Michigan Football: Passing Attack in (Several) Good Hands
By Joel Greer
In the aftermath of last Thursday’s 24-17 loss to Utah, one thing can be assured, the Michigan football team will have a much improved passing game as the 2015 season moves forward.
Sure, grad transfer quarterback Jake Rudock threw three interceptions, but he also completed 27 passes, count ’em, to nine different receivers.
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Tight end Jake Butt and wide receiver Amara Darboh led the way with eight catches apiece, including Butt’s leaping 19-yard TD reception in heavy traffic and Darboh’s 10-yard TD catch in the waning moments.
The 6-3, 208-pound Rudock misfired on a pair of long passes to wide receiver Jehu Chesson, who had been able to outrun Utah’s coverage.
“Even though we did lose there’s a lot of positives in the game and obviously there’s things we need to work on.” Darboh said in Michigan’s weekly press conference. “I think the drive at the end (80 yards, 9 plays) does show that we have the capability of doing some good things this season, so I think we just need to be more focused and pay attention to little details.”
9 receivers
In addition to Butt and Darboh, WR Jehu Chesson, WR Grant Perry, WR Brian Cole, TE Ian Bunting, TE AJ Williams, RB De’Veon Smith and RB Ty Isaac all caught passes.
Throughout his coaching career, U-M coach Jim Harbaugh made a habit of using everyone, especially tight ends, in the passing game. In four seasons at Stanford, Harbaugh sent five tight ends to the NFL. Don’t be surprised if Butt is next.
A junior from Pickerington (OH) North, Butt has already been named to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list, emblematic of the nation’s top tight end.
Post-season honors
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“Jake Butt is as good a prospect as any that we’ve coached at the college level,” said Harbaugh. “And I’m excited to watch him compete, and watch his development and progress.”
Darboh, who entered this season as the Wolverines leading wide receiver with 36, could also earn postseason honors.
One thing’s a given: Butt, Darboh and Chesson will be in competition for those snazzy helmet stickers, which are being awarded to players for the first time since 1994. They are given to student athletes based on playing time, individual and unit goals and performing mistake-free football.
“I think it’s awesome,” said junior tight end Jake Butt. “It’s another way to create an environment of competition. They’re pretty sweet. We got them put on our helmet the other day … I want my helmet to be decked out by the end of the season.
“Everyone’s competing. You don’t want to be the guy with an empty helmet at the end of the year.”
Oregon State next
Michigan (0-1) begins the home portion of its schedule Saturday (Sep. 12) at noon, by hosting (1-0) Pac-12 member Oregon State. The Wolverines have a 112-18-3 record in home openers. Michigan has a 4-0 record against the Beavers, including the 34-7 win in the 1965 Rose Bowl.
Michigan has a 112-18-3 record in home openers. The Wolverines have posted a 4-0 record against Oregon State, including a 3-0 mark at Michigan Stadium. The only other meeting came in the 1965 Rose Bowl, where Michigan prevailed 34-7.
The Beavers finished 5-7 overall, and 2-7 in the Pac-12 North in 2014.
Oregon State opened the 2015 season with a 26-7 non-league victory over the Big-Sky’s Weber State. True freshman quarterback Seth Collins rushed for 152 yards and threw for another 92.
Vegas Insider has installed Michigan as a consensus 15-point favorite.
Tuley-Tillman released
Reserve offensive tackle “Logan Tuley-Tillman has been dismissed from the football team for conduct unacceptable for a Michigan student athlete,” via an official statement Thursday (Sep.10) from Jim Harbaugh. The redshirt sophomore from Peoria, Ill. was listed on the depth chart as the backup at left tackle.
Notre Dame again?
Based on what Brian Kelly said on Thursday’s Rich Eisen show, the legendary Michigan-Notre Dame football rivalry may be back in the works.
“I think it’s trending up,” Kelly said. “It’s something that we need to get obviously in line to get that going. I think that’s something that everybody wants to get going and get Michigan back on the schedule. … I think that sentiment is coming back to the forefront of where college football needs to be. Some of those classic rivalries coming back together. I know we’re going to be working hard to see if we can get that done.”
Next: Big Ten Power Rankings Week 2