Tate Forcier suffered a concussion, still Michigan's starting quarterback
Tate Forcier suffered a minor concussion one series before he was benched in Saturday’s loss to Iowa, but Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said the injury didn’t impact his decision to play backup Denard Robinson on the Wolverines’ final two drives.
"I didn’t know about it until after the game," Rodriguez said Monday. "I was putting Denard in anyway."
Robinson ran for a touchdown on his first series, then threw a game-ending interception with 46 seconds to play.
Rodriguez said Forcier remains his starting quarterback, and the true freshmen will be on the field Saturday against Delaware State if he’s medically cleared to play.
Forcier still suffered from headaches Monday morning, Rodriguez said.
As he left the locker room Saturday, a member of Michigan’s traveling party said Forcier had “a medical issue.” Michigan’s media relations department later refuted that claim.
Forcier also has been dealing with a sore throwing shoulder he injured on a touchdown run in the fourth quarter of Michigan’s Big Ten opener against Indiana. He’s been limited in practice the last two weeks, and Rodriguez said lack of practice time has stunted his growth as a player.
Forcier has four turnovers in Michigan’s last three games after throwing just one interception (on a receiver misread) during the Wolverines’ 3-0 start.
He has not been made available to the media since after the Michigan State game.
“Sometimes you're a young athlete and you’re pretty talented, you want to make every play,” Rodriguez said. “When you have success doing it, you want to continue to do that even though sometimes better judgment is to not try to create something that is not there.
“But you don't want to limit it. Tate and Denard both, part of their outstanding ability is their ability to create. So you don't want to limit it too much, yet at the same time you have to try to do it within the structure of the offense. That is kind of unique.”
Forcier completed 8 of 19 passes for 94 yards and ran eight times for 26 yards against Iowa. He also threw an interception and lost a fumble.
Robinson had nine carries for 49 yards and was 3 of 4 passing. Most of his plays this year have been designed runs.
“With both those guys, you hope every week that you can not only get them to understand what we’re doing offensively, but understand how teams are defending us," Rodriguez said. "That's the thing that you get in with the season, every defensive gameplan you go against is a little bit different ... so you have to balance that time on OK, this is what we do, this is what they’re doing.
“I get excited when I think about how much they’ll progress when they have some time in spring practice and all that to go with it.”
Rodriguez said Forcier must practice by Wednesday in order to play this weekend.
"Again, I don’t know how severe it is," he said. "After the game you could tell he had a headache, the towel over his head and all that. But I don’t know. Until I see him today or the trainers see him for another 24 hours, we’ll know.”
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.
Comments
KeepingItReal
Tue, Oct 13, 2009 : 8:34 a.m.
To anyone watching the game on Saturday, it was obvious that Tater was hurt. However, the extent of his injury was not immediately available to us viewers so therefore we are left to make all kinds of assumptions as to what happened. If anyone watched 60 minutes last Sunday, they did a special on concussions and brain injuries and Tater is very vulunerable to such in the future now that he has suffered one, the effects of whihc may not show up for years to come. I hope that RR and his staff give Tater this weekend off and let Shoelace get some real game time under his belt. Tater can rest up, let his body heal and Shoelace can gain valuable experience which is going to be needed before the end of this season. M can play its second string squad and still beat Delaware State. IT's a win win for everyone except Delaware.
pionguy
Tue, Oct 13, 2009 : 12:39 a.m.
The concussion should give pause to everyone involved. Subsequent injury to the same brain regions can result in symptoms far more severe than those that arise from similar impacts to uninjured areas. Forcier, and those he depends on should talk to pro players who've sustained these injuries, and seriously consider the path he wants to take.
azwolverine
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 10:32 p.m.
I just watched the 4th qtr of the Iowa-UM game again on ESPN-U. In fairness, I didn't see the blowup between RR and Tate that some are talking about. I saw RR getting heated and into the game, but did not see a confrontation. Maybe it's because I'm viewing it with less adrenaline flowing on my part this time around. Also, when Tate got pulled back off the field before the final drive, I didn't see him looking PO'd, imo anyway. Also, an area of big improvement this week was the O-line. They were terrible against MSU but looked pretty good against Iowa. Hopefully Molk will be back at full strength again soon to strengthen it even further. We do need to clean up the turnovers and play stronger on defense to reach a championship level, though. The reason that stuff worries me is that it's recurring. I see USC, Fla, etc playing tight D (and within their second year with their new coaches) and wonder why we're not. I know we're young at spots (who's not?), but we've got some solid veterans, most notably Graham that aren't going to be here next season. Will we then get better or worse? We'll see. The offense appears to be heading in the right direction, I just don't want Michigan to turn into a Texas Tech that scores a ton of points but can't stop anyone or beat the big boys. I hope the next six weeks prove that concern unfounded on my part. Some people say we will overtake OSU NEXT year...call me impatient but I want it to happen THIS year.
needed perspective
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 9:24 p.m.
to those who have never played on the field at the Big House or any college field: TV is TV...what you saw on the sideline was a direct, open and honest communication between a coach and player. Unless you have been there, you can never undertand the depth of the mutual respect, trust and love between a coach and a quaterback--on a battlefield, comunication has to be direct, immediate and honest...even if it is in front of an audience of millions on a national stage. NO diffferent than a father/son relationship. Tate was not at his best---the nation knew it; now all understand why. Time to quit judging...and cheering for some unbelievable young players!
frozenhotchocolate
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 8:25 p.m.
It's Delaware St., let Robinson start, rest Tate for Penn St. How did they not know it was a concussion? Nuckleheads!!!
bigblueforever1x
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 8:03 p.m.
Anyone who does not think that coach Rodriquez "humilated and embarrased" Tate Forcier and the entire Michigan football program based on the way that he treated Tate on "National TV" after his last series, must have been watching a different game then I was. It was absolutely ridiculous and an utter humiliation to the University the way he was in that young mans face and grabbing him by the arm,etc in front of all his co-players, especially when we learn afterwords that Tate had a concussion. Rodriquez's style of football isn't working, period. He's the one calling these bothched plays. He is just a bully and is more interested in his own self-interest then he is in teaching these young players so that they learn from their mistakes. He has no place in Michigan football and needs to get the heck out of town!! I feel so sorry for the players who are having to put up with this type of treatment.
InsideTheHall
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 5:36 p.m.
Lets be clear here. The Michigan medical staff is never over ruled. If a player can or cannot go is the decision of the medical staff NOT the coach. The comment about burning out McGuffie is 100% bogus.
DwightSchrute
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 4:59 p.m.
Classic example of the difference between Lloyd and RR. Lloyd would not have have talked specifically about Tate's head injury, and would not have acknowledged specific questions from media. He would've kept it bland and close to the vest. Which way is better in letting info out? Don't know. Too early to tell.
saginaw
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 4:05 p.m.
Do we really believe Richard on this one? Very Fishy.
raddes
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 3:58 p.m.
Way to go Birkett! You spoiled the next 40 comments by all of our concerned UM fans, I mean, MSU/OSU posers by giving away the reason for the benching. Forcier wasn't playing well to begin with and then suffered a concussion. My God, what are our "closeted fans" going to chat about now? Here, let me add a few topics: Hey MSU fan, did you notice UM is even with you in ESPN's weekly power rankings even after the loss! Dantonio should be fired over this. And OSU fan, here are some quotes from yahoo: "Buckeyes' big win a bogus result" and "That's just it: Pryor is more of a runner - and probably always will be. That's why there is reason to wonder if Pryor ever will develop into a great quarterback who's capable of leading the Buckeyes to a national title." Tressel should be fired for being a poor recruiter. I can apreciate the concern over UM and RR--who wouldn't be, but maybe your opinions are needed elswhere. Go Blue
Deb Anderson
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 3:57 p.m.
RR is the coach so it's time to let go. He's a great coach, he's got a good team, so go deplore someone like OSU and give it a rest. Go Blue!
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 3:38 p.m.
"to be publicly humilated and embarrased by the leader of the team, the coach is deplorable." Kind of like Bo grabbing Rick Leach by the face mask to scream at him hey?
Lehigh
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 3:30 p.m.
Say what? Feel free to not like Rodriguez, but I don't see how he embarrassed or humiliated Forcier or anyone else. Rodriguez is passionate on the sidelines -- or are you forgetting how tightly he hugged Forcier after the Notre Dame game?
Salinegoblue
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 3:05 p.m.
It is disheartening to think that Tate was hurting going into the game, to get a concussion, to be publicly humilated and embarrased by the leader of the team, the coach is deplorable. RR just can't take the pressure, he lacks the class and dignity to be a U of M football coach.