wants his guys to seek and destroy on the field, there are times when the similarities to the Hurricanes of old might be too much.
"I blame it on the uniforms," Narduzzi said. "The uniforms got them cranked up."
He is referring to the Oct. 15 dismantling of Michigan that will be best remembered for its ferocity. If they needed any more incentive, that day the Spartans were doubly jacked up, debuting their much-hyped new unis. They also committed six personal fouls in beating the Wolverines for the fourth consecutive year. Gholston was suspended for a game after retaliating against a Michigan lineman. Narduzzi was admonished by AD Mark Hollis for labeling his defense "60 minutes of unnecessary roughness."
Yeah -- wink, wink -- it had to be the uniforms.
"We're trying to intimidate you but between the whistles," Narduzzi explained
