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Michigan-Rutgers grades: Jake Rudock has best game of season

Here are the top takeaways and highest-graded players from the Michigan’s 49-16 win against Rutgers.

Michigan Wolverines

–CB Jourdan Lewis (+4.1) had another excellent performance, and currently leads NCAA cornerbacks with a +19.0 overall grade. Rutgers QB Chris Laviano was 1-of-8 for 20 yards when targeting Lewis, including a pass defensed. LB Desmond Morgan (+3.0) also stood out in coverage, allowing two catches on four attempts, for 0 total yards.

–QB Jake Rudock (+4.6) had his best game of the season by a wide margin, just the second time that he has earned a positive grade this season. He finished 9-of-11 for 212 yards, 2 touchdowns and a +3.5 grade on passes thrown 10-plus yards. Rudock was pressured just nine times, but was 7-of-8 for 138 yards and a +1.5 grade on those plays. TE Jake Butt (+2.5 receiving grade) was Rudock’s top target.

–Michigan’s offensive line was responsible for just four total pressures allowed, and Rudock was not sacked in the game. LT Mason Cole led the O-line with a +2.8 overall grade; he was perfect in pass protection, and also earned a team-best +1.4 run-blocking grade.

Top performers:

QB Jake Rudock (+4.6)

CB Jourdan Lewis (+4.1)

LB Desmond Morgan (+3.0)

LT Mason Cole (+2.8)

DE Taco Charlton (+2.7)

 

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

–The Rutgers’ passing game struggled without injured star WR Leonte Carroo. QB Chris Laviano (-4.2) was 2-of-9 for 38 yards and an interception on passes thrown 10-plus yards, and was pressured on more than half of his dropbacks. Michigan blitzed just seven times, but Laviano was 0-for-5 (with one rush and one sack on the other snaps) and earned a -2.5 PFF grade on those plays. WR Janarion Grant (+0.3) finished with just three catches for 26 yards, but had an impressive kick return for a touchdown.

–Defensively, the Scarlet Knights held their own against a potent Michigan rushing attack, limiting the Wolverines to 151 total rushing yards at 3.6 yards per carry. Linebacker Steve Longa (+1.7) led the team with 12 total tackles (six stops), and defensive tackles Kevin Wilkins (+2.6 run defense grade) and Jon Bateky (+1.0) also earned positive grades against the run.

–Cornerbacks Isaiah Wharton and Anthony Cioffi (-1.0) had tough days in coverage. Wharton finished with a team-low -4.1 overall grade with a -4.5 grade in coverage, and Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock was 5-of-5 for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns when targeting Cioffi.

Top performers:

DT Kevin Wilkins (+2.6)

RG Chris Muller (+2.0)

DT Jon Bateky (+2.0)

LB Steve Longa (+1.7)

LB Darnell Davis Jr. (+1.3)

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