EAST LANSING — Mark Dantonio gave clarity to his own future Tuesday.

The same could not be said for Michigan State’s assistant football coaches in the wake of another year of mediocre results and anemic production.

Dantonio said he will not make any decisions on potential staff changes or retention “until I weigh out everything to the best that I can.” Over his first 12 seasons with the Spartans, the rare moves Dantonio has made with his assistants have come after the season and bowl games.

[ Mark Dantonio's QB call is balancing now vs. the future ]

“Probably I have the most knowledge in terms of what's going on within our football team as to who did what in terms of was that a player, structure, coaching, officiating, all the underlying things that go along with that,” Dantonio said during a news conference in which he said he plans to return as head coach in 2020. “I think that I've tried to figure out what worked, what didn't work, how to critique it, what was in control, out of our control, how do I evaluate that. I've always made those decisions after the fact. That's what I'll continue to do to the best of my ability.”

After the worst offensive output in his tenure in 2018, Dantonio shuffled his offensive assistants to different positions, choosing not to fire anyone or ask them to leave. This year’s offense has been marginally better in some areas and worse in others, and the defense has regressed despite returning a significant number of players from a group that finished No. 10 in the nation a year ago.

Last year’s five offensive assistant coaches, including new coordinator Brad Salem, all signed off on amendments March 29 that reduced their contracts to one-year rollover deals. Quarterbacks coach Dave Warner, offensive line coach Jim Bollman, tight ends coach Mark Staten and defensive backs assistant Terrence Samuel also had their rollovers taken from two to one year.

[ Why Mark Dantonio's fate as MSU coach is in his hands — and his alone ]

According to their updated contracts, the five assistant coaches now must be notified between the end of the season and March 15 each year if the school intends to terminate their contract. MSU would not have any financial obligations beyond the terms of their current, individual agreements if that were to happen. Otherwise, their contracts automatically will be extended for the following season on April 1.

“I felt at that time, that was warranted. I think that's just the way I wanted to do it,” Dantonio said. “Felt like it was warranted based on how our defense had played. Sometimes there's a separation of those type of things. In the past, it's been certain people. That's the decision we made at that point in time.”

MSU's offense this fall ranks 107th in total offense (351.3 yards per game) and 110th in scoring (21.8 points per game) out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision schools. They are 114th in rushing (123.2 yards), 110th in pass efficiency and 109th in third-down conversion percentage.

"I did not anticipate this. I didn't," Salem said after practice Tuesday. "Physically, I thought we would be able to match up and be able to run the football. I think that's the things, you gotta be able to take care of the football and win up front. And then there's things I gotta do better to lead. You gotta take responsibility as a coordinator and understand that."

MSU’s returning defensive coaches — coordinator Mike Tressel, defensive tackles coach Ron Burton, defensive ends coach Chuck Bullough and defensive backs coach Paul Haynes — all retained their two-year rollover. New wide receivers coach Don Treadwell, who changed positions with Samuel, also kept his two-year rollover after he rejoined Dantonio’s staff going into the 2018 season.

[ MSU struggles because they get trounced in fourth quarters these days ]

But the defense has regressed as well, ranking 31st in total defense (337.4 yards), 51st in scoring defense (25.6 points) and 71st in passing yards allowed (231.8). They still rank 14th against the run (105.6 yards).

That has led MSU to a 4-6 record overall and 2-5 mark in the Big Ten, needing two more wins to get bowl eligible after talking all offseason about competing for a conference championship again.

“We thought we'd have a special season going into this season,” Dantonio said. “You have to deal with things as they are. That's what we'll do, that's what I'll do.”

Bachie update

Tressel said MSU has not received any word on suspended middle linebacker Joe Bachie's appeal for failing a test for performance-enhancing drugs.

The senior, an Associated Press midseason All-American, was suspended Oct. 31 and has not played or practiced since. The two-time captain was the Spartans' leading tackler with 71 through eight games before missing the past two. 

"I'm having to prep every day as if he's not gonna be in there," Tressel said. 

Junior linebacker Antjuan Simmons, who took over in the middle for Bachie, now leads MSU with 72 stops.

Injury updates

Sophomore receiver Jalen Nailor reappeared on MSU’s starting depth chart after he was in uniform against Michigan on Saturday for the first time since the opener against Tulsa on Aug. 30.

Nailor, who had a right foot injury, did not play in the 44-10 loss in Ann Arbor after going through warmups.

“Jalen could have possibly played some, but he hadn't practiced,” Dantonio said. “He really only practiced on Thursday. He hadn't been hit, jostled around. Ball security, those type of things. Wanted to give an extra week to get his feet on the ground.”

Dantonio said the former Nevada state track champion practiced Monday and is expected to play Saturday at Rutgers (noon, FS1). Nailor retains the ability to be redshirted since he played last season as a true freshman and has only appeared in one game this season with two left in the regular season and potentially a bowl game.

Tressel said cornerback Josiah Scott also is expected to play this week as well after leaving early for the second straight game on Saturday. The junior suffered a lower-body injury in the third quarter against Illinois on Nov. 9, then Saturday at Michigan took a helmet to the chin while making a tackle on the second play of the game and did not return.

Quick hits

Dantonio and Tressel said defensive end Jacub Panasiuk will play at Rutgers immediately despite being ejected in the loss to U-M for a late, blindside, cheap shot on QB Shea Patterson in the fourth quarter. Because it was not a targeting foul, the junior will not be required to miss the first half. …. Senior defensive end Kenny Willekes is one of three finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is given annually to the most outstanding player nationally who began his career as a walk-on. He joins California safety/kick returner Ashtyn Davis, Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship as finalists for the award that will be presented Dec. 9 in Springdale, Arkansas.

Contact Chris Solari at csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.