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Posted on Sat, Mar 27, 2010 : 8:26 p.m.

Kenny Demens, Cam Gordon among standouts at Michigan's first scrimmage

By Dave Birkett

Kenny Demens hasn't played much in his first two seasons at Michigan, but if the sophomore linebacker's first six spring practices are any indication, he'll be hard to keep off the field this fall.

Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez said Demens was one of a handful of standouts at the Wolverines' 125-play controlled scrimmage Saturday, their first of the spring.

"Probably the usual suspects" stood out, Rodriguez said Saturday before the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame banquet. "Defensively, guys that have been impressive the last week or so, Kenny Demens, Cam Gordon, Craig Roh’s had a couple good days. Renaldo Sagesse, we were teasing him, Thursday he had the best practice since I’ve been here. I asked him what he ate for breakfast. I didn’t know if it was Canadian bacon or something, but he’s had a terrific spring. So those are some guys on defense that have looked well."

Rodriguez said senior middle linebacker Obi Ezeh "has had a good spring" after losing his starting job late last season, but acknowledged Demens has opened eyes with his play.

"Oh yeah," he said. "He’s (playing) good enough to push for it, so we’ll see."

On offense, Rodriguez said guards Patrick Omameh and Steve Schilling have had "solid" springs. Michigan has nine more practices left this spring, including the spring game April 17.

"The quarterbacks have been kind of up and down, some good, some we got to get better at," he said. "I think they’re getting more comfortable, but they need a lot of work still."

Rodriguez said Michigan did not suffer any serious injuries Saturday after losing safeties Vlad Emilien and Jared Van Slyke to knee sprains last week.

"It was a typical first scrimmage," he said. "There was some good, some ugly, but there’s a lot of, using a coaching term, a lot of teachable moments, so to speak. So I was pretty pleased with it and I think the guys had fun."

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

OSUswallosall

Sun, Mar 28, 2010 : 5:24 p.m.

thinking on this

Terry Star21

Sun, Mar 28, 2010 : 2:17 p.m.

Again, great article Mr. Birkett... nice coverage on Rich Rod quotes, I'll listen, believe, and trust anything he tells us. No matter what happens at the Spring Practice Game, Michigan Football is the real Winner! What is important - is the BBQ, Mott's and great UM Football action. I was right, Superman killed off the 'OSUbeBetter' character in this topic post... unfortunately like most fantasy characters, he/she returned with a new dorky avatar.... fantasy, just fantasy! UM Spring Practice Game - 76.......OSUbeBetter avatar's - loser.

OSUbeBetter

Sun, Mar 28, 2010 : 1:30 p.m.

Who won the scrimmage by the way? I have michgan as a 2:1 favorite to win the spring game, but i only felt confident enough to slap a Hundie down.

OSUbeBetter

Sun, Mar 28, 2010 : 11:12 a.m.

remember Michigan beat IU in a last second heroic effort by "Baby hands Forcier" the same year they took on the extra practice time. It could be argued that Michigan should forfeit that win due to the unfair advantage they took on over the previous summer.

rightmind250

Sun, Mar 28, 2010 : 11:10 a.m.

RRisaHilljack, IU had a first year coach last year. Putting in a new system. They weren't his recruits, and oh yeah the previous coach left the cubbard bare. Watch out IU just might roll up on UM.

NoBowl4Blue

Sun, Mar 28, 2010 : 5:26 a.m.

I'm sure secretly if you were to ask coach the players have had a good winter practicing as well.....ooops that's illegal extra practice, Rich Rod the king of no bowls or winning seasons wouldn't do that. Maybe with such improvement Rich Rod can notch his first victory of the year at the Spring game.