The Wolverines have been tormented by dual-threat quarterbacks before. What Michigan fan can forget the exploits of Armanti Edwards and Dennis Dixon in consecutive weeks to start the 2007 season?

Illinois’s Juice Williams had a field day when he led the Fighting Illini into the Big House in 2008, torching Michigan’s secondary for 310 yards and two touchdowns through the air, plus 121 yards and two more touchdowns on the ground.

And when Michigan visited Champaign last year, Illinois scored 31 unanswered points in the second half, Williams threw for 123 yards on 8-for-11 passing with a touchdown and he ran for 97 yards on 21 carries with another touchdown on the ground.

So far this season, the Wolverines haven’t had to face a quarterback who mirrors their own — a quarterback as dangerous running as he is throwing it.

But the Illini come into Ann Arbor on Saturday with a new starting quarterback, redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase, who has run for more than 450 yards and passed for nearly 1100 yards through eight games.

“He’s a guy they’re doing some similar stuff that we are,” Rodriguez said during Wednesday's weekly Big Ten teleconference. "They’re running with him a little bit. They’re throwing the ball. He was redshirted, so he was able to spend a year in the system or at least a year in development. And he scares you because everything can break down and he can take off and gain 20 or 30 yards. So you have to make sure you keep him contained.”

Rodriguez said that the team would work on stopping a mobile quarterback all week in practice. Michigan’s defense had a shot at stopping its own quarterback, Denard Robinson, during the spring and summer camp and did a good job according to Rodriguez.

“Speed-wise, yes (it helps), even passing,” Senior defensive end Greg Banks said of practicing against Robinson and preparing for a dual-threat quarterback. “He’s a great quarterback to go against any day.”

Teaming up with Scheelhaase in the backfield is junior running back Mikel Leshoure, who has broke onto the conference scene as a tough runner this year. His 780 yards rushing and six touchdowns lead the team, and he and Scheelhaase have Illinois running for 194 yards per game — good for 24th in the country.

The Wolverines could be in trouble if Illinois has success running the ball, controlling the clock and keeping the ball out of Robinson’s hands. In two of the Wolverines’ three losses, Michigan has lost the time-of-possession battle by 10-plus and 15-plus minutes, respectively.

The focus has been on the defensive inefficiencies during Michigan’s current three-game losing streak. Poor tackling and a lack of third-down stops have plagued the Wolverines all season and Leshoure and Scheelhaase aren’t going to make this week any easier.

“Those mobile quarterbacks, as anybody I’m sure who plays us will tell you, are a nightmare because you could have the best defense called and everything covered and they take off on you,” Rodriguez said.