Joe Rossi Faces Challenges as Michigan State Defense Struggles

Former defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Gophers, Joe Rossi, is experiencing a challenging season with the Michigan State Spartans. As the team prepares for a matchup against the Gophers on **October 28, 2023**, Rossi’s squad currently ranks last in the Big Ten Conference in scoring defense, allowing an average of **32.5 points per game**. Additionally, they stand at **15th in total defense**, giving up **380 yards per game**.

Rossi’s recent move from the coaches’ booth to the sideline during Michigan State’s **31-20 loss** to then-No. 25 Michigan reflects the team’s struggles. Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith, who holds a record of **3-5 this season** and **8-12 overall** at the university, expressed the need for improvement, stating, “We needed to obviously fix some things defensively.” While he noted the players’ effort and passion, the defense still conceded **276 rushing yards** and four touchdowns, marking the team’s fifth consecutive loss in conference play.

Sitting at the bottom of the conference standings alongside Purdue and Wisconsin at **0-5**, the Spartans are in dire need of a turnaround. Rossi, who departed Minnesota after the **2023 season**, maintains a supportive relationship with Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck. Fleck remarked, “They play exceptionally hard,” praising Rossi for his contributions to the program. He added, “Coach Rossi did a tremendous amount for this program at the University of Minnesota, and I have a lot of respect for him.”

The Gophers, coming off a disappointing **41-3 defeat** to Iowa, faced their own challenges last weekend. Fleck acknowledged that the game plan to prevent Iowa’s return specialist, Kaden Wetjen, from making plays was not executed effectively. Instead of limiting Wetjen’s opportunities, Minnesota’s punter, Tom Weston, only managed to kick two out of seven punts out of bounds, allowing Wetjen to return four for a total of **80 yards**, including a **50-yard touchdown return**.

The loss dropped Minnesota’s record to **5-3 overall** and **3-2 in Big Ten play**. With the offense struggling, the Gophers are facing additional pressure with the health status of key players. Running back Darius Taylor left the game against Iowa after just one carry, and Fleck has not provided an update on his condition. With backup A.J. Turner sidelined for the season, the team may rely on redshirt freshman Fame Ijeboi and graduate transfer Cam Davis to fill the gap in the backfield.

Despite their struggles, Minnesota’s ground game may find some opportunities against Michigan State, which ranks **14th in rushing defense** in the conference, allowing **149 yards per game**. The Gophers’ average of **1.8 yards per carry** in recent games against strong opponents like Iowa, Ohio State, Purdue, and Rutgers contrasts sharply with their performance against Nebraska, where they averaged **5.3 yards per carry**.

As the teams prepare to clash at Huntington Bank Stadium, both Rossi and Fleck will look to turn their seasons around, hoping for a resurgence in performance amid the challenges faced this year.