Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez clarifies his talk with Tate Forcier

Rich Rodriguez has a different interpretation of the “argument” quarterback Tate Forcier said he had with his coach last week.

“I brought Tate in the office the other day and brought out my Webster’s dictionary and explained the difference between an argument and a lecture,” Rodriguez said. “And showed him exactly, said this was a lecture, not an argument. Sometimes we have lectures and sometimes we have conversations. In that case it was a lecture about his academics.”

Forcier said after Michigan’s loss to Wisconsin last week that he and Rodriguez “got into a little bit of an argument” over a missed study hall and practice.

Forcier said he was surprised when he started against the Badgers because Denard Robinson “took a lot of reps throughout the week.”

Rodriguez said Forcier and Robinson split first-team reps during the week - with Robinson taking more than usual - but “nobody was declared as the starter … until closer to game time.”

“The idea that he didn’t take any reps at all with the first team and it was a total surprise to him to start is completely false,” Rodriguez said. “They took an equal number.”

Rodriguez said Robinson wasn’t shaken by not getting the start at quarterback. He did start at running back, alongside Forcier.

“I think our players know not to listen to anything out there,” Rodriguez said. “Not that anything you all write would be untrue, but that being said I think they know that we’re going to let them know what’s going on and if there’s anything that they need to know about their performance or what they need to do to be a starter or be in there, I’ll let them know that.”

So who starts Saturday against ninth-ranked Ohio State?

“Tate more than likely,” Rodriguez said. “But it’s still only Wednesday. We’ll wait until Saturday. But they’re both going to play.”

More practice notes
â€¢ Rodriguez on his team's intensity during practice this week: "Really good as you can expect. If you can’t get fired up to prepare and focus for this game I think there’s something wrong with you on both teams. And our guys, I know we had a very good meeting on Monday, they’re very, very focused. Yesterday was a good practice, and we’ve got a couple more days of keeping their focus."

â€¢ Linebacker Brandon Smith started as part of the 4-4 defense Michigan unveiled against Wisconsin last week. Rodriguez wouldn't say Wednesday whether Smith or safety Mike Williams will start against OSU.

"We're still looking at scheme wise what the best scenario is and they do some multiple things offensively," Rodriguez said. "But it'll probably be a combination of both Brandon and Mike Williams."

â€¢ Ohio State coach Jim Tressel on what he expects from Michigan's defense earlier this week: “Most defenses deploy based upon what the offensive grouping happens to be. We’re kind of a multiple grouping. ... They’ll deploy accordingly."

â€¢ Former Michigan assistant Jerry Hanlon gave Rodriguez a letter Wednesday addressed to the entire team about Saturday's game.

"The basic theme is something that we all preach as coaches, what a privilege it is to play for the University of Michigan and how much pride you have wearing the winged helmet and running out of the tunnel," Rodriguez said. "And this week in particular with the Ohio State game, how much more special it should be for you. And then some other colorful things he adds in there. It’s really good."

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.