Rudock as a holder on FGs?

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

Could just be something Harbaugh threw in there to mess with the BTN guys, but this would add a very interesting element to FGs and XPs that hasn't been here in a long time.

After obsessively rewinding and looking for something, anything from the BTN practice footage, I noticed this.

 

 

Jake Rudock as a holder on FGs. Kenny Allen was the holder last year IIRC. There was a shot of Kenny Allen holding for Andrew David kicking. 

If Michigan has a QB holding on field goals, that brings in a legit passing threat for a potential fake. Just something I thought was interesting that I'd share.

 

getsome

August 20th, 2015 at 5:42 PM ^

most college QBs will hold kicks at some point during fall practice.  

at least hold a few to get comfortable with the process in case the coaches want / need that particular QB to hold during games.  and multiple bodies holding means multiple snappers and kickers repping at the same time (its not like its some high school with only 1 set of uprights).  plus it engages QBs during during special teams blocks.

not saying who will or wont handle snaps, just some logical reasons for putting your QBs through the paces

seanay17

August 20th, 2015 at 9:41 PM ^

It is the new trend to use the punter as the field goal holder. Although quarterbacks may have the "tools" (hands, ability to react to bad snaps etc) to be better holders, the punters usually become more comfortable with the long snappers because they spend the majority of time together during practice. Here's a video showing myself, and our longsnapper quaility (one handed "trick" hold) field goal operation.https://youtu.be/dI-x-rTO6xA

 

LSAClassOf2000

August 20th, 2015 at 5:53 PM ^

As for myself, I personally think that having a QB depth chart that has to be printed on a plotter is not a bad problem to have, but like someone said, I also kind of like the notion of building a potential fake into the formation. 

I did laugh though - August is usually the worst month for depth chart speculation, especially now that we're being given exactly zero meaningful insight into it (and of course, we're never really given insight because the depth chart may or may not be the depth chart).

AZBlue

August 20th, 2015 at 6:07 PM ^

This could be part of the trick "FG on 1st down" play that was developed but never utilized during the Borges-Era. No way MSU would EVER expect a FG try on first and goal from the 1. Al spent a lot of time developing the concept with one Charlie Weis I am told.

Brightside

August 21st, 2015 at 1:45 PM ^

My then 5 year old nephew beat me repeatedly with the fake fieldgoal...  At the snap he would run back30 yards so all the defenders were off screen...  then launch the bomb...  When the ball finally came down all defenders had gone on break and the receiver was all alone 80 yards down field...

Still burns a little...

JeepinBen

August 21st, 2015 at 9:17 AM ^

In the last week I traveled to Michigan for a wedding and stayed for the dream cruise. Worked on finishing up the decorating at our new apartment, went to a cubs game, walked the dog a bunch, went to grad school classes, played 1 game of NCAA '13, and made a few jokes on MGoBlog.

I'm with the other posters in that "Free Time" isn't something I have tons of.  

Wolverine Devotee

August 20th, 2015 at 5:14 PM ^

Someone correct me if I'm wrong as I just did a quick skim through my video library, but the last QB holder Michigan had was Matt Gutierrez in 2005. 

It's been a decade since we've had a legitimate passing threat in terms of a fake FG. The Dileo to Glanda freakshow in 2011 notwithstanding.

That's a big deal to me. Especially since we now have the best special teams coach in the nation.

EGD

August 20th, 2015 at 5:12 PM ^

I've always thought it was pretty common for QBs to hold on placekicks.  I don't see why you wouldn't prefer to use a QB if possible, at least a backup.  You might only run one or two fakes per season, if that--but it's not as though you can just put the QB in to hold when you're going to run the fake.  Plus, the rest of the time it at least puts the thought in the defense's heads.

Space Coyote

August 20th, 2015 at 5:17 PM ^

The long-snapper, holder, and kicker work together off to the side while the rest of the team is doing non-special teams work. That's the main reason most teams have gone to the punter as the primary holder. But almost all teams still have a QB as the backup (primarily because it is rare they play other positions on special teams, so they are available to hold and are used to taking snaps such that they generally have good hands), though some utilize a WR (such as Dileo) because of their hands.

Wolverine Devotee

August 20th, 2015 at 5:21 PM ^

Since 2005 by my research done just a few minutes ago-

Matt Gutierrez, QB, 2005

Ross Ryan, P, 2006

Zoltan Mesko, P, 2007-2009

Tom Pomarico, LS, 2010

Drew Dileo, WR, 2011-2013

Kenny Allen, P, 2014