U-M's Minor finally healthy enough to run 'downhill'
Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News
Ann Arbor -- For a change, the news about Michigan tailback Brandon Minor's health is good.
Minor, the senior who has battled a nagging high ankle/foot sprain this season, has practiced well this week, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Wednesday before practice. Barring "stubbing his toe," Minor will start against Purdue on Saturday at Michigan Stadium.
The Boilermakers are seventh in the Big Ten in rush defense, allowing an average 161.2 yards.
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Rodriguez, who said Minor has done more the last two days of practice than he has done in a month, joked that Minor has been so determined to play, perhaps he has not been entirely truthful about his physical condition with the staff.
"He may be tricking us and telling us he feels better, but I know he really wants to play," Rodriguez said Wednesday. "I got on him a little bit the other day because he may be saying he wants to play, but in pre-game warm-ups, he's telling us otherwise.
"Brandon is such a competitive guy. I said, 'You've got to really show us during the week that you're going to be ready to play and you have to show us during warm-ups that you're ready to play -- and be honest with us how it feels,'" Rodriguez said.
Minor, the Wolverines' biggest, most physical back, is averaging 46 yards rushing.
That Minor should be available is even better news for Michigan considering that senior tailback Carlos Brown has tendonitis in his knees and did not do much in practice Tuesday. Sophomore tailback Michael Shaw, out last Saturday, tweaked his knee a week ago in practice, Rodriguez said, and also should be ready for Purdue.
But with Minor healthy, the Wolverines' offense takes on a different look and feel.
"When he gets going downhill he's a big physical guy and I've said this several times -- we're different when he's running downhill," Rodriguez said. "It gives a different dimension to our offense that we need, frankly."
Michigan is 5-4 and has lost four straight Big Ten games.
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