In the first five games of the Michigan football team's season, sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson looked unstoppable and at times otherworldly. In the last two games, however, he has come back to earth along with the rest of the Wolverines.

And while this is partially due to better competition, it has come to light that Robinson has been dealing with a nagging shoulder injury, one that took him out of Michigan's game against Iowa on Oct. 16 in Ann Arbor.

The injury sidelined him and paved the way for sophomore quarterback Tate Forcier to enter the game and lead what was almost a Wolverine comeback, one that fell just short.

But Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez wants to emphasize: Forcier played because Robinson was injured — not because the offense was looking stagnant.

"I find it amusing that people even question that we have a quarterback controversy," Rodriguez said at the Monday press conference. "Denard Robinson's our starter."

Luckily for the Wolverines, Robinson said during Monday's press conference that he's "100 percent" after the bye week and his coach has said he'll be ready to go against Penn State.

Yesterday during the Big Ten teleconference, Rodriguez gave more information on the matter, saying the team had an MRI done on the sophomore's shoulder and found it to be healthy.

"We did all the tests with the MRI to make sure there was no structural damage," Rodriguez said. "And there wasn’t any, so that was good news."

Michigan's opponent this Saturday may not be so lucky.

Penn State quarterback Robert Bolden has been listed as "probable," but Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno said during the teleconference that Bolden most likely will not play.

The injury to the freshman quarterback is just the latest in a string of injuries the Nittany Lions have suffered.

"They've had a shell of what they've wanted to play with because of all the injuries," Rodriguez said.

SHORING UP THE DEFENSE: Bye weeks are usually good opportunities for coaches to spend a little more time on certain aspects of their team that isn't working.

For Rodriguez and Michigan, that area would be almost the entire defense.

With one of the worst defenses in the country going up against a team with a questionable mark at quarterback, the week off could provide time for the defense to get a much-needed tune-up.

"We've been making steps this whole season, we've been improving and improving," sophomore defensive lineman Craig Roh said during Monday's press conference. "It may not show itself exactly on the field but we're slowly making improvements it's just how quickly they show up on the field in a big way."

Roh said he has seen marked improvement in making the right reads, breaking on balls faster and learning the defense as a whole.

The coaching staff has been making adjustments, evidenced by the switch of sophomore defensive lineman Will Campbell to offense and freshman offensive lineman Quinton Washington to defense.

Rodriguez said he hoped the open week would allow some of the freshman defensive backs to improve and catch up to where they need to be, given that most will probably be playing on Saturday given the team's depth issue in the defensive backfield.

"Particularly the freshman defensive backs," Rodriguez said. "They've gotten in there a little bit but where we're at depth-wise we got to play more guys and I'm hoping the open week will help get those guys more ready to play."

DAVEY O'BRIEN AWARD SEMIFINALIST: Despite the fact that Robinson's production has slowed in recent weeks, the football team announced on Monday that he is a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien award, given to the nation's best quarterback.

Robinson is one of 16 semifinalists, joining fellow Big Ten quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, Terrelle Pryor and Ricky Stanzi on the list.

Robinson also remains a contender for the Heisman Trophy, though another speedy quarterback has stolen the spotlight.

Auburn's Cam Newton has been dismantling SEC opponents, running more than 200 yards and three scores against Arkansas two weeks ago and doing nearly the same in a win over then-No. 6 LSU on Saturday.

Robinson, for his part, thinks Newton has been spectacular.

"Cam Newton played a great game," Robinson said on Monday. "He was outstanding. Great guy, great player."