Forcier to start at QB for Michigan

ANN ARBOR - Despite speculation that a shoulder injury would keep Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier out of Saturday's game at Michigan State, Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday that his true freshman will be the starter against Michigan State.

A 6-foot-1, 188-pounder from San Diego, Fircuer has completed 54 of 87 passes for 671 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

"I don't know if it's a bruise or a little sore shoulder," Rodriguez said during his weekly press conference. "He may not be throwing as much (at practice) - the sore shoulder is his (throwing) shoulder - so he'll do some handoffs and some of the shorter throws, but probably won't do any deep throws."

Trainers told Rodriguez that Forcier will be fine to practice today and start Saturday. The coach wasn't sure when the injury to his quarterback's right shoulder occurred last week against Indiana but speculated it might have been on one of his two fourth-quarter TD drive.

Forcier remained in the game and completed a 26-yard touchdown pass on third-and-7 with 2:26 seconds left for a 36-33 victory.

"Ideally, we would like to have our running backs to have the vast majority of carries," Rodriguez said regarding Forcier and backup quarterback Denard Robinson's 21 carries against Indiana. "In our system, it may be a situation where the quarterback has to keep it based on how they're playing us. ... What Tate's done is a good job of recognizing when we need a first down. Or when we need a touchdown, he's got it."

If Rodriguez is wrong and Forcier can't play, Robinson would be a candidate to start. The explosive true freshman has 179 yards rushing yards and three touchdowns this season.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Like MSU, the Wolverines have struggled against opponents' quarterbacks this season.

Michigan has allowed an average of 243.8 yards passing and is eighth in the Big Ten. The miscues may lead to a personnel change on Saturday, Rodriguez said.

"Donovan (Warren) has been playing very well, but the other cornerback position is wide open. ... I couldn't tell you who's gonna be the starter Saturday," he said.

Sophomore cornerback Boubacar Cissoko has started all four games opposite Warren, tallying 16 tackles, two pas break ups and an interception.

CLOSED FOR BUSINESS: In a departure from the normal weekly availability, U-M's practice Wednesday will be closed to the media.

"We're closing ranks a little bit more this week. There's no Wednesday practice for ya'll, sorry," Rodriguez told reporters Monday. "It's not that I don't trust anybody out there, but (U-M and MSU) are just so close to each other.

"It's just coaches being paranoid, I guess. We went, 'Hey, it's just us now ... there might (have been) someone there who snuck in from Lansing."