Michigan football team's quarterbacks won't have a Dr. Phil moment, running backs in flux and true freshmen who will likely see playing time
All summer long, Roy Roundtree has caught passes from all three contenders for the Michigan football team’s starting quarterback job.
Asked which one throws the best ball Monday, the receiver broke into a wide grin. He still needs a few more days of practice to figure it out.
“Hmmm, I probably have to wait until Saturday to see that,” Roundtree said, before saying he didn’t know whether Tate Forcier, Denard Robinson or Devin Gardner would start against UConn.
Roy Roundtree
Later in the morning, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said he has a good idea of which quarterback will start the opener, and that Gardner, a true freshman, probably won’t redshirt this year and is part of the equation.
Rodriguez said that he’ll inform the candidates of his decision later this week, but has no specific plans on how he’ll deliver the news.
“I don’t need no Dr. Phil moment with the guys, where it’s ‘let me explain the situation,’ and ‘how do you really feel about it,” Rodriguez said, drawing laughs from the 30 or so media members assembled Monday. “It’s ‘this is the deal and go out and play.’”
Looking at the running backs
Running back Fitzgerald Toussaint has been held out of practice because of a sprained knee, and his status for Saturday’s game against UConn is unknown.
Not that he’ll play Saturday, but Michigan fortified its depth at running back by moving safety Teric Jones to the position. Jones played three years at running back in high school and arrived at Michigan as an offensive player.
After spending a year on defense, he’s back.
“He asked to make the move and we needed a move,” Rodriguez said. “… We’ve moved him around too much, probably, already and we’re just trying to get him settled.”
Coaches aren’t certain that running back Michael Shaw will be eligible by Saturday. He’s continuing to finish up a summer class, and they hope his status is settled by game day.
Freshmen will see playing time
Devin Gardner isn’t the only true freshman expected to see the football field this fall for Michigan.
The Wolverines expect at least 10 true freshmen will play, including four in the defensive backfield. Rodriguez said he thinks all the freshmen listed on the current depth chart will play, and possibly more over the course of the season.
“It’s rare to have this many true freshmen on the depth chart,” Rodriguez said. “But that’s where we’re at right now. In a couple of years, maybe we don’t and maybe we will. It depends on how we recruit and how we develop.”
Of the freshmen listed on the depth chart, the one notable name is receiver Jeremy Jackson, who is listed as a backup along with Je’Ron Stokes to Martavious Odoms.
Receiver is a position of depth for Michigan, and Jackson is the only one of five receivers in the 2010 recruiting class to crack the depth chart.
Two true freshmen that Rodriguez has talked about often this summer, but who were not listed include safety/linebacker Josh Furman and receiver Drew Dileo, who was expected to be in contention as a kick and punt returner.
Perking up the Wolverines
University officials announced Monday that Tim Hortons has become the official coffee of Michigan athletics. In possible related news, no players have fallen asleep in position meetings over the past two weeks.
Pete Bigelow can be reached at (734) 623-2556 or emailed at petebigelow@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
BornInA2
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 2:49 p.m.
@Txmaizenblue I agree. Perhaps it's Carr's fault for teaching RR to leave the cupboard bare. Somehow I'm certain that it's the fault of something or someone other than RR. He's perfect. And a winner. And follows the rules. A Michigan Man against whom all other will be measured.
Txmaizenblue
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 2:45 p.m.
Why is it after three years of recruiting we are still saying "that's where were at right now" - having to start freshman. What happened to all those juniors and sophomores?
umgoblue47
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 2:07 p.m.
hope doctor phil is an uofm fan... spoken like a 5th grader... i hope doctor phil is a uofm fan, that would be great... go blue...
rensational
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 9:15 a.m.
Kind of hard to enjoy a team that loses every week.
umgoblue47
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 8:54 a.m.
truth be known tim hortons does make a good cup of joe... and truth be known dr phil would fall over laughing at some of the posts made on this blog... stay tuned for as the (bowl) turns... go blue...
Dschan
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 8:21 a.m.
seriously though, cant you guys do anything but whine and moan? it hasnt gotten you what you want yet. so just give it up until the end of the season, and lets enjoy our team.
NoBowl4Blue
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 8:15 a.m.
Mike Bellotti is clueless. OSU offered him a job before the vest and when asked about OSU - Michigan game he said the civil war Oregon St and Ore was the what rivalies are about. Dude is and was overrated. Truth be known Rich Rod needs Doctor Phil.
FLWolverine
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 7:25 a.m.
There's still a lot to like about RR. He's done so much for the program. For one... um. Well, let's start with... hmm. Well, it isn't all about winning folks. A head coach is expected to foster pride, respect, education first (OK, forget his quote above: "I don't need no Dr. Phil moment..." as if proper English matters), dignity. He's brought it all, hasn't he?
3 And Out
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 5:23 a.m.
Funny how bellotti backs his good ol boy coach frat...while everyone else on that show is honest and shred Rich Rod...
OSUbeBetter
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 3:55 a.m.
Im not old enough to remember the caroline affair, but i do remember "Freedom Fries", so i know that what annoys and betrays Americans one day, may actually become the prevailing sentiment in as short as one year later.
Sean T.
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 12:57 a.m.
I suppose I'd take Mike's word since he won so many National Championships at Oregon. Or maybe because he recruits so many well behaved players too! All the kidding aside, I think Mike Bellotti can coach but what he thinks about RR means absolutely nothing. I wouldn't need him to tell me what a good coach is when I can see we have a charlatan in AA. Tressel is more accomplished than Bellotti and he stuck up for RR too but who cares what they think. He's not dismantling their respective programs. I'm sure Dantonio thinks RR is great too!
Lemansblue
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 9:25 p.m.
Wow Mike Bellotti said it must make it so. Yea multiple Nat championships our on our way. Tell us about RR's season he won the NC. Tell us about the season he went undeafeted in the Big East. I know after BC, Va Tech and Miami left the conf he went undeafeted. What a joke RR is the most overrated coach in college football and his record proves it.
Lorain Steelmen
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 9:03 p.m.
PortageLkBlu. Couldn't agree with you more. Excellent post. Given time, and little fan support, RR will have Michigan contending for NC's. And think Dave Brandon sees it the same way.
jameslucas
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 8:08 p.m.
Tim Hortons is a Canada company, have we forgot the Caroline affair.
PortageLkBlu
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 8:05 p.m.
I like what Mike Bellotti had to say on ESPN. For those of you that don't know who Mike is, Mike coached the Oregon Ducks up until a couple of years ago. Yes it's the same Mike Bellotti that came in to Mich. stadium and absolutely confused and destroyed LLoyd Carrs last Mich. team that was QB by Chad Henne and company. This is the same Mike Bellotte that had a very successful pro style but switched to the spread. Mike says, RR is a very good coach and that when a new coach, (Mike was not new when he switched Oregon to the spread) takes over a pro style like Mich. which is anchored in that tradition of style over generations and you have to start from scratch with a differant style player to fit the spread and the fans are not used to all of this change of tradition it is very difficult and Mike also said that LLoyd left very few player that could qualify for that spread style and Mike said that he started with more spread talent than RR did and the players, school and fans were used to him since he'd coached there many years. Mike Bellotti says, it takes at least 2 years to start putting enough players on the field to compete with that spread in a new system. You can't much blame RR for that first yr. well, I guess the complainers can. Mike Bellotti said, if RR gets a little more time needed he, Mike thinks RR is going to light up the Big Ten with his Wolverine teams and I believe Mike Bellotti. For those of you that don't live out here on the West coast let me just say, Mike Bellotti is well respected in the Pac and Pete Carroll always new that Mike could compete with Pete on game day with less talent heck, don't believe me go ask LLoyd Carr about Mike Bellotti.
OSUbeBetter
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 6:48 p.m.
Tim Hortons makes a Damn good cup of Coffee! Top 3 Best cups of Black coffee: 1 Tim Hortons 2 Mcdonalds 3 Speedway 100% Colombian