The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Friday, September 28, 2012 - 7 No. 2 Oregon (-28)at Washington State No.3 LSU (NS)vs. Towson No. 4Florida State (-14) at SouthFlorda No.5 Georgia (-5.5) vs. Tennessee No. 6 SouthrCarolina (-21) at Kentucky No 8Stanford (-7) at Washington. No9 West Vrgina 0) vs.No.25Baylor No. 12 Tex asat rkhoma State (-S S5 No.l,'Oho State (PK) at No.20 MichiganrState No 15 Texas Christian (-1 7.5) at Southern NMethotdist No 17 Cemson ( l)at Boston College Note8Oregotntateovs.Arizona( 3) No. 19 Louisville (95) vs. Southern Mississippi No.22Nebraska(11.5S)vs Wisconsin No.24BoseState(-3 at NewMexico Nothrss.tern (-1t.)a Indiana lliosvs.PnnState (4) lowa (-6) vs Minnesota. Oregon LSU Florida State Tennessee South Carolna Stanford Texa Oregon LS Florida State Tennessee South Carolina tatfod West Vrgnia Ohior State Texas Chrisian nOreo State Louisville Wisconsin Ne M ec Penn State Oregorn LS Florida State Georgia South Carolina Stanford West Virginia Texas Okra Ntate TexaChristian Clemono OregoonState Louisville Wisconsin Boise State Northwestern SMsn Cemson Oregon S Florida State Tenneseoe Kentucky Stanford WesteVirginia Michigan State Texas Chritian Onegon State Louisville Nebraska New Meoico Northoestern Penn State Mtnnesota Purdue 10-13-1 63-48-2 Washington State LNU Florida State Georgia Kentucky Stanford West Virginia Texas Michigarr State Texas Christiano Clereson Otegot State Louisville Wisconsin New Mexico Northwestae Illinois Iowa Prdue Wisconsin No e Mreio Nethnostert Last Week overall Purdue 2-11-2 Purdue 12-11-1 onwa Purdue 9-14-1 61-50-2 Toussaint finding rhythm in time for Big Ten slate By LUKE PASCH self again. And he's starting to Daily Sports Editor run like it, too. "I felt like I ran good," Tous- Sometimes, for a player to get saint said regarding his perfor- back into rhythm, he just has to mance in Michigan's 13-6 loss to loosen up. Notre Dame on Saturday. "Just Redshirt junior running getting back into rhythm feels back Fitzgerald Toussaint good. The offensive line defi- strolled into the museum area nitely did better, and that was a of Schembechler Hall on Tues- good thing, and that's an overall day dressed in a classic Tom and thing." Jerry cartoon T-shirt. He pulled Toussaint has yet to run for on a Michigan polo shirt before 100 yards in a game this season, addressing the media, but his but he has shown progression smile and style were telling. since he returned from suspen- He's starting to feel like him- sion at the beginning of the sea- son. Against the Fighting Irish, Toussaint 'rushed for 58 yards on just 13 carries for a solid 4.5 yards per carry. Against Massachusetts the week before, Toussaint aver- aged 5.7 yards per carry, though his statistics from that game hold less weight due to the low quality of competition. In order to see a 100-yard rushing game from Toussaint, he may just need to touch the ball more. "Personally, I would like 20 carries a game." Toussaint said. Redshirt junior running back Fitzgerald Toussaint has struggled in the early goings this season, but seems tc his feet under him heading into the Big Ten season. "But whatever I can get, I can make the most out of them. I know that's what I'm best at." Toussaint has yet to take 20 handoffs in a game this season. He carried the ball 15 times against Massachusetts, 13 times against Notre Dame and just eight times against Air Force, when he picked up an abysmal seven yards throughout the contest. Over his 10 starts last season, Toussaint averaged 17.4 carries per game. Against the Fighting Irish, senior quarterback Denard Rob- inson kept the ball to himself for most of the rushing attack, keeping it 26 times and gaining 95 yards. The coaches know it's wise to divvy up carries more evenly in order to keep Robinson healthy and get Toussaint in a consistent rhythm. Part of the reason Rob- inson kept the ball so often last Saturday is because Toussaint stalled in the first half, picking up jus ries. "w open matte patien did, ar a bettr m; Ad Hoke: and t was sc ond h morei tical, t three yards on four car- think he's at his best when he is more vertical." e just had to let our holes Of course, late in the game, up," Toussaint said. "Just a Toussaint didn't get many hand- r of time - we have to be offs because Robinson needed t. I think that's what we the ball in order to attempt his nd we came out and played typical fourth-quarter magic er (second) half. against the Fighting Irish. Tous- saint touched the ball for the last time with more than 13 min- utes remaining in the contest, "(ft's) just a not including one play in a later drive when Robinson threw an atter of time incomplete pass when targeting Toussaint. - we have to Last year, Toussaint finished the regular season with 1,011 )e patieflt." rushing yards and an impres- sive 5.8 yards per carry. So far in 2012, as Michigan heads into Big Ten season at Purdue on Oct. 6, ded Michigan coach Brady he's on pace for just 550 yards. "I think both (Toussaint But the season is still rela- he offensive line), there tively young. Should Toussaint ome movement (in the sec- maintain his recent rhythm and alf), and I think he was gather more carries, he may decisive. It was more ver- very well beat out those projec- which is something that I tions. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER It'll feel quite right. @THEBLOCKM @MICHIGANDAILY t i 1 A 1