Talkin' About Practice (Michigan football practice): Sept. 23

Posted on Wed, Sep 23, 2009 : 6:42 p.m.

Talkin' About Practice (Michigan football practice): Sept. 23

By Michael Rothstein

There was a bit of drizzle Wednesday as Michigan started its open practice session for Saturday's Big Ten opener against Indiana. Rich Rodriguez seemed pleased there might be a little bit of weather during practice as there's a chance it could rain in Ann Arbor this weekend for homecoming.

A sign of the defense this week: Safety Mike Williams was in a red no-contact jersey and was barely noticed during the media viewing time in practice. Jordan Kovacs filled in for the dinged up Californian.

Running back Fitzgerald Toussaint also showed up at practice again wearing a red jersey.

During stretching, the team was doing somewhat of an odd stretching drill - at least one I hadn't seen before - where the team crawled on their hands and feet, arched up and then jumped down.

Also during stretching and while music was playing, defensive end Dominique Ware informed one of the assistant coaches that the music playing was, in fact, Tupac.

Rodriguez was also getting into the stretching act, doing standing calf stretches at midfield while his team also stretched out.

As the players and coaches broke out into individual group, both Martavious Odoms and Greg Mathews started dancing as they moved over to punt return drills.

Speaking of punt returns, Odoms, Mathews, Junior Hemingway and Terrence Robinson all worked on punt returns. Donovan Warren was going to work with them, but got called away to other drills.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S BORN TO RUN, LIVE IN 1975 (NOT PART OF THE PLAYLIST, BUT IT IS BRUCE'S 60TH BIRTHDAY TODAY):

When the offense started working in group drills with a center and tackles, Perry Dorrestein worked with the first team on the drills, which could lead to an earlier mention by Rodriguez that Dorrestein might get the start Saturday, moving Mark Huyge inside to right guard.

As music was playing, quarterback Tate Forcier began playing with running back Carlos Brown's hands, waving them in the air in an effort to get the senior to dance. He didn't seem to bite.

Although Rodriguez said Brown will start Saturday, Brandon Minor appeared to be practicing fully Wednesday.

Kevin Grady appeared to be running with the first team at fullback.

Kicker Jason Olesnavage worked on field goals during the typical special teams segment. He was, from my estimation, perfect, connecting from 21 yards, 31 yards, 37 yards, 42 yards and 47 yards.

Olesnavage also worked on pooch punting.

Today's partial playlist: A lot of cuts and mashing up today from Chris and Dusty but here's what we could get: "Amazing," by Kanye West; "Another One Bites The Dust," by Queen; "Ambitionz Az A Ridah," by 2pac.

A COMPLETELY ODD VIDEO OF A BIRD GETTING DOWN TO "ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST."

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.

Comments

Txmaizenblue

Thu, Sep 24, 2009 : 11:03 p.m.

I believe it's "We're talkin' bout practice" - Regards Allen Iverson

jimjam

Thu, Sep 24, 2009 : 4:26 p.m.

funky and entertaining bird! He could be a Michigan cheerleader with some practice!

ohhowihateohiostate

Thu, Sep 24, 2009 : 11:30 a.m.

Speaking of practice; Has anyone heard anything about the investigation going on? Have they found anything yet? It's been a month already since the story came out and I haven't heard a thing. I'm hoping no news is good news. GO BLUE!!

Michael Rothstein

Wed, Sep 23, 2009 : 9:10 p.m.

Tater, You really didn't like it? I mean, it was no Cotton-Eyed Joe video, but they haven't played it in practice in a while. Was fairly disappointed in the lack of Bruce at practice considering his birthday and all.

BigWolverine13

Wed, Sep 23, 2009 : 7 p.m.

How was the Notre Dame practice?

tater

Wed, Sep 23, 2009 : 6:43 p.m.

C'mon, Mike: that video is "for the birds."