Many message board posters have been dinging Spartan QB Brian Hoyer all season because the Michigan State passing game isn't what it used to be. I was ignoring this as just picky fan chatter until Wednesday, when Detroit News columnist Lynn Henning grabbed a pitchfork and joined the mob.

The otherwise reliably levelheaded Henning didn't just question Hoyer's performance—he called for him to be replaced.

"Kirk Cousins must get immediate work. He simply is a more talented passer. This conference race could go MSU's way in a hurry if the Spartans get as serious about developing a pass attack that will be as important to MSU's October-November games as Javon Ringer's rushing."

Enough!

Last season, in eight games of Big Ten play, guess who finished No. 2 in pass efficiency?

Brian Hoyer. He threw just four picks in those games and had a better than 63 percent completion rate with 11 TDs.

Yes, he had an uncharacteristically bad bowl game. That doesn't wipe out the terrific regular season, particularly the outstanding conference play, which is most at issue right now as the 2008 Big Ten season gets underway.

Need more evidence?

Best red zone offense during 2007 Big Ten games? Michigan State.

Best scoring offense? Same.

As astute observers may have noticed, 1,773 of Hoyer's 2,725 passing yards and nearly half of his 223 completions from 2007 departed for the NFL draft in the persons of TE Kellen Davis and WR Devin Thomas.

Fortunately, what may yet be the best running back in team history stuck around. Mark Dantonio has wisely decided to let his receivers mature a bit while he heavily relies on his experienced and talented running attack.

Javon Ringer is an awfully smart security blanket.

This isn't just me talking. In his postgame radio interview after Notre Dame, Hoyer specifically said that the game plan was for him to be careful with the ball, above all other considerations. This means ALWAYS putting passes where only the guys in green can get them. Thus, balls often get somewhat deliberately under- and overthrown.

The result? Just two interceptions through four games. One pick was against Cal, the toughest team on the schedule so far, when Hoyer was asked to throw 48 times (for 321 not-unimpressive yards, BTW). The other was a garbage pick in the sloppy monsoon against Florida Atlantic.

Likewise, he was told to get rid of the ball quickly and avoid sacks, even when that means throwing it out of bounds. This game plan does ugly things to a QB's stats. But keeping turnovers in check keeps Javon Ringer on the field, and not taking sacks means avoiding long-yardage situations and making more plays where Ringer can carry the ball.

The bottom line: A cautious passing game that keeps down and distance manageable means Ringer has more chances to carry the ball and hit home runs. That is smashmouth football. Ringer's running opportunities and what he has done with them speak for themselves.

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