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When you think of Michigan football the last couple of seasons the first player that comes to mind is Denard Robinson. He has been the most electrifying player in the country and is a treat to watch. Coming into the season many thought he had a good chance to win the Heisman trophy.

After four weeks where does he fit into the conversation?

Well, after four games he has 552 rushing yards, he is averaging over seven yards a carry. Those are the most impressive numbers that jump out to you. His passing numbers aren't so great and is what may hold him back as a candidate. Just 624 passing yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions is not going to get it done.

Robinson is the reason this team in undefeated and the reason they are climbing in the rankings. If somehow the Wolverines remain undefeated and win the Big Ten, then we can talk. But as of right now I simply don't believe his numbers are good enough to put him in the Heisman conversation.

He is fun to watch but those interceptions and lack of passing yards kill him. He is a quarterback and needs to have solid stats with his arm as well.

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How about those Michigan Wolverines? Everybody was so focused on Notre Dame this season that Michigan just surprised everyone and jumped out to a 3-0 start and climbed into the Top 25. After being unranked the first two weeks, the Wolverines are currently ranked 22nd in the AP Top 25 Poll and 21st in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

So, how long will it last?

Michigan doesn't have a real threat until the middle of October when they face Michigan State. But with the way Notre Dame man handled them last week you wonder if they are a team that is capable of stopping Denard Robinson and company.

As we move down the schedule it gets more difficult towards the end when they play teams like Illinois, Nebraska and Ohio State. Yes, even the Buckeyes are a threat this year when it's a heated rivalry like that.

I really don't see this Michigan team losing to a team until the end of the schedule and by then they'll be so high in the rankings that a loss to a ranked team wouldn't knock them out.

As long as Michigan plays the type of football they've been playing the last few weeks they should be fine until November.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or Randy.Chambers7@yahoo.com

Bleacher Report is your home for college football for the 2011 season. From scores, news, analysis, live blogs and updates on your favorite teams and the big national games every week, keep it on Bleacher Report for the very latest in college football news.

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The Michigan Wolverines play the Eastern Michigan Eagles Saturday at noon (ET) and they better be able to stop the run if they expect to win their third game of the season.

Eastern Michigan loves to run the ball, a lot. Double the amount of times they throw the ball. I guess when your quarterback completes only 47 percent of the passes you have to run the ball. They average over seven yards a carry and running backs Javonti Greene and Dominque Sherrer handle the bulk of the carries running just shy of 500 yards combined in two games.

The Eagles are ranked fifth in the country in running the ball averaging 331 yards a carry. Yes, the two teams they have played have been cupcakes but they still ran for 336 yards against Alabama State and 326 yards against Howard Bison. That's pretty impressive regardless of who you play.

Notre Dame was successful at running the ball down Michigan's throat with Cierre Wood rushing for 134 of the 198 rushing yards they had.

Eastern Michigan is ranked 117th out of 120 teams in the passing game, so, if Michigan can stop the run and make the Eagles one dimensional they should have problem starting the season off 3-0.

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Denard Robinson and the Michigan Wolverines played a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish that the college football world will remember for a very long time. Michigan scored twice in the final minute to win the game 35-31 in the first night game ever at Michigan stadium.

A lot of the comeback had to do with the play of Denard Robinson who threw for 338 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 108 yards, one touchdown and scooped up a fumble and ran it in for the two point conversion. 

But does his performance put him back in the Heisman race?

I love Robinson and watch him play every chance I get just because he is so fun to watch and very athletic. It's amazing at some of the things he does on the football field. But that does not make him a Heisman candidate.

His numbers are remarkable and he gives his team a chance to win every game. But he also  could have been the reason Michigan lost the game by throwing three interceptions and fumbling towards the end of the game. He makes way to many careless passes that result in costly turnovers.

He also runs the risk of not staying healthy the entire season because of the amount of times he runs the football.

If Michigan can go undefeated or only lose one game and Robinson can limit the interceptions, yes, he'll have a chance. But as of right now I'd have to say no.

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When the Wolverines meet the fighting Irish tonight, it could easily be the biggest game of the week between two unranked teams.  

Notre Dame suffered a huge upset in their opener last week against the Big East's University of South Florida.  

USF cruised into halftime with a 16-0 lead, and while the Irish woke up in the second half, it was too little too late as they ended up losing 23-20.  

Notre Dame came into the game ranked 16th in the nation.

Meanwhile, Michigan put a sound beating on Western Michigan last week in Brady Hoke's head coaching debut.  

Winning by a score of 34-10, the Wolverines had simply adequate play from junior quarterback Denard Robinson.  

Robinson was 9/13 for 98 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions.  

The star of the offense was Fitzgerald Toussaint, who crossed the chalk twice on this occasion.

Toussaint had 11 carries for 80 yards, for a healthy 7.3 yards per carry.  

Teammate Michael Shaw wasn't too shabby either, rushing for 54 yards and a touchdown on just four carries.

Outside linebacker Brandon Herron stole the show though, as he returned a touchdown 94 yards for a touchdown, then recovered a fumble for a 28 yard score.

The Wolverines looked excellent on defense, but they can really use a spark in their passing attack when they take on Notre Dame at Michigan Stadium.   

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The Brady Hoke era in Ann Arbor officially got underway last Saturday in Michigan’s storm-shortened 34-10 victory over Western Michigan.

But let’s be honest. The Brady Hoke era really gets underway Saturday night as Hoke and his Wolverines play the first ever night game at Michigan Stadium against rival Notre Dame.

There’s plenty of talk about the throwback uniforms that each team will be wearing and, rightfully so, about the amazing history between these two proud programs.

But this matchup will not be decided by the uniforms. And it will not be decided by Rocket Ismail or Desmond Howard.

It will be decided by the players on the field. And for the Wolverines, the result will depend on the success of Denard Robinson.

Last year against the Fighting Irish, the man known as "Shoelace" threw for 244 yards and a touchdown and added another 258 yards and two more scores on the ground as Michigan held on for a 28-24 victory at South Bend.

This year, jobs 1, 2 and 3 for Notre Dame will be stopping Robinson.

"It's just an understanding across the board that, unfortunately, we need to be perfect," Irish defensive coordinator Bob Diaco told the Chicago Tribune this week.

"Because any little crease, and it's over. He's gone. It's not like somebody who gets a crease and he rattles for eight, 10 yards and he's on the ground. This guy hits a crease and he can punch a hole in the top of a defense like that. That's the job."

But Robinson has matured in his role, says Hoke, and the young quarterback now realizes that he’s not solely responsible for the success of the Michigan offense.

“I think he sees that he doesn’t have to be everything,” Hoke told the AP this week. “That’s an important part because there’s a composure and poise you want to play with where you don’t force things either from running it or throwing it.

"He’ll make enough things happen during the course of a game that just happen because of that skill set.

—Adam Hirshfield

Be sure to check out... Notre Dame vs. Michigan: More Than First Night Game at Big House, It's History

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Last year, Michigan managed to become bowl eligible again by going 7-5 during the regular season. While the bowl game against Mississippi State did not go as planned, Michigan did make a step forward by finishing over .500.

This year, Michigan is already 1-0 and during Brady Hoke's first season, the Wolverines have their sights set on improving on last years mark.

After tonights game against Notre Dame, Michigan will have the following games in front of them:

• Eastern Michigan
• San Diego State
• Minnesota
• at Northwestern
• at Michigan State
• Pudue
• at Iowa
• at Illinois
• Nebraska
• Ohio State

Regardless of what happens against Notre Dame, Michigan fans could look at the schedule and believe that wins 2-7 will come against Eastern Michigan, San Diego State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue and Illinois.

With that being said, the question becomes if Michigan will be able to win games like Notre Dame, at Michigan State, Nebraska or break the streak against Ohio State.

From the past few years, Michigan has struggled with keeping games close against the upper half of the Big 10 and in order to take strides towards improving, that is something that they must prove they can do in 2011.

At the end of the day, if Denard Robinson has stepped up his abilities in the passing game, then this Michigan offense will be able to compensate for the defense and help them win games that may have gone the other way in 2010.

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Michigan stadium, also known as the "Big House" has been open since 1927 and has never hosted a night game. Until now.

Saturday night the Michigan Wolverines will take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the first time ever a night game will be played at Michigan stadium. When you figure all of the years and games that have been played, there would have been at least one already.

"When I first went to Michigan, I didn't know they had never played night games so it surprised me," Former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez told SI.com's Stewart Mandel. "I was begging for one from the start and they looked at me like I had three heads. Now, it's going to be a great atmosphere. They could probably sell 150,000 tickets, and I think they even said that."

Hopefully this becomes normal for this historic stadium.  There is just something about night games that sets the mood for a great match up. Primetime with everybody watching, it just has something special that day games don't have.

Hopefully it's here to stay.

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Even though Denard Robinson didn't really do much in last weeks 34-10 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos, he is still the key for this team to have a successful season.

Robinson threw for only 98 yards and rushed for 46. Those numbers are no where near what Robinson is capable of putting up and he must be more productive if the Wolverines look to take the next step.

This week Michigan takes on the Fighting Irish in the first night game ever at the Big House. In last years match up, Robinson had 502 of Michigan's 532 total yards. He also scored the game winning touchdown with 27 seconds left.

He shouldn't have to carry the team like that, but Michigan needs more of those type of games from him.

"Everybody asks me the question, 'What do you do to stop Denard?' I think you put him under center, have him turn his back to the defense. When he's in the shotgun, he can survey the field whether he's running or throwing it. I mean, he's one of the best weapons in college football." Former Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez said.

I completely agree and believe that if Michigan is going to win the game against Notre Dame and have a great season it starts with Robinson. Let him make the plays and lead this team to where they're trying to go.

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Nebraska fans breathed a sigh of relief last year when defensive tackle Jared Crick opted to come back for his senior year.

The top defensive tackle prospect said it was easy when he really thought about it. "I came here to get a degree, and it'd be pretty bad to go four years of school and have nothing to show for it."

Now Crick has a chance to get more sacks than anyone in Nebraska history – as a defensive tackle – if he gets 10.5 sacks this season. That means he would’ve put up more numbers that Ndamukong Suh.

All of this from a guy who was nearly not recruited by the Big Red.

He was recently named the Big 10’s best player by ESPN and is on nearly every preseason all-American team and watchlist that he is eligible for.

Crick credits his quickness as the strength of his game. “I'm not the biggest guy out there. I'm not the strongest guy out there. But I'm going to hit you before you hit me. I'm going to outrun you. That's what I've been known for here -- is just my hard work and running to the ball."

Now he’s one of the leaders of the Blackshirt defense which he says can still improve. If there’s anyone who can go out and prove that, it’s Jared Crick.

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It’s no secret that the Michigan defense last season was putrid. What is a secret is how far they’ve come since then.

We will get a really good look at this defense when the Wolverines take on Western Michigan.

The Broncos have a great passing attack and that was the worse of the two defensive areas.

The following week, Notre Dame comes to town and their offensive scheme looks a lot similar to the Irish’s.

And Notre Dame does it a lot better and plays a lot better defense

You can bet that they will be watching that game incredibly closely to pick apart any weaknesses the Wolverines show.

The Irish defense showed real improvement towards the end of last season and they will need all of that and maybe a little more to slow down Michigan in the Big House’s first night game.

But the game will be decided by defensive improvement and Brady Hoke may have worked enough magic this offseason to have the Wolverines in good enough shape so they don’t show any weakness against Western Michigan.

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Last season the Michigan offense exploded under quarterback Denard Robinson and for the first month of the season was considered a Heisman candidate.

But there was another guy who made the offense go and his name is Roy Roundtree.

The former 4-star recruit accounted for nearly 1,000 yards receiving including a monstrous 246 yards and two touchdown game against Illinois.

Everything for Roundtree changed when Brady Hoke was hired to do away with Rich Rod’s spread and implement a pro-style offense which requires more blocking, timing and precise route running.

However, that also means Roundtree should see a lot more of the football. With 4.4 40 yard dash speed and two full seasons to work with Robinson, Roundtree is ready to go from under the radar to headline.

He’s said the hardest thing has been timing. "You've got to have the timing down on this offense because if the timing is off, then the quarterback is off. All the wide receivers want the ball so we have to get the timing down and get open. We still have a lot more work to do. I'm still out there learning all the new concepts and formations we've got."

Roundtree will also be doing a lot more blocking than he is accustomed to and the strength and conditioning coaches are making the receivers’ legs “half-dead.”

He’s hoping that all of this offseason work will get him the yards and attention he deserves.

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Regardless of how well or poorly the offense does this season, Michigan won’t get to the next level as a program without a respectable defense.

Last year, the Wolverines surrendered over 450 yards per game which ranked them 110^th out of 120 teams in the country.

And against teams that did play defense, Denard Robinson and Roy Roundtree weren’t able to outscore their opponents.

Most of the starters return but that isn’t necessarily a good thing, especially in the defensive back seven. Top tackler Jonas Mouton is gone but Jordan Kovacs was right behind him. Everyone else besides him and Mike Martin needs to step their game up considerably to put the Wolverines in a position to win.

Brady Hoke is a defensive minded coach and he’s going to bring that intensity back to the program but major defensive changes typically require at least a year to get the players in good enough shape to make plays.

If anyone can do that job it’s new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison who was the Ravens’ coordinator last year.

But Brady Hoke has said publicly that the team is not ready to play yet.

Hopefully for Michigan fans, that was more of a motivational statement than anything. But if it’s true, 2011 could be another long one in Ann Arbor. 

If the Wolverines can’t find a pass defense before this Saturday, Western Michigan could pull off the upset.

It’s that simple.

The quarterback/receiver combination of Alex Carder and Jordan White is the best one you’ve never heard of. Carder threw for 30 touchdowns and White was on the receiving end of a third of them.

This is important because Michigan’s pass defense allowed an atrocious 261 yards per game through the air.

Add to that the fact that Brady Hoke has gone on record saying that his team isn’t ready and you have a very serious problem.

Losing to Western Michigan this year will be a lot different than losing Appalachian State in 2007 because the Wolverines aren’t expected to be as good as they were that year but a loss would sting just as bad. It would also tarnish Brady Hoke’s reputation, one that he’s still trying to build.

The Broncos didn’t have much of a defense last year but Hoke has his own offense and the transition may be rocky enough to the point where Western Michigan can hold to its big brother to just enough points to escape Ann Arbor with a win.

None of it is likely and I do think Michigan will be a better team this year and will pull off an upset or two; however, that doesn’t mean an opening season loss to a team built around the Wolverines’ weakness isn’t out of the question.

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When players recruited to fit an offense like the spread are forced to play in something they aren’t suited for, bad things happen.

Just as Florida’s John Brantley.

Head coach Brady Hoke is going to run things his way and that could be disastrous for quarterback Denard Robinson.

“Shoelace” is a prototypical spread quarterback who is infinitely more suited to run the option than the pro-style offense Hoke is trying to implement. In this transition period, there will still be a good amount of quarterback runs but not nearly as many as there were last year considering that four of five offensive linemen return including all-Big 10 center David Molk.

Robinson isn’t as polished of a passer as a Landry Jones but it isn’t like he can’t throw an accurate ball. Receiver Roy Roundtree will need to step up in a big way this season in order for this new offense to function properly.

Last year it was the Shoelace Show but a pro-style offense is much more about a team effort and distributing the ball evenly across the field.

Between transitioning into the offense, becoming a better pocket passer and giving the running back more touches, 2011 expectations for Denard Robinson need to be lowered until further notice.