Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez didn’t expect perfection from Saturday’s team scrimmage.

With the Wolverines playing full-pad, live-ball football for the first time since the Ohio State game in November, Rodriguez had a clear vision of what he wanted from the 100-play session (which was closed to all members of the media, although there are video highlights on Mgoblue.com).

“More than anything else … I want them to play physical, play hard,” Rodriguez said. “As I told the team yesterday, they're going to make mistakes, they're going to go the wrong way, but just do it in a full-speed mode.”

All spring, Rodriguez has preached fundamentals. The scrimmage took the coaches off the field and placed the players in a more realistic game setting.

It was a chance for younger players — especially those like freshman Tate Forcier, who enrolled at Michigan early to participate in these practices — to exhibit their play-making abilities.

“You don't get a lot of coaching during a scrimmage, and that's by design,” Rodriguez said. “You just kind of sit back … let them play and see who steps up.

"For some of the new guys that are in this environment, we want to see how they compete without a coach telling them what to do on every snap.”

Forcier played with the first team because redshirt junior Nick Sheridan fractured his right leg during Tuesday’s practice.

Although Rodriguez planned to use a smaller playbook for the scrimmage, he said he would “simplify a little bit,” while Forcier took snaps.

“We’ve got to be able to run the offense, but we’ve got a smaller package in anyway,” Rodriguez said. “In particular, in the scrimmage, not only because of him but because of some of the other young guys. I don't want them thinking too much — just let them play.”

Line shift: After redshirting last season, there are six linemen making waves during spring practice. With their addition to the roster, Rodriguez and his staff are still waiting for five to emerge as starters.

“I don't really have a first group yet,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve got six or seven or eight that are rotating in the first group … I think it's still a work in progress.”

Rodriguez is still considering shifting redshirt junior Steve Schilling to guard, but he was quick to mention that nothing is set in stone just yet.

“I want him to wind up where our best five are at,” Rodriguez said. “If our best five have Steve at guard and somebody else at tackle, that's fine. I think he's comfortable in there. I also think he's athletic enough to play both spots.”

First glance: Although Saturday’s scrimmage was closed, the public will ahve the chance to see the Wolverines play at the spring game on April 11 at noon at Michigan Stadium. More information about the additional festivities was announced before Saturday’s practice.

“We want as many people as possible to come, not only to watch our game, but to see everything there is at the University of Michigan, particularly our Athletic Department,” Rodriguez said. “Our spring game is, more than anything else, a spring event. Our Athletic Department has done a terrific job of trying to promote that.”

A member of the Athletic Department said the roster for the alumni flag football game — a new tradition for the spring game weekend — will slowly leak over the coming weeks on Rodriguez’s official facebook.com page.

On Saturday, the only thing Rodriguez knew about the roster was that a few former members of the Wolverines who won Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers this year would be playing in the game. LaMarr Woodley and Larry Foote are the only Michigan players on the current Steelers roster.

A member of the Athletic Department said he was contacting the members of the NFL Super Bowl runners-up Arizona Cardinals about playing. Steve Breaston, Gabe Watson, Alan Branch and Victor Hobson are all on the current Cardinals’ roster.

The Detroit Free Press confirmed that Rick Leach, Derrick Walker, Jim Betts and Bill Dufek will be participating.