notebook: Denard Robinson ready to go, but RBs a question for Michigan football team

By Pete Bigelow AnnArbor.com

Posted on Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 1:30 p.m.

Denard Robinson is fine.

It’s the Michigan football team’s running backs that Rich Rodriguez is worried about entering the Big Ten portion of the schedule.

Michael Shaw and Fitzgerald Toussaint are both listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game at Indiana (3:30 p.m., ESPNU) on the Wolverines’ weekly injury report.

Michigan sophomore running back Fitzgerald Toussaint is unlikely to play Saturday against Indiana.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Should they be unable to play, Rodriguez said a combination of Vincent Smith, Michael Cox, Stephen Hopkins and possibly even Teric Jones would handle rushing duties against the Hoosiers.

“They took all the reps yesterday, and did a nice job,” Rodriguez said.

Shaw sustained a knee injury against Bowling Green on Saturday and the oft-injured Toussaint hurt his shoulder.

As for Robinson, the team’s sophomore quarterback and Heisman Trophy hopeful, Rodriguez said he fully participated in Tuesday’s practice and has no lingering concerns from the left knee “tweak” he suffered in the first quarter against Bowling Green last Saturday.

“He did everything in practice yesterday,” Rodriguez said. “There will be no restrictions whatsoever.”

Linebackers Carvin Johnson (MCL) and Brandon Herron (ankle) also may play against Indiana.

Concussions threaten career

Safety Mike Williams sustained a concussion in practice following Michigan’s game against Notre Dame, and hasn’t played since.

Williams has suffered multiple concussions through his career, and the cumulative effect could threaten his career.

“The doctors are having conversations with Mike, because he’s had so many of them, regarding his future and what lies ahead for him,” Rodriguez said. “Certainly, it’s a concern for everyone involved and we’ll see where those take us.”

Kicking situation solidified

Rich Rodriguez doesn’t know whether Seth Broekhuizen or Brendan Gibbons will kick against Indiana. He does know, for better or worse, the pair of Michigan kickers are his options this season.

After spending two weeks holding tryouts, auditioning kickers and even discovering hopeful kickers in the Schembechler Hall parking lot, Rodriguez is sticking with the current Wolverines.

“We had some good gentlemen try out, but nobody has shown anything that puts them above the guys on the team just yet,” he said. “We’re getting deep into the season, so we won’t have more tryouts going forward.”

He said seven or eight prospects received auditions, and that he’d revisit the Wolverines’ options in the spring.