Michigan sophomore linebacker Devin Bush took a 15-yard penalty in the first quarter of Saturday’s game with Michigan State, leading to an MSU touchdown ... something linebackers coach Chris Partridge said had better never happen again.
The shove was in response to a chop to the back of the neck by center Brian Allen, but Bush picked up the retaliation penalty. Rather than third and four or third and long, the Spartans were given a first down and managed to score.
Partridge said Wednesday it didn't matter what happened beforehand — Bush needed to show some restraint.
“Control your emotions,” he said. “That’s unacceptable. No matter what happens prior, what your frustrations are, you can’t do that. You can’t hurt the team like that.
“He’s going to have to deal with that. He’s a phenomenal player, and people are going to do stuff to antagonize him. It’s a growing process, and maturity. It’s unacceptable.”
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said he sent film to the Big Ten of a few of Bush’s hits he felt were targeting. Partridge wasn’t willing to bite Wednesday when asked if he spoke to Bush about going in too high.
“No. We play football,” he said. “We’re not going to get into them sending film. The officials are going to officiate the game, and we’re going to play football, tackle like we tackle ... obviously keep our head out of it. That’s what we teach. But I’m not going to get into what they do after the game.”
NOTES
• Though the Wolverines’ defense played well, holding the Spartans to 14 points, Partridge said they weren’t entirely pleased with the effort. MSU quarterback Brian Lewerke wasn’t sacked, and though max protection was the Spartans’ game plan, he felt they could have done more.
“We didn’t win, so I don’t know,” he said. “We were okay, but not our best performance. Again, we didn’t do things to win the game, either. We’ve got to continue to get better, week in and week out.
“Hats off … they had a good game plan in terms of their max protections, and they got the ball out quickly. You can do things to limit that number of stuff, and they did it. But again, we left some out there, as well.”
• Partridge said his sophomore backup linebackers all continue to improve.
“Elysee Mbem-Bosse is coming on really strong,” he said. “He’s just practiced really well throughout camp. He’s getting really good with his hands and feet, learning the game.
"He was kind of a young player coming out of high school, only had played a couple years and only two at the linebacker position. He had some learning curves, and he’s developing, getting to the point where we feel comfortable with him if he’s got to go in the game.
“Devin Gil is doing really well … just kind of behind a fifth-year senior [in Mike McCray] who’s been able to play and we want him in there, obviously. Devin has come on really well in practice. I wouldn’t be scared to pluck him in if need be.
“I really love Josh [Uche], a guy who played off the edge a lot in high school. He came in had to get used to standing on his feet, but he’s done that and he’s running around, making plays. He’s getting us really excited every single day.
“I think he’s on the brink of providing a spark for us in certain things. We’re excited about him. He’s a guy you just love, is in here every single day trying to get extra work in, extra film. He’s earned every second, a guy who is progressing rapidly … for most part settled at that SAM spot.”
• Partridge said Indiana would test U-M Saturday in Bloomington.
“They are very well coached, do some things to put you in binds. The quarterback can run, can throw it,” he said. “They’ve got big receivers on the outside, the running backs run hard. The o-line gets after it. They obviously have a tempo to their offense where they are going to hurry- hurry you. There are a lot of challenges there.”
---
• Talk about this article inside The Fort
• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, The Wolverine
• Follow us on Twitter: @TheWolverineMag, @BSB_Wolverine, @JB_ Wolverine, @AustinFox42, @AndrewVcourt and @Balas_Wolverine
• Like us on Facebook
