The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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The second week in camp, I let him get tackled a few times. Once he got tackled and he popped back up, and he had the same leg drive and the same explosion, I knew he was going to be all right." That's what Toussaint appeared to be behind a reconfigured Michigan offensive line in the Wolverines' opening three games — all right. He rushed for 57 yards on 14 tries versus the Chippewas, 71 on 22 carries in the win over Notre Dame, and 71 on 19 attempts, including the game-winning touchdown, in the 28-24 struggle past Akron. less than a year ago, though, the early returns were hardly disheartening. "Fitz looks like he did before the injury and maybe a little bit quicker at times," Hoke said, following the win over Notre Dame. "He is quicker out of the hole. I thought on the one run where he made the safety miss, his burst out of the hole was really good." Meanwhile, when Toussaint found himself stifled (11 of his 19 carries against Akron went for two yards or fewer), Michigan's still-jelling offensive line took considerable responsibility. "We're not making holes for the running back," fifth Toussaint year senior left tackle "I'm just ready to go play football. It felt Taylor Lewan fumed, following the close call like a long road, but I felt if I prepared against the Zips. "Fitz right I'd be good to come out of it." is a great, unbelievable running back, but you U-M head coach Brady Hoke can't do anything if you don't have pointed out that Toussaint would a hole. A couple of times there was a have cracked the 100-yard barrier hole here and there, and Fitz got out, versus the Zips had it not been for but some penalties took him back. 40-plus yards lost due to blocking We'll get that fixed. penalties. "He deserves the yards he's not Most of the Wolverines emerged getting right now. This team, this offrom that one in a foul mood, and fensive line, we'll turn it around, and Toussaint's follow-up effort produced we'll get him those yards." 120 yards and two touchdowns on Michigan offensive coordinator 24 carries in the 24-21 win at Con- Al Borges concurs, to the extent that necticut. That boosted the fifth-year when the Wolverines get it right up senior to a team-high 319 yards and front, Toussaint generally breaks for five touchdowns on 79 tries (4.0-yard sizable yardage. Finding that conaverage) through a 4-0 non-confer- sistency remains a work in progress, ence campaign. Borges cautioned. The Wolverines, Toussaint included, "If you watch our video and really emerged from the pre-Big Ten portion study it, you can tell when we do it of the schedule insisting how much right and when we don't," Borges better it can be. Given where he was said. "We come off the ball, and our