Shaw, Fitz "doubtful" Saturday; Carvin, Herron expected back
Per RR's presser.
Rivals says Shaw and Fitz (shoulder) are likely out for Saturday's game but Carvin Johnson and Herron could see action. And Denard is good to go.
"We'll use all the other guys, certainly Vincent Smith, Michael Cox, Stephen Hopkins and Teric Jones ... they all played Saturday, and they took all the reps yesterday and did a nice job," Rodriguez said.
September 29th, 2010 at 12:38 PM ^
Well, he did essentially replace Carlos Brown on the roster....
September 29th, 2010 at 4:06 PM ^
Seriously, and this time it's a different injury. What in the world...
September 29th, 2010 at 11:03 PM ^
Are we ever going to see this guy at full game speed? Hope he heals up soon.
September 29th, 2010 at 12:43 PM ^
I think it's a blessing in disguise. Let Cox et al have their shot (against a porous defense). I like Shaw fine. But I don't think he's The Man. He still has a lot of East/West traits. So let's see what the other fellas can do before we get to the meat of the schedule.
September 29th, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
Eh, it sucks that Shaw is out, but does it really matter all that much? Denard is going to run for 300+ yards either way.
September 29th, 2010 at 12:47 PM ^
who continues to prove his toughness and quickness on Saturday. I really like the guy and how hard he plays the game.
Time for Cox to stand up, penetrate the holes with authority and speed! ..... I know, I know ... "that's what she ....
September 29th, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^
I know Fitz gets quite a bit of flack with inuries, and rightfully so, but it seems Shaw in his three seasons has been even more injury prone.
September 29th, 2010 at 12:49 PM ^
and ready to go in!
Seriously tho, we should remember the word amongst all of the tailbacks was that Cox clearly has the most physical ability/upside.
Maybe this is his big chance.
September 29th, 2010 at 12:50 PM ^
Vincent Smith will do just fine. Compliment him with Cox and Hopkins and we'll be on our way to victory. Runningback is one of our deepest positions on the team with 5 guys (Shaw, Smith, Fitz, Cox, and Hopkins) who can make a difference and even a guy like Teric Jones got some little time last week. I'm not worried at all with these latest injuries. And also, I'm very glad seeing Carvin Johnson ready to play again. Go Blue.
September 29th, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^
Hopefully/probably Cox and Smith will be able to handle Indiana just fine since all I've been hearing is that IU's defense is crippled. Not to mention this game should be a nice wake up call for IU since they've pretty much just played cupcake teams thus far and won't be used to ranked-FBS-team type play
September 29th, 2010 at 1:00 PM ^
This is definitely a big loss for the offense but I think that our rotation has the strength to pick up the slack. I feel that facing a QB like Chappell is dangerous for our defense. However, I don't expect the RB's to have to pass block that much. With the combination of Smith and Cox, plus the running capabilities of Denard-a-tron, I don't see us putting up big passing numbers. I think this will be a ball control, long-drive type of game. Once we get the crowd out of it, it's over. Long, demoralizing drives are crowd killers.
September 29th, 2010 at 1:02 PM ^
AAAAAAAAARGH
September 29th, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^
September 29th, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^
Cox will run for over 100 yards on Saturday.
September 29th, 2010 at 1:20 PM ^
Gonna need these RBs for the MSU game when Greg Jones is just going to be shadowing Denard all day...
September 29th, 2010 at 1:28 PM ^
Greg Jones is just going to be trailing Denard all day.
Fixed it for you.
September 29th, 2010 at 1:37 PM ^
Te'o did? Denard put up 502 yds on him and his pals.
September 29th, 2010 at 2:50 PM ^
Against us
September 30th, 2010 at 2:43 PM ^
that if Te'o wasn't great Denard would have put up more yards? 600, 700? My point is Denard will be fine against Greg Jones, just like he was fine against Te'o.
September 29th, 2010 at 2:23 PM ^
Omameh will take care of Jones like he did Te'o or Lewan will just make him a donkey.
September 29th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^
But have you forgotten the massive holes our O line has been makng ? Shaw being out for 1 game is far less tragic than losng say ... Molk, or Lewan up front. Look for Cox & Smith to do a great job flling in.
I see Michigan rolling up big numbers on the ground against IU. IU is 93rd in rush defense and this is against teams with a combined record of 1 - 11.
Go Blue !
September 29th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^
Well we won @ Notre Dame with no production from the tailbacks...and this isn't a defense the caliber of ND, so I think this'll be a good opportunity for our guys to get some experience
That being said, I'd love to see Fitz actually get some reps and be healthy sometime, and we'll definitely need Shaw against MSU
September 29th, 2010 at 1:42 PM ^
...I'm just excited to see a back step up that isn't made of glass. Last year with Minor and Brown now this year with Fitz and Shaw. Not counting the season ender with Smith last year but this is ridiculous.
September 29th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^
...hold onto the damn ball, please!
September 29th, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^
Getting Carvin and Herron back is a much bigger deal than losing Shaw/Fitz for a week.
Cox/Hopkins >>>>> Simmons/Leach
September 29th, 2010 at 1:49 PM ^
Herron seems like the biggest news to me. The defense (obvs minus the two Cam errors) was really effective against ND when he was in and Roh could move down to end. IU seems like they might have a hard time dealing with this if we can get some pressure rushing four dropping 7.
I think we are going to run all over them whoever is standing next to Denard.
September 29th, 2010 at 1:51 PM ^
Given that Thomas Gordon has played pretty well in Carvin Johnson's absence...is there any way we could get both these guys out on the field at the same time? Can Carvin really be slower than Kovacs or Cam Gordon?
September 29th, 2010 at 2:48 PM ^
Yes. Amazing to think he was recruited as a WR.
September 29th, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^
what would you say our actual depth chart is at RB this week? Hopkins or Cox as the first man in behind Smith?
September 29th, 2010 at 1:52 PM ^
sorry, computer glitch on post
September 29th, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
Shaw and Fitz are not the most important part of the injury report - its Johnson and Herron. With a starter safety and a decent LB back in the defense - we can allow Prison-Abs and Death-Roh some rest and flexibility. Carvin had started well before getting injured and Herron was playing well enough at LB spot for Death-Roh to shift to the line as a DE and pressure the QB.
The key in Indiana game is to defend the short pass and hurry the QB. Return of Johnson and Herron will help us immensely in that.
September 29th, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
Denard being cleared to play for the Big-Ten opener is on the front page of ESPN.com... Never thought that would be the case before the season started when MSM was treating Michigan like we were a little brother or something. [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5629576]
September 29th, 2010 at 2:03 PM ^
RR said he thought Shaw was "fine" after the game on Saturday. IU has a pathetic run defense so I'm guessing they are just being safe and making sure he's full speed for MSU. Looking forward to seeing what Cox can do in non-garbage PT.
As for Fitz, I don't expected we will ever saw him really healthy in his career at this point. Before this guy ever played in a real game, he fractured his shoulder, sprained his knee and now on the only play he has ever been tackled on in a game, has another shoulder injury that's going to keep him out. Not sure quicker evidence has ever accumulated on a player not having the durability to play college football.
September 29th, 2010 at 4:22 PM ^
Your an idiot
September 29th, 2010 at 2:10 PM ^
Im sure someone between the 5 backs out there can make up the 9-12 carries and 50 or so yards we'll miss from shaw. I'd say if resting Mike gets him ready to go for MSU, that's fine, but his absence at this point hardly changes the game plan. I think Denard goes for 150+ in the first half. 42-28 M.
September 29th, 2010 at 2:15 PM ^
after seeing him taken off the field on the cart. So much for my medical hunches. It would be nice to have the recuperative powers of an 18-yr old again... especially for my liver.
September 29th, 2010 at 2:41 PM ^
Maybe this week is the week they unveil some of the slots getting a few reps also in the backfield ala Darius Reynaud and Tavon Austin in WVU?
September 29th, 2010 at 3:03 PM ^
Grady perhaps? I would be ok with that and I would also be ok if RichRod kept it in the bag for the MSU game.
September 29th, 2010 at 3:38 PM ^
There were rumors of Grady taking some snaps at RB in that WVU motion from slot turn into a SB kinda way in camp.
I think we will see it this weekend if Smith and Cox/Hopkins combo isn't working.
September 29th, 2010 at 2:41 PM ^
If he has a big game do you think Melanie Collins will grab Cox for a post game interview?
September 29th, 2010 at 3:14 PM ^
Yikes.
I like Hopkins a lot but running the zone read with a first-year player at RB makes me nervous.
It's easy to f*ck up the exchange when one of the guys hasn't been practicing it for very long.
Hopefully they use him mostly at midfield and on the goal line and not so much when we're deep in our own territory, as well as on designed HB runs.
September 29th, 2010 at 3:12 PM ^
Let's not overlook the good news...Carvin Johnson and Herron coming back. I'll take a 2 for 2 trade offense for defense (as long as it's not Denard or Molk). Oh, and obviously no injury is a good thing, so let's just get everyone healthy!!!!
September 29th, 2010 at 3:55 PM ^
Healthy Cox can go all day!
He's always left us satisfied and smiling
That's what she said
September 29th, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
Rich rodriguez give's IU alot of Cox.
September 29th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
Am very excited to see alot of smith.