And to answer that question: No, he will be playing! Thought I would have a little fun with a headline as I had 
someone emailing me all week trying to break a story that he was not going to play. Rest assured, Denard is fine and I am joking with the headline. All in good fun, my friends.
Let's start this weeks Friday column off with a bang for once and dig right into predictions for Saturday:
- Michigan 41 Minnesota 14
- Denard: 17-25 225 yards, 1 TD, 15 rushes for 200 yards 3 TD
- Vince Smith: 8 carries for 70 yards, 3 catches for 35
- Fitz Toussaint: 12 carries for 65 yards
- Thomas Rawls: 4 carries for 15 yards
- JR Hemmingway: 4 catches for 115 yards: Look for some deep in routes and posts to JR.
- Roy Roundtree: 3 catches for 70 yards (mayyybe a 50+ yarder in there on the old 1-man play action pass)
- Jeremy Gallon: 4 catches for 50 yards
- Kevin Koger: 3 catches for 25 yards
Reminder: Tomorrow is a MAIZE OUT - don't wear blue to the game dummy!
What does is all mean? It means this, my conversation just now with a practice observer said that this is the week it finally comes together for the Michigan offense. These offensive coaches plan to call fewer pass plays down the sideline and stick to crossing routes, comebacks, slants and posts. The deep ball prayer will most likely not be seen vs. Minnesota and is seemingly on the back burner going forward unless the coaches have a mismatch vs Hemmingway.
Vote now: Who do you hate most? Funny option in there . . .
There were apparently hours of meetings this past Sunday between Hoke and offensive coaching personnel on what the strategy would be going into the Big Ten season on offense. The coaches left the meetings with the following items as their main takeaways:
* Keep Denard healthy by limiting his runs to 15/game
* Use the option as a key component of the offense at times (as was the plan in preseason, reported here first) while also bringing in multiple variations to what can be accomplished. The team ran several plays in practice this week that tinkered with Denard throwing from an option look, pitching to a WR on reverse and also shoveling it to a TE/FB dragging with the play.
* K.I.S.S. passing. Keep it simple stupid. (the play calling, not the players) Denard is a "get in a groove" type of QB who thrives off of success in the passing game. The plan in the 1st quarter is to continue to run him down the defenses throat to force teams to clog the middle, thus opening up comeback routes and screen passes, both of which he thrives at.
* Vince Smith is the poor mans Reggie Bush. Smith will continue to catch 3-5 passes a game, set up in the option formation and get 4-6 carries . . while also being a KR. Smith is seen as a guy who can perform well enough to be called on to make plays at key moments in a game. In a tight spot where the coaches need to complete a pass of 4-6 yards, Smith is the guy who will be looked at to make a play happen out of the backfield.
Who do you HATE the most? Vote Now!
* Denard with a play action to himself? We haven't seen enough of this play, the one where Denard runs two or three steps forward and hits Koger, Gallon or Roundtree streaking uncovered due to the safety collapsing on the play. Well, it was by design. That play is in the arsenal and is one that I fully expect to see utilized vs. MSU in 2 weeks.
* The hope is to get 110-125 yards per game from the running backs and 125-150 from Denard. That is the right balance where I sit. If we can't get a ton of production this week from the RB's, I fear for our chances against some of the better teams in the Big Ten.
A nice MGoVideo intermission, Brady Hoke: Step into my office . . .
Some other interesting nuggets of info picked up this week:
* There was talk with Michigan coaches and Athletic Dept. officials about a Heisman campaign for Denard Robinson if he is considered in the top 3-4 players in consideration for the award at the mid-season point. Coach Hoke knows the dividends that having coached a Heisman Trophy winner can have on recruiting, seeing first hand the spike in cornerback interest for Michigan in the years after Charles Woodson left. AD officials are planning to open up #16 for radio appearances and appearances on College Football Live and Gameday. The Heisman campaign is real and no one is going to do a better job marketing its athletes than the Michiagn AD under uber-marketer Dave Brandon.
* The defensive line, including Will Campbell, has stepped up leadership by example during
practice and in the weight room. This is a motivated group who had a goal of defending Hoke's honor last week and obviously came to play. Look for more of the same tomorrow.
* One noted observer I text with said that this was the crispest and most effective week of practice at Michigan since the 2006 Notre Dame game. Hoke and staff are doing everything right and motivating the right players that are seen as 'connectors' and can motivate and teach their teammates what it means to win. There is no doubt that the senior class is hungry, specifically the d-lineman. There have been seniors only meetings each day the last few weeks going over everything these student leaders needed to do in order to ensure the team rights the ship for Big Ten play. Be certain that these guys know that this is their legacy and are doing everything they can to write the story they way they intended to when they committed to Michigan.
* Jake Ryan is seen as the best linebacker on the team by the defensive coaches right now.
* With the emergence of Blake Countess last week, there has been tinkering with a nickel package that includes 4 CB's and 1 safety. In this formation, Woolfolk would drop back to safety and Countess and Floyd would be the CB's, with Avery or Taylor as the nickle man. Look to see this formation a couple times this week.
* 20/20 Get to thinking about that number phrase. I was told this week that 20/20 is the passing/rushing TD totals that Michigan coaches hope to see from Denard Robinson this season.
* Michael Shaw and Stephen Hopkins are not guys I would expect to see a ton of snaps the remainder of this season, barring injury to Rawls, Smith and Toussaint.
Some final nuggets on recruiting . . .
If I had to predict the finish for the 2012 recruiting class, based on some LONG conversations this week, it would look a little something like this:
WR Jordan Payton or WR Stefon Diggs
WR Amara Darboh
QB - unknown but I believe Michigan signs one after the season is over and they have been able to review senior film of some sleep prospects in the Midwest.
RB - Brionte Dunn
OL - Zack Banner
DT - Danny O'Brien
Danny O'brien is a player that I said 10 days ago would commit to Michigan. In the coming days I received tons of inquiries as to why I thought this and why folks at other publications believed differently. I want to be
clear, my source on his recruitment is as connected to the 2012 recruiting scene as you can get. Without divulging too much, here is what I was told:
O'Brien had let it be known on the weekend of September 17-18 via text/Facebook message to several committed Michigan recruits and several players on the current roster that he would see them in Ann Arbor next year. Previously, about 4 weeks ago, he had done the same thing. Now, can things change? Sure, but if they did, it would be very shocking turn of events.
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