Here’s the great thing about Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock: he’s a game manager, exactly what head coach Jim Harbaugh wants.
Here’s the problem with Rudock: he’s a game manager.
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In a 28-7 win that featured a 76-yard touchdown run by Ty Isaac, a 36-yard jet sweep touchdown by Jehu Chesson and a shutout that lasted 50 minutes and 43 seconds, Rudock faded into the background.
The fifth-year senior quarterback finished the day 14 for 22 for 123 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Better than previous games, yet uninspiring.
Seemingly, that’s what Michigan wants: a punishing run game and a stout defense. But the Wolverines’ longest pass is a 28-yard throw that came in the first 15 minutes of the season. The quarterback that comes in during garbage time, sophomore Wilton Speight, just missed on two longer passes that were more receiver mistakes than inaccurate throws.
And every time Michigan looks down field, the fan base holds its breath, fearing the worst. For good reason: three games in, Rudock has matched last year’s interception total.
Saturday against UNLV, it was more of the same. Rudock missed a wide open Jake Butt — the hot target against Utah — on the first drive of the game and his throw to Amara Darboh was so late it turned into an interception.
Sure, a game manager doesn’t need a deep ball. But Michigan has the speed out wide with Chesson and Darboh and sure hands in tight end Jake Butt. Why settle for the bubble screen?
The ground game can only carry Michigan so far. What’s missing to round out the offense is the home run ball.
Michigan will figure out just how well Rudock can hang with the best of ‘em when BYU’s impressive freshman quarterback Tanner Mangum comes to Ann Arbor next week.
