Michigan Football Preview 2015

2015 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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14 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Jim Harbaugh's staff garnering fifth-year senior quarterback Jake Rudock in a transfer from Iowa appears to be a potential season changer. The chance to plug in a two-year Big Ten starter, with 4,819 passing yards under his belt, looks to be just what the QB doctor ordered. Former U-M offensive lineman Doug Skene (1988-92), an analyst for The Wolverine, cer- tainly agrees at first glance. But he also insists there's more involved than merely bringing solid skills and a résumé into the situation. Rudock definitely has the experience and the ability, according to the owner of no fewer than five Big Ten championship rings. He's watched closely, and appreciates how Rudock operates after watching video of him in a Iowa game at Ohio State. "I loved how he was making his check- downs, sitting in the pocket," Skene said. "If number one wasn't there, he'd look that off and go find number two, and get the ball where it belongs. "I thought he was fairly accurate. I like his little escape routes, too. He used all of his op- tions there, through the course of that game." While Skene is not a fan of what he labels college football's new "free agent market" — the fifth-year senior transfers — Skene certainly respects Michigan doing everything it can to better itself within the existing rules for 2015. Now, Rudock has to acclimate not only to Michigan's offense, but also to U-M's players on offense, Skene insisted. There's a chem- istry that has to be developed, and not much time to get it done. "From a football point of view, you can say early indications are this kid has shown the capability and experience," Skene offered. "Then there's that vast unknown, that we don't know as fans — how well does he blend in with the guys on the team, and how good of a friend does he become? "How fast can he get up to speed with the culture on the football team and in the build- ing? Let's face it. That's been lacking. In the last couple of years, I see an offensive line that is somehow socially disconnected from that quarterback spot." As a former offensive lineman, Skene watches very carefully the reactions and body language of the men up front. At times in re- cent seasons, he didn't like what he saw. "I can only go off of personal experience and say that when the quarterback got hit, we took it personally up front," he said. "That was our guy back there. That was one of our best friends. You'd do anything for him. "How many times did we see our quarter- backs getting drilled, and the offensive line just sort of shuttles off the field like it's no big deal? We'll go to the next series. So how is Rudock going to fit in, and how quickly can he get up to speed with this group of offensive linemen to get socially woven into the fabric? "That's hard to do in one summer. The kid is going to be here from May until the fall, and then he's done. That's a tough role and a chal- lenge for him. I hope the year is a good one for him and a good one for us. I wonder how fast they can pull that off." Everyone from Iowa cites the pre-med stu- dent as bringing a great personality and strong character to the table. Meshing with the crew on hand will tell much of the tale, though, ac- cording to one who has been there. It starts with summer workouts, and inten- sifies in the heat of fall camp in August. That isn't much time to get ready and blend in, but Rudock knew about that challenge when he took it on — and so did his coaches. Skene: Fitting In Becomes The Key For Jake Rudock Rudock, a quarterback transfer from Iowa, will need to develop chemistry with his new team- mates, both on and off the fi eld. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL OFFENSE Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. WR 82 Amara Darboh 6-2 216 R-Jr. 83 Jaron Dukes 6-3 204 R-So. LT 52 Mason Cole 6-5 287 So. 72 Logan Tuley-Tillman 6-7 309 R-So. LG 71 Ben Braden 6-6 331 R-Jr. 55 David Dawson 6-4 309 R-So. C 61 Graham Glasgow 6-6 303 5th-Sr. 57 Patrick Kugler 6-5 297 R-So. RG 67 Kyle Kalis 6-5 292 R-Jr. 62 Blake Bars 6-5 281 R-Jr. RT 78 Erik Magnuson 6-6 296 R-Jr. 76 Juwan Bushell-Beatty 6-5 319 R-Fr. TE 88 Jake Butt 6-6 248 Jr. 84 A.J. Williams 6-6 285 Sr. WR 82 Jehu Chesson 6-3 207 R-Jr. 85 Maurice Ways 6-3 205 R-Fr. QB — Jake Rudock 6-3 208 Gr.-Sr. 7 Shane Morris 6-3 209 Jr. FB 36 Joe Kerridge 6-0 249 5th-Sr. 39 Sione Houma 6-0 243 Sr. RB 4 De'Veon Smith 5-11 228 Jr. or 27 Derrick Green 5-11 234 Jr. DEFENSE Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. DE 69 Willie Henry 6-3 311 R-Jr. 33 Taco Charlton 6-6 273 Jr. NT 90 Bryan Mone 6-4 325 So. 96 Ryan Glasgow 6-4 297 R-Jr. DE 43 Chris Wormley 6-5 300 R-Jr. 73 Maurice Hurst 6-2 281 R-So. SAM 15 James Ross III 6-1 232 Sr. 19 Jared Wangler 6-2 230 R-Fr. ILB 48 Desmond Morgan 6-1 236 5th-Sr. 9 Mike McCray 6-4 242 R-So. ILB 35 Joe Bolden 6-3 232 Sr. 42 Ben Gedeon 6-3 241 Jr. OLB 52 Royce Jenkins-Stone 6-2 240 Sr. 93 Lawrence Marshall 6-4 238 R-Fr. or 53 Mario Ojemudia 6-2 252 Sr. FS 22 Jarrod Wilson 6-2 210 Sr. 44 Delano Hill 6-0 204 Jr. SS 5 Jabrill Peppers 6-1 205 R-Fr. 34 Jeremy Clark 6-4 205 R-Jr. CB — Wayne Lyons 6-1 193 Gr.-Sr. 8 Channing Stribling 6-2 178 Jr. CB 26 Jourdan Lewis 5-10 176 Jr. 28 Brandon Watson 5-11 189 R-Fr. MICHIGAN DEPTH CHART SPECIAL TEAMS Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr PK 31 Kyle Sechel 6-2 171 R-Fr. or — Andrew David 5-9 170 Fr. P — Blake O'Neill 6-2 215 Gr.-Sr. 91 Kenny Allen 6-3 220 R-Jr. LS 43 Scott Sypniewski 6-1 224 R-So. 49 Andrew Robinson 5-11 209 R-Fr. H 7 Shane Morris 6-3 209 Jr. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr KO 91 Kenny Allen 6-3 220 R-Jr. 31 Kyle Sechel 6-2 171 R-Fr. KR 5 Jabrill Peppers 6-1 205 R-Fr. 82 Jehu Chesson 6-3 207 R-Jr. PR 5 Jabrill Peppers 6-1 205 R-Fr. 8 Channing Stribling 6-2 178 Jr.

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