Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier receives a spring wake-up call
The message was delivered in subtle ways all spring. On Saturday, it arrived with an exclamation point.
Michigan’s starting quarterback job isn’t gift-wrapped for Tate Forcier.
That’s been the drumbeat from Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez throughout spring practices. If Forcier didn’t understand that before, it came through loud and clear Saturday.
Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier rolls out of the pocket in the Saturday in the spring game. (Photo: Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com)
Denard Robinson made sure. He was the story of the spring game, zipping passes with precision and poise in a performance that backed up the gushing praise issued by his coach in previous weeks. It wasn’t just that Robinson erased memories of the back-footed rookie from last season with a mechanically sound performance that put Forcier on notice.
It was the symbolic nature of the fact Robinson started with the first-team offense while Forcier was relegated to the second team.
Rodriguez tempered talk of a quarterback controversy afterward, but as was his practice all spring, he didn’t shy away from touting Robinson.
“Denard had a few better practices than Tate,” he said, explaining his decision to start Robinson with the first team. “We thought he deserved to go first.”
If Saturday’s scrimmage was any indication of how the rest of the spring practices had gone, it was easy to see why.
Robinson was 5-for-7 passing with two touchdown passes to Roy Roundtree. One came on a perfect strike from his own end zone that hit Roundtree on a deep crossing pattern for a 97-yard score.
Forcier?
He threw a bad pitch to running back Mike Shaw and later fumbled on a third-and-long play. He scrambled a lot, holding the ball away from his body.
Forcier’s best play of the afternoon probably came on his sneak punt, which rolled to the 12-yard line.
Add the fact the crowd saved its biggest cheers for the debut of true freshman quarterback Devin Gardner, and Forcier’s mood probably matched the overcast, blustery skies over Michigan Stadium.
Only one year ago, Forcier was the early enrollee who could seemingly do no wrong.
Last year’s spring game was not so much his Michigan debut as it was a coronation of Michigan’s next big-time quarterback. Fans streamed by the thousands to get a glimpse of No. 5.
When the season arrived, Forcier played as well as could be expected from a true freshman. He led the team to two dramatic wins over Notre Dame and Indiana, and the Wolverines had the third-best scoring offense in the Big Ten.
But somewhere along the way, he’s fallen out of favor.
Maybe some of that’s on the fans and media. In the world of sky-high expectations for the Wolverines, reality doesn’t stand a chance against the guy with tons of potential and no track record.
Maybe some of that’s on Forcier. For reasons, unknown, Rodriguez has pushed and prodded him throughout spring practice as if it’s the top priority on his agenda.
Two weeks ago, Rodriguez delivered a tepid response when asked if Forcier had matured in the off-season.
“Somewhat,” he said. “Tate was a guy that started off really well last year, and then he’s had some ups and downs. And he has to get better, and some of that is maturity on the field and some of it is off the field as well.”
On another occasion, Rodriguez made it a point to say, “Tate knows that he can’t be average and expect to be the starting quarterback.”
Perhaps the most important comment Rodriguez delivered, though, is one that left the door wide open for this to be nothing but a spring speed bump: “Tate’s a very, very competitive guy. I think he’s a guy that likes challenges.”
This is a big one.
For as well as Robinson played and for as well as Gardner was received Saturday, this is still ultimately about Forcier. As he can attest, perhaps better than anyone, spring-game hype is short-lived.
Now it's up to Forcier to respond. That challenge has been issued. The only question now is whether he’s listening.
Pete Bigelow is the sports producer for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petebigelow@annarbor.com or 734-623-2562.
Comments
Terry Star21
Sun, Apr 18, 2010 : 8:31 p.m.
GoBlueinNE.... you have some vary valid points there about whom played against whom... but remember Denard appears to have won that start by his spring, advantage Denard - sort of like pro hockey's home field playoff advantage for winning during the season... so I think we realize that. I think a point I made earlier was, Denard impressed me with his quick thinking/reaction (remember he waited too long last year), by the velocity of his passes (he floated too many last year), and by the accuracy of his passes (remember last year?). I give you credit for Tate, but let's agree it wasn't his best effort. As for Denard, would a better defense change his play, oh most certainly - but lets think about the improvement he made from last year, and I for one see bright things... especially if the 'O' line can give him time.
GoblueinNE_PA
Sun, Apr 18, 2010 : 6:34 p.m.
Here's what I saw yesterday, one guy playing w/the ones against the 2's and another playing w/the two's against the 1's. Flip the kid's around and the story is "Tate looks great, Denard still struggles". If you have the broadcast taped, watch the line play when Tate was in there, it was horrible. The kid has to run for his life because he's got no choice. I would have liked to see the ones vs the ones a few times to get a real read on how well both lines played, but that wasn't the case. We, as fans, didn't need to see that yesterday, but it would have been nice leading up to next season. SBB - Brandon Graham. Need another? BTW, Mallet played in a spread in HS and he's playing in a spread in Arkansas. That ship sailed though.
Still_Bleeding_Blue
Sun, Apr 18, 2010 : 4:36 p.m.
Can someone who believes UM had all this talent when Carr left tell me the name of ONE significt player for an example please. (we don't know how Mallet would have done in the spread)I can't think of one. So yes...THE CUPBOARD WAS BARE! Someone prove me wrong
Terry Star21
Sun, Apr 18, 2010 : 2:57 p.m.
@ Tulsatom... I agree most heartily with your winning margin. It seemed to have started way back in the Carr era ( I really like Lloyd), where we didn't really put teams away like we should have, we won a lot yes, but it was mostly like 'let's get up 10 points' and play defense. It is a two way street however, the offense has to bury teams - but the defense must do better holding down as well. Michigan Offense - bury teams.....Michigan Defense - hold teams
tulsatom
Sun, Apr 18, 2010 : 12:47 p.m.
The U-M QB competition is good and will be fun to watch as the season progresses. There is depth and quality at that position for the first time in RR's tenure in AA, so that doesn't concern me as much as the defense and both interior lines. Despite the nature of the offense and wide open play-calling, it's solid defense and line play that win close ballgames. For example, last year at Illinois -- 4 straight tries from the opponent's 1 yard line and U-M couldn't punch it in -- that has got to change. Also, the defense has been near the bottom of the Big Ten statistically the last few years and that has got to change, also. U-M needs to win more games like 34-13 instead of hoping to win shootouts (like 48-47) every game.
newlander
Sun, Apr 18, 2010 : 11:46 a.m.
This reminds me SO much of John L. Smith's tenure at MSU it's absolutley priceless: 1) hyper kinetic redneck in over his head as head coach? check 2) Fan/Alum fascination with overrated and overhyped QB's? check 3) BRUTAL interior line play on both sides of the ball? check 4) One of the worst defensive units in the league? check 5) Sense of impending implosion? Double check Get Lester Miles on speed dial walverines, you'll need him after this group of smurfs wins 5 or 6 games this season.
Jaxon5
Sun, Apr 18, 2010 : 6:32 a.m.
It's season 3 and our two most often used offensive plays are: the broken play and the turnover. If fans weren't worried during seasons 1 and 2, they should be very worried now.
rensational
Sun, Apr 18, 2010 : 12:56 a.m.
I really think redceder's entire "post" was a joke, as everything he/she wrote in it was stupid. Normally, I don't flatout insult what people write, but... As for Denard vs Forcier, I think a lot of people are missing the point, including one in Pete's article. That is to say that Denard could end up the starter, and NOT just because of what he did in the spring game Saturday, or even in the practices leading up to it. Forcier comes with some issues, including maturity and, apparently, academics. All the while he has been screwing up and thinking this QB job is his just because he had some bigtime training back in CA, Denard has been silently working, doing what he's supposed to do, and, apparently, staying out of drama. Like I wrote on another article here, I also didn't see a lot of progression from Forcier--things that should have nothing to do with his ankle, but more to do with LISTENING to coaches and working on his skills. Like Pete mentioned, still holding the ball away from him on the run, still fumbling...and also, he still throws very risky passes and makes questionable decisions. These are areas where Denard also seems to have Forcier beat, at least from what I can tell thus far. I appreciate a lot of the things Forcier did for Michigan last season, and I hate that he doesn't seem to be performing as well as he probably could and showed glimpses of being able to do. I certainly don't want to jump ship on supporting him. But we don't have time for anybody out on the field messing around, and RR certainly doesn't have time for it--his job is on the line. Either way, I don't see Michigan doing too much better than 6-6 or 7-5, but RR is going to have to go with whoever gives Michigan the best chance of winning, and it's not unreasonable for fans to want to see that.
Terrin
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 : 10:59 p.m.
I really don't get the excitement over the quarterback. You can have the best quarterback in the world, but if the line stinks it will not matter. Every aspect of Michigan's game stinks, especially the special team's ability to hold the ball. Also, I do not get the whole Carr left the cupboard bare argument. When Carr left the head coach role, Michigan had one of the best known programs in the Country. It usually ended the season in the top ten. Consequently, Michigan could choose from amongst the best players. Who wouldn't want to play in Ann Arbor? Further, Carr still has a significant role at Michigan and hardly would work for the program to fail. Simply stated, Michigan's failure to execute can be attributed to Rich Rod's attempt to implement his program overnight without taking into consideration the talent Michigan already had. Great coaches, like Jim Tressel, might have an idea of the type of system they want to run, but they at least temporarily mold the system to the available talent. This whole rebuilding thing is an excuse and Rich' Rod's approach was unfair to the current players who were and are loyal to Michigan.
Engineer
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 : 10:06 p.m.
Scarry thing was watching Tate drop the ball again. He has a lot of moxie and pulls through a lot on the field to win but he fumbles way too much.Denard look like the best QB on the field today. The redshirt QB that came in near the end looked pretty good also. Question is will anybody excel when facing the big ten elite. I was also bothered by how much the offense scored. Would like to have seen a stifling defense that allow little offense. By the end of October we will know the real deal.
HailToASquared
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 : 9:49 p.m.
""insisted on running his gimmicky offense despite not having players who could run it"" He's running the offense that the University of Michigan hired him to run, smart guy. Insisted on running his gimmicky offense? You think they hired him and told him to drop what made him and the mountaineers successful in WV and run a traditional offense which he isn't experienced coaching? He didn't insist on anything- thats what he was brought here to do. And to be honest, for only two years and having gguys like Threet/Sheridan.. and two freshman run the offense so far.. the offense isn't even the issue. It's already good and only getting better... its always been about the defense. Which Rodriguez addressed with recruiting this year by heavily recruiting defensive players
Macabre Sunset
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 : 9:32 p.m.
Kind of silly to say Carr left the cupboard bare. He had a top ten recruiting class every year he was at Michigan. RichRod rammed his way in here, drove off a quarterback who will probably be drafted in the first round next year, insisted on running his gimmicky offense despite not having players who could run it, paid no attention to a defense that was stocked with elite talent. And last year, with his recruits at quarterback, the offense regressed against Big Ten opponents, who got used to the one-trick pony the year before. Robinson may have looked better. He will dominate the weak non-conference opponents. But I don't see how this team will be better than 2-6 in the Big Ten, because gimmicks like a pure zone-read rushing quarterback don't fool opponents in an elite conference. The Big East this ain't.
Terry Star21
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 : 9:10 p.m.
Tate didn't have a bad day, he was very mobil - but most certainly didn't have his best day, but Denard did. True it's just one spring practice, but look at everything Denard struggled with last year - he worked hard, learned and, he demonstrated a much improved aspect of his game. Will be very interesting this summer.
johnnya2
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 : 7:47 p.m.
So he played well in a SCRIMMAGE? People need to realize spring games mean NOTHING. Last year it was Tate. This year its Robinson and Gardiner. Next it will be somebody else. Hopefully next spring it will be a new coach, but come on already it is 4 months away from kick off
BowlForBlue
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 : 7:39 p.m.
Nice article Pete... the word precision with Denard really summed it up... Tate ran, dodged, and spread out passing - if he was injured/hurting it didn't show... don't want to speculate too much on Tate... after Denard's performance, to say Tate had his work cut out - would pretty much sum that up...
GettingBluer
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 : 7:33 p.m.
Let me get this straight, RR said: Tate knows that he cant be average and expect to be the starting quarterback. But, RR can be less than abysmal and keep his job? Got it. No more contributions from this alumnus.
voiceofreason
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 : 6:58 p.m.
Denard definitely looked better today, but Tate just sprained his ankle/foot two days ago. Hopefully the two guys compete through Summer conditioning and Fall. It would be nice if both turned into viable options at QB this season.