Everyone Murders

March 7th, 2016 at 4:13 PM ^

I have high hopes for O'Korn too, but we should remember that he was running the scout team last year.  So while he certainly has had exposure to Harbaugh's system, he's not really in his second year "in the system".

Scout team QB is a weird position, because you're doing your best to mimic the opposing team's QB from week-to-week.  So one week you may be doing your best Christian Hackenberg imitation, and the next week doing a Nate Sudfeld impression.  (Does imitating Caleb Rowe set your overall progress back?  Perhaps!)

I got this "scout team QB =/= in system QB" impression from a post-FL camp quote from Harbaugh, where he pretty much said as much.  For all of that, O'Korn seems to have the ability and mentality to thrive under our mad scientist coach, and I think he will be hard to beat out of the starting job.

1201 S. Main St.

March 7th, 2016 at 5:02 PM ^

If while he's mimicing the opposing QB, he's doing better than the actual QB he's supposed to be mimicing, that's a good sign, right?  From what I've read, rooming with Rudock has helped him get a grasp on the system, while not actually playing in it.  I have incredibly high hopes, with timid expectations.  Watching his freshman highlights at Houston though....I'm excited.

ghostofhoke

March 7th, 2016 at 4:09 PM ^

The problem is that as the scout team QB he is not really "in" our system. He is running the opposing teams' systems week in and week out. Sure he is studying ours as well but not getting the kind of reps that he would as the starter or backup. So he is still pretty new to it at this point. He'll make big strides.

BornInAA

March 7th, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^

Don't see this as a problem. Everyone except Ohio State and Utah was running basically a pro-style offense. 

And no, they don't run scout team drills 24/7 - he has had a lot of time - a lot more than the 3 weeks Rudock had - to work on our system and mechanics with Jim H.

Mr.Msider

March 8th, 2016 at 6:49 AM ^

There was last football season and apparently still is a disease going around called double D'er. It's a sad disease of not only for the reason that it can easily be prevented by paying close attention to how Jake Rudock actually spells his last name

getsome

March 7th, 2016 at 4:32 PM ^

couldnt be more accurate.   rudock wasnt perfect and it took him a while to find his groove but that dude was outstanding down the stretch.  i actually think itll be tough for this years QB to match rudock's performance over the 2nd half last year (though an improved run game will help).

hopefully harbaugh, fisch and crew can help the current QBs find a similar level of confidence, composure, accuracy, etc though it wont be easy.  thankfully, these coaches know what theyre doing, the team will be hungry and constantly looking to take that next step, and the coaches will always look to tailor their approach to fit their players strengths

In reply to by Anonymous Coward (not verified)

Albatross

March 7th, 2016 at 9:52 PM ^

For nearly the entire year until they had to make a decision to put someone in when Ruddock got his bell rung. So the decision came down

1) Do we want to ruin a redshirt for our second best QB (and maybe the best QB next year) for what amounted to a a handful of meaningful plays, or

2) Do you bite the bullet and ensure that you have a potential starter for two years. Or at worst a capable backup

You have a right to your opinion, but you do not have a right to the facts. And the fact is that Shane emerged (through compeition) as the No. 2 QB and even in the game that Speight was inserted Speight was 3rd on the Depth Chart. The Depth Chart only changed when Jimmy firmly committed to redshirting Shane.

And while you remind everyone not to say it was because the coaches wanted to redshirt Shane, maybe you should remind Jimmy of that too, cause that is who it came from.

jabberwock

March 7th, 2016 at 4:53 PM ^

because I know whomever it is will have been through a war and will have been selected by an excellent coaching staff.  Clear leader? 1A & 1B?  doesn't matter.

I think the future at QB is very bright as well.  I think Harbaugh saw a little bit of himself in Alex Malzone, and I think he sees a lot of himself in Brandon Peters.

Harbaugh likes a gamer.

ijohnb

March 7th, 2016 at 3:32 PM ^

only more-handsomer.

Shane Morris - Steve Young, only more left-handeder.

O'Korn - Peyton Manning, only less sexual harrassing toward female training staff-memberer.

All in all I think we are in good hands going forward.

Chicken22

March 7th, 2016 at 3:42 PM ^

OP also mentiond other things to note. I wasn't in Florida but I have a question about something other than the quarterbacks.

Did our defense seem to have picked up Don Brown scheme and have it figured out, and playing well with it?

Blue in Tampa Bay

March 7th, 2016 at 3:51 PM ^

Left work early on Friday to get there and sat in traffic for an hour to get in. O'Korn has a big arm and is quicker than I expected. Jail was working with Linebackers (least hot take ever...) and Bryan Mone is a large man...

Michigan Marshmallow

March 7th, 2016 at 3:53 PM ^

I attended the practice and, based on that limited 3ish-hour window, Shane looked better. However:

I think O'Korn was deliberately making check-downs and progressions as opposed to seeing a guy briefly open and firing away. From rep-rotation and who was playing with whom it looked like O'Korn was the guy. He did miss some open screens and other short passes, but I think a lot of that was disruption in the backfield. Made one beautiful pass to Darboh early on in a scrimmage like situation for a touchdown. 

Shane looked like what I think many of us thought he would be. Strong arm, risky, and maybe a little cocky in his decision making. He threw one pass into double coverage that was absolutely perfect, even if it wasn't the best decision. He threw a similar pass later that wasn't perfect, and was picked off by Stribling. He seemed exceptionally confident compared to how we've seen him play on the field.

If I had to guess based on what I saw, O'Korn is the guy right now, but Shane is pushing him for a spot. I'm guessing Shane may have had a better day, but O'Korn is more consistent.