The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 7

The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 7

Robinson 'improving slowly'

Blue ignores other
conference scores

By LUKE PASCH
Daily Sports Editor
On Monday, Michigan foot-
ball coach Brady Hoke remained
uncertain of whether senior
quarterback Denard Robinson
will be available to start Satur-
day afternoon against North-
western.
Against Nebraska on Oct.
27, Robinson scrambled in the
second quarter and fell on his
throwing elbow, damaging a
nerve that affects his grip on the
ball. Last Saturday, against Min-
nesota, junior quarterback and
wide receiver Devin Gardner
successfully filled in and led the
Wolverines to a 35-13 victory.
After the game, Hoke said
that he was "very optimistic"
that Robinson would be healthy
enough to start this weekend.
But on Monday, his rhetoric
didn't purvey the same type of
confidence.
"Well, (Robinson) will prac-
tice," Hoke said. "He'll split
some time there, and we'll see.
He's getting healthier. He's just
improving slowly."
Hoke mentioned that Robin-
son did a full workout on Sun-
day night that involved a little
bit of everything - throwing,
running, etc. - but admitted
that Sundays are a bit lighter
than the rest of the week.
Though he didn't seem cer-
tain about Robinson's status
against Northwestern, he con-
fidently negated any notion
that Robinson's injury will nag
him throughout the remainder
of the season. In the meantime,
Gardner will practice at both
quarterback and wide receiver.
"I think we'll probably (prac-
tice Gardner) a little bit in both,
but more quarterback than the
wide out position," Hoke said.
If Robinson is healthy
enough to play, Hoke said that
Gardner playing some snaps in
a game at wide receiver is a pos-

ERIN KIRKLAND/Daily
Senior quarterback Denard Robinson missed his first start since his freshman season against Minnesota on Saturday.
sibility. He's not yet sure if he'd was in more of those than we'd are able to break the pocket,
be willing to have them split like because we've got to do a Robinson is better suited for
snaps at quarterback, though. better job of protecting." the read option in the shot-
"I think that's too far down Still, Gardner needs to be gun formation because of his
the road," Hoke said. "We'll aware ofthe fine line that exists quickness. Gardner takes fewer
definitely have a plan." between when he should extend designed runs.
But if Robinson isn't ready, the play and when he should "We're more under center
Hoke at least hasa viable option just throw the ball away. Hoke with Devin, and part of that
at quarterback, given Gardner's said that Gardner, who was is all of the play action," Hoke
solid performance against Min- sacked three times and tossed said. "We haven't been under-
nesota. He threw for 234 yards an interception when throwing neath as much with Denard in
and two touchdowns on 12-of- on the run against Minnesota, the football game because of
18 passing, and he rushed for 21 needs to work on that balance. the other elements he brings
yards and another touchdown. Even though the offensive with the read play and the ride
Gardner, like Robinson, has line didn't have the best per- and all those things.".
the unique ability to extend formance on Saturday, Gard- Hoke affirmed that Gard-
broken plays, which was espe- ner's dual-threat style provides ner could still execute all of
cially evident when he found a relatively easy transition for the designed runs, and he con-
junior wide receiver Drew the linemen. tinues to practice them during
Dileo for a 45-yard touchdown "I've been dealing with that the week. Whether he could
strike after scrambling east and for four years with Denard," execute them during the game
west outside of the pocket. said fifth-year senior offensive is another question.
"Some of the good things - tackle Taylor Lewan. "I have "It's easy to do things in
extending plays out and then no idea where the kid's going practice, but live action when
being productive with it, find- whenever. You get used to it. the bullets are truly flying is
ing a place to push up in the The ability to break down plays when you prove you can do
pocket, delivering the ball - and make something out of it - things," Gardner said.
he's always been a guy that's that's a special quality." The question remains - will
kept his eyes down the field The big difference between the bullets be flying at Gard-
when he is in that situation," Gardner and Robinson is what ner or Robinson this weekend?
Hoke said. "And he probably goes on before the play. Though We'll wait and see.

By ZACH HELFA.
Daily Sports Edito
Scoreboard watchingi
like picking your nose.
ably, there are people wh
and inevitably, those peop
like to admit it. Take the M
football team, for example
After Michigan'sloss tol
ka two weekends ago, theI
ines no longer control th
destiny in the Big Ten. Ea(
has one loss in the conferer
with the win, the Corn
own the tiebreaker in the I
division, meaning Michiga
a Nebraska loss to be back
er's seat.
Still, Michigan coach
Hoke and mem-
bers of the team
said Monday
that they don't
concern them-
selves with f
other teams'
scores. C
"We've
always been a W
team, I think,
that has wor-
ried about us,"
Hoke said. "I don't ever thi
know, we can really worr
things we can't control. An
kind of how we approaches
Added junior quarterbr
wide receiver Devin G
"We really can't worry ab'
because that game is done
can only control what we c
trol. So we just have to con
win games."
Perhaps Hoke prefers t
look because scoreboard w
can lead to pain and disa
ment - things that distra
Michigan's own issues
Saturday. Michigan State
significant lead over Nebr
the fourth quarter, only ti

ND the lead away with just seconds
)r remaining.
Redshirt junior offensive tack-
is a lot le Taylor Lewan takes a more
Invari- extreme approach. He said he
o do it, doesn't scoreboard watch. Ever.
rle don't Including his own games.
lichigan "I've never focused on scores
my whole life," Lewan said. "I
Nebras- remember this week in the game
Wolver- when I was playing, I didn't know
eir own what the score was. In highschool,
ch team we were in the state championship
nce, and game, we were getting killed, but I
huskers had no idea. In the fourth quarter,
Legends I was like guys 'We got this, we got
n needs this.' People said, 'What are you
in driv- talking about?' There's like two
minutes left in the game, I look up,
Brady it's 38 to zero. I guess we don't got
this.
"That's just
how it is. You
I've never just got to focus
on the game at
ocused on hand."
BEL LOMY
Scores my BOO-BOO?:
Russell Bel-
vhole life." lomy, the red-
shirt freshman
quarterback
who replaced
ink, you senior quarterback Denard Rob-
y about inson against Nebraska, was
id that's unavailable during Saturday's
d it." game for undisclosed reasons.
ack and Bellomy warmed up before
ardner: the game against Minnesota, but
out that redshirt senior quarterback Jack
and we Kennedy took the reps with the
an con- second team before the game.
tinue to After the game, Hoke said Bel-
lomy wasn't available td play but
hat out- didn't elaborate why. Then he
atching clarified that the problem was a
appoint- "boo-boo."
ct from On Monday, Hoke said, "I'm not
Take going to address his condition,"
held a and when asked if the condition
'aska in could keep him out for the season
o cough he said, "I don't know."

Berenson rues shifting Great
Lakes Invitational indoors

By MATT SLOVIN
Daily Sports Editor
With outdoor hockey games
becoming more common for the
Michigan hockey team, one might
expect coach Red Berenson to.
have already had his fill.
As evident by Berenson's
remorse over the recent Win-
ter Classic cancellation , which
would've pitted the Detroit Red
Wings against the Toronto Maple
Leafs on New Year's Day at Mich-
igan Stadium, that's not the case.
"I think these outdoor games
are good," Berenson said. "We've
had a good time with them, and
our team likes them.... Hopefully
it'll happen, but it doesn't look
like it'll happen this year."
The Winter Classic's cancella-
tion means the Great Lakes Invi-
tational will move from Comerica
Park, where it was supposed to be
held outdoors for the first time
ever, back to Joe Louis Arena
where it's traditionally held. This
year's tournament will feature
Michigan, Michigan State, Mich-
igan Tech and Western Michigan
on Dec. 27-28.
"That's too bad," Berenson said
of last week's change of plans.
"It's more than too bad. ... For the
Big House, and the whole city of
Detroit and the hockey experi-
ence they would've had in Comer-
ica (Park),.that's too bad. It won't
be the same."
Berenson, who Red Wings gen-
eral manager Ken Holland called
a "great Red Wing" in July, had
planned to be a part of the festivi-
ties, specifically by skating in the
event's alumni game.
TROUBA VERDICT IN: The
Wolverines received some much-
needed good news Monday when
Berenson was informed by CCHA
officials that freshman defen-
seman Jacob Trouba will not
receive further punishment for
his hit on Northern Michigan's
Reed Seckel in Friday night's
shootout win that earned him a
five-minute major penalty.
"They reviewed the tape and
they thought the DQ was the
right call, and it cost him the last

U-AnulBusiness
Plka=n Com eiin

ERIN KIRKLAND/Daily
Michigan coach Red Berenson expressed his disappointment at the cancellation
of the Winter Classic and outdoor Great Lakes Invitational on Monday.

five mi
son saic
Trou
game
third-p
head, n
to sit ou
Seckel
"TI
It'4
injured
by scor
cats' wi
Trou
hole it
on Sat
forwarc
in strot
boost tI

nutes of the game," Beren- "He's played really well for a
d. freshman with a lot of hype and
ba also was assessed a high expectations," Berenson
disqualification for the said. "Like any young defense-
eriod blow to Seckel's man, he's made some mistakes,
neaning he was also forced but he makes up for them with his
it Saturday night's 4-3 loss. effort. He's really a bright spot."
appeared to be seriously SERVILLE PROGRESSING:
Michigan's depleted blue line
should regain more of its depth
hat's too bad. this weekend.
*Sophomore defenseman Bren-
s more than nan Serville, who suffered what
Berenson called a "facial con-
too bad." cussion" against Miami (Ohio),
should be back for this weekend's
series against Michigan State,
according to Berenson.
on the play, but responded Berenson said before the
ing two goals in the Wild- defense can live up to its high pre-
in in the finale. season expectations, there need
ba's absence left a major to be enough healthy bodies.
n the Michigan defense "We've got to get everybody
urday, and though senior healthy, number one," Berenson
d Jeff Rohrkemper filled said. "And then start jelling like
ugly, Trouba's return will we thought we would. Hopefully
he Wolverines. Serville's back."

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