Sunday, September 11, 2005

Michigan: Notebook

Injuries are starting to dent depth

Hart, Massaquoi lead a growing list of players that are hurt and whose future status is unknown.

By Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

John T. Greilick / The Detroit News Tailback Mike Hart carried the ball just three times before an injury to his left leg in the first quarter ended his day. Wolverines' road ahead What do you think are Michigan's chances of winning the Big 10 now? Bet on it! Pretty good Fair, considering the conference Poor Not a chance Get results and comments Related links  NCAA football scores and stats Big Ten Talk Big Ten Weblog U-M schedule U-M roster U-M stats Big Ten schedule Big Ten standings Big Ten stats AP Top-25 poll USA Today / ESPN Top-25 poll Sports Challenge: Pick the college winners weekly, win prizes Game photo galleries U-M 33, N. Illinois 17 Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

ANN ARBOR -- Two games into the season, and Michigan's list of injured starters is growing.

Starting tailback Mike Hart, last year's Big Ten freshman of the year, left the Notre Dame game late in the first quarter after getting hit hard by two defenders on a one-yard gain.

Hart limped off the field and rested until halftime with a large bag of ice under his left thigh. It is presumed he has a strained hamstring, but Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said he could not offer much information on the injury.

"It's not something that needs surgery," Carr said. "But it could be a while."

Carr was unspecific but said Hart was not at 100 percent when he entered the Notre Dame game and said he had been "slowed" a bit.

Fifth-year senior tight end Tim Massaquoi missed Saturday's game because of a broken right arm suffered in the opener against Northern Illinois. He is week-to-week.

Free safety Ryan Mundy, who played in the opener, remains hampered by a shoulder injury suffered in preseason camp and did not play against the Irish.

Receiver Adrian Arrington was out because an ankle injury he suffered in the opener.

"He will be out a while ... a long while," Carr said of Arrington.

Michigan's offensive line took another hit at right tackle -- the second of the young season -- before the Notre Dame game and nearly endured yet another during the game.

Rueben Riley started at right tackle after Mike Kolodziej suffered an injury last week. Kolodziej started the season opener, replacing Jake Long, who could be out much of the season because an ankle injury suffered in preseason practice. Long was on the sideline Saturday in a knee-to-foot cast on his left leg.

Midway through the second quarter against Notre Dame, it looked like Michigan would have to cope with another loss of a starter. Right guard Matt Lentz left the game because an apparent injury to his left knee. Adam Kraus moved from center to right guard to replace Lentz, and Mark Bihl, the backup at center, took over that position.

But Lentz, being coy after the game and asking, "what injury?" returned at halftime.

Stymied in first half

Michigan was held without a first-half offensive touchdown for the first time since last year's Notre Dame game.

The Wolverines got their only score of the half on a 38-yard field goal by Garrett Rivas.

Defensive changes

As promised, Carr made personnel changes on defense.

Not surprisingly, Will Johnson started at nose tackle, replacing Gabe Watson, and Dave Harris started at inside linebacker. Watson did finally enter the game midway through the second quarter.

Michigan's more inspired defense was led in tackles by cornerback Grant Mason, who had 16. Cornerback Leon Hall had a team-high two sacks.

"The offense carried us (last week), and we were just trying to carry the offense this week," said rush linebacker LaMarr Woodley said.

Woodley, a junior, endured his first loss at Michigan Stadium.

"I've lost before in life, but you have to take the loss and learn from it," Woodley said. "You still have goals. If we're going to make this one loss affect us, we're not going to reach our goals. We still have opportunities to get the championship."

Notable

There was no word after the game on the severity of the injury to Irish receiver Rhema McKnight.

McKnight, whose 5-yard touchdown reception capped Notre Dame's opening drive, awkwardly twisted his right knee when tackled by Michigan's Brandent Englemon on an incomplete pass in the second quarter.

Irish coach Charlie Weis said McKnight, a senior, would undergo an MRI exam later Saturday.

... Michigan's Big Ten opener at Wisconsin on Sept. 24 has moved up an hour to a 6 p.m. (Detroit time) kickoff at Camp Randall Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

You can reach Angelique S. Chengelis at angelique.chengelis@detnews.com.