The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
October 212009 - 3B
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com October 21, 2009 - 3B
GAME STATISTICS
Tam Sats
FistDownIs
Rush/Yds
Pasing Yard
Comp/Att/lnt
Offenive Pays
Total Offense
Kikrturns/ Yds
Pnt eurn/Yds
Punts/Avg
Fmbes/Cost
Pelie~s/Yards
Tim of PossN
MICH
34
54/461
266
15/18/0
2/47
6/84
0/0
0/0
9/93
29:50
M I C H I G A N
C-A Yds
3-3 54
2-2 39
15-18 266
DSU
26/65
151
18/34/0
60
8/162
0/0
11/33.3
0/0
8/78
30:10
HORNETS
From page 1B
"We wanted to get in there
and run some of the passing plays
and get him to train with his eyes
and where he's supposed to look,"
Rodriguez said of Robinson. "We
wanted more than (four throws)
but we got up ahead a little bit. But
Starters rest
in Michigan's
blowout win.
we were planning on throwing
more with him." t
Learning Rodriguez's playbook
is tough for any quarterback who
is new to the system, and Robinson
and Forcier have looked impres-
sive as freshmen. Forcier sealed
the starting job before Michigan's
season opener against Western
Michigan because participating
in spring practice gave him four
extra months to become familiar
with Rodriguez's system.
But in recent weeks, Forcier's
progress has suffered. Rodriguez
said Monday that Forcier had not
completed a full week of practice
since suffering his shoulder injury.
"If he was a fourth-year or fifth-
year guy missing a practice or two,
maybe it would not be as criti-
cal," Rodriguez said. "When we
look back at it, missing those first
couple days of practice every week
probably didn't help his growth."
During yesterday's Michigan
teleconference, Forcier said he
practiced Monday for the first
time in weeks and plans to practice
every day this week.
"I have full range onit," Forcier
said. "I can actually snap my arm
down on some of my passes. I'm
happy to have it back."
PASSING
Player
Robison, D
Cone
Forcier
Totals
RUSHING
Player
Smith
Shaw
Grady,Kevin
Kennedy
Totals
RECEVING
Player
Grady, Kelvin
Stokes
Webb
Stonum
Mathews
Toas
PUNTING
Player
KICKOFF RETURNS
Roundtree
Totals
PUNT RETURNS
Player
Odoms
Totals
TACKLESS
Fitzgerald
ones
Graham
Lah
Muthondn
Watson
Roher
Wa ren
EmnSlye
Gyarmati
Ezeh
immons
Herron
North
Demens
Martin
Totals
TD
2
Att
17
11
9
8
6
2
1
54
No.
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
15
Yds
169
90
73
73
54
7
6
472
Yds
48
40
33
16
28
25
19
19
14
13
11
266
Avg
8.1
9.1
6.0
8.5
Lg
19
26
6
57
(nt
0
0
0
0
0
TD
1
2
1
1
1
0
0
6
TD
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
SAID ALSALAH/Daily
Freshman Tate Forcier and the rest of Michigan's starters are safe -even after the baCkups performed well this weekend.
Avg L
38
9
28
25
19
14
38
No. Yds Avg !g
0 0 0 0
EISENSTEIN
From page 1B
Then, Iowa would either have
to collapse down the stretch
- which seems pretty unlikely
- or the Hawkeyes would have
to make the BCS national cham-
pionship game (also played in
Pasadena this year). That seems
like a longshot given how com-
fortably the SEC and Big 12
teams are sitting at the top of
the rankings.
There is more that would also
have to fall into place, but why
explain how to fill up the gas
tank if you can't even drive?
Yet still, Brown kept repeat-
ing himself.
"I have a feeling," Brown
said. "I don't know if anybody
else has a feeling, but I have this
feeling that if we can win out, I
think we got a chance we could
make it to the Rose Bowl.
"Watching the way the sea-
son's been going and I'm looking
at everybody else's overall rank-
ing and everything like that, I
just have a feeling if Iowa can
win out, and we can win out, I
think there's a chance we could
make it to that January 1st Rose
Bowl game."
We know it seems far-
fetched.
But maybe Brown is getting
at something else here. What's
really promoting this mindset
that not even he can explain
convincingly?
Part of that might be the Wol-
verines' 4-0 start, and now with
five games remaining, Michigan
needs just one win to be bowl
eligible.
At this point last year, the
Wolverines could only afford
to lose one game if they wanted
to remain eligible for the post-
season.
On top of that, both of Michi-
gan's losses have been very
close, coming down to the final
play on the road. At Michigan
State, the Spartans scored a
touchdown in overtime. At
Iowa, freshman quarterback
Denard Robinson's last-minute
interception sealed the Wolver-
ines' fate.
Part of it might be Brown
getting a bit nostalgic. When he
arrived in Ann Arbor in 2006,
Michigan was in the midst of a
nine-game win streak over the
Nittany Lions, who the Wol-
verines play this weekend, and
Michigan also made the Rose
Bowl that year.
As one of just two seniors on
the defense, he could be pro-
jecting that desire to return to
Pasadena.
And part of it might be the
tightness of this group of play-
ers; it's a team that has a strange
air of invincibility for a two-loss
team.
That closeness could be seen
against Delaware State last
Saturday, when the Wolverines
got to cheer on scout-team play-
ers that never get playing'time,
such as redshirt senior Ohene
Opong-Owusu, a popular team-
mate.
"They got a big lift out of the
Big O running down there,"
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez
said. "It was almost like the
movie Rudy, we were yelling for
his name.... I think everybody
on the sidelines was focusing in
on him. They were excited for
him."
Throughout the season, many
players have referenced how
this year's team is much closer
than last year's. And Brown, for
one, may feel a similar camara-
derie to 2006.
But regardless of the issue,
it's not a case of Brown looking
too far ahead. Rodriguez was
confident in his team's concen-
tration on Monday.
"Again, if I sensed they were
focusing or their concentration
was not in the moment - was
further ahead - I'd rein them
in, say, 'Listen, what are you
guys thinking about?'," Rodri-
guez said.
"I don't think they wake up
thinking about the Rose Bowl or
anything further than today. At
least I hope not."
Brown may simply see some-
thing special about this team
that we just can't.
-Eisenstein can be reached
at mseisen@umich.edu.
No Yds
1 19
2 47
Avg g 1
19 0
28 0
No.
4
1
1
6
Solo
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
Yds
48
11
23
84
Asst
1
0
0
0
1
1
2
3
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 =.
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
Avg Lg
26
26
TD
0
0
Tt
5
4
23
2
2
2
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PASSING
Player C-A
Elko 18-34
Totals 18-34
St at e
Yds TD
151 0
151 0
RUSHING
Player
Williams, C.
Jones, J.
Elko
McQueen
Totals
RECEVING
Player
Wilson
Jackson, D.
Att
10
11
4
1
26
No.
4
4
3
2
2
1
1
1
18
Yds
54
18
14
0
86
Yds
55
28
20
21
4
19
9
.5
151
Avg
4.8
1.3
1.2
-2.0
2.5
Ls
26
6
7
0
26
tnt
0
0
TD
0
0
0
0
0
TD
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Avg L9
42
3
PUNTING
Player No. Yds Avg g
Team 1 0 0.0 0
Lochner 10 366 366 49
Totals 11 366 3333 49
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No. Yds Avg Lg TD
Moor1 e 3 2 5
Tarpley 5 32 0
Totals 8 162 51 0
PUNT RETURNS N, Yd Ag TD
Total 0 0 0.0 0 0
ae Solo Asst Tot
Strumns 6 4 10
Caroll 7 0 7-
Mirhin Stt 1- 4-
Adjei 5 1 6-
Miner 4 1 5
ionsi 22 5-
ierdsont 22 5
Grant 2 1 3 2
Mendes 2 1 34
Sutton 1 2 3
Conley 2 - 25
Gable 1 1 2 -
Fortes 1 0 1
Watson 0 1 1
Johnson 0 1 1
Totals 33 s5 88
BIG TEN STANDINGS
Team Bix Ten Overall
I o State 31 5-
Michigan State 3-1 4-3
Penn State 2-1 6-1
Wisconsin 2-2 5-2
Minnesota 2-2 5-3
Michigan 1-2 5-2
Indiana 1-2 4-3
Northwestern 1-2 4-3
Purdue 1-2 2-5
Illinois o-4 1-5
ARIEL BOND/Daily
Freshman Vincent Smith racked up 166 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against lowly Delaware State.
Smith gets his chance to shine
after watching from sideline
True freshman talked about getting Smith the thing."
ball more so the freshman can Smith averaged almost 10
wowed the Big gain more experience. And week yards a carry and showcased a
in and week out, the 5-foot-6 near-innate ability to find the
House crowd back stayed on the sidelines as second level of the defense, and
the rest of the Wolverines' deep he said after the game that read-
By ANDY REID stable of running backs carried ing defenses is one of his biggest
Daily SportsEditor the load. strengths.
"Mike Shaw and Vincent But what was most surprising
With a few seconds, three Smith, those two in particu- about the 168-pound back's per-
bone-jarring broken tackles and lar, we've got to get more game formance was the tackle-break-
a very minimalist title - "Vin- action," Rodriguez repeated last ing skills Michigan fans first saw
cent Smith breaks" - the true Wednesday. "I can't expect them in the YouTube video last spring.
freshman running back became to go out there and not have "It was amazing," said fresh-
somewhat of a YouTube sensa- mistakes if we don't play them man linebacker Brandin Haw-
tion last spring. more." thorne, who played with Smith
Smith, who graduated early The lack of playing time was in high school. "Like I've been
from Pahokee High School in startingto take atoll on the Smith telling all my new teammates, I
Pahokee, Fla., transformed from family, specifically his cousin grew up with him. I know him,
a relatively unheralded recruit Tyrone Smith, who trekked the and I know what he's capable of
to one of the most talked-about 1,300 miles north to visit Vincent doing."
players of the spring practice ses- for the Western Michigan game. WhenSmitheasilystrolled into
sion after the video was leaked "We was getting a little frus- the end zone for his first career
onto the Internet. trated down here by the playing touchdown midway through the
And when he backed up that time," Tyrone said in a phone first quarter, he was swarmed by
talk a few weeks later in Michi- interview yesterday. "He works teammates who were ready to
gan's spring game - the hype so hard. ... He was just waiting slap him on the back and cheer
was official. for his chance out there." with him. Smith slipped through
"Vincent Smith came right Finally on Saturday, Rodri- the congratulatory scrum and
in the spring game and didn't guez's goal to get Smith some leaped into the hands of tight end
score once, he scored twice," meaningful game experience Martell Webb, stretching out his
Pahokee defensive coordinator came true - and he made the arms in celebration.
Rick James said last summer. "If most of the opportunity. It was a culmination of almost
that don't tell people we're seri- On 17 carries, the pint-sized 10 months worth of work - just
ous about the game of football, I runner racked up a game-high for that one moment.
don't know what will." 166 yards and one touchdown. "Oh yeah, you could tell by the
But it's been slow going for Although Rodriguez said Mon- tone of his voice that he was so
Smith since then. In between day that Smith missed a few happy," Tyrone said of the phone
a modest but welcoming debut reads during the game, the coach call he received from Smith after
in Michigan's season-opening was obviously very pleased with the game. "The touchdown was
drubbing of Western Michigan the breakout game. amazing. The whole family got
and last weekend, Smith tallied "I had no idea I was going to together to watch it. I just hope
just three carries for 12 yards. get this many carries," Smith he gets a chance this Saturday
Week in and week out, Michi- said. "But I was mentally and against a tough team, a Big Ten
gao coach Rich Rodriguezkhas physically prepare for any- opponent."#
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