For the other parts of the Michigan football midseason report, visit http://www.michigandaily.com/section/sports.

David Molk breaks his foot against the Eagles
Center David Molk broke his foot on a first-half play against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 19 and had surgery two days later. He is expected to be back soon, but he has been missed -- his injury has showed all too well the value of an experienced center. David Moosman, who moved from right guard to fill Molk’s void, botched six snaps in the next game against Indiana. The offensive line, which had been one of the most consistent units until Molk’s injury, has been struggling to find its groove ever since.

Denard Robinson outruns and outjukes the Broncos
Tate Forcier threw his first touchdown as a Wolverine to put Michigan up 7-0 early, but Denard Robinson answered him one flashier. On his first play from scrimmage, Robinson fumbled the snap and drew collective gasps of dismay from the Big House crowd. But Robinson picked up the ball and ran to the outside. He shook off a tackler, cut back toward the middle, found a hole and broke free for 43 yards and his first touchdown. The shocking play showcased both Robinson’s greatest strength (blazing speed) and his greatest weakness (unfamiliarity with the offense). Both would come back to help and haunt him during the season’s next five games.

Mathews and Forcier pull through in the clutch vs. Notre Dame
Greg Mathews may only have seven catches this season, but one of them was the Wolverines’ biggest of the first half. Michigan, desperately needing to prove itself in the early-season game, trailed Notre Dame 34-31 with 16 seconds left. On second-and-goal, Forcier threw under pressure to Mathews, who caught the ball inside the one-yard line and stepped into the end zone. The play proved that Forcier could calmly lead his team to a comeback, and he would go on to help Michigan come back against Indiana and Michigan State.

Forcier throws an overtime interception with a chance to be the hero
That said, Forcier has also showed he is human. The crazed hype surrounding the freshman quarterback after Michigan’s 4-0 start followed him to East Lansing, where the 1-3 Spartans were determined to spoil the Wolverines’ record. After yet another improbable comeback that forced the game to overtime, Forcier decided to go for the end zone on third down — and threw the ball directly at safety Danny Fortener, who tipped the ball enough for Michigan State cornerback Chris L. Rucker to catch it. Michigan State scored on the ensuing possession to seal a 26-20 win. Forcier later called the interception a “freshman mistake."

Michigan’s defense almost costs them a win vs. Indiana
Against Indiana, Tate Forcier’s leaping touchdown run and two-point conversion run put the Wolverines up by three with 9:15 left in the game. But that lead held for just 18 seconds. On Indiana’s next drive, Darius Willis took the ball and ran 85 yards. Michigan defensive end Ryan Van Bergen said that the missed play was due to an incorrect check, a mistake he said was “something very basic, first week.” Though that wasn’t the beleaguered secondary’s fault, it was just another big play the Michigan defense has given up at a crucial moment this season.