Michigan's Fitz Toussaint, Troy Woolfolk dealing with previously undisclosed injuries headed into Notre Dame matchup
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke said Friday night that top cornerback Troy Woolfolk and starting tailback Fitz Toussaint are dealing with previously undisclosed injuries.
Both remain probable to play against Notre Dame on Saturday (8 p.m., ESPN).
Woolfolk, a senior cornerback who played only one series last week after he sprained his left ankle on kickoff coverage, suffered a hand injury at Thursday’s practice.
“But he’s running around and he’s doing everything we need him to do,” Hoke said in a video published by the school.
Michigan's starting tailback, Fitz Toussaint, is "a little beat up," but expected to play against Notre Dame, according to coach Brady Hoke.
The Wolverines will need him, as they are tasked with defending star Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd.
“You have a guy who’s a senior, has some maturity to him,” Hoke said of Woolfolk. “So, it should be good to have him.”
Hoke also said Toussaint, who had 11 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns in his debut last week as Michigan’s lead tailback, is “a little beat up.”
“But he’s done a good job and we’ll just see where he’s at,” Hoke added.
Senior Michael Shaw is Toussaint’s primary backup. He had four carries for 54 yards and one touchdown against Western Michigan.
Starting linebacker Cam Gordon also is dealing with a balky back and his status against Notre dame is uncertain. Hoke did not address the sophomore in the video.
Other topics covered by Hoke in the video:
On the starter at left guard: Hoke said starting junior Ricky Barnum, who did not play last week due to a "team issue," has reclaimed that spot. Sophomore Michael Schofield also was considered a candidate after playing well as Barnum's fill-in against Western Michigan.
Will the rain affect Saturday’s game? “I don’t think so. We played in it last week, we practiced all day in it Wednesday, so I don’t think it makes a difference.”
On practice this week: “Got to play a lot better a lot of different positions, defensively against the run and in the kicking game. So, believe me, we have a lot to hone in on. … Our Wednesday practice was as good as anything, had a lot of physicalness to it.”
On preparing for Saturday’s game: “It’s a long day for the kids and it’s a long day for the coaches.” Hoke has said he’s concerned with keeping his players fresh before the late kickoff. He said this week they would watch film, which they don’t normally do, and also go for walks around the team hotel to stay loose.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
a2zyzzyva
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 4:38 p.m.
Call me out of it, but, until I read this article, I didn't realize that the team stayed at a hotel before a home game. Surfing around, I now understand this is common practice. Still, I wonder how long Michigan has been doing this.
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 2:38 p.m.
I'm just hoping the Wolverines show us the usual significant improvements from 1st game to 2nd game. If that happens, Notre Dame won't produce an equal improvement and the game will be in hand for Blue early. But if the last three seasons taught fans anything, it's to be cautious and not confuse hope with realities. Given the potency of Michigan's offense and the relative weaknesses on defense, this game could become a scoring shoot out. Probably not on the scale of 65-62 but somewhere in the 30s or even 40s. The big risk is to reputation for both teams. If the Wolverines lose or win sloppily, the whole tv football nation will take that first impression with them for the rest of the season. That just makes getting into the top 25 this season all that much harder. Then it would boil down to whether Michigan can win some late season games.
RWBill
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
Hope I'm pleasantly surprised by defensive line play this week but I'm not expecting much impact. Mattison will have to offset the line's usual ineffectiveness with disguised blitzes but also falling back into coverage so as not to get burned by screens over their heads. It's a tightrope and a guessing game, but got to get in Rees's face or he'll just play pitch and catch with Floyd unimpeded and it will be a long evening waiting to get the ball back. If that happens the offense will have to be extremely efficient and put points on the board most possessions.
BlueGator
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 12:15 p.m.
It will be interesting to see the offense play a full game. I expect a lot more pressure on Denard. I just hope he plays within himself and doesn't throw any picks. Good to have Hopkins and Barnum back. C'mon defensive line. Now would be a good time to put it all together and let the entire nation "hear" your aggressiveness. GO BLUE!!!
Commoncents
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 8:40 a.m.
Sounds like Woolfolk will have a "club" on that broken hand....
RJ12688
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 4:38 a.m.
Hopefully Fitz and Woolfolk are both near 100% for this game. Having them both in there could prove to be a difference maker. Im excited to see what the offense comes out and attacks with, since against western the offense showed next to nothing because it had no reason to. Im also hoping Mattison stays aggressive and Rees spends plenty of time in on is back side. He's proven to be a little prone to making mistakes, and getting in his face early and often could amplify that. UM31 ND21