1:54 p.m.: Brandon Graham, on the defense's mentality during Illinois' 99-yard drive for a momentum-changing touchdown Saturday:

"We just have to keep our composure, play smart and get the ball back," he said. "It didn't happen like that. They took over. The momentum shifted, and I could see it. They just looked ready to go. That's what we were trying to take away from them."

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1:50 p.m.: Defensive end Brandon Graham, on whether the team has played too uptight in recent games, and whether the Illinois loss will be in the back of his mind Saturday against Purdue:

"I don't think we'll be so tight," he said. "We know it's an important game. Hopefully, after we beat Purdue, it will calm down a little, and we'll have a little pressure off of us. But we know we let a couple games slip, and we need to keep working and progressing." ________

1:32 p.m.: More from Stephen Schilling on Michigan's failure to score on four consecutive runs from the half-yard line against Illinois:

"We could have been a lot more physical on the goal line. It definitely wasn't the scheme, to me," he said. "The running backs ran hard. We could have opened some bigger holes for them."

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1:30 p.m.: Offensive lineman Stephen Schilling, on whether Michigan was overconfident after starting the season with a 4-0 record.

"When we got to four quickly, it was easier to think, 'Oh we'll get six,'" he said. "I think people thought it would come a little too easily. And it hasn't. ...

"We had four straight wins, and we had a lot of confidence. It sucks when you lose some close games we thought we could have won. Now we're in a position where we just have to worry about how we play, and how the team plays. " ________

1:23 p.m.: Offensive lineman Stephen Schilling, on Illinois' goal-line stand that stopped MIchigan four straight plays at the half-yard line:

"Something that sticks out to me, the first month of the season, the offensive line was playing really well," he said. "Our physical play was up, in terms of where it was from last year. I think it took a step back Saturday." ________

1:06 p.m.: Rich Rodriguez, on whether freshman quarterback Tate Forcier has regressed throughout the course of the season:

"I think he's had freshman moments, for lack of a better term," Rodriguez said. "Earlier in the year, he had freshman moments too. They just weren't featured, because we won. Tate is conscientious. He needs to learn to take care of the ball better, but Coach Smith is working with him on that. We don't have a lot of time with these guys, despite what you think." ________ 1:03 p.m.: Rich Rodriguez, on his timetable for being successful with the Wolverines:

"We have to recruit the right guys and develop them once you get them," he said. "The formula is the same as any other college. ... We've got some players. But we've got a lot of guys that need developing as well, and there's a process to get them to a championship level.

"It's not the first time me or my staff has been involved in that process."

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12:15 p.m. Rich Rodriguez discussed Brandon Minor's ongoing high foot/ankle sprain.

Minor carried one time for a two-yard loss against Illinois after carrying 12 times against Penn State the previous week. He's listed as day to day on the team's injury report.

"We were just using him for a couple of plays to get into the end zone," Rodriguez said of Minor's carry against Illinois. "He's our biggest, most physical runner. I didn't know if he could handle the stress of 20-30 plays, but he could handle that one." ________

12:12 p.m. Injury report: The only new injury of note from the Illinois game is defensive lineman Greg Banks' foot sprain. He's listed as day to day.

Rich Rodriguez said Martavious Odoms, Brandon Minor and Floyd Simmons are all still day to day.

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12:10 p.m.: Cornerback Donovan Warren on whether this team has the confidence to turn the season around:

"This isn't last year's team," he said. "This is a new team. We're not going to back down from a challenge." ________

12:02 p.m.: Rich Rodriguez, on the team's goals over the final three games of the regular season:

"A bowl game for the fans and players is important," he said. "A bowl game for the coaches is important for those extra practices. You get a chance to develop those young guys, and it's basically like another spring."

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11:58 a.m.: Rich Rodriguez, on replacing Obi Ezeh in the starting lineup with Kevin Leach:

"Kevin graded out the highest of any player on defense," Rodriguez said. "But Obi is still in the mix. Really, it's a schematic thing." _________

11:49 a.m.: Rich Rodriguez said that he didn't expect any "issues" from the Big Ten regarding offensive tackle Mark Ortmann's run-in with Illinois' Corey Liuget during Saturday's game.

Video appeared to show Ortmann striking Liuget in his mid-section.

"I wasn't aware of that until last night, and I watched all the angles we had and could see," Rodriguez said. "I met with Mark this morning. He was upset that a lot of folks were telling him it was a cheap shot.

"He told me, 'it was an open hand. He was leaning up against me, and I just shoved him away real quick.' Mark is a great young man, and I'm sure with a guy leaning on him. ... There shouldn't be any issues there." _________

11:40 a.m.: Rich Rodriguez, on his program's struggles and what the coaches are doing to address them:

"We're not going back in the office and, you know, 'woe is me.' We're trying as hard as we can to do as well as we can right now - and so are the players," Rodriguez said.

"Our issues did not appear overnight, and will not be solved overnight. I promise you, I'm less patient than any of you or our fans - and we have great fans. Progress is being made. I wish it was faster. It's not going as fast as I would like, trust me."

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11:36 a.m.: Rich Rodriguez, on his team's struggles and inconsistency:

"If we had 12, 13, 15, 15 senior players, you're playing with men who are 22 years old, and not 18-year-old kids, and if you don't think there's a difference, there is."