EAST LANSING - The lone starter Michigan State lost on offense from last season was center Brian Allen.

The Spartans knew they would miss their co-captain and the offensive line would look different this season. However, they didn't anticipate it being shaken up this much.

Through five games, Michigan State (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) has used five different starting combinations up front.

"We do mix things up in practice for these situations," Michigan State offensive line coach Mark Staten said Wednesday, "but when you're having your position meetings in the training room, it's not a good sign."

Michigan State will play at No. 8 Penn State (4-1, 1-1) on Saturday and it will likely feature the team's six different starting combination on the offensive line. Fifth-year senior and starting left guard David Beedle is expected to miss about a month after being injured in the first quarter of a 29-19 loss to Northwestern last week. His left arm was in a sling while he was standing on the sideline during the second half.

Although Beedle is out, redshirt junior Cole Chewins' health is improving. He had his streak of 16 straight starts at left tackle snapped when he missed the season opener, played just one snap the following game and has been eased back into the mix. Chewins is now listed as the starting left tackle on the depth chart. That, combined with Beedle's absence, resulted in redshirt junior Tyler Higby, who started the last three games at left tackle, being listed as the starting left guard this week. He started the first two games of the season at center before redshirt sophomore Matt Allen took over.

Sophomore starting right guard Kevin Jarvis sat out each of the last two games with an apparent right leg injury and his status this week is unclear. Redshirt freshmen Blake Bueter and Matt Carrick have both been forced into the lineup at guard while redshirt sophomore Luke Campbell has played both guard and tackle.

"We'll put out there who's healthy and work with those guys," Staten said. "The good thing about having it forced, it puts guys out there and then it exposes them to real-life reps and lets them know, OK, this is why we do the drill work, this is why Coach Staten's been up my keister about my backside leg, about keeping my hands up in pass (protection) or about this or that. Now they see it and they see how it can positively or negatively affect the entire play or the entire team."

For a team coming off a 10-3 season and returning 19 starters on both sides of the ball, a 3-2 start to the season isn't meeting expectations. There have been a series of shortcomings and the offensive line hasn't been a bright spot. The Spartans rank 13th in the Big Ten and 109th in the nation in rushing at 123.0 yards per game. They have already allowed 12 sacks in five games after giving up 21 all of last season.

"A lot of times when people have early success, they continue to work on their strengths harder than they work on their weaknesses," Staten said. "In any walk of life that, it's hard within yourself to address weaknesses. You may have somebody harping on you the whole time about it but until you come to grips with that and understand that, it doesn't change."

Staten was asked how this year compares to the 2012 offensive line, which was also shuffled around. That team also opened the season 3-2 and went on to finish 7-6.

"Talent-wise, I think we have a higher ceiling right now," Staten said. "No offense to those guys of '12, but it's a younger group and they don't understand exactly how far they need to go and how soon they need to get there. And when you have to play someone early, sometimes it's unfortunate because then they may think that they've arrived when they have just scratched the surface and you've seen that on occasion with some of these guys."

While the offensive line has struggled with injuries and execution, starting running back LJ Scott also missed the last three games due to what coach Mark Dantonio said is an ankle injury. It's unclear if he will play at Penn State, which followed a one-point loss to Ohio State with a bye last week. The Nittany Lions allowed 490 yards of rushing combined in wins against Pitt and Illinois but limited the Buckeyes to 119 yards on 37 attempts.

"I think the biggest thing, not just the 11 that will be on the field defensively, but it's the 100,000-plus that are in those seats," Staten said. "If you allow them to be, it can be a very, very loud place. So, how we go about our work, how we finish (is critical). Once we get across that 25 (-yard line) and what we're able to do will dictate what we get."