Wojo as usual with a reasoned take on last night.
"Jim Harbaugh can lift a program and light a fervor. But apparently, it's not so easy to fix an offense."
"They still struggled to run the ball, and missed on several big plays. The defense did a solid job containing star back Devontae Booker but couldn't stop quarterback Travis Wilson. If you're into comparisons, the Wolverines looked markedly better than a year ago, when they lost at home to the Utes 26-10, but the turnovers looked remarkably similar."
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/bob-wojnowski/2015/0…
September 4th, 2015 at 11:55 AM ^
He needs a fair shake to prove himself in practice, not in a game. He has to earn the chance to prove it in a game.
Why do we assume Shane is a more accurate deep passer? Is there any real evidence of this? A bigger arm doesn't mean that Shane hits the deep ball to Chesson last night, it just means he overthrows him by ten yards instead of five. Rudock had enough arm for the deep ball last night, it just was inaccurate. Is Shane that much better?
September 4th, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^
That ball wasn't even that inaccurate. If I'm not mistaken, I think Chesson slowed down on the route to look for the ball and when that happened, he came up short. The ball was about where it had to be had Jehu stayed in full stride while turning his head.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:06 AM ^
He's only seen minimal game time. He has only had a short time under Harbaugh and still has great talent.
I wouldn't count him out yet although I agree, he's looking like a long shot at this point.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^
Shane is one bad hit, a twisted ankle or whatever from being our starter.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:07 AM ^
In other words, I see much more of "it" there than I have in a couple years. Take away the interceptions, and Rudock could lead the team to great things this year. I still have a feeling the turnovers will improve dramatically this year.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:11 PM ^
Agree wholeheartedly on the Chesson deep ball. In the replay, you could see he slowed up when he had his man beat, which ended up being the problem. If he keeps his speed up, he catches it in stride.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 2:31 PM ^
After the last few years, I can imagine why our receivers would be shocked to see a deep ball thrown their way.
When was the last time Michigan has completed a pass over 30 yards in the air?
OL pass pro looks fairly solid so I'm hopeful a little more work in practice going deep will help going further in the season
September 4th, 2015 at 12:40 PM ^
mistakes, yes, but I really like the way he bounced back from it. He looked more confident as the game went on.
Yes the deep balls need work, but I have to say something, some of those looked kinda catchable with a dive, a la Desmond Howard. Probably a bad view of it, but on the replays I was like "dude dive for that ball, make a play"
Anyway, I am pretty encouraged.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:26 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 11:00 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
I trust this staff to make the correct decision as much as anyone on this board. But you could tell Rudock was "off" last night. Even Gus Johnson was surprised to see Rudock come back out on the field after the pick 6.
Let's just say I wouldn't be shocked to see Shane start next week.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:55 AM ^
I just don't understand what you have seen in Shane over the past 2+ years that make you think he's a better QB. He hasn't shown any touch on short passes, makes a bunch of poor decisions and throws way too often into contested coverages. Yes he has a cannon arm but hasn't yet shown any ability to control it. Rudock didn't play great last night but only the last INT was truly a bad decision by him. Yes we do need to Rudock to hit open receivers over the top but I can't imagine you would want to bench him for an unproven QB based on one game's average performance and making one really poor throw
September 4th, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^
with Rudock last night. However, I admit that I wanted Morris to begin the second half. As others have noted, we were told the QB competition was fierce- either/or- and there was information coming from camp that Morris had practiced very well. The sum total of information suggested that Rudock had beaten out Morris- affirmed when he took the field. However, the over thrown balls and the three picks would have led numerous coaches to use their second QB, even if for a series or two to see if the dynamics change. I think it would have been reasonable for Morris to have one or two series at least. I guess I believe Morris has the same talent he was recruited for, and he has demonsrtated improvements in camp with Harbaugh at the helm. Maybe I am naive, but I suspect Morris may have thrown a better rope to the WR's generally speaking, and possibly on the deep routes. I am not calling for Morris to supplant Rudock, necessarily, but when a QB has given the defense the ball three times, including a pick-6, it is not unreasonable to want to see the other QB that the head coach has said was competing so well that he could not name a starter.
September 4th, 2015 at 10:50 PM ^
to think that you are a better judge of which quarterback to play than Jim Harbaugh.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
EDIT: Meant a reply to ESNY
It's not about what we've seen over the last 2 years.
If you're telling me that Shane Morris, right now, is the same exact QB he was two years ago, then he should be kicked off the team and his scholarship should be given to someone that can actually help the team.
All I'm saying is that if Shane was toe-to-toe with Rudock during fall practice, enough to warrant an "OR" in the depth chart (or at least being name the #2 if not 1b), then maybe he has grown into a D-1 QB.
If Shane is holding his own in practice, then I think we need to see if that translates into live game action.
And Rudock has a 2+ year history of not being able to hit receivers over the top.
September 4th, 2015 at 10:55 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 10:58 AM ^
was daring Michigan to pass. They had quite a few up at the LOS. There were a lot of opportunities to get big pass plays but it did not work out.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^
If pedestrian Rudock showed up we would have won. Pedestrian version of him goes 22/35 for 200 yds and 1 TD and 0 INT. He is able to complete a pass over 25 yds. That was a bad version of him - in 2014 terms that would have been his worse game. His stats were sauced by the last drive when utah didnt care that we scored as long as it took 2 minutes to do it.
Also the LBs did not play well in the passing game (and Bolden struggled to tackle at times) and there was not a ton of pass rush so i wouldnt say the front 7 played "well". They did well containing the running back but Utah adjusted with QB running-straight from the top with 2 QB draws. The outside guys didnt create much pass rush either.
It looked a lot like last year's defense - decent, but nothing you fear. It stops the run generally but has holes to exploit thru the air. The LBs have physical limitations that prevent them from really moving laterally well. Lewis is solid and the other CB is an adventure. It didnt create a turnover. The 1 oppt unfort fell to Utah.
Utah is not an explosive offense - if they score 21-25 its a good nite. We sort of held them to what they typically do -its a team based on defense and special teams and boring offense.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:10 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:42 PM ^
That he isn't as good zs a 5th year senior is no cause for alarm. Plus, freaking out over one game seems a big hasty to me. If Rudock continues to do this then okay.
UM does have O'Korn, Peters, and Gentry. I feel secure about the QB position. O'Korn in particular seems like a starting QB in waiting.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:27 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 10:56 AM ^
I don't want to sugarcoat what I saw last night. We had opportunities to win the game, and to be honest, I thought we should have beaten Utah after seeing the game play out.
We clearly have some playmakers on defense, and Wormley and Henry showed some good promise on the D-line. Peppers had a rough 1st half, but man can that kid make some plays that most kids in CFB cannot.
If Harbaugh can continually improve the QB play, we will have a successful year this year. The WRs actually impressed me a little bit.
I am excited to see the development this coaching staff will bring to this team.
Now let's beat Oregon State this upcoming weekend and build on that win.
GO BLUE!
September 4th, 2015 at 12:46 PM ^
The WR only impressed you a little bit.? I was highly impressed when I had little expectations to start with. AD came back to the ball, has great hands and fought off defenders... Chesson is fast as hell and can get open downfield, and Perry looks like the next gallon. He made some really bad freshman mistakes but he got up, dusted his shit off and made some great blocks. I was impressed.
Hope that didnt sound too dickish, but just giving my two cents.
September 4th, 2015 at 10:58 AM ^
It was the type of tough, pounding game Harbaugh craves, and that's probably why he was upbeat afterward. He knows his team is missing key elements, such as explosive playmakers, and he knows he'll need Rudock to perform.
That's something you could see in the offensive gameplan last night, attempts to compensate for some performance gaps particularly as the game went on, and that's another reason to believe that it gets better from here really. As he says, they showed promise and flaws and I think that's what was expected, but part of the promise - in my mind - also came in the preparation he mentions. There were times last year where I was honestly not sure we were prepared for, well, anything.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 11:45 AM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
What was the story with Drake Harris? I know he had no receptions, but did he even play? If not, is he hurt again?
September 4th, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^
He was pretty good. Got some separation, but wasn't targeted.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:34 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 11:35 AM ^
i wondered the same thing. Saw him in for a few snaps but that seemed to be it. I thought they would of tried targeting him more. But after lastnight I've learned that we need to be patient just a little while longer.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:01 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 11:58 AM ^
As much as I want Drake Harris to be good this year, I think the only reason is so we can have someone to extend the secondary and threaten them deep.
From last nights game, I think Chesson will be just fine at this with Darboh making some occasional grabs 30+ yards downfield.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^
Well, at least now no one won't question Harbaugh taking 2 QB's in every class. Got to get that competition going and can't rely on one guy.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 11:54 AM ^
Maybe I am conditioned to football in 2015 but I didn't feel like we "couldn't stop QB Travis Wilson." Yes he made some plays, but his stat line wasn't that impressive. What 260 APY's and 1 TD?
It boiled down to mistakes and us not making the plays we needed too 2 win the game.
I feel a lot better about our team than I did at this point last season.
September 4th, 2015 at 11:55 AM ^
Remember all the scoring in the spring game? No, because the offense in the spring game was terrible. The only change is a new quarterback with virtually no time to learn the system and work with the receivers. There has been a lot of improvement since the spring game. Expectations should be managed. Offensive line and running backs were weaker than expected, receivers were stronger, QB was very good on many throws, but with 6-7 serious problem plays mixed in. The problem with this offense is not the QB. It is the running game. It will improve. (I also said this after 2014 Notre Dame).
September 4th, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^
Once again the outcome of Michigan football games is hoisted upon the shoulders of the quarterback to "not fuck up" with a rickety OL in front of him and no running game. Go out there and eek out a win throwing the damn ball. Devin Gardner says this all sounds vaguely familiar.
Why did Michigan have only 29 rushing attemps vs. 43 passing attemps?
Because Harbaugh and Drevno had no choice.
Utah's DL is supposed to be good, but it's definite not a DL like Penn State, Ohio State or MSU. Yet Michigan kept chopping wood for a whole 76 yards on the ground all night. When you're trailing the football game, 2.6 ypc is abject failure.
Michigan's OL is not violently firing off the ball and getting any drive downfield. Drevno is an outstanding OL and OC coach, a huge upgrade. Michigan's OL is just not very good against medium competition, especially along the interior.
Running game ills are compounded by the fact that Michigan's running backs are slow and have poor vision. We already knew this. No speed. No vision. That problem does not improve when you rifle through the RB depth chart. The best running back right now seems to be Ty Isaac . He has a signature stiff arm, but it looks like he's walking. Smith had 17 carries and only 2.8 ypc himself and missed a ton of cuts last night. Michigan has no game-breaking threat at RB.
This can be overcome on occasion. I mean, even a Tavita Pritchard scorched No. 1 ranked USC's defense in the Coliseum that one weekend. But the reality is that Michigan is just not talented enough nor developed enough along the front to beat teams like Utah and punch Big Ten leaders like MSU and OSU in the mouth.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:38 PM ^
have no clue what they are talking about. I can see missing on a few, but an entire line? That's either rotten luck or the talent evaluators need to be fired.
Michigan really needs Drake Johnson to get into shape. He has superior vision to Smith. I didn't see Isaac to judge him. Johnson could make this running game better(as he did last year).
Deveon Smith is just a guy. Nothing special about. But I think he does enough of the little correct that the coaches feel that he has to start.
September 4th, 2015 at 12:35 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 12:57 PM ^
was there really already one of those threads. Freakin idiots.
I cant take those type of fans
September 4th, 2015 at 1:33 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 12:49 PM ^
I think I was sporting a semi when I saw the team line up in a power I formation. I would like to see us get back to the days that the other team knows we are running, and are powerless to stop it.
For all n all, I am not upset with last night. We had our chances, and when O'Korn or Gentry are ready next season, we should roll. An accurate passer would of eaten up that defense.
By the time B1G season rolls around, this should be a pretty sound group.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^
I cannot wait until we have 2-3 years of ONE system installed.
I cannot wait until we have enough depth across the entire offense to not need to play ANY True FR.
I cannot wait until we have 2 years of proper ST conditioning so our guys don't get blown off the line of scrimmage.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:39 PM ^
I am not in the camp of "blame Rudock". I think the INTs were the result of a lethal combination of first game jitters for Rudock and lack of a run game. We needed to gash them a few times for 10 to 20 yards on run plays. That never happened. So Utah played more pass coverage and made us pay dearly. My prediction is Rudock will be markedly better every game he plays. And the O line will get better as well. I think by mid-season we'll have a decently consistent run game and the offense will take off.
The "feeling" I took away from last night was the team just looks better than anything we've fielded over the past 7 years. They look more confident. They look like they know where to be and when (minus Grant Perry on the first INT). Simply put, they are starting to look like the strong Michigan teams of past years. I am not good with specific examples but it's more of a compilation of the whole than any one thing.
I think we'll all be very happy with the team's performance by season's end.
P.S. I loved how we went up-tempo at several points during the game. That is a HUGE upgrade that will pay dividends for us. And the successful bubble screens almost brought tears of joy to my eyes.
September 4th, 2015 at 5:04 PM ^
Lack of running game causes over throws?