Michigan center David Molk out for the season
12:05 p.m. Defensive back Troy Woolfolk on giving opposing receivers a cushion at the line of scrimmage:
"I press people every time I get the chance," Woolfolk said. "I think it discourages the receiver if I get in his face and get physical with him. I'm not a big fan of playing off."
Woolfolk said the players have some discretion on first and second down on how far off they play they receivers. On third downs, defensive coordinator Greg Robinson gives them firm instructions.
_______
11:58 a.m. Rich Rodriguez, on the number of holding calls being whistled throughout the Big Ten:
"There is more of a gray area and more of a frustration in seeing some of the calls," he said. "Most of the calls, I can understand. But some of them, geez, it's just a guy getting pancaked."
________
11:52 a.m. The Nov. 7 game against Purdue will kick off at noon and be televised on the Big Ten Network. ________
11:49 a.m. Rich Rodriguez talked about the progress of freshman quarterback Denard Robinson, who turned the ball over twice in limited action Saturday. Here's what Rodriguez said:
"Denard is, he and Tate are naturally confident guys. Anytime you make a mistake, you take a blow to that," he said. "But we're not going to drop him in the grease, so to speak. I've said, let's not too much pressure on them and say 'They've arrived.'" There's a process you have to to through. ...
"Every day it seems we're taking some positive steps with that, but there's some days you step backward. Saturday, we stepped backward." ________ 11:40 a.m. David Moosman, on his experience at center so far this season:
"Yeah, I think I've screwed up just about everything you can at center," he said. "So you can't do that again, obviously. I've got all the bad stuff out of the way now. That's the way I'm looking at it." ________
11:35 a.m. Defensive end Ryan Van Bergen is David Molk's roommate. He recounts what yesterday was like in their apartment:
"He was saying he'd be back this week, then got a phone call from the doctors that he wouldn't be playing for the rest of the season," Van Bergen said. "He came up into my room. I was doing homework when he came up and told me."
________ 11:27 a.m. Rich Rodriguez, on his team's overall performance against Penn State:
"We seem to have a few more technical errors and missed assignments than normal," Rodriguez said. "Some of the technical errors, guys were trying to do too much. Sometimes, that happens when you get excited and forget your gap assignments or where your eyes are supposed to go.
"It wasn't a very good performance, obviously."
_________
11:19 a.m. Others on the injury report: Martavious Odoms had an MRI on his knee. The test revealed no tears, but there's still swelling. He's listed as day to day.
Junior Hemingway suffered a bruised knee, and is day to day.
Brandon Minor still has an injured ankle, and now a heel bruise on the other foot. He's day to day. ________ 11:08 a.m. How does losing David Molk for the season affect Michigan?
Like he did when Molk missed the previous four games with a broken foot, David Moosman will start at center. Mark Huyge will slide into Moosman's right guard spot, and Perry Doorstein will start at right tackle.
In the meantime, Tim McAvoy and Rocko Khoury will also take snaps at center. ________
11:04 a.m. Center David Molk is out for the remainder of the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee. He's expected to miss spring practice next year, as well, and be ready to return in the summer 2010.
Comments
Engineer
Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 9:59 p.m.
They will be lucky if they win one of the remaining 4 games. Look at what Purdue did to OSU. This team is no better than last year. Excuses are wearing this about no back ups. RR has 2 classes in house and Carr had built something special to beat Tim Tebow led Florida. RR ran too many Carr players off instead of recruiting them first. An extra offensive lineman would be handy about right now. An experienced QB that would also be helpful. Throwing the baby out with the bath water on the winningest program ever never seemed like a good idea. RR stepped into greatness and destroyed it. Can he rebuild it? We are waiting to see. I hope so. Go Blue!
rightmind250
Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 4:48 p.m.
How about that big fat Campbell kid. He should fill in nicely.
KeepingItReal
Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 1:45 p.m.
Bo once said that as the season progress, you either get better or worse as a team, but one thing for sure, the team won't stay the same. It appears that as the competition has gotten stiffer, M has gotten worse especially in critical areas of the team. Forcier limitation as a QB is beginning to show,UM backs are too small and are constantly hurt, its defense looked completely confused on Saturday. M has four games left and unless a miracle happens, I don't think they are going to win any of them.
wolver4ever
Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 1:02 p.m.
The point of leadership is so true. On offense Minor should have been the leader and helped his young QB out, but he has been out so much with injuries that he has not been able to make an impact, and no one else seems to be stepping up to the plate. On defense Gram is doing a great job playing, but it takes more to being a leader. Our LB's, who have playing experience are no where to be seen and people are still looking to find where our secondary as disappered too. I am for tradition, but you don't need a title to be a leader.
saginaw
Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 12:53 p.m.
RR made some of these same comments in 2008.
heartbreakM
Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 12:43 p.m.
Tru and tree: I have brought up in the past my disappointment that Rich Rod eliminated the longstanding (?100 year old) tradition of Michigan football team players choosings its own captains. As LC used to say, it's the biggest honor a player can get. I do think getting rid of these captains has hurt internal leadership of the team--though you would think the seniors would step it up, having a formal captain who can bust on his team, who can keep his team straightened out--that's an important thing. Right now, the team is relatively leaderless, and 'rudderless'. Adrift without direction. Rod can run the program the way he wants--that is clear. But his throwing out this tradition, just may have caused us leadership for 2 years now. Just a thought.
treetowncartel
Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 12:03 p.m.
Right on TC, I think they should have waited another game or two before putting him back in.
jeremy
Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 11:24 a.m.
theo....they should easily beat a 1 win team....if they lose this game they will be tied for last place in the big 10 with no gimmie games left. Here is a link to yet another great piece of journalism by the freep. Drew "aint so" Sharp is a tool, but if clark from penn state really made these comments then im all for g-rob being ushered out. http://www.freep.com/article/20091025/COL08/910250430/1054/SPORTS06/Lloyd-Carr-s-support-won-t-save-Rich-Rod-forever
jeremy
Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 11:13 a.m.
thats a shame about molk. The kid showed alot of heart by rushing back and then re-entering the game despite his knee being in pain. Its really ashame that most of our other players lack this type of heart. Its also a shame that the swagger we had in beating western, eastern, nd, indiana, and del state hasn't shown up in tougher competition. Its easy to beat the patsies of the world but can we beat some teams that matter please....and no notre lame isn't relevant. they have one of the softest schedules in football
81wolverine
Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 11:12 a.m.
That's really bad news about Molk. Going forward, Michigan MUST find & develop a capable backup center that doesn't involve raiding another position on the OL. The screwed up snaps have been devastating this season. Denard's confidence has got be hurting after two more turnovers. The fumbles can be corrected a lot sooner than the bad passing. He just has a ways to go throwing the ball and putting him in there before he's ready is going to hurt us more than help us. It seems to me on too many plays Tate is running all over trying to make something happen (improvise) rather than running a set play. I think for a true freshman, this may be asking too much. I realize his height makes it harder for him to see over the line. But, against a good defensive team, this running all over the field trying to throw on the run is going to be tough to do.