Michigan Opens as 21.5-point Favorite Against Rutgers
That's a big number. Then again, Rutgers.
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/11/michigan_opens_as_a_2…
November 1st, 2015 at 11:44 PM ^
Thank god this week is Rutgers week. Speight could probably beat a Rutgers and Indiana defense and hold the rope until PSU if Rudock is out that long.
November 1st, 2015 at 11:48 PM ^
I dislike the big spreads. The offense only gets yardage off of gimmicks. Like last year no burst outside of Drake. Peppers is the best offensive player and he plays defense. Jake reminds me of Trent Dillfer as a quarterback who can only do the bare minimum to bring a team to victory. I only envision a 21.5 spread with considerable assistance from both special teams and defense.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 2nd, 2015 at 12:22 AM ^
I don't think it's true that we only score on gimmicks. I don't remember too many gimmicks when we went up 14-3 on Saturday. I also don't remember that many against BYU or NW. But against good defenses we do struggle to sustain drives conventionally. Good thing Rutgers and Indiana don't have one of those.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:35 AM ^
"Only gets yardage off of gimmicks"
Brady Hoke and co. have brainwashed you into thinking that good play design and misdirection is somehow a football sin.
All good teams score points with offensive wrinkles and unexpected plays, that is part of what makes them a good team.
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:43 AM ^
This is one of the most asinine comments I've read in a long time.
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:52 AM ^
It's a good thing you're considering what the defense and special teams will contribute to the spread.... because most point spreads only consider the offense.
November 1st, 2015 at 11:50 PM ^
Does anyone else want Speight to start? I know Rudock hasnt done anything to hurt this team. Only 6 tds isnt exactyl heisman numbers but 7 ints in 8 games not to mention 3 in the utah game is what we expected coming into the season. But this is his only season here and its rutgers so why not keep him ready if things go bad but let Speight show us what he can do
November 1st, 2015 at 11:51 PM ^
Absolutely. No!
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 1st, 2015 at 11:54 PM ^
not even a little? Its rutgers man do u really have no confidence in this team to beat freakin rutgers at home in the big house with the greatest crowd on earth with the backup QB??
November 1st, 2015 at 11:59 PM ^
Rutgers and Indiana have two of the worst pass defenses in the country so there's that.
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:40 AM ^
nor am I fully bought into our scoring capacity, but Big House and our DEFENSE!
November 1st, 2015 at 11:54 PM ^
Generally I just trust Harbaugh more than me, but I would be ok playing Speight if Rudock had any nagging injury stuff and we were in control of the game.
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:49 AM ^
Agree, I'm ok with Speight playing this week and Rudock being ready in an emergency situation. Hasn't this been the approach Harbaugh has taken all year with players? I know since we are talking about the QB position it's a little different but he has been known so far to let guys heal i.e. Smith, Stribling.
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:26 AM ^
Speight is the backup and these next 2 games are winnable with a backup. What happens if Rudock gets hurt playing against Rutgers and is out for the season? You don't have a decent QB to put in the game. They need to give Speight some game experience and the next 2 games are perfect to do that whatever happens. Of course the D has to play better than they did on Saturday.
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:46 AM ^
The D didn't play THAT terrible. Definitely not as good as previous games - especially lb'ers - but Minny hit some damn near impossible throws and had a huge dose of luck with at least 3 ints we dropped, one being a pick 6.
November 1st, 2015 at 11:55 PM ^
I only want Speight to start if Rudock can't play. Speight didn't look very good until that final drive where we only needed 40 yards where Rudock scored three touchdowns in the first 35 minutes of the game.
November 1st, 2015 at 11:58 PM ^
Hes got a full week of practice to prepare for a possible start. Hopefully if we can get a 28 point lead early Speight can play the entire second half
November 2nd, 2015 at 12:31 AM ^
What relation do you have to Wilton? Seems evident.
November 2nd, 2015 at 4:56 AM ^
He practices every week to prepare for a possible start. That's what backups do, they have to be ready to step in in case the starter gets injured, sick, arrested, whatever. So I don't see how one more week is going to make much difference.
That said if Rudock isn't completely recovered yet, I'm OK with Speight starting.
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:05 AM ^
I'm hoping Rudock and Co. can build a sizable lead and let Wilton get some more meaningful snaps. That 40 yd TD drive saved our season. Not to mention that was a helluva 2 point conversion as well.
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:18 AM ^
He got thrust into a night game on the road against the elements. He's going against a team playing one for the gipper, it's holloween, the refs, and just about every other fluky thing that could happen was going on in that game.
He did look extremely shaky at best but gathered himself and had a drive to win the game and he did it. That td pass to Chesson was the best ball I've seen all year out of our qbs. Then the awareness on the 2pt conversion hanging in there until the end, bailing and dumping it at the last minute to Darboh.
Not to say Speight should be the starter effective immediately, but it should at least be in the discussion and play out in practice throughout the week.
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:42 AM ^
The only thing he needs a break from is people looking to start a quarterback controversy over one good drive. The kid definitely came through in the clutch, but there's a reason we start Rudock. Let's not pile unrealistic expectations on Speight just yet.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:01 AM ^
We have the worst qb roster in the country right now not including O'Korn since he can't play. Speight is a scholarship qb that practices and gets coached up the same way Rudock does. Again, like I said I said in my first statement Speight shouldn't start immediately, but this notion that it shouldn't even be a discussion is ridiculous based on our lack of a passing game.
November 2nd, 2015 at 12:33 PM ^
other times I've seen Michigan back-up QBs come in late have been 'extremely shaky'. Denard vs. MSU in 2009 and Bellomy vs. Nebraska in 2012 both come to mind immediately. Those guys were just totally unprepared.
On the flip side, I thought Speight looked pretty composed for his first playing time. He threw the ball away when needed and made several clutch completions. It's the best I've seen a Michigan back-up QB look in years
November 1st, 2015 at 11:56 PM ^
Everyone should've taken the over on both of these:
How many Wilton should start threads will there be this week?
Line set at 8 - pick over under
# of comments he should start set at 300.
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:24 AM ^
This is my golden, platinum, titanium LOCK OF THE WEEK. Take the OVER on both Wilton start threads, and Wilton should start comments, and bet 100 units, your whole bankroll on each.
If those picks do not turn out to be WINNERS, I will give you two free winning picks next week.
November 1st, 2015 at 11:58 PM ^
Harbaugh said that Jake is the best qb by far - or something to that effect. So the real question is either a) Jake has played below the coach's expectation - plays well in practice, but tightens up in some of the games - and should get better, or b) did we get lucky and Wilton pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the win over Minnesota. Will be an interesting, albeit nerve racking finish to the year.
November 2nd, 2015 at 1:03 AM ^
He said that Rudock was the best several weeks ago. He yesterday said that Wilton kept getting better and better. What that all means, I don't know. But we have seen Harbaugh say someone is getting better and then they see the field.
November 2nd, 2015 at 7:11 AM ^
In game action can certainly bring out something else in a player that you can never see in practice. I think The more Speight gets comfortable, the better option he'll be. Maybe we've seen the last of Rudock for the year.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 2nd, 2015 at 1:51 PM ^
I've wondered for a while about the possibility of option C: Harbaugh may have just been saying that to boost Jake's confidence and avoid a QB controversy with the fans/media.
November 2nd, 2015 at 12:00 AM ^
i don't think rudock will be able to play vs rutgers. Wouldn't be surprised if it was a day-to-day thing for the next couple weeks. That said, i am confident in what Speight can do.
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:06 AM ^
I think Rudock is more hurt than we think. We was not moving his left arm very much when jogging off the field at the end of the game and if you watch the video of him walking into the tunnel he reaches across his body with his right arm to high five fans on his left because he couldn't, or didn't want to, lift his left arm up.
November 2nd, 2015 at 12:05 AM ^
I trust that guy wearing khakis knows a thing or two about quarterbacks and anyone that is second guessing him this early is a fucking idiot.
November 2nd, 2015 at 12:23 AM ^
Alex Smith starter, got hurt. Kaep comes in takes his job goes to the Super Bowl. Practice had that one wrong
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 2nd, 2015 at 1:38 AM ^
Maybe they win the Super Bowl if Smith stays in?
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:21 AM ^
I think you missed the point. They wouldn't have made it to the superbowl if Alex Smith was their qb.
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:27 AM ^
Yes they would have.
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:10 AM ^
They were 6-2 when Smith got hurt and the previous year when Smith started the 49ers went 13-3 and made it to the NFC Championship game.
(Meant as a reply to Mr. Elbel)
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:31 AM ^
They lost the NFC Championship Game the year before in overtime--in a game in which Kyle Williams (playing in place of an injured Ted Ginn) fumbled two punts.
Yeah, Kaepernick did a great job off of the bench, but they were nearly there anyway.
November 2nd, 2015 at 1:42 AM ^
While he hasn't single handedly destroyed any games, I would argue that Rudock has definitely hurt this team. His consistent misses on downfield passes obviously hurt us bc...well, they are incompletions...but also enable defenses to overlook that side of our attack. He came in with the "game manager" tag but his stockpile of pics have definitely managed us into holes. That improvised shovel pass interception led directly to Minnesota points.
Think we can continue win with him but can't overlook how much his deficiencies put have and will continue to put is in tough spots.
November 2nd, 2015 at 4:26 AM ^
Completely agree. Whats so frustrating is that we're easily an undefeated with average QB play. That's all we needed from Rudock and yet he can't deliver.
He's had his shot. Time to go with another QB from here on out.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 2nd, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^
You don't know anything about QBS and you are not at practice. Yet you want to potentially throw way the season on guys who have shown absolutely nothing because Rudock hasn't lived up to your expectations.
You have nothing to base your opinion. Yours is idle speculation based on fantasy and delusion.
November 2nd, 2015 at 6:29 AM ^
Harbaugh said Wilton has gotten better and better in practice, to the point where Harbaugh no longer gets nervous every time Wilton throws. The first time I studied Wilton's high school film, I felt like he had the potential to be a great QB. The amount of confidence that comes with what Wilton did on Saturday night cannot be overstated. Now Wilton knows he can play at this level.
Jake Rudock really has not improved much if at all throughout the year, and the lack of a intermediate and deep passing game has handcuffed this offenses true potential. We don't know if Wilton could enhance this offense due to small sample size, but Wilton is an ascending player while Rudock has hit his ceiling / has not improved.
I'd give Speight an opportunity to start against Rutgers if Rudock is hurt. If Rudock is not hurt it makes the week of practice a time to seriously evaluate the position. If we had a consistent down field passer, this team is 6-1 / 7-0.
Obviously whatever Harbaugh decides, I will trust him, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't wanna see what Wilton could do in a full game.
November 2nd, 2015 at 6:42 AM ^
Well said. I don't want Rudock to be hurt, but if he were, we no longer have to worry that much about backup. Speight will struggle a little when it is the whole game, but if it takes off for him, he would have a much higher ceiling. Those long passes would be a boon.
November 4th, 2015 at 11:10 AM ^
Speight hasn't completed any long passes either. For some reason people are assuming he'll be able to throw 40 yd bombs with pinpoint accuracy because of a couple Hail Mary throws in mop up duty which were not completed. Fact is Rudock moved around effectively in the pocket and made some nice decisions and throws and ran at the right times yesterday. Happy Speight did well but I'm not believing the backup is the answer yet based on a few completions and speculation about his deep ball.
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:13 AM ^
If Ruddock is hurt, Speight is no longer the back up, he's the starter. Which would make Morris the backup???
If Ruddock is healthy, then it seems llike we have a decent backup.
November 2nd, 2015 at 6:44 AM ^
I want Speight to start. Much better arm strength than Rudock.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 2nd, 2015 at 7:17 AM ^
but I'm a lot happier with him as backup than Shane. If Jake is injured or falters against the Rugturds, I have more confidence now that we have at least a somewhat capable replacement. Who knows, perhaps a star is born? I can dream, can't I? It's been seven long years since I allowed myself that luxury! GO BLUE!!!
November 2nd, 2015 at 7:38 AM ^
Granted we haven't seen Shane this year but once Wilton got the first drive over with he really started to look comfortable in there. I've never seen Shane that comfortable. I'm happy for Wilton. He's always been a team guy.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:24 AM ^
If arm strength is the only criteria then why not burn Shane's redshirt? Also, rudock seems to be fine with arm strength when he throws deep. Keeps over-throwing his receivers!