How good can Jake Rudock be?
There was a diary several days ago about how productive Rudock or Morris could be. It compared Jake to other UM's senior QBs of the past. I am not sure that is very useful because so many factors have to be taken into account. It is very difficult to predict either QBs' likely performance but more so for Morris because we have so little evidence. However, we have a lot of evidence about Jake
The best way to predict how Jake is likely to perform is to look at this own progress: Here are his numbers from the last two years:
2013: games: 13 Effic: 126.5 A/C/Int: 204-346-13 %: 59.0 Yrds: 2383 TD: 18 Av: 183.3
2014: games: 12 Effic: 133.5 A/C/Int: 213-345-5 %: 61.7 Yrds: 2436 TD: 16 Av: 203.
Jake made substantial improvements. Still, I cannot understand why he was benched. If he continues the same improvement (especially under Harbaugh), he should be 2nd All BIG next year and better than most QBs, including the 2014 version of Conner Cook.
Here are the figures for Conner:
2013: 14 135.53 223-380-6 58.7 2755 22 196.8
2014: 13 149.4 212-365-8 58.1 3214 24 247.2
I understand that Conner had good supporting casts both years, but I think UM's offensive supporting cast of 2015 is not that much below MSU's cast of 2013/2014.
If he makes the same progress as he did from 2013 to 2014, we should see a significant improvement in our offensive output. May be 10 wins.
Could definitely see him losing the job midyear if Harbaugh thinks Gentry or Morris is the future.
Shane would be a better fit in 2015 if we had WRs who are a vertical threat. Since we don't, I think we have to go with the steady Rudock, who can convert 3rd downs and not turn the ball over. If the O-Line continues its 2014 improvement, I think 2nd team all BIG for Rudock is a realistic goal. And if that occurs, 10 wins is also realistic. In turn, our recruiting would absolutely blow up (in a good way) if we win 10 in Harbaugh's first year.
Personally, I think the opposite. If Shane wins the job then that means he's improved immensely and earned it. We know what Rudock is - game manager that will limit mistakes. If Shane wins, it means Harbaugh thinks that we are better with Morris in. Rudock as a game manager is our baseline for the Qb position and it's not a wretched place to be.
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I don't know, three of the top 10 are in Columbus, Cook is a shoo-in for top five as well. So having someone in the top 10 means they're at least close to the top half of starters in the conference. Not wretched I guess.
You've seen him play, like, twice in a real game both in sketchy circumstances. First, in a bowl game where he actually I thought played fine for freshman playing for the sole reason that the starter was hurt. And you saw him v Minny and he got a week with the first team. I still think Morris will win the job
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Are you anticipating that Michigan will lose a number of games were Rudock be the QB and thus a change of pace will be required? I ask because mid-season is MSU week and I can't think of any good reason to change horses midstream if you're fixing to ford some rough water and the horse you're riding has been getting the job done. Or are you of the mind that whomever will gain some great experience from the sideline?
I don't think it will be losing, but just look at SF where Smith was doing fine and he gets replaced by Kaepernick after going down with an injury for a game. Not saying it's going to happen, just that I wouldn't be surprised if someone overtakes Rudock during the season and starts. Unlikely for MSU, but the next few games would be a great time to get a new QB good experience. Ruddock can't be the future since he's only got a year, so if someone else is equal to him, it makes more sense to start them.
Magnus has hinted there wont be a rs for Gentry. There are QBs across the country starting as rs fr in their 2nd year without any playing time as true freshman so if that is accurate it would lead me to believe Harbaugh is really not impressed with Shane or Speight or Malzone. We'll see.
If there is any switch or platoon brought out I think it doesnt happen until post MSU/@Minn. At home v rutgers followed by that HS defense that Indiana brings out every year the next week seem like the spots to do it. So that is week 9 and 10. On the road vs a feisty and well coached Minn defense doesnt make sense to me.
If UM blows out UNLV like it should it will be interesting who (a) the 2nd QB is in and (c) if a 3rd QB plays (and the 2nd is Morris) in the 4th Q will it be Malzone or Gentry.
If Morris is equal to Rudock in late October it stands to reason he would have been his equal in September. Or are you predicting that either or both Morris gets better on the sideline while Rudock regresses on the field?
Please though, don't try to extrapolate what happened to an NFL team and apply it to a college team. The circumstances are never the same not to mention the game is different. I think if you asked him, Harbough would tell you that you play the games this season for this season, next year will take care of itself.
Not saying it will happen, but Harbaugh has shown a willingness to switch QBs midseason and if he feels they provide an equal chance to win this year, he could switch Ruddock for Gentry or Morris.
Morris has never so much as led a TD drive in his career, even though he's been given enough chances that he should have at least one under his belt by now if he were any good. Rudock has led several, and he's done so in some high pressure situations. Hands down, he's our starter.
This. I get that people have been rooting for Morris ever snce he came into Michigan as a pseudo-5 star local recruit, but the notion that Morris will drastically get better under Harbaugh while Rudock just stays the same is absurd.
If they both get an equal amount of boost from Harbaugh, Rudock still comes out on top. Shit even if Morris gets a better boost from Harbaugh, Rudock is still better.
Not to mention he has a ton of competition on his ass; Gentry, O'Korn, and Peters all seem to have higher ceilings.
Wouldn't shock me if Speight transferred (or rode out his stay seeing as how he comes from money), Malzone was a career bench-rider, and Morris sticks it out until the end fighting for playing time. Either way (and I'm no expert, just reading the tea leaves from how things appear to be shaping up), I'm not sure if football is in Shane's future...
... But he will certainly have his shot to prove us all wrong.
However, we can all agree on this - WHO CARES WHO OUR QUARTERBACK IS... as long as we WIN.
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Morris and money weren't mentioned together.
One against Kansas State in the 2013 bowl game and one against Minnesota. No, he hasn't looked good but the offense struggled for much of the last two years with Gardner so I wouldn't read too much into it.
I agree, though, that Ruddock is most likely the starter. However, I don't think Harbaugh is going to hesitate to play someone else if he thinks they'll play better.
I wouldn't pretend to know how things will turn out for Shane. I'm cautiously optimistic. The one thing that did strike me, while watching his limited playing time, was that he seemed smaller and more slight than the average gun-slinging pocket-passer type. Is this perception accurate? Or no?
With a good runing game we can win 8-10 games next year with Rudock and a couple of breaks. I think the O-line will keep progressing. Its the running backs that worry me.
Our two big backs haven't got the job done. Drake at the end of last year was the best back M has had for several years. I hope he comes back in good form or Ty Issac is the real deal.
I think he'll end up meeting the high side of expectations. O-Line should be good and he has an excellent QB coach.
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Not really. He may have been ahead, but the reports out of camp weren't that great for any of the QBs on the roster. That said, he did throw a TD pass in the spring game, and looked better than anyone else. Personally I'd rather Morris set the world on fire, but he just might not be the best qb on the roster this fall. Morris has the summer to improve and the competition is good for him, but he has to learn not to throw interceptions in games. I think having a more experienced QB on the roster will help. I think Morris sits more this year and is a great senior QB next year.
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I'm not sure he will beat OSU but I think he will have a chance against MSU! Who knows, JH could have that magic season like Bo did in '69! Then it will be playoffs forever, or until JH retires or leaves.