Shane holding his own?
Fogive me if this isn't relevant (as it is a tweet of an opinion of a person who knew of a friend that saw) and oh this is my first post so i get a mulligan if i shank it ..
But according to Gregg Henson the battle is going strong, and looks like Morris is leading
https://twitter.com/gregghenson
Just got word that Morris is better than Rudock, I am stunned. https://t.co/udj7uc8kko
— Gregg Henson (@GreggHenson) August 9, 2015
Just telling you what people WHO ARE THERE are telling me. Feel free not to follow. https://t.co/kFTtCdShel
— Gregg Henson (@GreggHenson) August 10, 2015
August 10th, 2015 at 8:40 PM ^
Harbaugh started a mediocre fifth-year-senior game-manager type in his first season at Stanford (Ostrander), rather then the higher-risk-higher-payoff sophomore Pritchard (who actually did start and win the famous USC game when Ostrander went down in practice). So I don't think there is the evidence that Harbaugh likes to gamble out of the gate. He did alternate Pritchard and Ostrander by the end of that first year.
August 10th, 2015 at 3:33 PM ^
August 10th, 2015 at 3:45 PM ^
August 10th, 2015 at 3:57 PM ^
August 10th, 2015 at 7:06 PM ^
about your exposure to Iowa football.
August 10th, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^
Rudock just got here. Expect Rudock and his experience will pull him ahead before the end of camp.
August 10th, 2015 at 3:22 PM ^
August 10th, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^
I think I have PTSD from all the "He had a great week of practice" statements last year.
August 10th, 2015 at 1:49 PM ^
If that's true, we're in deep shit. Morris wasn't even a viable backup last year, looked like a JV player playing varisty for the first time.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:43 PM ^
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August 10th, 2015 at 5:57 PM ^
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August 10th, 2015 at 1:49 PM ^
August 10th, 2015 at 2:31 PM ^
August 10th, 2015 at 1:53 PM ^
Don't believe the hype guys. There's no way in the world Harbaugh would open on the road with a guy who's thrown 0 TDs and 5 INTs over his career when he has a 5th year senior who was a 2-year starter in the Big Ten and has thrown 34 TDs and 18 INTs. Barring Rudock's arm literally falling off his body, there's just no way Shane starts at Utah, and there's a good possibility he never starts a game for Michigan again.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:00 PM ^
While I think Rudock is the guy, Harbaugh would start a guy who outperforms the other during practice regardless of past issues. It's a new year, Rudock may very well not be able to gel with the team as well as Shane has at this point.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:26 PM ^
There's more to it than how you perform in practice. This is a real game, on the road, in a new system, with a new coach, and huge national spotlight on the team's performance. Rudock has played in many high pressure situations and thrown 34 TDs in college. That's 34 more than all other QBs on our roster combined. Barring injury, there is no scenario under which he doesn't start that game.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:43 PM ^
Say Rudock is not comfortable or maybe isn't adjusting as quickly as everyone hoped. Shane has experience with the WRs and is adapting to the changes well. You're still saying that Rudock starts because of last year even in this situation, which is where we disagree.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:59 PM ^
August 10th, 2015 at 3:11 PM ^
Your argument would only make sense if I weren't limiting my argument to the first game of the season.
August 10th, 2015 at 4:50 PM ^
August 10th, 2015 at 2:04 PM ^
Thanks for your wise insights on the matter.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:41 PM ^
He is a man who knows. There s no possibility that anyone would be that dogmatic if there was a chance he could be wrong.
August 10th, 2015 at 6:35 PM ^
There are plenty of people who are dogmatic who end up being wrong. In facrt, most people whoa re dogmatic do end up being wrong.
SpaceCoyote knows his football,but I don't know if he has any more of an idea of who will start than anyone else.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:13 PM ^
you're wrong. I still believe we haven't seen nearly the best from Morris due to the crappy way he's been coached and the poor situations he's been thrown into. Let's see how he does with superior coaching and a good offensive system in place. Also, given a choice, I'd rather see a man from Michigan who's been loyal to the program since a sophomore in H.S. get the job vs someone who's spent most of their college career at Iowa. But, my caveat here is that I wish this AS LONG AS Morris gives us the best chance of winning. If Rudock beats him out, so be it.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:19 PM ^
The rationality of your argument really won me over.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^
Totally agree. Shane would have to come out being someone completely different from the Shane of the last 2-3 years. He'd have to be Rudock.
Reality: Coach Clapper had no interest in QBs and the fact that a5* (albeit overrated) lifelong Michigan fan QB was in his backyard made it easy. He could focus on doing other things...not very well.
Shane missed his senior season, received no instruction from Clapper and his staff, and was thrown into shit situations. Ain't no coming back from that, ask Russell Belomy.
Don't cry for Shane, I'm sure he's killing it with that hairdoo and saying he's the backup QB with the coeds.
August 10th, 2015 at 6:00 PM ^
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August 10th, 2015 at 6:25 PM ^
August 10th, 2015 at 2:40 PM ^
if Shane beats out Ruddock, Shane will start. The short time Harbaugh has been here all he has preached is competition. What kind of message is it going to send to the team if Shane is the better QB but Ruddock is the starter?
August 10th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
But I don''t think I'll be using this info to sell my point.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:17 PM ^
Have you written about why you think that? Would be interesting to see considering Morris has done little on the field to stand out compared to Rudock.
August 10th, 2015 at 3:14 PM ^
Morris has as much arm talent as anyone in college football. Not just in terms of rocket arm, but you saw him throw some fade routes that, despite having a high trajectory, got on the receivers almost instantly. When he has his mechanics, he can make any throw you ask of him: deep outs to the far sideline, deep streaks, intermediate digs, the playbook is completely open. The ceiling is through the roof.
Rudock doesn't have that. He has a meh arm that you generally want to allow him to roll out to threaten the far side of the field (not much of an issue in a PA-heavy offense). He gets a lot out of his mechanics, but that's about the extent of it. He can't really push the ball deep well, both in terms of his arm and apparently the mental part of the game. He's a nice floor. If things are rocky, he's a nice stabalizing force. He's a nice player.
Harbaugh wants to win. He's also extremely cocky and thinks he can make wine from water, and QBs from, well, not QBs. If he perceives a guy has a higher upside, he's going to prove that he can bring out that upside. And there's a good chance he will.
From a coach's perspective, particularly a QB coach's perspective, you see Morris and you salivate. The opportunity to work with those skills, to mold those skills, to see a player with those skills reach their potential... Harbaugh wants to do that as much as anyone. On top of that, Morris has worked with these receivers longer, he understands how they run routes even beyond just the system. He's also been in the system longer. He's more familiar with everything about the program and the school and his teammates.
I see Morris play, and this spring really did a lot for him confidence-wise. His body language is still good despite everything that's happened. If that translates to at least some confidence on game day, I believe he's the guy. Unless he's totally wrecked, I beleive he's the guy. Because I believe Harbaugh wants him to be the guy, because I believe Harbaugh believes he can get the most out of him. That means calling plays that may be a bit safer to marginalize the weaknesses. But you get Morris's confidence up and you coach him up, and this is a completely different team. Rudock is nice, but Harbaugh doesn't want to be nice, he doesn't want to stop-gap. He wants to change Michigan, and Morris gives that potential, at least until/if he proves he doesn't.
But to start, I believe it will be Morris.
August 10th, 2015 at 3:40 PM ^
August 10th, 2015 at 4:16 PM ^
I'm not sure what competitive sports you've played, but generally, having success gives people confidence, regardless of the competition. It's game action, in full pads, full contact (with half a line), and you're seeing the ball leave your hand and be placed perfectly where a receiver catches it in a game situation in front of fans. Yes, that gives confidence going into the summer, which hopefully only grows from there.
As far as the juggernaut vs game manager and what Michigan needs, you can turn that both ways. This offense won't be a juggernaut, so it needs any upside it can get to score points. Stretch the field, open up the game for the run, and play good defense.
I also want the best QB to win the job; not just the best now, but the best for the program. I don't wish one over the other. But I do believe that, following fall camp, Harbaugh will believe Morris will give the team the best chance to succeed, both this season and for the program as a whole.
August 10th, 2015 at 4:10 PM ^
I am pulling for Shane for exactly those reasons. The dude has a rocket launcher. Rudock does not excite me, although given the past few years of TO prone QBs he probably should. I think Shane will be the starter at Utah.
August 10th, 2015 at 5:13 PM ^
Space Coyote, a couple people have mentioned that Morris throws a more difficult ball to catch, and that's why it's so often dropped. I'm more in the "if it hits your hands, catch it" camp myself, but do you think there is any merit to that contention, or has Morris just had some bad luck?
August 10th, 2015 at 6:42 PM ^
Morris certainly puts more RPMs on the ball than Michigan's previous QBs, and he is left-handed, which changes things a bit, but receivers should be able to get used to that and it shouldn't be a problem. I thought the INT Morris had in the Spring Game was completely on the WR and was actually a really good throw by Morris, FWIW.
August 10th, 2015 at 7:53 PM ^
August 10th, 2015 at 2:00 PM ^
I like how everyone was all hyped about competition, and now that we get word that Shane Morris is winning said competition everyone seems a little on edge, scared even.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:04 PM ^
Regardless of who starts... I'm glad it is competitive. If Rudock IS in fact THE guy, and his reputation is a high floor and low celieng.. I think id want him in the most vicious dog fight ever, have him work his ass off to up his game instead of walking into a QB gift box
August 10th, 2015 at 2:17 PM ^
Personally, if Shane comes out of the fall winning the knife-fight for playing time, I think it's the best case senario for this year and the next. Ceiling gets raised significantly for the season.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:24 PM ^
Or he could be our own Jacory Harris... aka shows promise only to crumble under inconsistency and the "return of M football" (Harris' case was return of "Hurricane football")
August 10th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
Confounder in that analogy: competant coaching. I don't think the winner of the QB battle gets the nod from Harbaugh without being able to handle pressure and avoid multiple crushing, game changing TO's. I usually hated the 'trust the coaches' mantra under Hoke/Borges because neither had a great track record to earn that...but Harbuagh does. If he says Morris won the battle, I expect it to be because it 'clicked' with Morris this off season and he's ready to roll.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:31 PM ^
I also like how everyone is desperate for any sort of practice infobits, and then a good one comes out, and the response is "just dismiss anything from first week of pads."
August 10th, 2015 at 2:44 PM ^
Everyone is depserate? That means I also am desperate? Thanks for telling me, man. I had no clue. I thought that I thought that the whole "submarine" idea was excellent, and was willing to wait.
August 10th, 2015 at 3:43 PM ^
You certainly are desperate to be pedantic.
August 10th, 2015 at 5:03 PM ^
Mocking hysteria isn't pedantic, it's merely realistic.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:01 PM ^
On the first day of pads, the guy who's been running the playbook since March looks better than the guy who's been running the playbook since last week. Color me suprised.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:02 PM ^
No matter, If it's Shane or Rudock, or even Soeight, Malzone etc. I don't care, just let them be good!
I suspect there is a lot of evaluation to come, especially in 11 on 11 full scrimmage. So, my POV is its too early to tell if all they have done is pad less transition practices.
Please Lord, give us a gamer and a winner at QB to lead this team and I don't care what his name is!