Lions: Jake Rudock 'light years' ahead of Brad Kaaya in backup QB race

Submitted by boliver46 on

Interesting article highlighting the advantages Jake Rudock has in Lion's training camp:

Jake Rudock’s one year of experience in offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter’s system has given him a big edge in his competition with rookie Brad Kaaya, according to Detroit Lions senior writer Tim Twentyman.

Apparently he has picked up the Offensive scheme, and is performing well in the backup role:

“Rudock’s experience and knowledge of Jim Bob Cooter’s scheme is light years ahead of Kaaya’s right now, and that’s shown on the field in minicamp,” Twentyman wrote. “Rudock appears to have clearly established himself as the No. 2 quarterback heading into training camp.”

Hopefully, he can continue to remain ahead of the pack as the article highlights what lurks behind him:

Kaaya’s a more physically gifted quarterback, and if he can improve as quickly within the system as Rudock did this time last year, it could be a much closer race at the end of training camp than it was at the beginning.

Link

RUUUUUDDDDDDOOOOOCCCCCKKKKKK!!!!

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ColeIsCorky

June 19th, 2017 at 1:28 PM ^

If Rudock would have had a full year performing like he did in the final 5 games of 2016 (and stayed healthy), we would have went undefeated heading into the Playoffs and had a clear shot at the Nat'l Championship. Iowa and Ohio St. were both played by a broken Speight (at least by the end of the Iowa game) and still was a walk-off field goal and a couple officiating calls away from an undefeated regular season.

That being said, I really liked what I saw from Speight, and I think he's going to surprise some doubters this year. The injury was extremely unfortunate but shows what kind of toughess Speight has in him. If the O-line can be efficient and at least mediocre, I think we are going to be very happy with our offensive production. There are weapons all over the field.

Joined: 11/15/2016

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Perkis-Size Me

June 19th, 2017 at 11:48 AM ^

Agreed. If we had an OL that could perform in crunch time, we bleed the clock and win the OSU game. Hands down. Barrett doesn't get another chance to get back on the field. 

QBs, more often than not, only go as far as their OL can take them. I'd rather have an elite OL and an average QB than the other way around. If you have an OL that can buy you all the time you need in the pocket, or open up any running lane you need, then you've got it made. 

Joined: 11/30/2011

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dragonchild

June 19th, 2017 at 2:47 PM ^

There isn't one.  No such thing.  It's a retconned myth of sorts, that I'm convinced came about because the data shows successful offenses tend to have better Time of Possession.  That is true.  But emphasizing ToP puts the cart in front of the horse.  ToP is an effect of marching across the field, not turning the ball over, and having a good defense.  If you go run-run-pass-punt on every drive against  a defense prepared to stop it, you're not going to get much ToP.  As an aside, you won't score either.  Oh, and just as a bit of meaningless trivia, you'll tend to lose.

There is such a thing as a grind-it-out offense, but that's as much a product of limitations and advantages as anything else.  Again, when you're just trying to get a damned Rutgers game over with because you're up 50 and the other side just isn't stopping anything, you're going to rack up ToP with all these 7-, 10-, 12-yard runs.  You'll also score almost 80 points.  Harbaugh went MANBALL at Stanford because it was something he could do with what he had to mess with what he was up against.  Today's offenses have their pick of speedsters and option QBs with not much interest in an Owen Marecic, and today's defenses weren't conditioned to defend a super-heavy package with six offensive linemen, tight ends and a fullback.  So they'd grind because that's what they were good at.  But when Luck had a wide-open TE running up the seam for a quick score, the ball went there.

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uncle leo

June 19th, 2017 at 11:34 AM ^

Duh? (not at you, OP, at the article).

Rudock played a lot of preseason and has been a professional for a full year.

Kaaya just got drafted. 

Should we expect any different?? I would be stunned if Kaaya was past Rudock at any point. And if he is more gifted than Jake, I would expect him to move up the depth chart as he learns the system.

Joined: 07/29/2012

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boliver46

June 19th, 2017 at 11:50 AM ^

there is a school of thought that you want your higher drafted players to eventually "be the guy".

With Kaaya's physical skills, where he was drafted, age, etc., I can imagine some would want him to get the snaps a Backup would get...

Joined: 09/14/2012

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Lou MacAdoo

June 19th, 2017 at 11:52 AM ^

In defense of Tim, he has to write something in the offseason. What I'd like to hear is that his downfield accuracy has improved. Anytime he had to throw it downfield, or put a little mustard on it, it would sail on him.

Joined: 10/16/2011

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Hotel Putingrad

June 19th, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^

I am not a Stafford hater at all. I think he's a very good quarterback and easily the best the Lions have had in my lifetime. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit tempted to not extend him and use that money at other positions while giving Jake the keys to the offense.

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