Michigan's success may hinge on better quarterback play this season

"We have no chance - no team will have a chance to have success if you don’t get solid play out of the quarterback," Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday at Big Ten football media day. "We’re better if we just don’t turn the ball over. We’ll win more games just by taking care of the ball. And that’s all positions."

Sheridan and the since-departed Steven Threet split the starting quarterback duties last year, but neither fit in Rodriguez's spread offense. They accounted for 16 turnovers (four fumbles, 12 interceptions) and 11 touchdown passes.

Rodriguez said Sheridan remains in the starting mix this year, but Forcier and Robinson appear to be the favorites entering fall camp.

"They’re going to be competitive," Rodriguez said. "It’s going to be fun to watch."

While Forcier took part in spring practice, Robinson has been on campus for only about a month. Already, he's turning heads with his speed.

Director of strength and conditioning Mike Barwis "said he’s fast, which I figured," Rodriguez said. "Now I obviously haven’t seen him throw or anything like that, so I’ll have to wait until practice starts to see how quickly he’ll pick up the system and how he throws."