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TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com
What to Watch For: Rudock
seeks INT-free performance
Wolverines face tall
receivers, potent
passing attack
against Cougars
By MAX COHEN
Managing Sports Editor
The last two weekends have
not provided much of a test for
the Michigan football team, as
the Wolverines easily pushed
aside Oregon State and UNLV
in their first two home games
of the season. Things will likely
be different this weekend when
No. 23 Brigham Young comes to
town.
Last week, the Cougars stayed
close with then-No. 10 UCLA,
losing by one point. The Bruins
scored late in the fourth quarter
to take the lead for good, and BYU
failed to respond.
Here’s what to watch for as
Michigan looks to make one last
statement in non-conference play.
1. Is this the week Jake Rudock
turns things around?
The
fifth-year
senior
quarterback has thrown five
interceptions in the season’s first
three games, the same number
he threw all of last season with
Iowa. Despite the rough statistics,
nobody in Michigan’s program
seems to be concerned about
Rudock, at least publicly.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh
said Monday that Rudock is
the
team’s
best
quarterback,
“and not by a small margin,”
quelling any doubt that he was
second-guessing his decision to
make Rudock the team’s starter.
Instead, Harbaugh, Rudock and
some of Michigan’s receivers have
said that some of the struggles
will fade over time as Rudock and
the receivers continue to get on
the same page.
Saturday’s game might leave no
room for the turnovers that the
Wolverines could afford in their
previous two games. Michigan
may also have to convert on some
of the deep balls that have eluded
receivers’ grasps so far.
2.
How
can
Michigan’s
secondary match up with big
wide receivers?
The Wolverines have not faced
a pass-happy offense like BYU’s so
far this season. So far, Michigan’s
secondary has limited big plays
through the air, but that will be
put to the test this weekend. The
Cougars attempted 47 passes
against UCLA last week.
What will make the challenge
more difficult is that BYU has
some
size
out
wide.
Mitch
Mathews, the team’s second-
leading
receiver,
is
6-foot-6.
Nick Kurtz, the Cougars’ fourth-
leading receiver, is 6-foot-5.
Michigan junior cornerback
Jourdan Lewis, who had four
pass breakups last week, is just
5-foot-10. He has insisted that
facing taller wide receivers will
not be an issue, that he can make
up for the height with technique.
Harbaugh has said the same.
Look to see if their words ring
true Saturday or if height really
does matter.
3. Can the defense create
turnovers?
The Wolverines’ defense has
been preaching the importance
of takeaways all week. Michigan
had
two
interceptions
last
week against UNLV, but it still
does not appear to be satisfied.
The approach of the defensive
coaching staff is that the team’s
defenders should be trying to get
the ball back for the offense on
every single possession, and that
has not yet come to fruition.
The Wolverines could have an
opportunity to create turnovers
against BYU. The Cougars start
a true freshman at quarterback
in Tanner Mangum. Though he
has displayed a great deal of poise
early in his career, road games
always provide a test for young
players.
If Mangum airs it out 47 times
like he did last week, Michigan’s
secondary will no doubt be
looking for turnovers. Whether
the Wolverines take advantage is
another matter entirely. It will be
another opportunity for them to
create their desired reputation as
ball hawks.
4. Will the Wolverines be able
to run the ball successfully for
a third straight game?
Michigan has enjoyed great
success running the ball the
past two weeks, scampering for
more than 200 yards in back-
to-back games. Junior running
back De’Veon Smith led the way
against Oregon State, and junior
running back Ty Isaac did the
same against UNLV.
How exactly carries will be
distributed this weekend remains
to be seen. But if the offensive line
can create holes the way it has the
past two weeks, it could bode well
for the team in Big Ten play.
BYU’s rush defense is far from
daunting. It ranks 74th among
all Football Bowl Subdivision
schools, but after the struggles
the Wolverines have had the
last few years running the ball,
another successful week would
enhance the confidence of the
offensive line even further.
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Fifth-year senior quarterback Jake Rudock has thrown five interceptions in three games this season, but he will look to break his skid Saturday against BYU.
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throughout Saturday