By
Diamond Leung | dleung@mlive.com
MLive.com
on September 19, 2012 at 2:30 PM, updated September 19, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Notre Dame’s John Goodman, center, Everett Golson (5) and Troy Niklas, right, celebrate Goodman’s touchdown reception during the first quarter of Saturday’s game.
EAST LANSING — Johnny Adams committed pass interference to no avail.
Michigan State’s preseason All-America cornerback was beaten by Notre Dame’s John Goodman for a 36-yard touchdown catch to give Notre Dame the early lead — a stunning blow because the Spartans’ first touchdown allowed by the defense this season came against their top player in the secondary.
“He won’t be down in the dumps, I promise you,” defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett said Wednesday. “He’s not down in the dumps now, so he’ll be ready to go.”
Successful cornerbacks such as Adams, a probable NFL draft pick after the season, generally have short memories. But the senior wasn’t beyond his coaches’ critiques days after Michigan State’s 20-3 loss. On the play, Goodman got open after quarterback Everett Golson extended the play by avoiding the pass rush.
“He just has to be able to make a play on the ball,” Barnett said of Adams. “He has to play a little bit better
coverage on that.
“He ended up running back into decent position, but prior to the throw,
he wasn’t in the position that he needed to be in, but he’ll correct
that and be fine.”
Said coach Mark Dantonio: “Johnny’s eye control was improper. His technique was improper on the
one. He’s just got to cut the guy off. The guy makes a great catch.”
Adams had three tackles, including two for losses and a sack in the game, but wants to improve.
“We just look at our mistakes and try to get better,” he said. “The game is past us now. It was difficult, but we’ve got look past it and get better.”
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