MJ14

September 21st, 2015 at 12:35 PM ^

Jim is basically saying STFU about Jake Rudock. He wants people to stop talking about him because it's divisive. He also says Rudock is by far the best QB on the team, it's not a small margin. 

MJ14

September 21st, 2015 at 12:42 PM ^

Yeah the STFU part was obviously me paraphrasing, but that part about Rudock is almost exactly what he said. It's clear that Shane is not even close and Jim was willing to let that be known so people will stop questioning Rudock. You can tell he's really sick of it. 

jackw8542

September 21st, 2015 at 3:07 PM ^

I don't blame Harbaugh for wanting people to STFU.  I certainly am firmly in the STFU camp and have been from his first game.

Rudock has done a competent job as a QB, not great but competent and certainly better than anyone we have had since Henne (unless you credit Denard's first year where his success was due to running ability and scheme more than passing ability or traditional QB skills).

People are being way too hard on Rudock.  He did not have to come here.  He could have left all of his detractors to be even more active detracting from whoever else Michigan might have had to throw in there.  Who knows?  We could have relived the Sheridan/Threet comedy show.

Give Rudock a break and STFU.

antonio_sass

September 21st, 2015 at 3:33 PM ^

Look, I'm all for giving the QB a shot and not being divisive, but don't distort the facts. 

Statistically it's the exact opposite of what you're saying. Rudock has been the least effecient quarterback we've had since Threet/Sheridan....through 3 games.

People seem to have short memories, but through 3 games Denard had Heisman talk each year he played, and Gardner looked insanely good in 2013 (remember the ND game?). Even last year, Gardner's numbers were better than Rudock's for the first 3, where we also had a 2-1 record. 

All that said, I think and hope Rudock will improve, as will the offense overall. But just because he's more of a "traditional" pocket passer than DG or Shoelace doesn't mean he's been more competent by any means, thus far. 

FreddieMercuryHayes

September 21st, 2015 at 12:39 PM ^

My problem with this, if I may, is that Harbaugh hasn't had a problem calling out other players if they've messed up in press conferences.  I think it's fine to critique performance.  But he won't do that about his QB?  Does he have a blind spot for his old position?  Probably not the best for locker room chemistry if everyone except the QB is able to be critiqued publically.

FreddieMercuryHayes

September 21st, 2015 at 12:46 PM ^

I'm just saying that in previous press conferences, he's fielded questions about other players' performances and not had a problem saying they messed up on something.  But when asked about Rudock, he basically says 'don't ask those questions, it's divisive'.  Doesn't that seem like a double standard for you.  It's fine if Rudock is clearly the #1 guy.  But if you're willing to tell the press when a player messes up, then he should also say 'yeah, Jake missed some open guys and was late on some of his reads.  We're working to improve that going forward.  He's still the #1 QB by far.'

Wendyk5

September 21st, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^

I haven't seen Harbaugh call out a lot of his players. He seems like a really positive motivator, at least in the publc realm. I'm sure Rudock hears about it away from the media and the team sees that, whether it be in practice or watching film. I think Harbaugh picked his guy and he's putting his trust in him and I think that's a good thing. For all we know, Rudock's confidence is shaky and Harbaugh knows that publicly critiquing him isn't the best way to coach him. 

Glennsta

September 21st, 2015 at 3:14 PM ^

You got a transfer as your QB who lost his starting job last year. 

He is the best QB you got and you want him to succeed .

The last thing you want is the press running articles about how lousy he's playing and how he's going to lose his job if he keeps playing terribly. 

Nosce_Te_Ipsum

September 21st, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^

I don't disagree with you entirely but Jim's philosophy is to put the weight of the team on the quarterback's shoulders. If in doing that, and this being a new phenomenon for Jake, maybe his coach is protecting him for unneeded stress which contributes nothing but fosters a lot of resentment from teammates and possibly anger. If it doesn't help the team progress or win then don't put up with it.

UMForLife

September 21st, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^

Here is an explanation for you. If no other QB is even close, what is he doing criticizing him in public. You want him to discourage the only player who could play that position decently. If he criticizes other positions, it is because he has options and use it as a motivational tool. Not for QB because our previous coach messed up and did not develop one.

Blue in Yarmouth

September 21st, 2015 at 3:27 PM ^

He said it was divisive to try and pit the RB's against one another. He said essentially that a "QB contravorsey" is natural and happens, but our RB's are RB by committee and one performance like Ty's doesn't put him ahead of De'Veon. Unless Harbaugh did another presser I didn't see where he said exaclty what the OP suggests but of a different position group. 

“We don’t ever talk about any kind of running back controversy, just so you know, from here on out. Quarterback controversy? I’ll address that. Whatever you want to know, like who the starting quarterback is? I will talk to you about that. But when it comes to any other position, whether it be right guard or running back or safety, there’s no discussion about any kind of running back controversy-”

 

That is the qoute I'm referring to...

charblue.

September 21st, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^

So, have a lot of guys. But we all knew Shane wasn't really ready for that bowl game. And he wasn't that sharp in the spring game. And Harbaugh is trying to give him more time to develop. So what's the point of arguing about putting a No. 2 guy in who the coach wants to season because he's unsure he can handle the offense under adversarial conditions. 

I think it's a waste of time. Moreover, those people urging Speight's insertion in the lineup are really begging for greater frustration. This is why putting media questions like this to bed with honesty is the right policy. 

EGD

September 21st, 2015 at 2:14 PM ^

Right.  Calling guys out in public seems like something you might do when players don't seem to grasp their own underperformance, or don't care about it.  But there is no reason to believe that Rudock is unaware that he was missing receivers Saturday, or doesn't care that he's been off his game.  

I've never understood the mentality some people have, that whenever somebody performs badly they need to get criticized.  All Harbaugh needs to do is tell Rudock what he did wrong and how he can do better next time.  He doesn't need to tell some reporter jack shit.

Glennsta

September 21st, 2015 at 3:03 PM ^

I've never seen the sense of publicly criticizing ANY athlete who is already giving their best effort.  If they are already trying their best, is criticizing them supposed to somehow elicit MORE effort?  Other people might disagree, but the only time I'd ever boo an athlete is when I see that they are not trying.

If a kid has limited ability (and ability can be physical AND mental) and he is the still the best player you've got at that position, your coach has to perhaps change the game plan.  The coaches are responsible for putting their kids in the best position to succeed.  A good coach never asks kids to do things that they can't do.

But the coach shouldn't rip the kid as long as they are trying and reporters shouldn't rip the kid.  And I have yet to see Harbaugh rip any kid over anything.

kawter

September 21st, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^

I think he knows that's he's got what he's got. Like a parent, you push kids where there is opportunity and you stick up and protect them where they need it.

If the kids just playing at the top of his game you have to get his back even if it isn't at the level you need in your program. No sense beating up a 4'9" kid for not being able to reach the rim




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Brandon_L

September 21st, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^

Is not all about physical tools, it requires a lot of good to great decision making at the D1 level. This is a new system for everyone on the team. The timing will be off, and for good reason. If you think about it, the team spent the off season throwing with Morris and then here comes a different style passer in Rudock. Rudock has been in the program for two months. I fully expect this team to peak by November.

Glennsta

September 21st, 2015 at 2:15 PM ^

The fact that they are thinking about red-shirting Morris tells you how close it is.

Rudock is the guy for this year.  He's not a great QB and probably will never be.  He's missed some throws but he hasn't really thrown a big fat WTF pass.  He's the best they got and it doesn't do any good for Harbaugh to put more pressure on the kid, other than the pressure that is already put on the kid to improve his game in practice.  The best we can hope for is that A) he loosens up and gets more accurate with the short routes so that we can get some YAC. B) he hits some of the intermediate and deep routes and C) he cuts out the INT's.  If we can get those 3 things, we should win the games that we are supposed to win.

mGrowOld

September 21st, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^

And take it from me - stay away from the Morman girls.  I lived in SLC coming out of Michigan (in the avenues on F street) and ended up marrying one.   And then promptly 24 years later divorcing one.

Actually the good thing about Morman chicks is that they will mess around with you (prolly cause they figure that will be eventually ok later when they're married) they just wont have a drink beforehand and no coffee the morning after.  Unless they're jack Mormans in which case anything goes.

At least back in 1982 that how things worked.  Might've changed by now......

ChalmersE

September 21st, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^

Once in awhile, the "public" will get upset about a DBack getting beat regularly or a receiver regularly dropping balls, but even in those cases, the criticism usually passes -- or there's a change without much fanfare.  When the offense or a QB is off, all of the invective from the "public" directed at the QB tends to continue unabated. Harbaugh as a good coach is trying to fend off the criticism, so the team and Rudock can concentrate on getting better. It's something I didn't see enough of from the prior regime when Gardner was struggling. 

SF Wolverine

September 21st, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^

Quarterback and goalie are two positions where everyone sees everything you do wrong, and your mistakes are frequently costly.  No need to add to the pressure Jake is already feeling and contribute to the alligator-arming and bad decisions.  No doubt he's looking at that stuff with the staff; because there is no real competition for that position, best move is to support him and coach him up to start making better decisions and throws.