Tate Forcier Continues To Open Eyes Following the First Week's Practice

After a week of practicing, there is still no Michigan quarterback resolution. At least not one that Rich Rodriguez is willing to say.

He insisted again on Friday that "all three -- Denard, Tate and Nick -- are sharing the reps. ... Everybody can go ahead and be patient, because there will not be a starter named until right before the first game."

I quote, there will not be a starter before gametime. If u ask me, I say Tate Forcier will be the starting Qb. Wouldn't U??? Srry, but I don't think ANY OF US WANT TO SEE NICK SHERIDAN ANYMORE, so Nick grab the clipboard cause u've done ur time.

But observing a bit of Friday's practice, freshman Tate Forcier stood out very well from junior Nick Sheridan and fellow freshman Denard Robinson, especially when working with the apparent first-team offense.

It's probably because of the experience of the first team Offensive line lead by Mark Ortmann, Steve Schilling, David Molk, David Moosman and Mark Huyge, or maybe Forcier is just further along than most freshmen after enrolling early, in January. This is a great possibility as Denard is definitly behind as hes only been in practice a week.

"It's really good that he's this comfortable, because it lets him relax," said Molk, the center who added that their snaps, which were a problem in the spring, are now "perfect."

"He doesn't have to worry about so many things and he's better off on the field because he doesn't have his head going in a million different places. ... This is rare in a Freshmen Qb to not have his head spinning and so ill say it here this kid is gonna be unlike other freshmen Qb we have seen It's weird, I never see the kid crumble. Once in awhile you'll see a quarterback and they'll start to get kind of shaky, but he's pretty solid."

I might add, he has great poise.

Forcier's calm and accuracy are already drawing praise. The Big Ten Network football crew spent Friday watching the practice and host Dave Revsine made comments on his Twitter.

"Tate Forcier is the PERFECT QB for the Michigan system," Revsine tweeted. "Good arm, very comfortable throwing on the run and good speed and scrambling ability."

Yet he also mentioned that BTN analyst Gerry DiNardo thinks Robinson will be the starter by year's end. Well, if Tate goes down to injury, it'll be up to Denard to carry the offense

OUICK NOTES: Despite Forcier's steadiness, apparently it didn't do much to help get into the end zone. At the end of practice, the offense and defense square off for two series, with offense starting at the defense's 35. The defense forced three-and-out both times Well that's a good thing.

The first day in pads meant the first day for the M-Drill, the high-intensity drill with three levels of individual blocking matchups and a tailback trying to get through the gauntlet.

Linebacker Steve Brown said freshman Teric Jones is already impressing and made a diving interception Thursday. ...Also, I should point out that I was watching the Big Ten Football Tour and I saw Vincent Smoth go up against Stevie Brown, I believe, and Smith Just Plowed right over Him.  

Receiver Greg Mathews and tailback Brandon Minor sat out contact drills because of minor injuries they are expected to return by early this week; lineman Ricky Barnum (ankle) and Isaiah Bell (sick) didn't practice at all.

Rodriguez has been very impressed with freshman receiver Je'Ron Stokes and said he expects Stokes to play this year, with as many as 10 true freshmen seeing the field.

Please Read my fellow Writer's Jay Nicols Article on the 10 freshmen that will possibly see the field this season.