4B - September 8, 2009
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
48- September 8, 2009 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
GAME STATISTICS
Frst Dw s
Rush/Yds
PassingYards
Ofensie Pys
Toal Ofn
Kckretuns/ Yd
Punt returns/ Yds
Comp/Att/Int
Punts/Avg
Fumbles/Lost
Penalties/Yards
Time of Poss
PASSING
Robinson
Cone
Sheridan
Ttas
RUSHING
Player
Robinson
Brown
Smith
Grady, Kel
Grady Kev.
Sheridan
Totals
RECEIVING
Player I
Hemigway
Koger
Gay yel
Savoy
Odoms
Ttas
FUNING
Player h
Mesko
Totals
KICKOFF RETURNNS
HlaHeH
OdoH,
PHmRI
Stonum
Totals
PUNTRETURNS
Player
Mathews
Totals
TACKLES
Eeh
Warren
Wolfolk
C ssoko
Rh
Floyd
Martin
Williars
Van Bergen
Fitzgerald
Moundro
Grhan
Leach
Sas.se
Totas
We
PASSING
Carder
Totals
RUSHING
Burdi
Winchester
Carder
HNHer
Totals
RECEIVING
Player N
Nunez
Arnhirn
West
Thmps.n
Totals
PUNTING
Player
Arrenr
Woals
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player
Totals
PUNT RETURNS
Player
'total
TACKLES
Player
Pritchard
Wiggins
Legrier
Cielenski
Dixson
Dorcely
Brask
Armstrong
Stewart
Pyant
Hinds
Harrington
Lynch
Wasikowski
Nowak
'Totals
M CH
50/242
250
70
2/41
2/16
15/28/1
5/47.2
1/0
8/72
34:20
M I C H I G A N
2-4 18
0-2 0
0-2 H
15-28 197
Att Yds Avg
11 74 6.7
10 54 5.4
6 23 3.8
1 11 11.0
2 7 3,5
1 4 4.0
50 242 4.8
WMU
1U
24/138
310
73
2/6
23/39/2
6/39.8
2/1
3/15
25:40
T3 0
0 0
0 0
Everyone but 'M' surprised by
stifling defensive performance
0
43
12
10
11
4
4
43
1
0
0
0
1
No. Yds
5 103
3 32
2 18
2 13
1 14
1 11
1 6
15 197
Avg
20.6
107
65
6.0
13.
Lg TD
44 2
By RUTH LINCOLN
Daily Sports Editor
A defense that surrendered a school-
record 28.9 points per game last season
and returned just four starters to their
positions isn't upposed Cu look tunning
in its home opener.
It shouldn't hold a highly toutedsenior
quarterback and potential NFL draftee
to 13-for-24 passing and 81 yards in the
first half.
And it certainly doesn't come within
nine minutes of its first shutout in the
Rich Rod era.
"If anybody's surprised, it's y'all,"
junior safety Troy Woolfolk said after
the Michigan football team's 31-7 win
over WesternMichigan."I knew we were
all playing for this team, and I knew this
defense was going to be good."
Criticisms of inexperience and lack of
depth have surrounded the defense for
months. But Saturday, in front of 109,019,
the debut of first-year coordinator Greg
Robinson's new defense put at least some
of those concerns at bay.
The one glaring concern is that the
Wolverines are just an injury away from
major defensive problems, particularly
in the secondary. That was made clear by
redshirt freshman cornerback J.T. Floyd's
botched coverage in the fourth quarter,
leadingto a 73-yard touchdown pass from
Bronco quarterback Tim Hiller.
But the starting corps, slowly erased
memories of last season's defensive
debacle by holding Western Michigan to
3-and-outs on six of eight drives in the
first half.
"I just think that we're young and
we're learning how to play together
in a system that they haven't played in
before," Robinson said of the defense.
"There's a learning curve. And I think
the guys are doing a pretty good job of
adapting."
The cornerback tandem of junior
Donovan Warren and sophomore Bou-
bacar Cissoko held the Broncos' receiv-
ers in check with on-point tackling, and
Cissoko delivered with a first-quarter
interception that left Robinson jump-
7
14
11
6
44
0
0
0
4
3
No. Yds Avg Lg
5 236 472 6,6
5 236 472 66
No. Yds
1 21
1 20
2 41
Avg Lg TD
200 20 0
205 21 0
No. Yds Avg Lg TD
2 16 8.0 16 0
2 16 8.0 16 0
Sophomore cornerback Boubacar Cissoko recorded the first interCeption of new defensivec oordinator Greg Robinson's tenure at Michigan.
ing ecstatically on the sidelines. The duo field tackling, which secondary coach finished with five solo tackles.
helped break apart an Bronco offense Tony Gibson referred to as "probably the "I was a little nervous at first because
which was the nation's 11th-best passing hardest thing to do in football." I've been playing against my guys all the
team last year. "If we're able to break down and they time, but now to play against someone
Senior defensive end Brandon Graham try to give us a quick move and we're still different - after the flow of the game, it
said this is one of the fastest defenses in able to get in front of them and still shut got very comfortable for me, very natural
which he has ever played. them down, that's whenever you know for me," Brown said. "It's a good move."
"Everybody is trying as hard as they you're doing the things right that Coach The Wolverines' biggest defensive test
can to get to the ball," Graham said. Robinson is telling us to do," senior out- yet will come next week against Notre
"And being a shutdown defense, that's side linebacker Stevie Brown said during Dame's highly touted receivers, namely
what we're trying to do." fall camp. Golden Tate, who caught 58 passes for
The Wolverines looked like a sure- Brown, who had started 13 games at 1,080 yards last season.
tackling team Saturday, allowing the safety in his career, switched to a hybrid Did the coaching staff save anything
Broncos to cross midfield only once in outside linebacker/safety position under for the Fighting Irish?
the first half. Robinson's defense. On Saturday, Brown "Maybe so," redshirt junior lineback-
Robinson's main emphasis in his looked fluid in his new position, used his er Obi Ezeh said with a smile. "We got a
nine-month tenure has been on open- speed to find optimal positioning and lot of stuff."
Solo
4
b
5
1
2
2
2
0
3
1
0
1
0
3
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
31
Asst
4
1
1
5
3
2
2
4
0
2
3
1
1
2
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
36
Tot
8
7
6
6
S
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
Forcier will start against Notre Dame
67
23-39
M i c h i
4
263
g a n
TD
1
2
1
24
No.-
7
7
1
1
23
Yds
41
5
3
2
0
-13
38
Yds
151
48
32
25
5
2
263
3.0
1.0
0.0
-2.6
1.6
Avg
21.6
6.9
s.0
20
11.4
Lg
9
4
3
3
0
11
ti
lg
73
11
13
13
5
2
73
0
TD
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
TD
i
0
0
0
0
0
1
By MICHAEL EISENSTEIN run?
Daily Sports Editor "Well, he ran really fast," Rodriguez
said. "He's only been in the offense three
Heading into one of the Wolverines and a half weeks. To compare him with
biggest games this weekend, Michigan Tate is sometimes not fair, because Tate,
coach Rich Rodriguez isn't changing any- again, had the 15 practices in the spring.
thing when it comes to That makes a huge difference."
his quarterbacks. NOTEBOOK Rodriguez said the 22 quarterback car-
"I'm not goingto have ries by Forcier and Robinson on Saturday
a set rotation, per se," Rodriguez said at was a bit more than he'd like, but that was
his weekly Monday press conference. a combination of letting Robinson get
"We'll continue to do what we did in the comfortable in game situations by calling
next several weeks what we did this past more designed runs and because receiv-
week." ers were well-covered downfield, forcing
That means freshman quarterback Tate the quarterbacks to scramble.
Forcier will start against Notre Dame on Against Notre Dame this weekend, the
Saturday "unless he has a really bad week most telling sign of future success might
of practice," according to Rodriguez. be whether fourth-string quarterback
As he ran to the locker room at half- David Cone makes another late-game
time, Forcier had already thrown three appearance, as he did Saturday when the
touchdown passes, one fewer than Michi- Wolverine victory was a certainty.
gan's single-game record. Though it was KRAZY KATCH: No Wolverine was
against a Mid-American Conference surprised by Robinson's great first-quar-
defense that returned only one starter, ter scramble for a score.
Forcier and his composure had Rodriguez After all, they say they see it in practice
singing his praises days after the perfor- every day.
mance. The highlight of the game, according
"I've not had a true freshman start, soit to senior running back Carlos Brown, was
was a new experience for us," Rodriguez sophomore tight end Kevin Koger's leap-
said of the early-enrollee. "But he's kind of ing, one-handed, 20-yard snag late in the
unique from the standpoint that he prob- fourth quarter.
ably was more nervous than he'd let on, "It's funny because I've been on the
but he didn't act like it, and he didn't seem guys all camp about catching the ball with
like it on the sidelines or in pregame. two hands, go up with two hands," Rodri-
"The pleasing part of it, when he did guez said. "I've probably yelled it 50 times
make a mistake ... he knew right away - go up with two hands."
what it was. So when you know that's Koger had the team gawking, but
happening, you know his mind is into the wasn't sure he'd satisfied the most impor-
game and he's thinking the right things." tant person, his coach. So once the game
And what about fellow freshman quar- ended, that was a top priority.
terback Denard Robinson, who turned a "I see (Koger) after the game and we
broken reverse into a 43-yard touchdown hadn't even gotten up the tunnel yet - he
S
0
No. Yds Avg Lg
6 239 39.8 44
6 239 39.8 44
No Yds Avg Lg T
No Yds Avg Lg T
2 6 3.0 4 0
Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier threw three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Broncos.
said, 'Coach, I went up with two hands, we'll see how he goes on Wednesday,"
but my other one couldn't reach there,' " Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said. Senior running back Brandon Minor,
"I said,' It's okay, Kevin. We forgive you who has struggled with an ankle injury,
for that." "looked better than he had in a couple
INJURY UPDATE: Michigan came weeks in pregame," according to Rodri-
away from its win relatively unscathed, guez. But they still decided to not play
though some of the Wolverines' key play- Minor in hopes that he will be stronger
ers were a bit bruised afterwards. and able to play against a tougher Notre
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Dame defense Saturday.
Junior Hemingway, who caught two Sophomore cornerback Boubacar Cis-
touchdowns and racked up 103 receiving soko re-aggravated a nerve problem in his
yards, tweaked the ankle that has given shoulder but should be ready to play Satur-
him trouble in the past. day. Redshirt junior fullback Mark Moun-
"He'll be limited this week, somewhat dros was also minorly injured in the game
(Monday), maybe tomorrow, and then and will be held out of contact all week.
r010
8
5
5
3
3
2
Asst
3
4
2
2
2
3
2
1
2
3
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
Tot
11
9
7
b
4
4
4
3
o 1 1
47 32 79
BIG TEN STANDINGS
Team Big Ten Overall
BRONCOS
From Page 1B
before spotting Hemingway near
the left sideline, a play that Heming-
way later called an "improvisation".
Forcier threw the ball on the run to
Hemingway, who easily ran into the
end zone.
And just three and a half minutes
later, Robinson scored on his firstplay
at quarterback in a way that only the
freshman known for his speed could.
On an intended reverse to sophomore
slot receiver Martavious Odoms, Rob-
inson dropped the snap but had time
to pick up the ball, stand still to plot
his course, and zig-zag past the Bron-
cos for a 43-yard touchdown run.
"I was asking Denard on the side-
line if that little fake fumble and run-
ning for a touchdown was a habit,
because he's done it to us a couple
times (in practice)," senior linebacker
Stevie Brown laughed.
Forcier felt the same way.
"God," Forcier said, laughing. "I
was happy, but it's nothing, I wasn't
impressed by it. I've seen it happen,
I've seen him do it so many times
in practice, it's typical for him to do
that."
At the half, after two more Forcier
touchdown passes, Michigan had al-
ready racked up 289 total yards (144
rushing and 145 passing yards). The
Wolverines finished with 439 total
yards, more than they could manage
in any of their 12 games last year.
But in the second half, where Ro-
driguez said he "really wasn't happy
with anything," Michigan failed to
convert twice in the red zone and
only combined for 150 total yards.
The Wolverines' shutout hopes were
dashed in the fourth quarter when
Hiller lofted a perfect 73-yard touch-
down pass to wide-open wide receiv-
er Juan Nunez.
After it was all over, the atmo-
sphere in the Big House felt more like
the Wolverines had just beaten a top-
tier Big Ten team. But even with con-
fidence in Ann Arbor back for now,
the lasting sting of last year's record
meant nobody was going to take Sat-
urday's win for granted.
"It meant a lot - just kind of an-
swered alot of questions, like wheth-
er or not there's division on this team,
whether or not we worked hard
enough, whether or not, whether or
not, whether or not," redshirt junior
linebacker Obi Ezeh said. "So you
don't need to hear it from us. If you
want to ask any more questions, just
watch the game."
REID
From Page 1B
"This game, it's going to go
to everybody's film room, and
everybody's going to watch
it" safety Troy Woolfolk said.
"(Every) team is going to
see that we're back, the old
Michigan is back, and we're
ready for a big season."
The Old Michigan, on the
scoreboard, at least. No three-
yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust.
Without the mindset that the
forward pass might as well
still be illegal.
The atmosphere at the
Big House, which was sorely
lacking last season, was also
back. Especially after the
game when fans cheered
"Beat the Irish" as the team
sang the fight song in front of
the student section.
Last season, the game
against Ohio State almost
seemed dreaded. This year,
the swagger surrounding ri-
valry games (lest we forget the
"Little Brother" antics of Mike
Hart) is back in full force.
"I can't wait - we owe
them. We owe them," running
back Mike Shaw said when
asked about Notre Dame
and the Wolverines' 35-17,
six-turnover thumping last
season. He grinned and ran
into the tunnel of Michigan
Stadium to undoubtedly
celebrate in the deservedly
raucous locker room.
All offseason, the team has
talked about buying into the
new Michigan. On Saturday,
the fans proved they've done
so, too. It's a huge step in
restoring Rich Rodriguez's
program.
I was concerned with how
Michigan fans would respond
to Rodriguez after everything
that's happened in the last
week or so. How would a fan-
base not used to anything but
success react to a coach who's
seen anything but that since
coming to Michigan?
As I walked from my house
near East Quad a few hours
before the game, the answer
was made crystal clear -
Wolverine nation is backing
its coach.
The pro-Rich Rod para-
phernalia ranged from the
serious:
The enormous "In Rod We
Trust" banner flownby the
tunnel in the stadium.
To the outraged:
A minivan park at Ann Ar-
bor Pioneer displayed a sign
that read, "Boycott the Free
Press NOW"
To the ridiculous:
A sign read "(Free Press
writer Mike) Rosenberg
Punches Dolphins" at the
BOX House on State Street.
And after Tate Forcier's
third touchdown pass of the
day - a beautifully thrown,
44-yard bomb to Junior
Hemingway - all 109,019 fans
officially made their support
for Rodriguez known. All
throughout the stadium, a
chant of the coach's name
became louder and louder.
"It's amazing the support
that we've gotten," Rodri-
guez said. "And they can say
my name but it's really to
Michigan. We talked all week
about winning and winning
for Michigan"
- Reid can be reached
at andyreid@umich.edu.
0
0
S
Indiana
Iowa
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Wisconsin
Illinois
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
17
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0