Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier is finding his way as a leader
When Chad Henne became the first true freshman to start a season at quarterback for Michigan in three decades, it took half a year before he felt comfortable enough to assume the position’s natural leadership role.
"Around the fourth or fifth game is when I really felt set in stone and kind of understood my job of being a leader and tried to be more vocal and set an example," Henne said earlier this fall. "In those first games I had some great seniors around me to help me through. They kind of took care of the huddle for me and got everybody in and out once the play was set."
Five years later, Tate Forcier is following the same leadership learning curve.
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said his freshman quarterback is starting to play a more vocal role five starts into his college career.
"I think that’s natural,” Rodriguez said. "I don’t think you got to force it on a true freshman and say, 'Hey, you take charge of them just because you're a quarterback.' I think you got to let that happen naturally, and a lot of times it happens more throughout the course of a ballgame because they’re out there on their own without coaches standing behind them."
Even with Forcier speaking out more, Rodriguez said he's counting on seniors to provide most of the leadership this week as Michigan (4-1, 1-1) looks to rebound from its first loss of the season against undefeated Iowa (5-0, 1-0).
After last week’s overtime tumble against Michigan State, defensive end Brandon Graham challenged a silent Michigan locker room to “remember this feeling.”
Graham, one of only two senior starters on Michigan’s defense, hasn’t spoken out much among teammates, and defensive tackle Mike Martin said players took note of his speech.
“When it comes to (this) week when we're at Iowa, we’ll remember him saying it,” Martin said.
As for Forcier, Rodriguez said he’ll be the one making speeches in the future.
"Tate has some natural leadership qualities," Rodriguez said. “When (he has) a chance to be with these guys year round, take them through spring practice, take them through the offseason program, get to know them a little bit more, I think that’s where freshmen grow the most from their first to their second year."
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
23andGeddes
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 3:40 p.m.
How soon we forget a young man who was going to revolutionize Michigan Football SAM MCGUFFIE!! Tate Forcier is highly OVER-RATED, he looked great against powerhouses like Western and EMU, but there isnt much of a market for a 5'10, 170lb big ten quarterback. Enjoy this year TATE, im sure it will be your last!!
Engineer
Fri, Oct 9, 2009 : 9:55 p.m.
How about opening up the run with the passing game? We need to take what is given and be flexible no matter what they try.
LakeErieMaize/Blue
Fri, Oct 9, 2009 : 1:07 p.m.
The run game cannot "just be candy"!You need the run game to set up the passing game!The run gm. pulls those LB's up(makes them play honest)and opens up the passing!!We can't and WON'T scrap the run gm. now b/c of ONE bad rushing perfomance from our backs!!We'll get it on track,we have to win this gm.Good Luck Saturday BIG BLUE!!!
wersch213
Fri, Oct 9, 2009 : 12:54 p.m.
That is why State is State...they care about one game all year, and that's Michigan, it was there Superbowl. They can coast the rest of the season which means 6-6, 7-5 AT BEST. Michigan played a very bad game, it was so disappointing because they still had the chance to win depsite the lousy execution. When the whole team puts it together than it will be nothing like we have ever seen. I truly do expect a Michigan win v. Iowa. We don't beat Iowa by our run game...it's the big play passing game that needs to show up every game and running should just be candy. GO BLUE
Engineer
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 8:17 p.m.
Tate is great it is the rest of the team falling behind. Tate has made some freshman errors, some more costly than others. Will be nice when we have a junior or redshirt sophmore waiting in the wings with some experience under his belt. This year is painful to watch and listening to the national champ spartans is unbearable. Their season has been save according to their players after the game. They beat Michigan by luck now they can coast the season is made.
azwolverine
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 3:11 p.m.
Tate may not be a vocal leader, but he sure leads through his production on the field. He's turned two potential losses into victories and almost pulled another one out of his hat. To me, this freshman is already leading and much of the team is still struggling to catch up.