w w w w w w w -W, w 'W w w .W Foobal Sturay 0Otobr 1, 009 Six games down, six to go - it's time to assess what's wo ng and what works a at. THE ,MOST TELLING STATS Rushing yards per game: 197.3 Get senior tailbacks Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor healthy at the same time, and Michigan's rushing production is more impressive than No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 23 in the nation. Besides ablip when the Wolverines put up a measly 28 yards against Michigan State, Brown, Minor and the other Michigan tailbacks havebeen beyond solid. Turnover margin: -0.33 It's a statistic that's obviously not where the coaching staffwould like it to. he. But after finishing a dismal No. 110 in the nation last year with an atrocious -12 margin, Michigan will acceptbeing just below zero. After center David Molk returns from injury, expect the fumbles at quarterback to fade. Passing defense: 246.5 yards per game It's lonely at the hottom. Six games in, the Michigan defense finds itself in the cellar of the Big Ten after givingup 2465 passing yards per game. Chalk some of that op to talented receivers like Notre Dame's Golden Tate and Michael Floyd, but you can't ignore the talent void opposite cornerbackDonovan Warren. After moving from safety to cornerback last week against lowa, Troy Woolfolk looks like he could be Warren's counterpart in the backfield. Fourth down conversions: 71% It's still early and the sampling is small, but the Wolverines have proven themselves five of seven times on the down that matters. Against Notre Dame, quarterback Tate Forcier capitalized on decisive play calling when he ran for a 31-yard touchdown on a fourth down. *Brandon Graham's 1.67 tackles for loss per game- Sure, he didn't have a sack during the first month of the season, and it might make you think he's slipping, hut Brandon Graham is findinghis way around the double teams. His 1.67 tackles for loss per game puts him at No.15 in the . nation. Although Graham was left offthe Rotary Lombardi semifinal list, he's still contributing with solid numbers you would expect from the senior defensive end. THE QUESTIONS GOING FORWARD DISHING OUT THE GRADES Which bowl game is Michigan likely attending this postseason? Well, it will be a betterbowl than last year. Too soon? Michigan needs just two more wins to qualify for a bowl game, and assuming one-win Delaware State isn't the next Appalachian State, the Wolverines will be sitting pretty after Saturday. Then, it just depends onwhere Michigan finishes in the Big Ten. The Wolverines already have two conference losses, and no team has won a Big Ten championship with multiple defeats since 2000. But Michigan has a good shot at eclipsing .500 in the conference if it can knock off Wisconsin or Penn State. Wolverine fans can breathe a sigh of relief - they will likely go bowling in a warm-weather state, which means it won't be at the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Is the force actually with Tate Forcier? That certainly seems to be the case, unless the 188-pound signal caller gets his bell rung a few more times. After a very good first six games (57.2 completion percentage! Nine touchdowns!), Forcier is the clear-cut starter, although that's assuming injuries don't prove to be his downfall. Forcier is the real deal because he finds ways to win, and his growth potential over the next three seasons is exciting for fans. The rest of the year should help Forcier solidify his starting spot for the future, even with the rivals. com top-rated quarterback Devin Gardner committed for next Is Denard Robinson more than a glorified running back? This could take a while to figure out. Rodriguez has insisted that Robinson will play quarterback - he did groom Pat White at West Virginia, after all - but time and time again, Robinson has proved to be much more effective as a runner. Saturday's game against Delaware State will hopefully provide a little insight. Robinson is expected to get many more snaps than he has so far this season. But then again, even if he looks like the next Tim Tebow, it is against the Hornets. Thetsecond-half Big Ten matchups will be the best barometer for Robinson's future, especially with Gardner poised to enroll in January. Could Warren leave school early? No. This is Warren's first excellent season, and his playmaking ability is accentuated by the secondary's lack of depth. But then again, considering defenses have largely avoided his side of the field, Warren's numbers are even more impressive this season. Warren's statistics, with three interceptions and 10 pass breakups, are some of the best in the conference. At the moment, Warren doesn't look likea first-rounder, and another year under his belt would significantly help his draft stock. It seems unlikely right now, but with Warren playing the way he is, it's something to keep an eye on.. What will come of the Free Press allegations? With all of the Detroit Free Press allegations coming out this season, particularly the preseason report that Rodriguez violated NCAA practice regulations, it is almost a sure thing that follow-ups are in the works. The practice-related accusations are currently under investigation. Although the findings aren't expected to be released any time soon, it'll be interesting to see if they have any significant effect on the program. We don't expect the allegations to have any direct impact on the team, but you never know what could happen. THE PLAYERS/POSITIONS THAT NEED TO STEP UP OFFENSE DE ENSE After getting off to a blistering start on the "Bend but not break" maybecome an ground, Michigan hita speed bump against extremely overused cliche this season. Yardage- the Spartans. It recovered against Iowa and is wise, Michigan is on pace for its worst defensive now second in the conference in rush offense, year, yet the Wolverines somehow lock down but the running backs still haven't managed to in the red zone. Brandon Graham and Donovan overshadow comeback phenom Tate Forcier, Warren have been the lone highlights of the unit, who has exceeded all expectations. Too many and their play has kept the defense from getting three-and-outs and seven turnovers in the past a 'D' grade. Does the University give anything two games knock the offense down to a 'B', less than a'C' in classes, anyway? though. THE MOST MEANINGFUL MOMENTS OF THE FIRST HALF Boubacar Cissoko/J.T. Fioyd, cornerbacks Through six games, the secondary has been the most team's glaringweakness. The Wolverines are dead last in the Big Ten in passingyards allowed per game, and the lack of a true second cornerback opposite stalwart Donovan Warren has deeply hindered their ability to find consistency at the position. one of these two needs to step upo cornerback-turned- safety-turned-cornerhack Tiny Woolfolk can move hack to strong safety, where his speed can really help ashaky defensive unit. Obi Ezeh, middle linebacker Yes, Ezeh is sixth in the Big Ten with 55 tackles. But there's more to his position than takedowns, especially in new defensive coordinator Greg Robinson's wacky scheme. Ezeh's pass coverage leaves much to be desired, and as the "quarterback of the defense," it's up to the middle linebacker to shoulder the load for a defense that's on track to give up almost 300 points - which could potentiallybe the worst in school history. Greg Mathews, wide receiver In the 2008 Capital One Bowl, Mathews had areakoutgame - or that's what Michigan fans thought at the time. Rspecially after Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington left for the NFL. Through six games this season, Mathews has the same number of catches, seven, as in that one bowl game - and just 24 more total yards. He's also averaging just 3.4 yards per punt return, and he muffed a critical punt late against Iowa that could have changed the outcome of the game. Well, at least he had that one touchdown against Notre Dame. Darryl Stonum, vide receiver & kick returner If Michigan is going to continue to play in these tight, heart attack-inducing games, special teams is going to plays huge factor. One could definitely argue that Stonum is the reason the Wolverines upset Notre Dame, but the Texan has trailed off since then. Stonum was No. 15 in the country in yards per kick return after the Indiana game, hut in the losses to Michigan State and Iowa, he averaged just 18.8 yards per return. That definitely kills the field-position battle. The return game is essential to the offense's success - and that success rests on Stonum from here on out. Tate Forcier/ Denard Robinson, quarterbacks Here are the Daily, we're not about to knock these two. They, especially Forcier, have far exceeded expectations - and with their quick adaptation to college football, there's no way Michigan would be 4-2 at the midway point. So, putting Forcier and Robinson on this list isn't necessarily negative - we're just saying they need to step up even more as leaders if they Wolverines want to finish strong. SPECIAL T EAMS Sophomore Darryl Stonum has gone from stunning to just acceptable in the last couple weeks, but is still just 147 yards away from breaking Michigan's season record for kickoff returns. Greg Mathews should find a cure for that nagging senioritis, but for the most part, he has been reliable. And who singlehandedly boosted special teams by a full letter grade? It's Zoltan Mesko, who has kicked a helluva ball thus far. COACHING It takes a lot to groom two freshman quarterbacks, especially when one has a full head of shaggy, light brown hair and the other sports impressive dreadlocks. Although both Forcier and Denard Robinson have looked like freshmen at times, Rodriguez and his staff have made the necessary adjustments to ensure the two learn the playbook at an appropriate pace. But some questionable coaching at crucial times, like the defensive coaches' inability to anticipate schemes Michigan hasn't seen on film, has cost the Wolverines. At some point, the second-half adjustments need to happen before the second half. David Molk breaks his foot against Eastern Michigan Center David Molk broke his foot on a first-half play against Eastern Michigan on Sept.19 and had surgery two days later. His initial prognosis suggested a return in four to six weeks, and though he is making progress, his exact return date is still unknown. Molk's injury has showed all too well the value of an experienced center. David Moosman, who moved from right guard to fill Molk's void, botched six snaps in the next game against Indiana. The offensive line, which had been one of the most consistent units until Molk's injury, has been struggling to find its groove ever since. Denard Robinson outruns and outjukes the Broncos Tate Forcier threw his first touchdown as a Wolverine to put Michigan up 7-0 early, but Denard Robinson answered him one flashier. On his first play from scrimmage, Robinson fumbled the snap and drew collective gasps of dismay from the Big House crowd. But Robinson picked up the ball and ran to the outside. He shook off a tackler, cut back toward the middle, found a hole and broke free for 43 yards and his first touchdown. The shocking play showcased both Robinson's greatest strength (blazing speed) and his greatest weakness (unfamiliarity with the offense). Both would come back to help and haunt him duringthe season's next five games. Mathews and Forcier pull through in the clutch vs. Notre Dame Greg Mathews may only have seven catches this season, but one of them was the Wolverines' biggest of the first half. Michigan, desperately needing to prove itself in the early-season game, trailed Notre Dame 34-31 with 16 seconds left. On second-and-goal, Forcier threw under pressure to Mathews, who caught the ball inside the one- yard line and stepped into the end zone. The play proved that Forcier could calmly lead his team to a comeback, and he would go on to help Michigan come back against Indiana and Michigan State. With a chance to be the hero, Forcier throws an OT interception That said, Forcier has also showed he is human. The crazed hype surrounding the freshman quarterback after Michigan's 4-0 start followed him to East Lansing, where the 1-3 Spartans were determined to spoil the Wolverines' record. After leading Michigan to yet another improbable comeback to force the game to overtime, Forcier decided to go for the end zone on third down - and threw the ball directly at safety Danny Fortener, who tipped the ball enough for Michigan State cornerback Chris L. Rucker to catch it. Michigan State scored on the ensuing possession to seal a 26-20 win. Forcier later called the interception a "freshman mistake." Michigan's defense almost costs the team a win against Indiana Against Indiana, Tate Forcier's leaping touchdown run and two-point conversion run put the Wolverines up by three with 9:15 left in the game. But that lead held for just 18 seconds. On Indiana's ensuing drive, Darius Willis took the ball and ran 85 yards. Defensive end Ryan Van Bergen said after the game that the missed play was the result of an incorrect check, a mistake that he said was "something very basic, first week." Though the long run wasn't the beleaguered secondary's fault, it was just another big play the Michigan defense has given up at a crucial moment this season. The play gave Indiana a four-point lead, which forced Forcier and Co. to score a late touchdown to win the game.