It's a new week, and that means it's time for the next installment of "Who will be Michigan's starting quarterback?"
Coach Rich Rodriguez left that question unanswered during a news conference Monday, but it certainly sounds as though Steven Threet has staked his claim for the job after his second-half performance Saturday in a 25-23 loss to Utah in the opener.
Nick Sheridan started against Utah and played the first half. Both quarterbacks had positive moments, and both had moments when they struggled.
Rodriguez was quick to respond when asked if Sheridan would start against Miami (Ohio) at Michigan Stadium on Saturday.
"I have an 'or' don't I?" Rodriguez said, glancing down at this week's depth chart, on which Sheridan is listed first, as he was last week, with an "or" separating him from Threet.
"Steve probably had a little more positive things (in the opener). They both did some good things, they both did some bad things. Steve probably came out of that game grading a little bit higher and took the edge a little bit there.
"We'll see how they execute this week in practice. Nick had a little bit of an edge coming into the last game. In this game, based on the way they played, Steve kind of equaled those things up. We'll see how they compete. (Today) is a big practice day for them, Wednesday a little bit, as well."
Last week, Rodriguez informed the quarterbacks of his decision before Thursday's practice. Asked if he would do the same this week, Rodriguez said he would not wait that long.
"They'll know earlier than that," Rodriguez said. "I might tell them (today)."
Things will change this week in practice for the quarterbacks. Last week, Sheridan took most of the reps with the first string, while Threet took equal reps with the second group.
"This week it will be at least equal (with the first group)," Rodriguez said. "That will be the difference in practice."
If there was any good news from the opener, it's that Sheridan and Threet recognized their mistakes as soon as they were made, Rodriguez said.
"That's the first start," Rodriguez said.
"Then it's simply not repeating them when we go play the next game. They both at times played like first-time players, and that's to be expected. At other times, they made good decisions. There's a lot on our quarterback's plate in this offense. The quarterback makes a lot of decisions, not just in the passing game."
One decision regarding the position that has been made is freshman quarterback Justin Feagin will be redshirted this year.
"He's not ready," Rodriguez said.
Rating the opener
Rodriguez said he does not want to focus on the negatives from the opener, but there were a lot of them that even he could not ignore.
He was asked to assess the offensive line play from film.
"Below average," he said. "Those guys tried hard but didn't play. (They) reverted to some bad habits, techniques, just didn't play championship football."
Clearly, the Michigan defense was much improved in the second half, holding Utah to 28 yards and three points -- the Utes gained 313 total on offense in the first half. Michigan scored 13 points in a fourth-quarter comeback, but the running game, which had 4 yards in the first half, mustered 62 for the game.
"I thought there was obviously a lack of execution on both sides of the ball, more so in the first half than the second half," Rodriguez said.
"Guys made a few plays, as well. I didn't think we played very physical. I thought we played very tentative at times, thinking a little too much. I don't know whether that was because of inexperience or unsureness on certain plays. We addressed that quite a bit (Sunday) with the team playing more physical, not thinking too much."
He knew it
Rodriguez said he was pretty clear last week before the opener, indicating that this team could not afford too many mistakes if it hoped to win.
"I told you all before, we're not good enough to play bad and win, I don't care who we play," Rodriguez said. "If we play bad, we ain't going to win. That's where we're at right now. We are what you see. It's pretty simple.
"Right now, we're a program that has got to play well and execute well to win a game. It's as simple as that. We can't go out there and mess around and win. I told you all that last week. I had a feeling that's what it was and where we're at, and that's where we're at.
"If it looks likes a rose, smells like a rose, tastes like a rose, it's probably a rose. If it's just the opposite, then you know what I mean."
But even Rodriguez had to be a bit surprised by how out of sync the team looked in the first half. Even if that was the case, he's not interested in waiting long for the Wolverines to find a groove.
"In some respects, you ought to be patient, but we're not very patient folks," Rodriguez said.
Injury update
Tailback Carlos Brown is not listed on the depth chart. He injured a shoulder during the Utah game and played sparingly.
"I think he'll be available," Rodriguez said. "If he's healthy, he'll play."
Receiver Greg Mathews (ankle) and defensive end Ryan Van Bergen (ankle) are day-to-day, according to the coach. Receiver Terrance Robinson (hamstring) is expected to play, as are receiver Junior Hemingway (shoulder) and safety Brandon Harrison (groin).
Extra points
Linebacker Obi Ezeh was the Big Ten defensive player of the week after his 15-tackle performance against Utah. Ezeh also had an interception.
Ezeh did not want to celebrate the honor Monday morning.
"Happy that I had some success early, but it's kind of tainted," Ezeh said, referring to the season-opening loss. "I don't want to dwell on (the honor) that much. It's good to know I'm having some success early.."
... It is unclear whether tailback Kevin Grady , who was benched the first game as part of his penalty for a DUI arrest in the summer, will play Saturday.
... Brandon Minor is listed as the third tailback on the depth chart. Freshman Sam McGuffie , who started the opener, is first, and is separated from freshman Michael Shaw with an "or."
Where does that leave Minor?
"I don't know how they're going to rotate," Rodriguez said. "I don't consider there's a whole lot of separation (among the three)."
Coach Rich Rodriguez left that question unanswered during a news conference Monday, but it certainly sounds as though Steven Threet has staked his claim for the job after his second-half performance Saturday in a 25-23 loss to Utah in the opener.
Nick Sheridan started against Utah and played the first half. Both quarterbacks had positive moments, and both had moments when they struggled.
Rodriguez was quick to respond when asked if Sheridan would start against Miami (Ohio) at Michigan Stadium on Saturday.
"I have an 'or' don't I?" Rodriguez said, glancing down at this week's depth chart, on which Sheridan is listed first, as he was last week, with an "or" separating him from Threet.
"Steve probably had a little more positive things (in the opener). They both did some good things, they both did some bad things. Steve probably came out of that game grading a little bit higher and took the edge a little bit there.
"We'll see how they execute this week in practice. Nick had a little bit of an edge coming into the last game. In this game, based on the way they played, Steve kind of equaled those things up. We'll see how they compete. (Today) is a big practice day for them, Wednesday a little bit, as well."
Last week, Rodriguez informed the quarterbacks of his decision before Thursday's practice. Asked if he would do the same this week, Rodriguez said he would not wait that long.
"They'll know earlier than that," Rodriguez said. "I might tell them (today)."
Things will change this week in practice for the quarterbacks. Last week, Sheridan took most of the reps with the first string, while Threet took equal reps with the second group.
"This week it will be at least equal (with the first group)," Rodriguez said. "That will be the difference in practice."
If there was any good news from the opener, it's that Sheridan and Threet recognized their mistakes as soon as they were made, Rodriguez said.
"That's the first start," Rodriguez said.
"Then it's simply not repeating them when we go play the next game. They both at times played like first-time players, and that's to be expected. At other times, they made good decisions. There's a lot on our quarterback's plate in this offense. The quarterback makes a lot of decisions, not just in the passing game."
One decision regarding the position that has been made is freshman quarterback Justin Feagin will be redshirted this year.
"He's not ready," Rodriguez said.
Rating the opener
Rodriguez said he does not want to focus on the negatives from the opener, but there were a lot of them that even he could not ignore.
He was asked to assess the offensive line play from film.
"Below average," he said. "Those guys tried hard but didn't play. (They) reverted to some bad habits, techniques, just didn't play championship football."
Clearly, the Michigan defense was much improved in the second half, holding Utah to 28 yards and three points -- the Utes gained 313 total on offense in the first half. Michigan scored 13 points in a fourth-quarter comeback, but the running game, which had 4 yards in the first half, mustered 62 for the game.
"I thought there was obviously a lack of execution on both sides of the ball, more so in the first half than the second half," Rodriguez said.
"Guys made a few plays, as well. I didn't think we played very physical. I thought we played very tentative at times, thinking a little too much. I don't know whether that was because of inexperience or unsureness on certain plays. We addressed that quite a bit (Sunday) with the team playing more physical, not thinking too much."
He knew it
Rodriguez said he was pretty clear last week before the opener, indicating that this team could not afford too many mistakes if it hoped to win.
"I told you all before, we're not good enough to play bad and win, I don't care who we play," Rodriguez said. "If we play bad, we ain't going to win. That's where we're at right now. We are what you see. It's pretty simple.
"Right now, we're a program that has got to play well and execute well to win a game. It's as simple as that. We can't go out there and mess around and win. I told you all that last week. I had a feeling that's what it was and where we're at, and that's where we're at.
"If it looks likes a rose, smells like a rose, tastes like a rose, it's probably a rose. If it's just the opposite, then you know what I mean."
But even Rodriguez had to be a bit surprised by how out of sync the team looked in the first half. Even if that was the case, he's not interested in waiting long for the Wolverines to find a groove.
"In some respects, you ought to be patient, but we're not very patient folks," Rodriguez said.
Injury update
Tailback Carlos Brown is not listed on the depth chart. He injured a shoulder during the Utah game and played sparingly.
"I think he'll be available," Rodriguez said. "If he's healthy, he'll play."
Receiver Greg Mathews (ankle) and defensive end Ryan Van Bergen (ankle) are day-to-day, according to the coach. Receiver Terrance Robinson (hamstring) is expected to play, as are receiver Junior Hemingway (shoulder) and safety Brandon Harrison (groin).
Extra points
Linebacker Obi Ezeh was the Big Ten defensive player of the week after his 15-tackle performance against Utah. Ezeh also had an interception.
Ezeh did not want to celebrate the honor Monday morning.
"Happy that I had some success early, but it's kind of tainted," Ezeh said, referring to the season-opening loss. "I don't want to dwell on (the honor) that much. It's good to know I'm having some success early.."
... It is unclear whether tailback Kevin Grady , who was benched the first game as part of his penalty for a DUI arrest in the summer, will play Saturday.
... Brandon Minor is listed as the third tailback on the depth chart. Freshman Sam McGuffie , who started the opener, is first, and is separated from freshman Michael Shaw with an "or."
Where does that leave Minor?
"I don't know how they're going to rotate," Rodriguez said. "I don't consider there's a whole lot of separation (among the three)."
