Jake Rudock's Continued Improvement All a Part of Wolverines' Game Plan

Jake Rudock is steadily improving as the quarterback of the Michigan football team, but the Wolverines coaching staff deserves a healthy dose of recognition.

Last week, the senior piled up a career-best 337 yards on 18 completions, leading the offense on six touchdown drives against a hapless Rutgers defense. Most importantly, he avoided risky decisions as part of executing a simple game plan.

While Rudock deserves credit for locating targets and actually making the throws, it's pretty easy to connect with wide-open receivers—especially when they're five yards away.

Michigan utilized misdirection and screens throughout the contest, using the Scarlet Knights' aggressiveness against them.

On this play, Rudock dumped off a screen to running back De'Veon Smith. Notice the linebacker who follows the flow instead of sticking to his weak-side responsibility:

via YouTube

Smith had a convoy of blockers leading him to a 31-yard gain, and Rudock scrambled for a touchdown three plays later.

Following the win, head coach Jim Harbaugh praised offensive coordinator Tim Drevno and passing game coordinator Jedd Fisch for "really good, creative game-planning on their part."

"That's a credit to all the guys and the other coaches, not me, because I'm not a good screen coach," Harbaugh said. "Never have been. But Jedd Fisch and Tim Drevno are, [running backs coach] Tyrone Wheatley is."

Smith and Drake Johnson combined to tally three receptions for 73 yards on screens, while Jabrill Peppers' 18-yard touchdown run was a swing pass that happened to go backward because it was eight yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Michigan also used its own tendencies to Rudock's advantage.

Harbaugh and Drevno run a man-blocking scheme, so when an opposing middle linebacker "reads his keys," that means he's watching the guards. If the Wolverines pull—as left guard Ben Braden (No. 71) did here—the linebacker attempts to find the running lane.

However, this played perfectly into Michigan's plan. Tight end Jake Butt ran a slant into the vacated area behind the linebacker, giving Rudock an easy throwing lane:

via YouTube

Butt—who had a career-high 102 yards on four receptions—turned upfield and split the Rutgers safeties in one of the most basic defensive calls. The junior turned a 12-yard throw into a 56-yard gain.

"They run a lot of middle-field open, Cover 2 and stuff," Butt said after the win. "That's one of our strong suits, attacking that kind of a defense. We just liked some of our matchups against their secondary and linebackers, and we were able to exploit that."

Gaining yards after the catch was a basic element of Michigan's game plan. In fact, Rudock's completions traveled a total of 138 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, so nearly 200 fell into the YAC category.

Rudock distributed the ball well and made a couple of stellar throws—most notably his laser to Amara Darboh for an eight-yard touchdown—but the quarterback left some yards on the field.

Early in the first quarter, wide receiver Jehu Chesson came in motion, which attracted the outside linebacker as well as the cornerback who had safety help over the top. Fullback Sione Houma looked like the lead blocker, but he was actually the primary target:

via YouTube

Houma continued on his wheel route, running past three Scarlet Knights and reeling in a 32-yard reception to set up a goal-to-go situation.

Although Michigan reached the end zone two snaps later, Houma would've scored if Rudock had made a better throw. Houma shouldn't have to turn around for a back-shoulder pass when no defender is within five yards.

On the brighter side for the Wolverines, though, check out how much attention their elite decoy Peppers draws. Michigan probably won't complain when its offense plays 10-on-7:

Screenshot via YouTube

Once again, Rudock deserves credit for slinging the ball en route to career-best performance.

While the offense isn't complicated, this isn't backyard or intramural football. The speed of the game is much faster than many imagine, and locating unguarded targets isn't always an easy process.

Yet Rudock doesn't find open receivers because he's a master at manipulating defenses.

Rather, it's all a part of the coaching staff's game plan that helps Rudock continually improve and the Wolverines thrive.

All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.