I'm a few hours removed from Michigan's first RichRod-run Spring game (one that was open to the public anyways), and the team is already looking much-improved over last year. The format was both interesting and bizarre, but RichRod did a good job keeping the pace going so as to not cause fans to lose interest. It was full-contact hitting aside from big red numbers on the jerseys of the two quarterbacks, and in Tate Forcier's case the red number means, "If you hurt me there's 50,000 fans that will run down here and kill you."
The rules for the Spring Game were the following: Coach Rod started with the special teams units, with light contact and some blocked kicks. For the actual scrimmage, there wasn't any limit to the number of plays or types of drills. It was called in a game-type situation, with actual referees and all the proper enforcements of rules and on-the-fly playcalling, as well as some specific "end-game" scenarios such as down by 8 with a few minutes to go. The offense started either from the 2-yard line or about the 40, and played normal drives, and the defense got points if they were able to get a stop, or got fumble recoveries or pass break-ups.
About 50,000 fans turned out which is refreshing after a 3-9 season. So perhaps in another year or two we could outdo Alabama's famous Spring Game attendence boasts. Most of the credit goes to Rodriguez for being sort of the promoter to get people to come to this event, and people seem to be responding to his efforts to pump up the enthusiasm for the experiences of Michigan games rather than the just the on-the-field action.
Tate Forcier is as quick as you can imagine, throws lasers like Chad Henne, and has incredible awareness in the pocket. He appears to be like a faster and more coachable version of Ryan Mallett. He fakes the ball brilliantly, scampers around when the defense is closing around him, and for the whole afternoon he didn't get sacked for a loss or make poor throws. He did fumble once, and overthrew guys several times, but compared to Steven Threet it's a world of improvement.
Highlights of Michigan Spring Game as I see it:
-- David Cone pulled off a miracle Threet-esque QB run for about 40 yards early on. Woo CONER
-- Forcier throws insanely hard, because guys were dropping balls left and right. And he runs right at the defense and will likely not shy away from taking some hits come Fall.
-- Several key players did not play, including Kevin Koger, Michael Shaw, Jonas Mouton and of course, Sheridammit. I imagine the offense to be in good shape when those guys are healthy.
-- Roy Roundtree caught a total beauty of a pass/bomb from Forcier in the center of the field and streaked down to the endzone. Finally Michigan has a deep passing game again.
-- Forcier did not run any option plays, but did do the zone read play a lot, and already looks like he knows when to keep and when to handoff unlike Threet.
-- Jimmy Potempa gets bonus points for scoring the most TDs of any running back...amidst taking some big hits and not going down. Go Michigan Rudy!
-- I'm concerned about Michigan's safeties. One freshman safety was totally faked out by Carlos Brown on the left sideline, and could not catch him if his life depended on it. I recall now it was Vlad Emelion
-- Most encouraging play of the day came when Forcier snapped the ball from about the 10, scampered around, found no one open, pulled the ball in and charged at the goal line, and dove across the plane while taking a big hit for a score. That's what we want to see come Fall.
-- Brandon Minor made no noteworthy runs, so I expect them to use Carlos Brown, Shaw, and the quick Freshman Vincent Smith (MacGuffie's replacement, oddly also wearing #2) regularly, because they are all really good.
-- Michigan's two kickers seem adequate for replacing K.C. Lopata. I don't remember their names because they're really weird.
Basically, if Forcier chugs along through summer workouts, earns the starting job over Denard Robinson, and doesn't get hurt, I think Michigan is in for a good season.
Alarming Sidenote Unrelated to acutal Football: I am hoping this was just because the stadium wasn't completely full and the skyboxes weren't encased in protective wrapping, but, when the stadium announcer was recounting plays on the field, there was this really awful and distracting echo that was clanging off of the opposite skybox. He would say something, and then you'd hear it clear as a bell rebound off the East skybox structure. I was not a fan. I hope to God that they fix that before the season or else Bill Martin is going to have an angry mob at his doorstep. Moreso.
