The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/589596
while the Maize and Blue have rushed for 200 yards or more in four of seven contests. Michigan has tried to establish an offensive identity, predicated on win- ning the battle on the line of scrim- mage with physicality and toughness. However, U-M was pushed around by the Spartans, eliciting flashbacks to the past few years in which the Wolverines were bullied by MSU's front seven. Michigan has made progress overall up front, but the Wolverines must be measured against the best defenses they face and not the middling ones. In matchups with Northwestern and MSU, Michigan averaged just 3.3 yards per carry and gave up 17 tackles for loss and six sacks. Best Player: C Graham Glasgow Most Improved: RT Erik Magnuson On The Rise: LG Ben Braden Impact Freshman: None Quarterback: B- Reason For The Grade: Fifth-year se- nior Jake Rudock has been under center for all but 18 of Michigan's 486 offensive plays this season, and redshirt freshman Wilton Speight has yet to complete one of his four pass attempts, so this posi- tion is all about how Rudock has per- formed in seven games. A 61.7 completion percentage is ex- cellent. The three rushing touchdowns are good, but the 6-to-5 interception- to-touchdown pass ratio needs to be much better, and a pass efficiency rat- ing of 119.88 that ranks ninth in the Big Ten and 93rd nationally is not what was expected from the polished two-year starter. Rudock's greatest contribution, how- ever, cannot be measured in numbers but in the intangibles head coach Jim Harbaugh continually highlights during his press conferences. The Wolverines, too, laud Rudock for his leadership, calm demeanor and knowledge of the game, praising his ef- forts every day in practice in addition to fall Saturdays. At some point, though, Rudock might have to be more than a game manager and must improve on his ability to go down field. U-M ranks 62nd nationally with 20 pass completions of 20 yards or more through Oct. 17 and is 108th nationally in pass plays of 30 yards or more (five). Best Player: Jake Rudock Most Improved: None On The Rise: None Impact Freshman: None Wide Receiver: B+ Reason For The Grade: After seven games, Michigan's wide receivers had accounted for 58 of U-M's 121 receptions (47.9 percent), 632 of 1,303 yards (48.5 percent) and two of five aerial touch- downs. They're playing a bigger role this season than many had expected be- cause of a perceived lack of reliable and game-breaking targets on the outside. The group has hauled in a single catch of 30 yards or more, with a long TD of 10 yards. Redshirt junior Jehu Ches- son, however, has made a number of big plays, scoring on touchdown runs of 36 and 66 yards this season, plus a kick return of 96 yards. Classmate Amara Darboh has moved the chains or scored a touchdown on 16 of his 28 receptions (57.1 percent), proving invaluable.