JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Keep it simple, stupid.

No one’s insulting the Michigan football team’s intelligence. But things are getting a lot simpler as the Wolverines prepare for the Gator Bowl. The strategy of cutting back on the bowl game playbook has worked in the past for Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez.

Offensive schemes, defensive drills — everyone’s going back to basics.

“(We expect) a lot of zone coverage,” junior wide receiver Darryl Stonum said of Mississippi State. “So we just (have) to find the holes in the zones … I know they’re going to key on (sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson’s) running, so (we’ll) do a lot of run adjustments, play action. Pretty simple game plan, we just have to execute.

“When you simplify the game plan it’s a lot easier to execute. We just have a core set of plays and we worked those over and over in practice until we get it down pact. And I think we got it pretty much down pact so we’re just going over it.”

When Rodriguez led West Virginia to the Sugar Bowl to play Georgia in 2006, the game plan was as simple as it had been all season. And his team came out well and won the game, 38-35.

“We knew it was going to be that big game atmosphere, talented team, and we didn’t want our guys to think too much,” Rodriguez said on Dec. 6. “And the guys really came out of the gates pretty well. Remembering that, I’ll talk to the coaches. We have to make sure we don’t try to do too much and in actuality do less, and really hone in on what we’re doing well.”

Redshirt sophomore middle linebacker Kenny Demens said the defense watched film all throughout December. And at first — just like Rodriguez keyed in on throughout the season — Michigan focused on the defensive basics to help prepare for the nation’s 16th-ranked rush offense in Mississippi State.

“(We went) back to square one at the beginning of December, just tackling and wrapping up, just no blown assignments,” Demens said. “I feel that really helps us — fundamentals first.”

In particular, Demens sees a need for impact plays on the defensive side of the ball to turn around the defense’s fortunes.

“I think it’s just maintaining that when an opportunity comes, we got to take it,” he said. “Whether it’s an interception, a (tackle for a loss), just whatever it is — key third-down plays, just really hone in. Know our assignment. Just outwork guys.”

It’s that simple.

MULLEN OVER CHANGES: Rodriguez’s position as a potential lame duck head coach at the Gator Bowl is an awkward spot for any coach to be put in. As speculation has swirled about the Michigan coach’s future at the school, right now it's only as clear as mud.

But Rodriguez has to coach his team despite the situation.

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen sympathized with Rodriguez when he was asked about Rodriguez coaching through all of the drama.

“I hope I don’t ever have to imagine or go through that,” Mullen said. “But that’s the coaching profession. It’s tough. I don’t think people sometimes realize the effect it has — not just on the coach, but the families, the assistant coaches and there’s a lot of people’s lives involved in these decisions. And that’s the life we live as a football coach.”

INJURY UPDATE: Redshirt sophomore cornerback J.T. Floyd said that he had surgery to repair his injured ankle seven weeks ago and got off his crutches and started walking just before Christmas. He said he, “should be back and up and running by spring ball” and that while he doesn’t know if he will participate, he should be “full speed” by then … Stonum said that his ankle is doing better and he is still rehabbing it every day, and he will probably still receive treatment before Saturday’s game … Any remaining concern about Robinson’s health can probably be eliminated more than a month removed from the final regular season game against Ohio State. Stonum said: “He looks great. I think these weeks off have helped him out a lot. His arm looks like it’s a lot better. He put more zip on the ball … He looks healthy.”