The Five Most Impressive Things about the New Michigan Wolverines

1. The Quarterback Play

I call the duo of Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson FedEx: because one can deliver through the air and the other on the ground.

These two true freshmen have been outstanding in Michigan's three wins this season. Tate was unflappable in the high-pressure ND game, and Denard has looked unstoppable running the ball at times against Western and Eastern Michigan.

We know they are both still freshmen and will make "freshman mistakes," but this is a huge upgrade from last year. Huge!

2. The Halftime Adjustments

One of my biggest complaints about the Lloyd Carr era was they never seemed to make any decent halftime adjustments on either side of the ball. It was always about out-executing your opponent and not making the proper adjustments to the game plan.

Michigan's best examples of halftime adjustments came against ND and EMU. The ND defense had a weakness against the run; Michigan played power football to get back into the game in the third quarter.

Also in the ND game, the Michigan D was not getting enough pressure on "Jimmy." After the half they blitzed and forced "Jimmy" into some bad throws.

EMU was within seven points of Michigan at halftime due to a power running game against the Michigan defense (it looked like the Michigan D had a game plan to go against a spread team). Michigan secured up the D and shut out the Eagles in the second half.

3. The Youth

Everywhere you look on the Michigan roster, you see freshmen and sophomores. When these guys become junior and seniors, look out!

4. The Running Backs

Many have wondered what Michigan is going to do at running back after seniors Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown leave after the season.

How does this sound? Mike Shaw, Vincent Smith, Mike Cox, to-be redshirt freshman Fitzgerald Toussaint, and true freshman in 2010 Austin White. Michigan looks to be in good shape. Brown = Shaw and Minor = Cox.

5. The Team

This team is all on the same page and playing like a close-knit unit. Insert your "overworked" joke here, but say what you will, during the offseason this team worked hard and came together. I know RR and staff believe Michigan will play better in the second half of games because they have the better-conditioned athletes.

BTW: The Big House has been rocking this year. Whether it's the new luxury boxes keeping the sound in, the new music, or the new tradition of the players going to the student section after the game, there is nothing but excitement and fun at the Big House these days.

Other News and Notes

* Sad news for the EMU Eagles: Senior quarterback and offensive captain Andy Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns) will be lost for the remainder of the 2009 season with a knee injury that will require surgery.

* The Michigan staff is expecting five to six players from the 2010 class to enroll early.