I think we can beat Rutgers with Peppers taking all the snaps, but after that...

[St. Joe Blue 3]

Anyone else notice that when Jake came out of the locker room after he was injured that he was grimacing while trying to warm up? If he got some rib damage in addition to having his head almost ripped off, his passing ability could suffer any more. If he's fine, seriously doubt we'll have any problem with him versus Rutgers. The last three against IU, PSU, and TUOS ... I'm not so positive.

Good strategy to go with Speight against Rutgers? If he can't handle it, could always put Jake back in.

 

[JP2Blue]

I'd love to see what Speight could do in a full game and it would be a great time to get the back up some reps should we need him down the stretch.

 

[detroitjohn]

Anyone else notice that when Jake came out of the locker room after he was injured that he was grimacing while trying to warm up? If he got some rib damage in addition to having his head almost ripped off, his passing ability could suffer any more. If he's fine, seriously doubt we'll have any problem with him versus Rutgers. The last three against IU, PSU, and TUOS ... I'm not so positive.

Good strategy to go with Speight against Rutgers? If he can't handle it, could always put Jake back in.

This very well may happen and it would give Speight some invaluable experience. He looked great once he was acclimated to the game. 3rd down and long TD and 2 pt conversion were MONEY plays.

 

[ArrowheadBlue]

all I can write is "I'm glad you guys aren't coaching"

first of all, never disrespect an opponent
second, after Minn. game, the defense is venerable to anyone
third, the guy was 3-6 for 29 yards (important yards I'll grant you but)
fourth, ideal time to try Drake as featured RB so its no time to give practice time to a second stringer.
fifth, UM manages to play up or down to its opponents. On paper Minn shouldn't have even been in the game. Except you don't play on paper.

 

[detroitjohn]

all I can write is "I'm glad you guys aren't coaching"

first of all, never disrespect an opponent
second, after Minn. game, the defense is venerable to anyone
third, the guy was 3-6 for 29 yards (important yards I'll grant you but)
fourth, ideal time to try Drake as featured RB so its no time to give practice time to a second stringer.
fifth, UM manages to play up or down to its opponents. On paper Minn shouldn't have even been in the game. Except you don't play on paper.

I'm just saying if Rudock is hurt, and you don't know and neither do I if he is, then they should work with Speight for the Rutgers game to rest Rudock and give him important experience (he may be needed again this year). That seems like intelligent fan-suggestion to me.

Drake is a featured back because there is not a featured back in this offense, it's the "hot-hand" back approach. Sure, give him more plays because Smith is still hurt and he's a great option that is a much different runner than Smith.

I think you meant vulnerable, not venerable, but I don't agree the D is not vulnerable to anyone, it just took a step back. I'm thinking that's a mental hangover more than anything.

UM hasn't played up or down to their opponents except in this game. I'm hoping it's an anomaly.

 

[CinciBlue]

Cause our fodder on a message board matters to an opponent...

Stop it.

Rutgers is not very good. That is a cold hard fact. Every game is different, and any team can beat another on any given night. Nonetheless, we can make observations based on past performance, and predict what logically could happen and that is not disrespect.

We see week in and week out what the underdog/cinderella in these night games is capable. Minnesota is not terrible by any stretch. They had a ton of energy, their crowd was amped up, and they executed extremely well. Just because michigan was supposed to win going away, and did not does not make that an indictment on poor play by Mich. Minnesota made some plays and kudos to them for doing that. They just didnt make the last one.

 

[Kaiser]

all I can write is "I'm glad you guys aren't coaching"

first of all, never disrespect an opponent
second, after Minn. game, the defense is venerable to anyone
third, the guy was 3-6 for 29 yards (important yards I'll grant you but)
fourth, ideal time to try Drake as featured RB so its no time to give practice time to a second stringer.
fifth, UM manages to play up or down to its opponents. On paper Minn shouldn't have even been in the game. Except you don't play on paper.

It would be interesting to see how many here believe Rudock makes the throw for the 2-point conversion. That was an absolute great read and throw...best read and throw of the year in my opinion. What we are seeing is the same thing we saw with Devin and Denard at QB...teams will force UofM to throw the ball to win....stop the run and UofM will struggle. Rudock is simply not consistent enough to win against a team that holds UofM to less than 150 yards rushing. There is no need to put safeties more than 10 yards off the line of scrimmage...no pass will be completed over them.

However, for this year there is little we can do about this. Unfortunate. Play calling has to be better and more creative.

 

[BlueCoral]

I agree. I would have Speight QB against Rutgers and see what happens.

 

[detroitjohn]

Cause our fodder on a message board matters to an opponent...

Stop it.

Rutgers is not very good. That is a cold hard fact. Every game is different, and any team can beat another on any given night. Nonetheless, we can make observations based on past performance, and predict what logically could happen and that is not disrespect.

We see week in and week out what the underdog/cinderella in these night games is capable. Minnesota is not terrible by any stretch. They had a ton of energy, their crowd was amped up, and they executed extremely well. Just because michigan was supposed to win going away, and did not does not make that an indictment on poor play by Mich. Minnesota made some plays and kudos to them for doing that. They just didnt make the last one.

The only thing that causes me to fret, okay maybe two things, is the poor tackling and positioning on tackles which we have not seen all year and the very poor blocking in the run game that gave little space for the most part to our backs. The former is likely an anomaly combined with the setting (night game, Kill's retirement, national TV, Halloween, etc.), the former has been a challenge all season against the good Ds we've played (except maybe Northwestern).

 

[detroitjohn]

It would be interesting to see how many here believe Rudock makes the throw for the 2-point conversion. That was an absolute great read and throw...best read and throw of the year in my opinion. What we are seeing is the same thing we saw with Devin and Denard at QB...teams will force UofM to throw the ball to win....stop the run and UofM will struggle. Rudock is simply not consistent enough to win against a team that holds UofM to less than 150 yards rushing. There is no need to put safeties more than 10 yards off the line of scrimmage...no pass will be completed over them.

However, for this year there is little we can do about this. Unfortunate. Play calling has to be better and more creative.

You are right, that was a great read, used his feet to step up in the pocket and create defensive indecision, and then was spot-on with the throw. It's a sexy choice to say he should start, but it's based on slim evidence in contrast to the many hours our staff have evaluated both QBs.

 

[wolverines74]

Anyone else notice that when Jake came out of the locker room after he was injured that he was grimacing while trying to warm up? If he got some rib damage in addition to having his head almost ripped off, his passing ability could suffer any more. If he's fine, seriously doubt we'll have any problem with him versus Rutgers. The last three against IU, PSU, and TUOS ... I'm not so positive.

Good strategy to go with Speight against Rutgers? If he can't handle it, could always put Jake back in.

Soft tissue near ribs is a , "Can I take the Pain" issue. Jake's a tough kid and with the Trainers I think he can get back. They also need to get those Shock rib pads they give NFL QBs. More concerned about Defense this week for the blowouts by OSU and Wisky came from taking away RUs offense and having a short field. "74

 

[detroitjohn]

Soft tissue near ribs is a , "Can I take the Pain" issue. Jake's a tough kid and with the Trainers I think he can get back. They also need to get those Shock rib pads they give NFL QBs. More concerned about Defense this week for the blowouts by OSU and Wisky came from taking away RUs offense and having a short field. "74

I think they have those pads...see Wilton in this video.

 

[St. Joe Blue 3]

Soft tissue near ribs is a , "Can I take the Pain" issue. Jake's a tough kid and with the Trainers I think he can get back. They also need to get those Shock rib pads they give NFL QBs. More concerned about Defense this week for the blowouts by OSU and Wisky came from taking away RUs offense and having a short field. "74

Was it announced that is the extent of his injury, or if there is any injury? I haven't heard anything, and usually there is precious little injury information released from the submarine. Thanks '74.