Wolverine Practice Notes

• Taylor Lewan "tweaked" an ankle in practice on Tuesday but should be ready to go this weekend.  Most likely will rotate with Huyge during the game.

• Fitz Toussaint keeps improving and RR wants to see him, Mike Cox, and Stephen Hopkins on Saturday.

• RR on Brandon Herron:  "Brandon Herron will be able to do a bit more. He practiced a little yesterday, should be able to do more today," Rodriguez said. "We're optimistic he'll be able to contribute some Saturday.

• RR on Carvin Johnson: "It does not look like Carvin is going to be able to play in the game, but he's doing a lot more this week. We're hopeful we'll be able to get Carvin back next week."

• No news on anyone stepping up in the kicking game, they are trying to do some competitive things in practice

• RR on Defense:  "Yesterday was really good for our defense. All of our guys are very, very conscientious in all three phases, so when we don't have our best performance and things don't go well, we talk to them about it and coach them up, but they understand very well," Rodriguez said.
  
  "They knew after the last game we didn't play well and could play a lot better- they have played better. They have a lot pride in themselves, so I would be surprised if they didn't come out this weekend, particularly on defense, and have a better performance and show they can play a little bit."
  

Put another "Spoon" on the Table: Marcus is back!

When it seems like Offensive Lineman and other players are dropping like flies due to injuries, etc. Michigan gets a boost from one of it's highly regarded Freshman recruits when Marcus Witherspoon reports to camp for the first time.

Marcus was rumored to have an NCAA Clearinghouse problem or was academically ineligible and lost for the entire year. Well, that doesn't seem to be the case and Marcus is heading to Ann Arbor today to start practice with his teammates:

"Something came up. The rumors you've heard are probably false, don't believe them," Witherspoon said. "There's nothing that would make me not go back to
Michigan."It was a personal matter, but all is good. There's nothing bad. It was just a lot of things and I don't really want to talk about it. I'm just keeping quiet."

"I missed a week of camp, so I don't know what they'll do until I get back," he added. "I missed some time. If it wasn't for this, I probably -- no, I'm quite confident -- I would have been playing. Whatever the coaches decide will be for the best."

Due to the missed time Marcus may end up redshirtting. BTW: He missed more then a week.

"There's no harm in redshirting," Witherspoon said. "It would just give me an extra year and I really don't mind."

Spartans running from the Police, Utah has some injuries, and a Walk On

When was the last time a walk on started at QB for Michigan? Well, it wasn't that long ago and he did pretty well. Brian Greise is his name and he has been an NFL QB for 10 years now. He also happened to win a National Championship his senior year.

Well another former son of a NFL player is trying to do the same thing. Nick Sheridan the odds on leader for the back up role is starting to turn heads at Michigan practice. Leaving Spring Ball and coming into Fall Practice most of us thought Steve Threet, the 4 star QB from Adrian would win the job. As Lee Corso likes to say, "not so fast my friend":

Nick Sheridan and Steven Threet have varying skills and, despite giving away a few inches, Sheridan has more than enough zip on his passes. Threet had a few struggling moments on Tuesday

The reason we all thought Nick would be the back up was his inability to throw the ball, he is hands down the better athlete. So if Nick and Steve are even with throwing accuracy and arm strength, Nick will get the job because he can turn 3rd and 7 into a first down by using this feet. A much harder task for the bigger Threet.

Either way, I expect both to see time this year.
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MSU Freshman are suppose to run at practice, not from the police off the field. 3 MSU players were arrested from running from the police.

Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings said MSU police charged safety Charles Burrell, defensive end Cameron Jude and defensive back Mitchell White for failing to obey a police order to stop as they were walking near a campus building. The players ran instead.

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Utah is nursing some minor injuries before they make the trip to Ann Arbor in two weeks.

The most significant is an MCL strain suffered by senior defensive tackle Aaron Tonga, who could be out for a couple of weeks. Joe Dale (hip bruise), linebacker Stevenson Sylvester (knee tendinitis), wide receiver David Reed (tooth extraction) and running back Matt Asiata (ankle sprain). Others on the mend include include linebacker Mo Neal, center Tyler Williams and tight end Neli A'asa.

Take me out to the Big House: The Utes have finalized their travel plans to Michigan. They'll leave Friday morning, Aug. 29, and will likely have a closed walk-through at the stadium in Ann Arbor. Utah has sold all of its allotment of 3,500 tickets to the game.

Updates from Fall Practice

Look for a number of freshman to play this year. Who you ask?

Tailback Sam McGuffie and receiver Michael Shaw are among the freshmen that Rodriguez said will play.

"(They) are two guys who will not be redshirted," Rodriguez said Tuesday. "The biggest (issue) as freshmen coming in is, can they mentally handle the schemes and the pace? Those two have shown they can so far. They've done enough to convince us they can contribute as freshmen, and I think as much mentally as physically. "They're both fast, explosive players that I think are good with the spread system, so we're excited about it.

Who else? cornerbacks Boubacar Cissoko and J.T. Floyd, safety Brandon Smith, defensive lineman Mike Martin, receiver Martavious Odoms, and possibly J.B. Fitzgerald at linebacker.

• Walk On QB Nick Sheridan got a scholarship last week
• Mark Moundros has a minor sprained ankle
• Guard Cory Zirbel is having knee trouble, out a week or so.
• WR Junior Hemingway is still nursing an ankle but practicing

QB Shuffle and the Offense Struggles

The Michigan Defense will have to go "Baltimore Ravens"this year and help a very young and new offense. The talent is there on Offense but the experience and familiarity with Spread isn't. The most important position on Offense is QB and there may not be a starter announced anytime soon. We all expect Steve Threet to be that choice, but RR has been hinting that he just may play two QB's into the season until one becomes the clear leader.

The problem right now is Steve Threet is a better passer and Nick Sheridan (who is a former walk on) is a better athlete. In Rich's offense the QB has to make quick decisions, the person that shows they can do that on a constant basis will win the job.

"Making the reads in the offense and making sure we know what everybody does," said Threet, who said he and Sheridan worked together -- and alone -- during the offseason, trying to develop footwork and understand the offense.

"There's a lot of pressure in this offense. We have to make a lot of decisions quickly. I would definitely say we're getting better and making those decisions faster."

The third guy in the mix is Freshman Justin Feagin but he is just learning and it will take some time.

"He tries to learn a lot, he asks questions," Sheridan said of Feagin. "He's a good kid. He's a freshman, so he's swimming a little bit, especially at this position."

So how is the rest of the offense doing? RR after Wednesday's practice:

"I thought it was an average practice overall," he said. "I didn't think we progressed a whole lot. I liked what I saw out of the defense today.

Friday will be the first day in pads for the Wolverines. They have three weeks to work out the kinks before Utah comes to town.

Side Notes from practice:

• TE's are doing well.
• The freshman slot receivers are exceeding expectations.
  
• Marcus Witherspoon is home taking classes and trying to get cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse.


• RR likes our Safeties and CB's.


• Mike Martin, a Freshman Defensive Linemen will see playing time this fall


• Fan Day is August 17th

Former Wolverine DE Rondell Biggs was pulled over and arrested for having steroids and driving on a suspended license. Rondell has been working out (and it seems on the Juice as well) to try to get a spot playing professional football. He tried out for the Michigan AFL team, but the league will not start up until next year.

Fall Practice Begins: Highlights from Day 1

Mike Hart is running on Sunday Night Football for the Indianapolis Colts and Rich Rodriguez opened up his first Fall Practice as the Head Coach of the Michigan Wolverines.

Here are some highlights from the first day of practice:

• Kevin Grady was practicing. Rodriguez said Grady is still suspended as far as seeing time in upcoming games goes, but has done enough to practice. When Grady is eligible to return to Michigan's game day lineup will be determined later, Rodriguez said. "He's not done enough to warrant playing time," Rodriguez said. "He's out there working but he's not working with the first couple groups."


• Terrance Taylor was noticeably in better shape along with many other Wolverines. "We're not in game shape, but we're in a lot better shape than we were in the spring," Rodriguez said. "We're right on track."


• Steve Threet, Nick Sheridan and freshman Justin Feagin all took snaps at QB. Guess who else's did? You guessed it Carlos "Santana" Brown. "We knew there were certain strides we had to take," Threet said. "I think everybody felt a little better today. All of us (vying for the starting quarterback's job) are trying to do what we can to get on the field and play and show the coaches that we should be the guy." Look for the Threet to be named the starter.


• No major injuries to report. Junior Hemingway wore a green jersey from a Spring Injury.


• Michigan won't be in pads until Saturday.


• McGuffie showed some flashes of his famous speed. Look for him and Shaw to get a ton of fall practice reps.


• The forgotten man from this years recruiting class: George Morales was at practice and on the roster. Highly touted LB recruit JB Fitzgerald wasn't at practice.


• Deep thoughts from Morgan Trent: "He's extremely intense, but it's a good thing. I can already tell you he's fun to play for," said senior cornerback Morgan Trent when referring to Rodriguez's coaching style.