ANN ARBOR - Yesterday's big crowd at Michigan Stadium got what it came to see in the Wolverines spring game. By early afternoon, the Maize and Blue faithful could put down the worry beads and look to the future of Michigan football.

Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier showed UM fans his varied skill set - accurate passing with some zip to it, the ability to scramble and make plays with his feet and the strength to go deep when the situation calls for it.

With returning starter Nick Sheridan out with an injury, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez gave Forcier most of the work in the loose format scrimmage. An announced spring game record number of 50,000 fans were watching as the 6-1, 187-pounder from San Diego took the offense down the field for a touchdown on the first series.

"The biggest thing I was looking for from Tate was playing in an atmosphere with a crowd - was it going to fluster him or was he focused," Rodriguez said. "There was a time or two that maybe his eyes could have been in a different direction, but for the most part, he looked comfortable out there."

On his initial series, Forcier threaded a completion to Martavious Odoms over the middle, made a nine-yard gain on a draw play and hit fullback Mark Moundros with a screen pass to move the ball inside the 20. After an elusive scramble moved the ball closer, a couple of Brandon Minor carries put the offense at the three, and Forcier simply outran the defense around end for a touchdown.

"That's the kind of thing he's been doing all spring," Minor said about Forcier. "For a young guy just coming in here, he still has a lot to learn, but when he's been out there he's done a great job learning and leading the offense. He plays like a more experienced quarterback, and we saw that again today."

After tailback Carlos Brown burst up the middle into daylight and then out-sprinted the defenders on an 82-yard scoring run down the left sideline, Forcier would hook up with redshirt freshman Roy Roundtree on a 50-yard touchdown pass. The two combined for another long score later in the game.

"I got great protection all day, and I just had to get our athletes the ball and they will make plays," Forcier said. "I have to give my whole team a lot of credit."

Rodriguez, who used his veterans sparingly and juggled the game's format to create certain situations, said he was pleased with Forcier's decision-making under fire, but the freshman still has a ways to go to be ready to face the real thing in the fall.

"It's going to be different in a real game," Rodriguez said. "But he looked comfortable for his first time in that type of setting. He's really progressed well."

Rodriguez also seemed happy with his freshman quarterback's ability to sense when it was time to take off out of the pocket and when to deliver the ball on the run.

"Sometimes you can develop it, and sometimes it's innate," Rodriguez said. "You just have the ability to adjust your body - to have vision and make throws on the run and on the move. You have a presence ... and Tate has some natural abilities with that. He has a feel for when he can take off."

Rodriguez said he was thrilled many former Wolverines came back to be part of the spring game festivities, which included an alumni flag football game in the morning.

"They love Michigan, and they've had great experiences here," he said. "All those players that come back, they have a great passion for this place. They enjoyed playing here, they had success and it's good to have them back."

The Wolverines, who open the season here on Sept. 5 against Western Michigan, have one final spring practice scheduled for early this week.

FIVE SIGNS OF SPRING

Here are five highlights from yesterday’s Michigan spring game:

• 50K: Record spring crowd estimated at 50,000.

• Big play: Freshman QB Tate Forcier’s 50-yard TD pass to WR Roy Roundtree.

• Big play II: TB Carlos Brown’s 82-yard TD run — he sawdaylight and outran the secondary.

• Alumni return: Former UM stars Mike Hart, LaMarr Woodley and Desmond Howard were on hand.

• Injury report: Sophomore DE Ryan Van Bergen left the game with an apparent knee injury.

Contact Matt Markey at:

mmarkey@theblade.com

or 419-724-6510.