Is it time to unshackle Rudock?
Let's face it, Rudock is playing not to make a mistake and as a result playing tight and frankly not effectively. The only time he will throw a pass is if the receiver is WIDE open and even then he tries to directly the pass rather than letting his natural instincts throw the ball. As a result often his passes are off the mark, late or though catchable doesn't afford his receivers any room to run after the catch. Good defense will have tight coverages on receivers and good QB's nevertheless throw to those receivers allowing them to make plays (Butts catch in the the endzone against Utah had double coverage and Darboh's catch against perfect coverage by BYU gave the team a needed boost).
Without a passing threat the running game will be neutralized. We can get away with this playing inferior teams but as we get into the meat of the schedule, Rudock needs to play to win and not play not to make mistakes. Football is won by scoring points.
My thought is this. We have an outstanding defense which most of the time will cover up for offensive mistakes. WE can not beat NW, MSU and OSU with only good defense. We need a QB who will play to win games even though like all QB's he will make an occasion mistake. Let him play loose throwing to receivers even though there may be good coverage AND not be handcuffed to one read and then run.
October 4th, 2015 at 1:58 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 3:36 PM ^
He has definitely put it right on Chesson and Darboh on challenging throws into coverage a couple of times this year including that one. I think what is baffling is that he misses wide open deep throws that you'd expect an averagee FBS level qb to hit. The overthrow on Chesson's deep post is an example.
October 4th, 2015 at 2:10 PM ^
I like the way Rudock is playing. Under control, risk averse, solid, mobile, and most importantly, winning...COMFORTABLY.
October 4th, 2015 at 2:48 PM ^
In fact, I gave 5 simple reasons why I feel that way.
I don't expect him to be Dan Marino. He's not a 5 star recruit. He's a grad student we picked off the scrap heap from friggin' Iowa who was tossed in the mix with mere weeks to prepare. And he's got his team ranked in the top-20 and this fan base realistically thinking we can beat MSU and OSU. I'm pretty happy about things.
Harbaugh will eventually recruit and develop a much better quarterback. But this team is playing to its strength and doing just enough to tack on points while trying not putting their own defense in compromising positions. And part of that is Rudock playing a calm, controlled game.
I like the way he's playing.
October 4th, 2015 at 2:58 PM ^
I agee with you!
Guys in here dogging on Rudock are being unrealisitc, IMO. Jake has made some excellent plays, especially with his legs. Ironic, isn't it, that we just came off two "duel threat QB's" who seemed to rarely make the kind of scrambles that Rudock -- a guy not known for his legs -- seems to be making pretty routinely?
I agree it's frustrating to see Jake miss open guys downfield. But, he's thinking a bit too much right now because he's trying to not make mistakes. Personally, I'd rather have a guy with that attitude than a wreckless, arrogant QB.
One of these days everything he's being coached up on is going to click. He's going hit the open guys, and we're all going to be very happy that Jake came to Ann Arbor to bridge the gap in the roster.
October 4th, 2015 at 5:04 PM ^
Ironic, isn't it, that we just came off two "duel threat QB's" who seemed to rarely make the kind of scrambles that Rudock -- a guy not known for his legs -- seems to be making pretty routinely?The fuck have you been watching for the past five years? The guy has two rushing TDs due to wide open corners and had a nice cutback yesterday and now he's White Denard, but somehow better than Denard. Are you serious?
October 4th, 2015 at 6:13 PM ^
Ease up Monocle!
One of the most frustrating things about Denard, and to some extent Devin, was despite his amazing running ability, he lacked a great understanding of when to tuck and run. Am I wrong? From what I've seen from Rudock he has a much better "pocket sense" than Denard had, and has made some very timely scambles.
He's not going to take it 70 yards for a TD like Denard could, but then again, Denard didn't seem to sneak up and get those 5 yards like Rudock has been getting with relative consistency when the pocket falls apart.
No need to be a blowhard about this Monocle!
I never said Rudock is better than Denard, only that he's making scrambles that we didn't get from Denard often enough despite his amzing running ability.
October 4th, 2015 at 4:40 PM ^
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October 4th, 2015 at 2:13 PM ^
Let's not forget that Michigan has won 4 straight games by 28, 21, 31 and 28 points, respectively. I don't think Harbaugh really believes in scoring more points than necessary. Just my hottake.
October 4th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^
Further, in those 4 straight wins Michigan would have only needed 8, 8, 2, and 2 points respectively to win. Your point is well made!
October 4th, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^
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October 4th, 2015 at 2:38 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 4:13 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^
I am certain he can read the entire field. But becuase of the restrictions placed on him to protect the ball he has lost his innate ability to play QB. He acts like a robot who has been programmed to do only certain functions. Winning QB's often go off script.
It may be that he has limited talent but I am not of the opinion. It could be he is not familiar with his receivers or passing schemes and needs to learn on the job. But what I am saying he does not look comfortable or natural out there. I thought his best game was against Utah. he threw the ball well despite being intercepted for the winning TD. Since then he has looked like a totally different QB and not for the better.
October 4th, 2015 at 2:49 PM ^
Someone made an apt analogy to golf above. I agree with you, Jake looks uncomfortable at times. He's in that, "thinking" mode and it's making him a bit more inaccurate than he normally would be.
I'd be surprised if Jake doesn't see the open guys, it looks to me that he's hesitant and then his "internal governor" takes over and he holds back because he knows he's late and doesn't want to make a mistake. It's sort of the opposite of the "gunslinger" type QB who has maybe a bit too much confindence in himself.
As I mentioned in a post above -- I think Harbaugh has more confidence in Jake than Jake has in himself. Harbaugh eluded to Jake, "letting it rip ..." in one of his pressers. The guys are open, we just have to wait until it becomes instinctive to Jake. To me, it's not surprising considering the lack of time in the system.
Jake is a cerebral guy, and right now he's trying to balance his intelligence with his instincts. I'd be willing to bet that Harbaugh and Co. are trying to maintain the intelligence while fostering the instinct.
October 4th, 2015 at 5:01 PM ^
Did you watch the guy at Iowa? What did you think we were getting?
October 4th, 2015 at 2:45 PM ^
We have outscored opponents 122-14 over the last 4 games. We are a ground and pound team that wins with strong defense. No reason to change that formula.
October 4th, 2015 at 2:49 PM ^
trust the coach.
it feels so good
i'm actually excited for saturdays and coming back to this blog
the whole vibe.
i'm rejuvenated. juvenile.
sincerely,
Pibby Scott.
October 4th, 2015 at 3:20 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 3:30 PM ^
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October 4th, 2015 at 3:40 PM ^
I can agree with this. No need to show anybody anything when you have the lead and can just run the game out. I think that will be the way we play in the vast majority of our games (because hopefully we'll be beating the teams we should be), but I also have faith that this coaching staff is capable of making necessary adjustments, and trying new things as the situation dictates.
October 4th, 2015 at 3:34 PM ^
It seems like Rudock's problem is not progressing through his reads quickly or well enough and making the throws he needs to. That's on him. He either stares down one receiver, or holds it too long. He is probably playing tight because of the increased expectations of playing for Michigan, and hopefully he can relax and be the best Rudock he can be. It won't be great, but if he can avoid the mistakes, it just might be good enough.
October 4th, 2015 at 4:53 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 3:46 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 4:08 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 4:12 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 5:02 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 5:06 PM ^
This is the best post in the thread.
The difference will probably be clearer next year with O'Korn likely taking over.
October 4th, 2015 at 5:22 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 5:04 PM ^
That his shackles are of his own making. I think it's clear Harbaugh wants him to open things up a bit compared to how he was at Iowa, but he had some turnover prone games in weeks 1 and 2 and has decided to go into a shell a bit.
I think that's why Harbaugh spends so much of his pressers building Jake's confidence up. He wants him to try to make a few more plays and have the confidence in himself to do it.
October 4th, 2015 at 5:11 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 6:47 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 6:55 PM ^
We should unshackle Rudock and let him hand the ball off any way he wants to.
October 4th, 2015 at 7:40 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 7:52 PM ^
I don't understand. Rudock is taking multiple big shots per game but he's missing on the majority of them. The offensive program is sound. I wouldn't change a thing right now.
October 4th, 2015 at 8:05 PM ^
October 4th, 2015 at 9:37 PM ^