Tate = Wingless

[michiganfancory]

http://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/PracticeTwitterDump_A50D/tateforciernowings.jpg

MGoBlog has all the details. Apparently, Tate hasn't earned his wings yet, although there are a few others who havent also. However, none of these others are starters or big name players. Rodriguez stated when asked, that they need to improve their conditioning before sept. 4th if they want to wear the winged helmet. RR, I like it.

On a more positive note, DR and DG both played very well today. Could DG's redshirt be burned by the end of the season? I hope not.

[blue in pennsylvania]

I love it!! In order to be a true team, everyone must pay the same price. If TF wants to be a part of Michigan football then he better get his act together and do what these coaches want or his soph. season will not be fun. I for one want TF on the field making plays but HE has to want it more than anyone. This is exactly what the Michigan players need, a good kick in the pants. Now let the osu dummies chime in and say that RR is losing the team and without TF Michigan will struggle.

[tpilews]

Tate's wearing a regular helmet with wings during the countdown to kickoff from today.

Nothing to see here, move along.....

[michiganfancory]

That was because they only showed clips of him from previous days. Notice he's never wearing shoulder pads but the other qbs are in some of the highlights.

[FLex500]

http://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/PracticeTwitterDump_A50D/tateforciernowings.jpg

MGoBlog has all the details. Apparently, Tate hasn't earned his wings yet, although there are a few others who havent also. However, none of these others are starters or big name players. Rodriguez stated when asked, that they need to improve their conditioning before sept. 4th if they want to wear the winged helmet. RR, I like it.

On a more positive note, DR and DG both played very well today. Could DG's redshirt be burned by the end of the season? I hope not.



Word on the street is DR has been pure ownage so far in the first week....do I continue to annoy the hell out of everyone and say again.....I TOLD YOU SO!

[rickyleach]

Word on the street is DR has been pure ownage so far in the first week....do I continue to annoy the hell out of everyone and say again.....I TOLD YOU SO!

flex i think its great , i need to tell ya i didnt think drob had it in him ,but i guess he does.

[FLex500]

flex i think its great , i need to tell ya i didnt think drob had it in him ,but i guess he does.

I'm half kidding anyway...Tate def did some damage last year and although undersized he is a good athlete and I would not be shocked if he ended up the starter. I think what sold me on DR is we know how fast he is but I saw him throw and was amazed at how strong his arm was. The problem is I don't know how he is between the ears and all I heard last year was he just couldn't get the offense down...which judging by his attempts to read coverage is believeable.

Make no mistakes some teams will stop DR cold and UM won't have an answer because UM doesn't have the overall talent to overcome a very good defense (IMO). But I believe if UM sticks with DR they can win 7 or 8 games...maybe more with a little luck and others stepping up.

[Sten Carlson]

To me, it's a "good problem to have" -- if DR is getting stuffed, bring in Tate and give them a totally different look. I don't mind the 2 QB system when they're both so young. Nut, et. al. will argue this point, but I think that right now the team needs to keep the other DC off balance, and BOTH QBs bring a different skill set -- at least based on last season. I have said it before, and I'll say it again, I think that RR will have packages and plays in which BOTH TF and DR are in the backfield at the same time. DR might flex out, then turn back for a jet sweep, the possibilities are almost endless and RR is JUST THE GUY to come up with them. I cannot stress enough that DR is going to be one of the Michigan GREATS before he leaves, but I also think that TF has the potential to be as well. With two such dynamic players, in the same class, you MUST find ways to use their talents in conjunction, not only in separation.

[Blue In Ohio]

I love the idea. Sounds like it could be a great new tradition.

[tpilews]

I'm half kidding anyway...Tate def did some damage last year and although undersized he is a good athlete and I would not be shocked if he ended up the starter. I think what sold me on DR is we know how fast he is but I saw him throw and was amazed at how strong his arm was. The problem is I don't know how he is between the ears and all I heard last year was he just couldn't get the offense down...which judging by his attempts to read coverage is believeable.

Make no mistakes some teams will stop DR cold and UM won't have an answer because UM doesn't have the overall talent to overcome a very good defense (IMO). But I believe if UM sticks with DR they can win 7 or 8 games...maybe more with a little luck and others stepping up.

The latest quotes from RR all point to Denard being the starter. He made the comparison to Pat White in that Denard is faster than him, but isn't playing faster than Pat at this stage. All that's just repetition and familiarity with the offense. I think either way, with Denard or Tate, UM could win 8 games this year. They both bring a completely different game to the table. It really should be quite difficult for opponents to prepare for both guys.

[1OSUNUT]

I think what RR did was great - you should earn the privledge to wear the helmet. But with that being said - based on what you guys know about Tate and his ego/attitude, do you think he will be a team player if he is not the starter ? From the outside looking in he appears to be the kind of guy that will pout and become more a problem then a solution. IMO

[michiganfancory]

To be honest nut, yeah I can see that. But I am impressed that he hasn't thrown a tantrum yet. With Woolfolk calling him out, and RR supporting Woolfolk, I fully expected Tate to throw a fit. Maybe this is a kick in the ass and he realizes if he wants to play D1 football, he needs to improve.

[Blue In Ohio]

I think what RR did was great - you should earn the privledge to wear the helmet. But with that being said - based on what you guys know about Tate and his ego/attitude, do you think he will be a team player if he is not the starter ? From the outside looking in he appears to be the kind of guy that will pout and become more a problem then a solution. IMO

I think Tate will do some growing up and really the best thing for this team is to not give anyone special treatment even if that is the best qb on our team. When the top talent gets special treatment it really drops the incentive for the meat of the team to bring everything they have. If Tate's ego is a problem I think he will get over himself. Atleast we have a few other qb's that are a fit for this offense. So much better off than the last two years.

[1OSUNUT]

It would just suck to burn a year for Gardner if you don't really have to. How Tate acts during practice might be very different then how he acts when he is not playing in games. I just don't see Tate taking a benching very well - but I could be wrong. He seemed to have a problem in a few games last year when DR was on the field late in the game. In a perfect world you would like to have Tate and DR stay healthy and play QB this year - and save Gardner for as many years as possible. I think Tate will be a ticking time bomb if he splits time evenly with DR or worse yet in his eyes - takes less snaps. He comes across as a very ME kind of person and I think some of his teamates are seeing that - and from what it sounds like DR is a very TEAM kind of person.

[Revelli]

I think what RR did was great - you should earn the privledge to wear the helmet. But with that being said - based on what you guys know about Tate and his ego/attitude, do you think he will be a team player if he is not the starter ? From the outside looking in he appears to be the kind of guy that will pout and become more a problem then a solution. IMO

For once we agree. From RR's comments though, he will not be the kind of guy that will pout, etc... I know that could just be coach speak, but I hope it's the truth. If Tate works his arse off than Michigan's offense could be very lethal this year with both he and DR improving. Now if we could just do something about that D... lol

[bighousemike84]

I expect that Tate Forcier will do anything to help his team win but I hope that he doesnt lose sight of the hard work that has gotten him this far. I really like the kid and I think he has a little something special so I dont want to see that ruined because of losing the starting spot.

So the question becomes; Will Forcier saty at Michigan as a backup? First of all you have to remember that this kid chose Michigan over every other school who offered him(a pretty big list) and that was even after Michigan had gained commitments from 2 other Quarterbacks. When it was obvious that Michigan was done looking at QB and Tate was left standing alone he still maintained a desire to play for Michigan. Remember also, the day that he and Robinson signed their LOI's the questions were flying about how Tate would handle competing against Robinson to which Forcier simply said that he welcomed any competition, he knew that Robinson was a skilled and fast QB that might fit RR's system better but he felt that he had something to offer that made him worthy to play for Michigan.

This kid has loved Michigan for a long time and it is hard to imagine that over the course of the last 8 months Tate has lost all love he ever had for the University of Michigan but I suppose if I had any concern about Forcier it would be that he was so overly trained as a young man. Tate has been groomed from a very early age to be a superstar Quarterback, he has been raised to be Tate the Great and nothing else will satisfy. Now think of how many times you have seen a similar case with a similar scenario go wrong. Tate has been bred to succeed and when you dont it puts a lot of pressure on that person to fix the problem. Sometimes the most competitive players are the worst kind because they just cant handle a loss.

Its hard to say what exactly is going on with Tate Forcier because most of what I read is just a lot of rumor and specualtion brought about by comments made and a few pictures or video from the 4th day of fall practice. Tate Forcier is a good QB and he has abilities that can benefit Michigan but it isnt something that is just given to anyone to be the starting QB at Michigan. If it takes riding the pine for a few games to convince a person that he needs to step up his game then sometimes that what it takes. Hell, if Tom Brady doesnt get to play even when everyone in the world knows he is better than Drew Henson, then what makes any other Michigan QB so special to think that they dont have to earn there spot on the field?

[MAIZEandBLUEsuedeshoes]

I think it may be self-esteem a bit. I mean, isn't this what Tate's been "training his whole life for"? Maybe he really is taking this whole competition thing a little hard. Who knows. I think reality is setting in for him. I don't think it's over for him either---I hope he thinks the same. He still has a shot IMO, cuz I haven't seen anything yet this year game wise---real games. Tate can have a very good impact on this team---and you know he knows it. lol.

It's just as interesting to me to see who finishes the game, as it is to see who starts. Both QB's had a wake-up call last year and had to learn a ton from their mistakes.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear the good things about DR. He definitely could be the one---not just starting for the first game, but with the most reps/starts in games.

I can't wait.

[tpilews]

Word from insiders who have been at practice say that Tate was one of 5 or 6 guys that showed up to fall camp out of shape. He also said that Tate has been working really hard and running a lot. "He is running, he is very enthusiastic and he is throwing the football pretty doggone well." Good news there.