November 1st, 2015 at 1:21 AM ^
Yeah, it's hard to defend that one. Competition and all that, but still. It's one thing taking a redshirt off Higdon since he's an RB, we have bodies there, and RBs are more likely to be college ready as freshmen.
On the plus side, I guess Newsome must be developing well if he's seeing the field as a freshman.
Is this possibly bad news for the development of our other tackles? LTT is gone. Are we a bit thin at tackle?
November 1st, 2015 at 6:36 AM ^
I would guess that Harbaugh and the coaches know more about the depth chart and who should be playing than you do.
November 1st, 2015 at 8:15 AM ^
I knew that comment was coming. God forbid I might think Harbaugh has made a single non-optimal coaching decision in his life. I'm pretty sure at least half this board would be fine with Alabama-style oversigning if Harbaugh won like Saban. How much bitching has there been on here about Hoke burning redshirts?
November 1st, 2015 at 8:31 AM ^
There was attrition during the coaching change when Kyle Bosch transferred. LTT got kicked off the team. It wasn't mentioned above by the OP, but it looked like Henry Poggi did not travel and play yesterday. We need bodies to block in our jumbo sets, and Harbaugh owes it to the team to put the best players on the field. If that is Newsome, then unfortunately he had to play. I am assuming the coaches would have played Blake Bars or Bushell-Beatty if any of them were better than Newsome. I am guessing the coaches tried multiple players at that spot during the week of practice, and Newsome probably earned it. This wasn't some spur of the moment decision.
November 1st, 2015 at 9:01 AM ^
But, but that's so rational! We cannot abide by that kind of logical thinking on MGoBlog
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November 1st, 2015 at 9:58 AM ^
So you are saying Speight has passed Morris on the depth chart? Otherwise Morris would have played last night.
November 1st, 2015 at 10:08 AM ^
kind of think the writing is on the wall with Morris. I feel bad for the kid but it doesn't look like it is happening here. A left handed QB does change the dynamic of the OL. I wonder if that has anything to do with it.
November 1st, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^
This is so according to Coach Harbaugh's comments after the game.
November 1st, 2015 at 6:37 PM ^
And that's a fine reply without being a dick about it. I never said it was a spur of the moment decision though.
November 1st, 2015 at 8:31 AM ^
And I did the same thing when Gibbs came back to coach the Skins. I completely dropped the right to question any of his moves. It actually added to the fan experience.
November 1st, 2015 at 8:45 AM ^
Just in principle these comments are brutal, just stupid. It is a comment board. You're supposed to give your opinions. It's a given that the coaches know more than we do. So instead of arguing with you, this person just states the obvious. Incredible that 16 additional people (as of now) actually thought that was worth doing.
That said, I really like ndhillon's "Yep. Guilty." comment above about just going into full unquestioning acolyte mode -- I might try that...
November 1st, 2015 at 9:22 AM ^
is something I've found galling. A lot of hindsight analysis, based more on playing video games than dealing with human players. When one of our staff writers does analysis claiming that Joe Bolden or James Ross should have been redshirted, then this decision does look ridiculous in comparison. Perhaps this just illustrates that the criticism of Hoke in this regard was ill founded.
November 1st, 2015 at 10:53 AM ^
Exactly. The complaining about burned red shirts is really dumb in my opinion. Would it be nice to redshirt everyone? Sure. But that's rarely feasible. You need to win games, and that takes a lot of bodies over the course of the year. And we want to win next year, and that's easier when the guys we rely on have seen the field already. If guys can play, they should play. Harbaugh should not be thinking about how this will affect 2019 when making a decision.
November 1st, 2015 at 11:32 AM ^
It is not burning a redshirt if he's the best guy on the field or the next best one in. The coaches see 100s of practice snaps that we, the fans, do not see. Harbaugh is being paid $5M to win games....now. That includes playing the best players. You have absolutely no basis to question this decision...unless of course you've been privy to the previously mentioned 100s of practice snaps.
November 1st, 2015 at 6:38 PM ^
Rich Rod was here making millions of dollars and knows more about football than any of us. You think we can't question his decision not to recruit OL?
November 1st, 2015 at 9:25 AM ^
truuu
November 1st, 2015 at 9:54 AM ^
Cole should be playing guard or center. Its the right move for next year
November 1st, 2015 at 1:20 AM ^
Harbaugh has said if a freshman earns it he will play. Wouldn;t be shocking if he is starting next year.
November 1st, 2015 at 5:30 AM ^
the best players play. Don't doubt the Baugh! Shut the face.
November 1st, 2015 at 11:54 AM ^
Sammy??
November 1st, 2015 at 7:48 AM ^
He also said that as a general rule, OL and QBs are the two positions that are exceptions to that statement. Burning the redshirt is quite a surprise, but as others have said, Jim knows the depth chart situation much better than any of us.
November 1st, 2015 at 8:42 AM ^
you don't think Shane is the second best QB ? OK
November 1st, 2015 at 9:24 AM ^
Actually, I dont. The fact that Morris didn't have the shirt removed yesterday is probably an indication that he's not the second best QB on the team.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^
Harbaugh himself said that there is a difference between this years short-term backup and long term backup. If Rudock cant go I would be shocked if Speight started.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:20 AM ^
Harbaugh wants to win. If you can help the team he wants them on the field.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:26 AM ^
We all want to win. This is just a surprise.
November 1st, 2015 at 8:33 AM ^
Newsome is listed as the backup LT on our depth chart. The likelihood we were going to need him to play this year was very high. We have been very lucky with relative good health on the offensive side of the ball until this week. With Poggi out, I am guessing that changed things for the coaching staff this past week.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:31 AM ^
No one is denying that... The point is whether his contribution in this game or for the remaining of the year warrants him burning his red shirt this year. It is a short term vs long term argument.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:42 AM ^
So does this mean that since Morris' redshirt wasn't removed today that Speight would be Harbaugh's first choice backup QB regardless of Morris' redshirt status?
November 1st, 2015 at 3:18 AM ^
Yes, actually. That's exactly what it means. Watch the press conference.
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November 1st, 2015 at 8:42 AM ^
Where would I find that? Usually, an audio version is a available shortly after the game on mgoblue.
November 1st, 2015 at 6:53 AM ^
Yeah, I think this was the ultimate confirmation. I like Morris--seems like a good kid--but he may be looking at a transfer.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:20 AM ^
That's one area I'm confident going forward. We will recruit o-line.
It would have been LTT but obviously he bungled that one.
November 1st, 2015 at 4:11 AM ^
I don't even know if it would've been LTT...they were neck and neck at the start of the year and the only reason LTT played against Utah was because it was so close and they had a shot to redshirt Newsome.
However, even with LTT on the team I'm not sure Newsome wouldn't be the clear cut backup LT at this point in the season. Especially after a bye week.
I tried to say this when LTT got kicked off and people yelled and said it was an excuse...now a number of people in this very thread are talking about Newsome starting next year.
IMO, that was always the case. It's not like he was an early enrollee...he got it to neck and neck in fall camp and fall camp only. By this time he easily should've been ahead and by next year, yes, he may be in the starting rotation. Maybe at LT pushing Cole to C.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:22 AM ^
Likely due to LTT's ultra boneheaded drunken move. Still a bit strange though, it seems like Dawson could've been the 6th OL on that heavy set. On the bright side this probably says great things about Newsome's development.
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November 1st, 2015 at 1:34 AM ^
I think calling it a ultra bonehead drunken move diminishes the crime he committed.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:31 AM ^
have you read about what actually happened? I think boneheaded is a very accurate way to describe it.
November 1st, 2015 at 4:22 AM ^
Newsome WAS in on more plays than people realize on this board.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:23 AM ^
Not sure why you do this with the large number of other linemen on the roster, seems like a waste. Higdon makes sense,Kinnel makes sense if you squint. This just doesn't seem like the right move.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:27 AM ^
Silly rabbit: are you really questioning Jim Harbaugh?
November 1st, 2015 at 1:28 AM ^
Where the hell was Higdon tonight? Or T.I. for that matter?
November 1st, 2015 at 1:33 AM ^
If he is and can nail receivers downfield on a regular basis, a completely new dimension is added and watch that running game take off like a rocket.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:35 AM ^
Rudock is the starting QB.
Period.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:41 AM ^
Assuming he's fine to play next week, then yes. Didn't look like anything too serious, but I haven't heard anything about it yet.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:51 AM ^
Just gettin' a little pumped up about seeing a tall Michigan qb, cool and calm in the pocket and able to do things in the red zone that we expect as our birthright that Michigan QB's should do. It's been a while.
November 1st, 2015 at 5:35 AM ^
He did have a little swag about him there towards the end. Evidently his play followed. Nice to see. He still doens't get the nod over Ruddock. Sorry dudes!
November 1st, 2015 at 11:12 AM ^
Thanks coach.
November 1st, 2015 at 7:45 AM ^
Rudock gives Harbaugh the ability to call 3 plays and get into the right one on the line of scrimmage. I think that is why we have seen Jake as the starter...he gives us a schematic advantage. Rudock's limitations are frustrating
November 1st, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^
Uh, Rudock is the starter and will play and be the starting QB if healthy enough to play. He has been the clear #1 for a reason. OK, he has flaws in his game.
It amazes me to see the Speight love in a number of comments/threads post-game... after ONE good series. Admittedly, he came through in the clutch when it counted. Congrats to him! Yet, prior to that, he looked awfully raw.
He obviously is developing, as he has passed Morris on the depth chart. A good thing. Yet, this reminds me of last year when some were clamoring for Morris to play in place of Gardner. That didn't turn out well.
November 1st, 2015 at 1:28 AM ^
If you watch his highlight when he was in, he blow his defender up, pushing them almost 5 yard down the field