The Michigan football team enters Big Ten play Saturday at Indiana, off to a 4-0 start for the second straight year. Two days after dismantling Bowling Green, 65-21, coach Rich Rodriguez held his weekly press conference.

Of course, the main reason for concern after the win was quarterback Denard Robinson's knee. Robinson left the game after being hit along the sidelines and had his left knee wrapped after the game.

Rodriguez said Robinson has a bruise that will limit him in practice Monday. The sophomore has received treatments since Saturday's game and should be a full-strength for Tuesday.

Rodriguez said Robinson will play Saturday at Indiana and that he will continue to be backed up by Tate Forcier and freshman Devin Gardner. Rodriguez said he does not feel the need to scale the offense back with Forcier or Gardner in, but said Robinson is the most effective.

"Other guys can run the offense. Denard is special, and he has the ability to break plays himself," Rodriguez said. "This is a physical game and quarterbacks get hit. They get hit when they're running, and sometimes they get hit when they're drop back passers. But Denard's a tough guy."

Other injuries Running back Fitz Toussaint suffered an injury to his shoulder despite seeing limited time against Bowling Green. Rodriguez said Toussaint will catch grief from his teammates for getting caught from behind on his 61-yard run, but he expects Toussaint to continue to see time.

Rodriguez is optimistic that defensive back Carvin Johnson could play after injuring his knee against UConn. Mike Williams (concussion) will continue to be held out while running back Michael Shaw is day to day after spraining his knee Saturday. Forcier will be fine after taking a helmet shot to the quad against Bowling Green.

Tackle box Rodriguez said tackling continues to be an issue. On game day, it's a matter of correcting some "fundamental flaws." He said the defense did a better job of tackling against Bowling Green and that in some instances, players were out of position - plays that led to Falcons touchdowns. Solving tackling issues is tough during the season because Michigan has only one physical practice - on Tuesdays - each week.

Paging No. 9 After Michigan was whistled for an illegal equipment penalty Saturday, Rodriguez said Courtney Avery will wear No. 5, switching from No. 9. On Saturday, Avery and Martavious Odoms, who also wears No. 9, were on the field at the same time during a kickoff. Rodriguez said he didn't know if game officials noticed the duplicate numbers or if Bowling Green coaches tipped them off. Rodriguez said he doesn't anticipate running into that problem against since Forcier (who wears No. 5) doesn't play on special teams.

Unnecessary roughness Rodriguez said he addressed a penalty assessed to offensive lineman David Molk, who was penalized for hitting a defenseless player, which erased a Michigan touchdown. Rodriguez said the play didn't show up on Michigan's film because it occurred so far behind the play. He said he doesn't anticipate it happening again. "We want our players to play physical and to play to the whistle," Rodriguez said. "But I think (officials) are looking for unnecessary stuff and so that won't happen again."

Hitting the road Rodriguez said one advantage of facing Notre Dame on the road is that his players will be more prepared to open Big Ten play away from home Saturday. With Indiana also unbeaten, Rodriguez said he expects the crowd in Bloomington to be into the game, especially with it being the conference opener.

Playing the experience card Rodriguez said his players' experience is paying dividends not only in how well they grasp the offense, but more importantly, in how they are able to adjust during the game. "It's night and day," Rodriguez said.

Picking up the pace Rodriguez said he will pick up the intensity and practice and will stress more intense film study now that Michigan is out of its non-conference slate. He said although the Wolverines have played well over the first month of the season, it's important for players to understand they have to pick it up for the remainder of the season. Rodriguez said he hasn't brought up last year's 1-7 Big Ten finish, focusing on the present rather than on the past.

Alabama, here we come? Rodriguez wouldn't follow Alabama coach Nick Saban's lead in saying Michigan would face the Crimson Tide in Dallas in 2012. Saban announced on his radio show last week that the two teams would meet at Cowboys Stadium.

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said Saturday a deal hasn't been finalized.

"We've both been talking about it, but nothing been signed or delivered," Rodriguez said. "There have been a lot of conversations and it's interesting."