After another rough Big Ten loss, another game that saw Denard Robinson finish on the sidelines and another performance that felt oh so much like 2009, one thing is for sure.

The bye week could not have come any sooner.

Don’t let anyone fool you; the Wolverines are definitely reeling. Denard Robinson looks more human, acting anxious in the pocket on more than a few occasions in the last two weeks. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez says he can’t fix a defense that even Vince Lombardi couldn’t fix. And Greg Robinson is still Greg Robinson.

So what now?

First, it’s time to take a few breaths. Inhale. Exhale.

Don’t you feel better? Now let’s take a step back and be honest.

I have no idea what’s going to happen after the bye week. I was on the same bandwagon that thought Denard Robinson was a mutant sent from Sector 9 to destroy all defenses that stood in his path. I thought Rodriguez was a lock to keep his job after the season when he registered five wins to start the year. I thought Greg Robinson … well … maybe I didn’t have many expectations for him.

But I’m just as shocked and appalled as any of the 5-0 optimists. The glass is probably half empty for most of you now, and you’re entitled to that.

There’s no reason to give up on this season just yet, though.

Take Michigan’s two losses. Michigan State is actually a really good team and in all honesty, the Spartans will probably win the Big Ten if they beat Iowa on Oct. 30. The Hawkeyes are no slouches either; doubters are quick to forget that the Wolverines scored 18 more points than Iowa had given up on average over its first six games.

The problems with Denard are real, though. After the Michigan State game, Robinson apologized to his teammates for his mistakes on the field, saying he’d put the team on his back to lead it to victory.

But that might be the problem. Everyone overlooks the fact that Robinson has seven total starts. And when the pressure became more intense, Robinson has taken on an exponentially larger burden, especially in the last two games.

Robinson is too humble, too strong-willed and too much of a leader to ever admit to having too much of the burden, but it’s unfolding in front of our eyes. He overthrew balls, he threw a few downright terrible passes. He just can’t do it all himself — no matter what he tells his teammates after a loss.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that Rodriguez has put all of his eggs into the Shoelace basket, and it may be hurting the team. The running game, outside of Robinson, hasn’t taken over any games like they have in Michigan football years past, accounting for 76 yards and 83 yards against Michigan State and Iowa, respectively.

Robinson tried at the beginning of the game Saturday to put the ball in his running backs’ hands, but it didn’t work out the way Rodriguez or Robinson may have hoped. These backs just either aren’t game-changers at all or don’t function as well with Robinson as former West Virginia ballcarrier Steve Slaton functioned with Pat White — not even close.

It’s safe to say we all had sky high expectations after the first five weeks. Denard Robinson was on his way to the Heisman. Rich Rodriguez was comeback coach of the year. And Michigan was ready to turn a corner back toward national prominence.

So on our journey back to reality, let’s take another deep breath. In fact, spend the bye week remembering the good ‘ol times: the final-drive win at Notre Dame, the demolition of Connecticut, the Heisman hopes.

Maybe they’re all in the rearview for now. But this season is far from over. This team will go to a bowl game, even if that’s the smallest marked improvement that it can make from 2009. And Rich Rodriguez still has his job, even if the heat under his seat was cranked up a few notches.

For now, just take a breath and thank God for bye weeks.