Since Michigan now has a quarterback who played a lot of football in front of television cameras I thought I'd go back and look at his season to see what we've won.
[Patrick Barron]
THING NOTES: Iowa's outing against Northwestern was slightly easier than Michigan's, as Rudock threw just 19 passes while the Hawkeyes ran it up 48-7. This was an ideal situation for a quarterback. Northwestern's pass rush was all but nonexistent; Iowa ground away with Weisman. So take this as Rudock in ideal circumstances.
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | DForm | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O31 | 1 | 10 | Ace | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 under | Pass | Throwback screen | Smith | 5 | ||||||||
| Iowa starts with terrific field position after a long KO return and a late hit flag. They start with a throwback screen against a corner about five yards off. WR does well to make something out of it. (CA, 3, screen. RPS -1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-0, 13 min 1st Q. Iowa gives it to Weisman three times and ends up in the endzone as NW gets hammered on stretch plays. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M10 | 1 | 15 | I-Form Twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Pass | PA Dig | Smith | 18 | ||||||||
| PA sucks in underneath coverage and slot receiver runs a vertical route; Smith ducks underneath him after faking a corner route, nice route, Rudock puts it in his chest in rhythm. Borderline CA/DO but w/ YAC we usually give the better one. (DO, 3, protection 2/2, RPS +1, Smith route +) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M33 | 1 | 10 | Ace Big | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4-3 under | Pass | Flea flicker | Vandenberg | 42 | ||||||||
| Pitchback is wonky, Rudock has to take some time to bring it in. Has that time and the flea flicker sucks the safeties in like whoah. Rudock has a guy five yards past the safeties for a TD but leaves it a little short, allowing one of them to catch up. (CA, 3, protection 3/3, RPS +3) 35 yards downfield gets you some leeway, especially since the pitch messed the timing up. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O21 | 2 | 6 | I-Form Big | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4-3 over | Pass | Sack | N/A | -9 | ||||||||
| Waggle play sees the fullback biff and knock the ball out of Rudock's hands as he tries to get to his route. Could be on the QB, but since this isn't an issue with the RB at a fake exchange point I think it's the FB. (NA, NA, NA) | |||||||||||||||||||
| O30 | 3 | 15 | Shotgun trips bunch | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel over | Pass | Fade | Hillier | Inc | ||||||||
| Rudock overthrows this by about five yards; WR got a clean release and had space to make a play. (IN, 0, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: FG(47), 10-0, 10 min 1st Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M41 | 3 | 9 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel under | Pass | Skinny post | Martin-Manley | 43 | ||||||||
| Excellent protection; Rudock has time to wait for KMM to clear the linebacker level in the zone and puts it on his hands for 25; KMM does not have to break stride and picks up another ten or so after the catch. (DO, 3, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 17-0, 5 min 1st Q. Weisman batters it in again, the ensuing NW drive is a three and out, the punt is blocked and picked up for a TD, and the rout is on. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M25 | 2 | 13 | I-Form twins | 2 | 1 | 2 | Nickel over | Pass | PA dumpoff | Plewa | 5 | ||||||||
| All day, checkdown. (CA, 3, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M30 | 3 | 8 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel under | Run | QB draw | Rudock | 5 | ||||||||
| Nobody gets out on the MLB and there's one guy in space for a DB, so they can cut off the space. Clipped for a glimpse at Rudock's athleticism. Okay, not amazing. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 24-0, 1 min 1st Q. Punter fumbles snap and NW gets a cheap TD. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M32 | 3 | 3 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 over | Pass | Out | Martin-Manley | 5 | ||||||||
| Speed out is slightly behind KMM but he can pivot and bring it in without that much difficulty to move the chains. (MA, 2, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M48 | 2 | 9 | Ace 3-wide | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 under | Pass | Dig | Martin-Manley | Inc | ||||||||
| Batted down at the line. (BA, 0, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M48 | 3 | 9 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel under | Pass | Drag | Martin-Manley | 18 | ||||||||
| All day again, time enough for a drag to come open against man coverage. Rudock puts it right in KMM's chest again for a good chunk of YAC. (CA, 3, protection 2/2). A borderline DO throw but of only nine yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O34 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 under | Pass | Scramble | Rudock | 6 | ||||||||
| Rudock checks one read, a second, and then waits in the pocket a beat before taking off. Decent gain. (SCR, NA, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| O31 | 3 | 7 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel under | Pass | Fade | Smith | 31 | ||||||||
| NW leaves a corner in man press on an island as they look to prevent a conversion; WR goes right by to the outside and has a couple yards separation. Rudock atones for the earlier miss on the fade with a perfect touchdown toss. (DO, 3, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 31-7, 8 min 2nd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| O31 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Pass | Waggle drag | Vandenberg | 13 | ||||||||
| TE options short and long are covered so Rudock finds his slot coming open as he reaches the numbers. Slightly low throw. (CA, 3, protection N/A) | |||||||||||||||||||
| O44 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3-wide | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 under | Pass | Dumpoff | Weisman | Inc | ||||||||
| Looking for a vertical route with the same matchup he just got a TD on, doesn't like it, checks down. Weisman probably has 6-8 if he brings it in; he does not. (CA, 3, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| O44 | 2 | 10 | Ace 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel over | Pass | Bubble screen | Martin-Manley | Inc | ||||||||
| Slightly in front of KMM; this is juuust slightly forward like a bubble probably should be so not sure if it's him or KMM stumbling a bit. (MA, 2, screen) | |||||||||||||||||||
| O44 | 3 | 10 | Shotgun trips bunch | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3-2-6 dime | Pass | Scramble | Rudock | 6 | ||||||||
| Three man rush that NW telegraphs. Rudock has forever, steps up in the pocket once it cracks, and then decides to take off against a zone that has a bunch of guys looking at him. Prefer a chuck downfield in most situations... not so much 31-7. (TA, N/A, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 31-7, 2 min 2nd Q. NW fumbles and Iowa grinds it into the endzone on the ground to end the half. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M33 | 3 | 12 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel under | Pass | Dig | Smith | 16 | ||||||||
| Another dart over the middle to a WR who can keep moving. This one does break the WR's stride by a hair. (DO, 3, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Fumble, 38-7, 10 min 3rd Q. Wadley puts the ball on the ground after a first down carry. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M3 | 2 | 8 | I-Form Big | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4-3 under | Pass | PA cross | Vandenberg | 26 | ||||||||
| Probably Rudock's best throw of the day. He gets pressure up the middle in his endzone and has to get rid of the ball. He floats a lovely touch pass to his WR, who's come all the way across the field against man coverage and is able to box out the defender and bring the ball in. (DO+, 3, protection 1/3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M32 | 2 | 7 | I-Form twins | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 over | Pass | PA cross | Martin-Manley | Inc | ||||||||
| Forever and a day again. Rudock eventually decides on KMM and plays in a pass that's right on the money beyond the corner, but I think he waited too long and let the safety recover. He gets over to get a PBU. (MA, 0, protection 4/4) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M32 | 3 | 7 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3-2-6 dime | Pass | Dig | Smith | Inc | ||||||||
| Another three man rush; Rudock has a small window for this route and overthrows it. (IN, 0, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 38-7, 4 min 3rd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| O46 | 2 | 1 | I-Form | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 under | Pass | Improv | Hamilton | 10 | ||||||||
| NW finally gets some pass rush as the FB gets beat by the SAM, flushing Rudock, who came off a TE option route with someone sitting underneath it and looked further downfield. He has to bug out and makes a tough throw rolling to his left to his TE, who got open for him. (CA+, 3, protection 0/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| O6 | 1 | G | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel under | Pass | Dig | Duzey | Inc | ||||||||
| Wings it well over his TE's head. (IN, 0, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: FG(23), 41-7, 13 min 4th Q. That is it for Rudock, as Beathard mops up. | |||||||||||||||||||
wut leemee lone seepy
WOO! IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN!
it's april
LET'S CHART WITH AN ENTHUSIASM UNKNOWN TO MANKIND
I kind of hate you
That's right, bolder alter-ego, get that capitalization game working.
Harbaugh?
Harbaugh.
What is this?
Going back through Jake Rudock's 2014 to see how he did. Rudock had a weird year: third in passer efficiency in the Big Ten but still all but forced out after the season. He eviscerated some good defenses, and flailed against others. I wanted to get a better view than the one provided by his stats. So here's this.
Can we have a UFR passing chart reminder?
If you hover over the abbreviations in the chart headers you will get a reminder of what each category means. Most good events are DO (dead on, for NFL-level throws) or CA (routine accurate passes). Scrambles are also considered good. Everything else is neutral or bad. Numbers in parentheses are screens.
Asterisks denote very bad versions of bad events: passes so inaccurate they are more likely to be intercepted than caught and bad reads that threaten turnovers. The plus designation is a throw made under considerable duress*.
*[This is a change from last year, when the plus was only awarded when a quarterback broke the pocket and made something out of nothing. That is still included in the definition, but it is going to expand to making tough throws when someone hits you. This comes too late for Devin Gardner, I know.]
And how did Rudock do?
Very well.
Jake Rudock
| Opponent | DO | CA | MA | IN | BR | TA | BA | PR | SCR | DSR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 5+ | 7+(1) | 3(1) | 3 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 71% |
He was dealing. Rudock was afforded the opportunity to sit, survey, and fire often in this game. He responded with a series of darts that receivers barely had to break stride on.
That ball went right between the arms of a defensive lineman and was maybe fifth on a list of his most accurate passes that day. Here he throws a rope before his WR is even in his break that converts + YAC:
When presented with press coverage on third and medium in no-man's land he calmly nailed his WR on a fade for a TD:
He had missed a similar fade route by about five yards earlier in the game. He calibrated quickly.
And this is 43 yards on third and nine as Rudock surveys and nails Kevonte Martin-Manley in between the 1s on his chest:
All that may as well be a 7-on-7 camp. What about tough stuff?
While Rudock got very little pressure, the two times he did he passed with flying colors. He got rushed right up the middle with Iowa on the shadow of their own goal line and laid in a lovely touch pass thirty yards downfield:
On the replay you can see that Rudock did a great job of throwing the receiver open.
And he demonstrated decent escapability and an ability to make awkward throws the one time he got flushed from the pocket:
Also—and this was clearer when you watched the whole game—Rudock had excellent command of the offense, frequently checking into weakside runs that gashed Northwestern when they aligned in a way they thought was exploitable. The passes above are all right on time, finding holes in the zone and allowing his guys to pick up yards after the catch. He was comfortable coming off his two tight end reads on a waggle to go further inside for a first down, as well.
There were a couple hiccups when Northwestern went to a dime package and rushed only three. That seemed to confuse Rudock. He also waited too long on another deep crossing route that was open; his eventual throw was accurate but the delay allowed a safety to come over and get a PBU.
One of the most notable things from the perspective of a Michigan fan who has endured the past couple years is how low-variance Rudock's mistakes are. There wasn't a single throw in this game that had a chance of being intercepted.
Downsides? Problems? This guy seemed to lose his job at Iowa, he is not a miracle worker.
I'm sure I'll encounter some when I look at other games. There was little to quibble with in this one.
Best I've got so far is that he missed three WRs in exactly the same way: overthrowing them Tacopants-style. In that way he reminded me of Chad Henne. With both QBs it seems like throws are either dead on the money or five yards over the receiver's head.
You mentioned he had a couple hundred rushing yards last year?
He did. There was only one called run in this game, a third and medium QB draw that didn't work out. Normally I would not clip something like this but it's an indicator of what you might expect in a similar situation:
Denard he's not.
This post implies he is a lock for the job.
And here's Shane Morris's 2014 for comparison:
Shane Morris
| Opponent | DO | CA | MA | IN | BR | TA | BA | PR | SCR | DSR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan | - | 4 | - | 1 | 1* | 1 | - | - | - | N/A |
| App State | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1* | ||||||
| Utah | 1 | 4 | 5** | 1* | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 40% | |
| Minnesota | 1 | 8(2) | - | 8** | 2 | 3** | 1 | - | - | 33% |
Rudock may lose familiarity with the offense but he's going to have to lose an awful lot to not be the guy.
What does it mean for the future?
Stopgap ho!