Troy Woolfolk's move from safety to cornerback in the week leading up to the Iowa game had all the makings of a temporary switch. There were questions at the position, but the coaching staff seemed to be fixing them quickly.

Boubacar Cissoko, the original starting corner, had fallen out of the coaching staff’s favor and was suspended for “a violation of team rules." And his backup, J.T. Floyd, seemed to be on the brink of success, but just needed a little more time. In order to shore up the field opposite defensive stalwart Donovan Warren, the coaches decided Woolfolk could work — until Cissoko or Floyd came around — and moved walk-on Jordan Kovacs to Woolfolk's strong safety position.

What a difference a couple weeks make.

“If we get in a pinch, we can put Troy back (to safety),” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said yesterday. “But there's so much different teaching to learn, so we want to get Troy settled in at corner. Him and Boubacar (need) to get solid there. Depending on the emergence of Floyd and some of the other guys, we'll see what happens.”

Woolfolk played cornerback all last season, switching to safety before the 2009 season. The logic behind the initial was that his blistering speed could help eliminate big plays, which were a huge problem for the 2008 Wolverines.

Before the Iowa game, Woolfolk said he enjoyed playing safety — but afterward, he was a bit confused about where he belonged.

“It felt kind of natural,” he said after playing cornerback again. “I just play whatever they want me to play. I have a good aspect to bring to the team because I can play versatile, so I’ll go to corner, safety, even quarterback if you need me to.”

Even the coaching staff is having trouble figuring out where he is most effective.

"That's a good question, and we've gone back and forth talking with the defensive staff,” Rodriguez said when asked where Woolfolk should ideally line up. “(The defensive coaches) feel more comfortable with Troy now at corner and try to develop more depth and competition at safety. But an injury could change that. As we stand today, they feel good with where the guys are at.”

So far, Wolverine defenders have been pleased with Woolfolk’s performance at his old position.

Woolfolk’s speed helped him against the Hawkeyes, who oddly tested Warren instead. Warren responded with a pick-six and a slew of near-interceptions.

“Troy’s a very physical guy, and he can run, so he can get up to the line of scrimmage,” linebacker Stevie Brown said. “He can press the receiver, and he can also run with a receiver, too. So he fits well for us.”

But Woolfolk’s reemergence at cornerback doesn’t mean Floyd and Cissoko won’t get any reps. Since Cissoko’s suspension, Rodriguez has maintained that his return to the playing field will be determined by his actions off it — both in the classroom and in his interaction with the team.

And it seems as if Cissoko is making the proper strides in both departments. Although Rodriguez had been firm in his stance that Cissoko will not play, he seemed to take a softer approach to the Detroit native’s case when he met with the media yesterday.

"It really depends on the next couple days whether he plays or not on Saturday,” Rodriguez said. “He won't start, but whether he dresses, is allowed to travel or has the opportunity to play depends on the next couple of days.”

As for Floyd, he was one of very few players not to see game action against Delaware State last weekend. But the benching had nothing to do with his progression at cornerback — he was very sick leading into the game.

“I saw J.T. last night after practice, and he was feeling a lot better,” Rodriguez said. “He was hit really hard with the flu. He feels a lot better now, so hopefully he'll get back in the mix and play some for us.”