Michigan's bowl fate tied to quarterback Tate Forcier's play
Three times during his meeting with the media Monday, quarterback Tate Forcier said how important it is to get Michigan’s seniors to a bowl game.
“Being a leader of the team, you can never send your seniors out empty handed, and that’s something I don’t want to do,” Forcier said. “A lot of it’s on me, how I play and how I motivate these guys.”
Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier says he understands the need to play well in the final two games of the regular season. (Photo: Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com)
If Forcier plays like he did early in the season, when his heroics helped Michigan (5-5, 1-5) to comeback wins over Notre Dame and Indiana, the Wolverines will sneak into a bowl with a .500 or better record.
If he plays like he has most of the past month, when youth and inexperience have contributed to turnover problems and inconsistency, Michigan will spend its second straight December at home.
Forcier showed signs of snapping out of his October funk in last week’s 38-36 loss to Purdue.
He threw his first touchdown pass in more than a month, 43 yards to Roy Roundtree, and looked less skittish in the pocket than he has at any time since Big Ten play began.
When he lost a fumble in the third quarter on an errant option pitch that opened the floodgates for Purdue’s big second half, he responded by leading a six-play scoring drive that ended with his own 6-yard touchdown run.
“I think he had more positive moments than negative moments in the last game,” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said. “He's still very much a work in progress. He still has to learn a whole lot. Again, we all have to be patient.
“I told him this last week, because he's a freshman, I got to ask you to perform and act and be older than what you are. If he's 19 years old, you have to act and play and behave like a 21-, 22-year-old. That's easier said than done.”
Forcier said the game has started to slow for him mentally after 10 college starts.
“I’m trying to do what I was doing at the beginning of the season," he said. "That’s getting the athletes the ball."
He’s also getting healthy.
After missing time last month with a concussion and sprained throwing shoulder, Forcier practiced fully each of the last two weeks. He suffered a setback Saturday when he twisted his left knee in the third quarter, but Forcier said he'll wear a protective sleeve the rest of the season and play through the injury.
"It's that time of the season where even if you’re hurt you just have to play through it and it’s kind of what I’m looking at right now," Forcier said. "We got to get these seniors to a bowl game."
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
sandi
Thu, Nov 12, 2009 : 12:02 a.m.
this Charley from Columbus oh i am a big Michigan wolverines fan all the way in Columbus oh. Michigan will be fine they will beat Wisconsin and they will be Ohio state the following week coach rod now's what he is doing he will turn the Michigan wolverines program around but that is fine we will take our respect from Columbus oh' go blue all day
KeepingItReal
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 1:57 p.m.
One thing I have noticed as the season has progress, is that as the competition has gotten better, Tater's deficiencies have become more exposed. He's not a strong passer, his running is limited now that other teams are aware of his tendency to run and that little cut back move he makes, he cannot take hits consistently, plus he is overrated. Opposing competition have shrunk his game quite a bit. Wisconsin will expose those deficiencies even more so this week and OSU will just obliterate them. If I was an advisor to Shoelace, I would be making plans for elsewhere and D. Gardner should really evaluate RR commitment to Tater before he makes a final decision if he has not made one already. It is obvious that neither Shoelace or Gardner will get a serious chance to be a starting QB at M.
louisa
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 12:03 p.m.
Tate Forcier is over rated as is the entire team! Enough said. Go SPARTANS!
chosen1
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 2:18 p.m.
i have to disagree with amzack saying that the o-line was inexperienced. We had our o-line return from last years team and Im pretty sure that moosman and schilling were returning starters as well from the 07 team. Our oline has guys that have been playing for 3-4 years. We were, i believe, the most experienced o-line coming into the season. Heck at one point this year the schmuckeyes were starting 3 true sophomores, true freshman, and Boren (a jr). even in depth we have 7 guys that have played at least in 22 games. that's not inexperience, it's either lack of competence or coaching
Mick52
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 10:20 a.m.
I think Michigan's chance of making a bowl are based more on the defense stopping the other team from scoring more points, not how the QB plays. I would like to see the turnovers cease. At least three games were lost due to turnovers. "If you score, you may win. If the other team never scores, you will never lose."
1998pa
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 9:40 a.m.
BtheBall, can you put one ounce of critical thinking into your observations? A simpleton looks at Michigan as having no problems on offense. Someone with more than a single brain cell will look at the individual games and notice that there's a serious discrepancy. To wit: Michigan has averaged 32 points on the season. Not to shabby. But if you take out the Delaware State and Eastern Michigan games, the average drops nearly a touchdown. Nothing shocking, and 26.5 still is not an awful average. However, when you take into consideration that Michigan has scored just 20 points per game on the road, including a game (MSU) where they were held to just 28 yards rushing and two of the last three games in which they totaled just 23 points, as well as the fact that there's still a VERY tough road game yet to be played (Wisco), well, you can see why people might have a little bit of concern about the offense, too. I don't think there's any debating it...the defense is in MUCH worse shape right now. I wouldn't exactly forget about the O, though...especially considering you're losing Brown and Minor...and your O-line is getting younger. My goal is really not to criticize, rather to defend those who are "dumb," as you called them, for "talking offense."
81wolverine
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 9:13 a.m.
Yeah, Tate's play is very important for us to even have a shot at getting to a bowl. But, I'd say the Defense's play is just as important right now. And they've been so bad, the problem is Tate could score a TD on every possession and we STILL may lose.
salineguy
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 9:09 a.m.
You have to love the kid's spunk, but he does remind me a bit of a soccer player who is near death, only to be revived by the 'magic sponge' and then is good to go. He's small, the O line is getting smaller. As far as Devin Gardner goes - don't bet the farm on him either. You have to have a surrounding cast. Just ask OSU's Pryor how he is doing without Wells, Hartline, Robiske, and a dominant O Line. UM won't have any such horses next year I'm afraid
sportyridr
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 8:05 a.m.
I'm tired of watching the Tate Forcier show every Saturday...so many poor reads and plays...He's either running the ball for a poor play with little if any yardage gain, loss of yards, getting sacked or staying in the pocket so long that when he does throw the ball its an interception. It is getting more difficult to watch this trainwreck by the week.
BtheBall
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 7:32 a.m.
If you are commenting about the offense, you know nothing about football. The offense is not the problem!!!!! The defense, for the last 2 years, is the worst defense in the Big 10. Small.....slow....out of position.......poor schemes. There are only 2 players on the entire defense that would start for ANY OTHER Big 10 team. Talking offense is, well, just dumb.
amzack
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 2:55 a.m.
azwolverine: first of all, sorry for my harsh reply. I may have different views than you, but no excuse to jump at you. You make some valid points about the O-line, but the line is shuffled a bit with Molk out (Moosman to center) and a freshman/sophmore combo for the right side of the line and at least one junior is inexperienced, so IMO they don't have "predominantly vets" on the line. Maybe Boren's exit is hurting a bit too (not that I like the guy now). Time of Poss on O should be less than other B-10 schools with the tempo of the offense, but your other comments about the O are worth noting. While UM scoring in the second half is very low, it seems like the defense needs to get off the field sooner - giving more time to the offense. I think Tate has made his fair share of mistakes too (understandable) - just don't think that O-line is the weakest link or primary issue on the team. Coaching could improve, but I just don't think they have the athletes (two walk-ons starting on D!). Again, sorry for snapping at you. I think RRod should be given two more recruiting classes to get some decent athletes. Plus, wholesale change takes time.
Danny
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:45 a.m.
Not so fast my friends! Until Mary Sue and the new AD? say it's time for RR and assistants to go, they are going to be around for awhile. Offense looks pretty descent for what we have. Put up 36 points you expect to win unless the other team puts up 38 points. Even when Gardner shows up, that will not help the defense. I would love to see Jim H. come to Michigan, however I am in a love hate relationship with RR at the moment. Love his ofense, hate his defense. What did BO Schem say for years, Defense wins games. But he always had a decent offense to go with it. Tate Forcier reminds me a little of Rick Leach, except Tate can read defenses better than Leach could. We need to focus on Defenseive players in upcoming recruiting. Mean, skilled nose guard, fleet and smart safetys and corners and throw in a couple hard nosed linebackers. Thats my XMAS wish list for Michigan. GO BLUE ALWAYS Dan
Maize&Believe
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 12:11 a.m.
you put up 36 points you should win a football game..This should not all fall on tate it should fall on the whole team.. you run the spread offense some of the point is to get your QB out into space and let him make a play because he can.. that's just how the offense is run. defense needs to makes some plays and make some more stops then they are.. Strong D will equal to a win in atleast one of these games. Believe, GO BLUE!
heartbreakM
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 11:15 p.m.
Hey AM: All year long, I have heard about how Molk is injured, how Minor is injured, how TF is injured, how our line can't play as well without Molk, how Minor is our tough runner and it's not the same without him, etc etc. If not the coaches, then for sure the people on these boards (who are split in their support of RR). It is my opinion that the coaches should prepare the second and third stringers to step it up and "follow the expectations for the position" so to speak--that is the way that championship coaches and teams do it. Yes, it hurts that key players get injured, but that's the way it is in ALL team sports. And your comment about the OL: Are you meaning to tell me that 2 years of coaching by the current offensive line coach, offensive coordinator and head coach cannot create any improvement in blocking, footwork, and flat out execution? I am talking about B10 competition, and not Del State and EMU. In the B10, our offense and specifically the line, has simply not been good enough. Look at time of possession; look at yards gained. Look at first downs, look at yards per carry. All of them bespeak of poor offensive play, which starts with line work. On a line that is predominantly vets, and 2 years into RR's tenure, I would expect better results. And I don't buy that these guys are so bad that they can't be coached. They cannot be worse than the entire rest of the B10, and cannot be SO dependent on Molk that without him, they fall apart. That's not how the game is played.
amzack
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 10:40 p.m.
azwolverine: please explain your comment "read: shrunk to the size of linebackers". I don't think there is one college team with linebackers averaging 292 pounds - the average weight of Michigan's O-line. Try to use accurate data when making an argument. The problem with the O-line is inexperinece and depth (and a crucial injury that Michigan couldn't afford). Just because Barwis shaved off 10-20 pounds of fat off the lineman to make them quicker doesn't turn them into 240+ pound linebackers.
amzack
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 10:32 p.m.
LakeErieMaize/Blue: Do you know for a fact that the next play called by the coach was designed for only Tate to run with the ball? Most of their run plays are read plays (as you know) & we know that Tate likes to tuck that ball and run with it himself a lot. If he couldn't run well, I'm guessing he would have pitched the ball to the TB.
amzack
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 10:28 p.m.
heartbreakM: RRod hasn't used injuries as an excuse. The weekly press confernce always starts with someone from the media asking for injury updates. After answering that first question, I don't recall injuries mentioned unless there is a clarification question from the media about a specific players injury. To use your comment "football is football"...means that players get hit & skinny freshman will get banged up. He'll put some meat on those bones in the offseason and be fine; a better/more experienced O-line next can't hurt either. Oh, I'm sure the coaches are working on getting that line to protect the QB.
juanabe
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 9:40 p.m.
Tate is pretty little (and pretty soft). Can you say Devin Gardner? D1 QB, D1 arm, D1 legs, D1 body.
Rodie
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 9:37 p.m.
The offense isn't great, but Tate can't make up for this defense. Even if he plays well, the defense has regressed so far that they will lose.
amaizenman
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 9:18 p.m.
Boo Tater hasn't missed a game. He gets knocked down and gets back up and continues on. If you know anything about football you would not have made this comment or even asked if he is tough enough
azwolverine
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 8:41 p.m.
Chad Navarre Mallet won a heck of a lot more games than RR's rotten onion breath that is now permeating the program. Also, michallday, by what criteria is Michigan the 'best' offense in the Big Ten? Because they scored 10 against PSU? 13 against a TERRIBLE Illinois defense? 12 second half points against Purdue? Granted, we scored 36 for the game, but we scored 42 on them LAST YEAR! We are NOT the best offense in the Big Ten, not even close. Our defense stinks and our offense is mediocre and turnover prone. I will give Tate credit, though. I like him and think he can ultimately be a good QB down the road when we have a bigger, Big Ten caliber line that hasn't been Barwisized (read: shrunk to the size of linebackers). Tate is tough and giving his all in a very difficult situation. He still has some magic in him, I think, and with proper coaching could excell.
chosen1
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 7:24 p.m.
I think this is the week that they have to win, because after watching the replay of the ohio state/penn st game it makes me wonder aside from Minor how we will move the ball? The DBs at osu were jamming the wrs at the line (why can't we?) and that D-Line was just slamming psu around at will.
Danny
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 7:11 p.m.
Any QB that can put up 36 points deserves to win a game! The defense has to step up and stop somebody. Tate fumble does not mean that Purdue is going to run wild if the defense is doing their job. Don't forget the defensive plays are called from the bench. I am not sure the correct defensive plays are being sent in. Our defense is struggling as it is and if our defensive coordinator is being out coached then it makes for a bad day. Be that as it may, an offense that can score 36 points is should be winning. All QB's get hurt if not protected. Tebow, Bradford, and others blind sided or trying to do too much to win. QB's do not always have time to pick up secondary receivers, they are too busy running for their life. Bottom line, you score 36 points you deserve to win more than you lose! Tate is doing remarkbly well for a true freshman!!
LakeErieMaize/Blue
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 6:35 p.m.
But did you notice that right after Tate got hurt,I think the next play on offense,RR calls a QB run play.So much for being hurt!If he's as hurt as they claim;hand the ball off or call run plays that we let our RB's run-NOT the hurt QB(good luck w/ that concept,our RB's are hurt also!)Get well soon guys b/c Wisc. are lookin' for paybacks from last season.GO BLUE!!!
michalllday
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 6:35 p.m.
Tate is the leader of the best offense in the Big Ten...he is not the problem. Our bowl fate is tied to our defense holding opponents under 40 points a game.
mwolves
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 6:24 p.m.
Tate is tough, no doubt about that....especially for a true freshman. I am not sure that saying if he plays well they will win these games is fact. There seems to have been other issues that have contributed to the losses of recent. He definitely is a key player and good display of understanding that playing well will help give his team a chance to win.
heartbreakM
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 5:17 p.m.
injuries happen, that's the risk of playing football. Every team has them. It's how does the team overcome those injuries that separates pretenders from real teams. It's why Iowa lost. But the problem with the coaching now is that they need to stop using injuries as an excuse and deal with it. And if TF is too injured to run the spread, get that line to protect him (as the line did during Wangler's days) and stop putting TF in harm's way with this "spread". Football is football--design plays that do not expose him to as much harm.
Boo
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 5:13 p.m.
anyone else noticed that every game he injures something new? now it's his knee... is he really tough enough to be in the big 10?