TheTruth41

October 7th, 2013 at 4:13 PM ^

You can do a lot of weight training and cardio while rehabbing an ACL injury.

When I played sports I was never in 'game shape' until I actually played my first game.  I prepared for it but you can never simulate a game with practice as far as a physical toll goes.  Every single year I played football the first game of the year was always the toughest on my body but after that every game never felt that bad.  For me, no amount of training could replace actually playing the game.

I doubt a guy like Jake would do rehab to get his knee back to cleared strength and wait to do all his cardio until that happened.  I'm sure he's been doing both so that everything lines up to where if he's cleared, he's physically ready, mentally ready, and he's done all he can do cardio wise.

Danwillhor

October 7th, 2013 at 7:55 PM ^

and by "game shape" it's more trusting his twice damaged knee while in full contact as well as getting back to playing actual football at football speed. Cleared to play is just saying his knee is healed enough to play and not that he is necessarily ready. Yet, could be wrong. Just seemed to me that even this last week on the sideline his leg/walking looked a tad stiff. Kind if how a guy walks right after twisting an ankle, etc. I'd bet we see him in a couple weeks, maybe the November gauntlet. Again, could be wrong.

LSAClassOf2000

October 7th, 2013 at 1:16 PM ^

I know last week they seemed pretty hopeful and we're involving him more and more in practice, according to reports, so this is excellent news indeed. Hopefully, the JMFR 2013 campaign is allowed to commence at Penn State, even if in a limited fashion. 

reshp1

October 7th, 2013 at 1:24 PM ^

Presumably, cleared to play and cleared for padded, full contact practice happened concurrently. I'd think he needs at least a couple weeks of practice to get back up to game speed. That said, it'd be nice if we can get out to a healthy lead against Penn St so he can take some low pressure snaps to get back into the swing of things.

Section 1

October 7th, 2013 at 1:33 PM ^

If Ryan does not dress, is he allowed to travel to Pennsylvania with the team?  Does he count against travel-squad numbers if he travels with the team but does not dress?  Could Ryan hop in a car and drive to State College on his own, not dress, and not count against travel squad numbers?

Seeing Taylor Lewan act like an on-field coach last week (that is a subject deserving of a thread all its own), I do think that team captains play a significant role in away games.  If Ryan were to be hurried into a uniform, I'd have to think that "leadership" would be a big part of the decision.

m1jjb00

October 7th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^

So, I could be imagining things; it wouldn't be the first time.  But, I think I remember seeing him come out with the captains at the UConn game.

Belisarius

October 7th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^

Being a true freshman QB is a lot less of  aproblem when you are A.) An elite talent, B.) throwing to an elite WR, and C.) Facing a team with no pass rush. Right now that's check, check and check. Which in not to say that we WILL need him at PSU, but on the road, in a very hostile environment, we may. But your statement was broader than that, and if you don't think we'll need him against MSU, or maybe even to generate some pass rush against pass-happy Indiana, I don't know what to say. 

Michigan4Life

October 7th, 2013 at 8:25 PM ^

constant movement with tons of cutting and jumping on any given moment while football, there's a short quick burst movement with very few cuts.  I'd hold off longer in basketball as opposed to football for this reason.  Beside Rose wanted to make sure that there is no setback and does not rush early only to reinjure himself.  The Bulls were playing well without him anyway.

1464

October 7th, 2013 at 2:02 PM ^

I agree.  There is a 101% chance that Jake will play this weekend.  Since Jake always plays at 110%, my calculations show that there is a 91.8181...% chance of him actually seeing the field. 

Why float that bit of information if you are not going to act on it?  It'd be like a cut scene showing a gun under the table in a mob movie, only to not have that play into the scene.  It's not like it forces PSU to gameplan differently.  He's an impact player, but his is not a position you really tend to play away from, right?