Michigan State football practice - August 6

Michigan State defensive coordinate Pat Narduzzi gives Oregon QB Marcus Mariota a great deal of credit for the Ducks' win, but he's disappointed by the breakdown in execution on his defense and indicated changes on the depth chart are ahead.

(Mike Mulholland | Mlive.com)

EAST LANSING — Pat Narduzzi had his Michigan State defense dialed in at Oregon, the Xs matched up with the Ducks’ Os at most every turn.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, however, had more than one great escape, leading the No. 2-ranked Ducks to the 46-27 victory over the No. 13 Spartans last Saturday.

Narduzzi gave credit to Mariota, comparing him to a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, but Michigan State's defensive coordinator also made it clear he was displeased with his unit's inability to execute the game plan consistently.

“We did some good things, but we didn’t finish, we didn’t finish the game, we didn’t finish plays when we had the opportunities,’’ Narduzzi said following Thursday’s practice. “There will be some moves on the depth chart before the next game.’’

Michigan State has a bye this Saturday before returning to action at noon Sept. 20 against Eastern Michigan at Spartan Stadium.

Narduzzi had plenty to say about how his Michigan State defense, which has led the Big Ten and ranked in the top six nationally in total defense each of the past three years, let last Saturday’s game slip away.

“We missed too many sacks,’’ Narduzzi said. “We had three sacks and we could have had seven more. You have to give him (Mariota) credit, he made us miss, he’s the best quarterback we’ve faced since (Seattle Seahawks/former Wisconsin QB) Russell Wilson in my opinion.

“The guy can hurt you with his arm and his feet, and I was impressed.’’

Narduzzi said the Spartans forced Oregon to go three-and-out on seven offensive series, and it should have been nine.

Mariota had miraculous third-down scrambles on consecutive possessions, dodging no less than two would-be tacklers on each, in a pivotal third quarter that saw the Ducks rally from 27-18 down.

“We had a couple of busts, and they had two pick routes on us, and there’s no call, and you’ve got to live with it and you’ve got to stay on your guy,’’ Narduzzi said. “Sometimes they do (get called), but (in this game) they let the offensive guys do whatever they wanted, and we didn’t execute.’’

Narduzzi said he was disappointed with how his defense allowed Oregon’s run game to get more than 100 yards rushing in the fourth quarter after the Spartans had held the Ducks to 13 yards rushing in the first half and 56 yards through three quarter.

“There was a couple of bad run fits, they started running some power — a play our offense runs every day out there — and Taiwan (Jones) didn’t read his keys, to be honest with you,’’ Narduzzi said. “ … and RJ (Williamson) didn’t get down a couple times (against the run), and that’s what happens, two guys.’’

Narduzzi said in hindsight he probably should have left his first-team defense in against Jacksonville State for three quarters instead of pulling them at halftime, just so the six new starters could have gotten more experience before the Oregon game.

Secondary coach Harlon Barnett said the Spartans' defensive backs, the self-described “No Fly Zone,” will bounce back but it never should have come to the loss.

“Really some of the things, missed coverages, missed assignments, missed tackles, we felt like we coulda, shoulda won the game,’’ Barnett said. “No disrespect to Oregon, but we blew some opportunities.

“Our guys have seen their mistakes and where we need to improve, and I think we will do that.’’

* True freshman defensive tackle Craig Evans would have played, but Narduzzi said the 335-pound Evans was not well-suited to match up against the Ducks' spread and uptempo attack.

* Narduzzi said there was an occasion he wanted to get Shilique Calhoun out of the game (Calhoun had a wrist injury), but the Spartans' couldn't make the substitution on account of Oregon's no-huddle uptempo offense.

* Middle linebacker Taiwan Jones has played "pretty solid through two games,'' according to Narduzzi.

Download the MSU basketball on MLive app for iPhone and Android

Download the MSU football on MLive app for iPhone and Android

Follow Mike Griffith and Kyle Austin on Twitter

Like MLive's Michigan State Spartans Facebook