The Detroit News
Chicago -- Michigan begins fall camp the same way it ended spring practice -- with uncertainty at quarterback.
The certainty is this: Sophomores Tate Forcier, the starter all last season, and Denard Robinson are competing for the job. Freshman Devin Gardner, who enrolled early and participated in spring practice, also is in the running.
The uncertainty: Who will start the season opener against Connecticut?
"Really, it's a wide open competition," Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday during the first day of the Big Ten kickoff. "I think that competition is going to be healthy. I've said it several times -- our goal is to have at least two guys at every position that we feel we can win with. I think we can have that at quarterback. If we can have three -- if Devin can progress and give us a third guy, be able to compete and feel confident with that position -- that puts put us in a good spot."
Rodriguez said he'd like the job settled, or as close to settled as possible, by the opener against UConnon Sept. 4 at Michigan Stadium.
"But it may take a couple games before someone clearly separates themselves -- if they do," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez praised Robinson, the backup last season, for taking "some big steps" during spring practice, but said that was expected since it was his first spring at Michigan. Forcier enrolled early last year and has two springs under his belt, as well as a full season of starting.
During the spring, Rodriguez talked about some maturity issues involving Forcier.
"I hope everybody ... they grow and mature not just on the field but off the field," Rodriguez said Monday. "Until we're around them and can do things with them, you really don't know. I'm anxious to see how Tate responds. He's getting a challenge, and I talked to him in the spring about this: 'You're getting a challenge from Denard, you're getting a challenge from Devin, and if you're a true competitor we'll see how you respond.' That challenge will continue in August."
Playing two quarterbacks this fall certainly is an option, and Rodriguez has made it clear that if Robinson isn't starting, he will be on the field in other positions. Still, Robinson is expected to only practice at quarterback this fall because that's the position he wants.
As for the running game, Michigan will get a boost when Vincent Smith returns after recovering from knee surgery, but the Wolverines could be without Mike Shaw, who would enter the season as the team's top returning rusher.
Shaw's future is still being sorted out.
"We're still waiting on summer school," Rodriguez said. "We don't comment on our guys academically. They still have two weeks of summer school left."
Rodriguez said Smith is expected to be "100 percent" when camp starts. "Which is key for us," he said.
Mike Cox and Fitz Toussaint also had productive springs and are expected to be contributors this fall.
Rodriguez also talked Monday about possible division alignment in a 12-team Big Ten starting in 2011. He believes the Wolverines' traditional rivalries against Michigan State and Ohio State will be preserved. He did say he would prefer to continue playing the Buckeyes at the end of the season just from "the tradition standpoint."
"Michigan loves to compete against Ohio State, and Ohio State loves to compete against Michigan," Rodriguez said.
But what if Michigan and OSU are in separate divisions and they play the final game of the regular season and then the following week in a championship game?
"I think it will sell out if you play three times a week in Ann Arbor, Columbus or Chicago," Rodriguez said. "I don't think there will be any problem with that game selling out."
Chicago -- Michigan begins fall camp the same way it ended spring practice -- with uncertainty at quarterback.
The certainty is this: Sophomores Tate Forcier, the starter all last season, and Denard Robinson are competing for the job. Freshman Devin Gardner, who enrolled early and participated in spring practice, also is in the running.
The uncertainty: Who will start the season opener against Connecticut?
"Really, it's a wide open competition," Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday during the first day of the Big Ten kickoff. "I think that competition is going to be healthy. I've said it several times -- our goal is to have at least two guys at every position that we feel we can win with. I think we can have that at quarterback. If we can have three -- if Devin can progress and give us a third guy, be able to compete and feel confident with that position -- that puts put us in a good spot."
Rodriguez said he'd like the job settled, or as close to settled as possible, by the opener against UConnon Sept. 4 at Michigan Stadium.
"But it may take a couple games before someone clearly separates themselves -- if they do," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez praised Robinson, the backup last season, for taking "some big steps" during spring practice, but said that was expected since it was his first spring at Michigan. Forcier enrolled early last year and has two springs under his belt, as well as a full season of starting.
During the spring, Rodriguez talked about some maturity issues involving Forcier.
"I hope everybody ... they grow and mature not just on the field but off the field," Rodriguez said Monday. "Until we're around them and can do things with them, you really don't know. I'm anxious to see how Tate responds. He's getting a challenge, and I talked to him in the spring about this: 'You're getting a challenge from Denard, you're getting a challenge from Devin, and if you're a true competitor we'll see how you respond.' That challenge will continue in August."
Playing two quarterbacks this fall certainly is an option, and Rodriguez has made it clear that if Robinson isn't starting, he will be on the field in other positions. Still, Robinson is expected to only practice at quarterback this fall because that's the position he wants.
As for the running game, Michigan will get a boost when Vincent Smith returns after recovering from knee surgery, but the Wolverines could be without Mike Shaw, who would enter the season as the team's top returning rusher.
Shaw's future is still being sorted out.
"We're still waiting on summer school," Rodriguez said. "We don't comment on our guys academically. They still have two weeks of summer school left."
Rodriguez said Smith is expected to be "100 percent" when camp starts. "Which is key for us," he said.
Mike Cox and Fitz Toussaint also had productive springs and are expected to be contributors this fall.
Rodriguez also talked Monday about possible division alignment in a 12-team Big Ten starting in 2011. He believes the Wolverines' traditional rivalries against Michigan State and Ohio State will be preserved. He did say he would prefer to continue playing the Buckeyes at the end of the season just from "the tradition standpoint."
"Michigan loves to compete against Ohio State, and Ohio State loves to compete against Michigan," Rodriguez said.
But what if Michigan and OSU are in separate divisions and they play the final game of the regular season and then the following week in a championship game?
"I think it will sell out if you play three times a week in Ann Arbor, Columbus or Chicago," Rodriguez said. "I don't think there will be any problem with that game selling out."
