Michigan's Biff Poggi optimistic Rod Moore will see game action against Nebraska

It’s the big question facing Michigan each week: Is this the week that safety Rod Moore makes his triumphant return to the field after not playing in a game for well over a year due to a knee injury he suffered during the spring last season?

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Perhaps this week is the week, as acting head coach Biff Poggi provided another positive update on the senior who continues to trend in the right direction.

“Rod is really progressing well,” Poggi said. “We’re going to arm wrestle after this, but Rod’s progressing well. Could have played this past week, but I really think you’ll see Rod this week at Nebraska.”

Naturally, when discussing Moore’s return, what does his role look like with the defensive back group moving forward, and will he be physically ready to play extended snaps?

Poggi says the program will focus on putting Moore in situations where they know he will be successful and not put him at risk.

Despite Moore’s extended absence, the staff has an immense amount of trust in the captain to go out and perform once his number is called.

“Rod has maybe one of the highest football IQs in the building, and now of course there’s rust to knock off, right?” Poggi said. “But we’ll try not to put him in situations that are — we’ll manage reps and all those kinds of things because, listen, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. We don’t ever want to put him in a situation that’s bad for him, certainly physically or emotionally or mentally, but I gotta tell you something, if you had to take a guy that hadn’t played a while and throw him in a game, it’d be that dude.”