Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez will talk all you want about early enrollee Tate Forcier, a rivals.com four-star recruit.

The same goes for redshirt junior quarterback Nick Sheridan and his four career starts. And the same for redshirt sophomore David Cone, who has completed one career pass as a Wolverine.

But all you’ll get out of Rodriguez regarding Steven Threet, an eight-game starter last year who announced his plans to transfer Feb. 16, is a smirk and the usual mantra:

“We just talk about the guys that are here,” Rodriguez said. “But Nick has some experience. Then we have David Cone, who's been in the program, worked hard."

“Tate’s kind of a gym-rat type of guy that loves learning about the game, has put the time in. I’m anxious to see how they perform in the spring.”

When the Wolverines begin the first of 15 spring practices Saturday, Sheridan, Forcier and Cone will be sharing repetitions under center.

“Nick’s obviously the most familiar with it," Rodriguez said. "But Tate’s a quick learner, so we didn’t bring him here and didn’t sign him and (incoming freshman) Denard (Robinson) to stand in the background. They’re going to get the chance, every opportunity to win the job.”

The biggest difference between this spring and last at the quarterback position is the experience of the rest of the offense.

Michigan returns all of its offensive starters from the end of last season except tight end Mike Massey.

“It’s different," Rodriguez said. "Not only because obviously Nick has some experience, but because the guys around him now have some experience. It’s not like last year where it was a little bit tougher on the quarterbacks because they were surrounded by a bunch of guys who hadn’t played in the system as well.”

Welcome, Mr. Robinson: To improve the Big Ten's second-worst scoring defense, Rodriguez brought in former Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson as the Wolverines' new defensive coordinator.

“Greg has been around enough to know it's not all about the schemes,” Rodriguez said. “This spring, just as much as anything else, is teaching tackling and fundamentals and breaking on the ball and doing a lot of those things we have to get better at.”

One of the biggest changes the Wolverines will see in spring practice this year are in the defensive schemes.

“We play so many different styles of offense — both in the league and out of the league — that you're not playing in a traditional three-linebacker scheme anymore, anyway,” Rodriguez said. “Half the games you’re playing in, you’re playing a nickel scheme with an extra safety in there.

“That being known, and our coaches being aware of it, there will be a lot of times on defense this spring where our first defense will be a so-called nickel defense with an extra strong safety in there.”

Rodriguez said senior free safety Stevie Brown could move into that spot. Though it is rare to practice the nickel in the spring, “you better prepare for it early," he said.

Pocket protectors: Though the quarterback competition naturally garners the most attention, Rodriguez is particularly excited about Michigan's depth on the offensive line.

There was just one returning starter entering last year: redshirt junior right tackle Stephen Schilling. Rodriguez likes to have eight linemen he feels comfortable with.

This season?

“With our guys, that O-line, we may be able to have 10,” Rodriguez said.

The surplus of linemen is due to Rodriguez's decision to redshirt all six freshmen offensive linemen last year.

“That’s one thing I’m pretty excited about because we have the rest of the guys back up front," Rodriguez said. "And I think, talking to Coach Barwis, they’ve done a great job. That’s probably one group — they’ve all worked hard — but the O-line, you can see the difference in them from a year ago, which is expected having been a year in the system.”

Position switches: Three players have made the change from offense to defense this spring.

Junior Vince Helmuth asked to switch from fullback to defensive tackle last season and has taken the “beefing up” part of the switch quite seriously.

“I think when we moved him to defensive tackle, he probably thought it was a free reign to eat,” Rodriguez said. “I think he went overboard a little bit.

“Vince has got a good attitude and he loves playing. And he’s got some athletic ability.