1VaBlue1

September 15th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^

I won't be begging for anyone.  If either Peters or McCaffrey can beat out Speight, then bring'em on!  But if they can't, for whatever reason, I'd prefer whoever wins the competition.  If that's Speight, so be it.

Give me the QB that wins the competition.  Especially if that QB has a death grip on the position, rather than in a dead heat coin flip...

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127605

reshp1

September 14th, 2017 at 11:39 PM ^

I don't get the hand wringing about Speight, on either side. It'd be one thing if there was actually a viable alternative to draw battle lines over and and have a QB controversy, but there's not. Whether you think he's Tom Brady or Steven Threet, there's no sane argument that there's any option but to keep playing him. You might as well go outside and yell at the rain, it'd be more productive than arguing over Speight's strengths and deficiencies.

Joined: 10/31/2011

MGoPoints: 34177

stephenrjking

September 14th, 2017 at 11:59 PM ^

I suppose "the case for Mike McCray" doesn't have the same ring to it, so we get this instead.

I'm basically where reshp1 is on this, but there's an entire sports talk industry built upon basically yelling at the rain, and we're all here posting on this thread, so there you go.

I believe Speight can improve considerably. It's clear that he knows the offense and almost always makes good reads. He has shown the capability of making good throws, sometimes even in difficult windows or conditions.

He just hasn't put it together, and the start to the season actually seems like a step back in some ways (Tacopants was not a regular UFR feature last year). But the material is there. 

I think.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

Fezzik

September 15th, 2017 at 12:04 AM ^

Not a bad read. Speight is not just our starter but seems to emphatically be Harbaugh's guy. I just hope his intangibles start leading to on field consistency.

Joined: 09/11/2015

MGoPoints: 5552

rice4114

September 15th, 2017 at 1:03 PM ^

After what youve seen this year can you say that for certain? Right now I would say in Harbaugh offense Ty Isaac and Deveon would make a solid one two punch. Higdon and Evans have played 1/6th of a season, amd I love them both, but at this point maybe starter carries are the tougher yards?

Joined: 08/26/2010

MGoPoints: 47575

PolskaPride

September 15th, 2017 at 12:05 AM ^

Speight is our guy, there is no better option. I think everyone has accepted that. I think people are just frustrated that qb play will be a weakness until Speight shows us that he can be a consistent threat. Hopefully he figures it out and he can build some chemistry with the young receivers. Next year will be interesting but it will take a lot for another qb to pass Speight considering he will have two years of starting experience. Either way, we have plenty of season to go and a lot can change. Maybe something will click and Speight will turn it around and none of this will matter.

Joined: 06/10/2015

MGoPoints: 1222

EGD

September 15th, 2017 at 9:53 AM ^

See, I don't agree with this.

Speight was far, far better in 2016 than he was in 2015.  Then he had issues at the end of 2016, including an injury.  Now in 2017 he is performing at a level below most of his 2016 performance.

I happen to think it's more than likely that Speight improves enough during 2017 to match his 2016 performance level, and probably exceed it by some degree.  The only reason to think he wouldn't is if he has some kind of lingering effect from the injury, whether mental or physical.  But even that can presumably be overcome or compensated for.

Of course, nobody knows what's really going to happen. I'm optimistic about Speight; I could be wrong, but at least I am willing to wait and see.  If you are more pessimistic about him, that's fine.  But you really have no basis for saying that he'll never improve.  That's just a guess based on...??  

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35199

MaizeMN

September 15th, 2017 at 12:50 AM ^

Harbaugh thinks they are easily correctable. His experience, calmness, leadership and ability to adjust at the line are all traits currently lacking in any of the other QB options. Not to mention, they may also have some issues with mechanics. WS is not TB, but he seems to be the most viable option at this point.

Joined: 01/28/2012

MGoPoints: 4590

WNY in Savannah

September 15th, 2017 at 11:08 AM ^

Unfortunately, I think you have a point here.  Harbaugh said in the press conference that they have been telling Speight for ages not to do handoffs the way he has been doing them.  Speight has kept doing them wrong anyway.  This is straight from Harbaugh, not fan speculation.  I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that Speight's flaws will be corrected.

Joined: 09/18/2013

MGoPoints: 638

BIGBLUEWORLD

September 15th, 2017 at 12:53 AM ^

However...

If Wilton Speight ever moves to England and takes up professional darts, everyone will be talking about his great dart throwing mechanics.

Joined: 07/14/2012

MGoPoints: 4239

I'm Batman

September 15th, 2017 at 1:28 AM ^

2 interceptions, 1 of which was a tip play. And 2 fumbles, one of which was in part to defensive penetration. It's two games, with half of a new line, and all new skill position players. The timing will come. The mistakes will be minimized. We will be fine.

Joined: 08/18/2014

MGoPoints: 4335

JHumich

September 15th, 2017 at 1:38 AM ^

turned out to be BS'ing. So, I fully expect Speight to be great. Top 2 or 3 in the B1G.

We had some shaky moments the first couple games, but that is EXACTLY what we thought we would see, and this is the time for those things to happen.

Right now is not the time to tamp down expectations about Speight. O'Korn is good, and Peters is both good and progressing, per Harbaugh. Nothing he has said gives me the impression that we are "settling" for Speight.

To the contrary, everything he has said leads me to expect Speight to do special things this year.

So, I'm just going to expect that. And if Harbaugh's patient with some snafus, then I'll just be patient too.

Am I a homer? You betcha. And to me, that's a big part of being a CFB fan.

Joined: 02/18/2017

MGoPoints: 53098

bluinohio

September 15th, 2017 at 3:14 AM ^

Is he the best we have right now? Yes. Is he ever going to be great? No What do you expect Harbaugh to say? "Uh, yeah, he's not very good, but the other guys are worse." He's never going to give people the impression he doesn't have complete confidence in his QB whether he does or not. Speight is fine, he's not terrible. We just have to expect that once or twice a game he's going to make a big mistake that could make a difference in the outcome of a game.

Joined: 08/24/2015

MGoPoints: 10760

EGD

September 15th, 2017 at 9:59 AM ^

Yeah, I don't think O'Korn is a very good QB.  He didn't look good against IU last season and while he had one nice throw against Florida he mostly appeared deliberate and overwhelmed.  Harbaugh needs to tell the media that O'Korn is a good player, because otherwise his confidence probably disintigrates.  But if Speight were to go down, this team would probably be in trouble.

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35199

TESOE

September 15th, 2017 at 1:18 PM ^

It is part of the deal.  Bo didn't give a rip what fans thought.  He was about the team.  There is a difference between being on the team and being a fan.  Fans can be critical without losing their nom de guerre of being Michigan fans.

Miami 31 Michigan 30.   3 yards and a cloud of dust and prevent D up 17 with 6 mins to go was not a rally call for fans.  It was Bo's best call.  He owned the wins and loses.  Harbaugh owns Speight.  It is his call.  But to be a Michigan QB and not to expect critique... that's silly.  It is an honor and a call to excellence.  Speight's misques don't exceed those of Leach or Henne as freshmen at this point.

This is a fan blog... not a pep rally.  Bo did not demand support from fans.  He demanded his team play as a team.

 

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 8536

Year of Revenge II

September 15th, 2017 at 8:30 AM ^

Of course you are right about Peters's biggest game, but even Brady had a first Michigan game.

I am not espousing a switch, and one is not likely to happen regardless of what my opinion is.

Speight was within an inch, and courageuosly so, yet the reasons he was not 10 yards in front instead of an inch behind lie largely within the flaws in his game rather than the other weaknesses on his team, or even the strength of his opponent that day.

I hope he can lead us to the promised land

Joined: 11/12/2013

MGoPoints: 9188

Reader71

September 15th, 2017 at 9:39 AM ^

I don't mean this maliciously at all, but every paragraph but the first is irrelevant to my comment. For what it's worth, I agree with your sentiment about Speight's play. But what does that have to do with Peters? Do you mean to suggest that because Speight made mistakes against Ohio, we should assume Peters wouldn't? My point is that it should surprise no one that a kid who has never played a snap of college football is not better than a guy who has played very important snaps, and done them pretty well.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

Year of Revenge II

September 15th, 2017 at 1:54 PM ^

I don't mean this maliciously in return either, but IMO you need to bone up on the definition of relevancy. 

Peters is very relevant to your entire post; he is the presumed heir at this point in time.  He has no experience---yet---as Brady had on his first play, as Elway had, as Namath had, etc., etc.

"Not better" is your conclusion, we really don't know what JH's plan is, only that he wants Speight at this point in time.  Let's hope Wilton delivers a higher level.

Joined: 11/12/2013

MGoPoints: 9188

Reader71

September 15th, 2017 at 8:15 PM ^

I don't mean this maliciously either, but you need to bone up on reading comprehension. I agreed that the first paragraph was relevant. That's the paragraph about the Peters and his first game. As I typed, that was the only part that was relevant. He then went on to talk about Speight struggling against Ohio. Again, this, isn't relevant to my post, which was about Peters' lack of experience.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

uminks

September 15th, 2017 at 2:45 AM ^

But he certainly can cut down on the number of mistakes he makes every game. When you play good defenses, giving the opponent a quick pick six could spell a loss He certainly cannot throw pick sixes on the road against WI, PSU or at home against OSU and expect to win these games. Just play smart football and the team could win the B1G this season.

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32105

Eye of the Tiger

September 15th, 2017 at 2:58 AM ^

He's never going to be Baker Mayfield. But he also doesn't have to be the guy we saw against UF either. With our defense and RBs, we just need him to be get those sailing balls under control.

I have faith that Harbaugh knows what he's doing, and that he sees Speight's problems as correctable.  

Joined: 09/14/2009

MGoPoints: 7874

MfanItalia

September 15th, 2017 at 6:05 AM ^

After attending the Utah game (Harbaugh's first) I was quite concerned about the QB situation. That "situation" improved consistently from that point on and I expect similar results this year. Count me among the believers that Sp8's worst games are behind him.

Joined: 07/12/2017

MGoPoints: 474