Chris Balas on Brandon Peters: "There are recruiting mistakes, and this appears to have been a big one."

Submitted by Maizen on

Meanwhile Michigan had 4 passing yards in the 2nd half vs IU. I don't really know what to say about this if true, but thought it was extremely noteworthy.

MGoBoard

I'm Batman

October 15th, 2017 at 10:04 AM ^

Him with Jalen Hurts. Which A. Shows even the great Nick Saban misfires at QB once in a while. And B. In year 10 with an All American filled offensive line, and perrenial Heisman potential at running back you can afford to take risks on freshmen.

Joined: 08/18/2014

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Maynard

October 15th, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^

Saying this about Alabama a bunch of times will not make it true. They start freshman and sophomores when they need to and theri offense is not complicated at all. It is just executed by a lot of great talent impressively. They were using spread option for their freshman QB and then changed it up with the coaching change to use a more inside receiver option route like New England does mixed with RPOs, screens, etc. Not complicated. Just effective with size that can move fast to get to blocking assignments.

Joined: 02/19/2016

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The Fugitive

October 15th, 2017 at 8:12 AM ^

My guess is he doesn't have any evidence and is calling it a miss because he isn't playing. I believe Sam Webb when he says Peters is the most talented QB on the roster.

Joined: 01/26/2016

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Mr. Yost

October 15th, 2017 at 12:48 PM ^

This was my tidbit I gave the board after fall camp.

Basically, he pissed Harbaugh off because he's too quiet. He has no command of the huddle. He doesn't do the little things Harbaugh's gritty self values. He'll never draw a DL offsides with his cadence, he doesn't get in and out of the huddle quick enough. 

He's just really good in drills right now.

When it goes live, he doesn't command the team like Rudock did. I remember game 1 versus Utah and I saw EXACTLY what Harbaugh loved about Rudock.

1. He was unflappable or however you spell that word.

2. Every play, he'd pop right up, find...his coach, stare down and get the play call, run into the huddle...give a clear playcall and run the presnap offense to a T. There was no confusion with Jake Rudock.

3. Short memory.

He just did everything mentally that Harbaugh loves...Michigan fans finally saw it late and started to appreciate it.

From what I understand (in the fall camp...not now because I haven't had an update since)...Peters just doesn't have that. Is too lackadaisical and nonchalant. He's not vocal. He doesn't get guys lined up in the proper places. He's not vocal or firery or gritty.

Again, this may not be true now...but that's why fall camp opened up a 3 man competition and quickly turned into just Speight and O'Korn...and why McCaffrey moved ahead of Peters.

---------------

Personal take, I think Peters will be fine. 2 years from now when Speight is gone. I think McCaffrey will have developed physically and Peters mentally and that's when we'll finally have an awesome camp battle. But that doesn't help us for Saturday.

Joined: 07/25/2011

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Nofx1728

October 15th, 2017 at 9:40 AM ^

Okorn passed for 58 yards. Almost Half on a miracle throw to dpj on a broken play between 3 players. Missed two glaringly wide open huge plays, had multiple mix ups on handoffs and should of had 3 ints. I'm willing to suffer through the "little things" so we at least have some mild hope for next season. There's no way in hell he could perform any worse than okorn the last 2 games.

Joined: 09/06/2014

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war-dawg69

October 15th, 2017 at 10:19 AM ^

Agreed. Peters could play with boxing gloves on and do better. Walker looked fast and is willing to put his head down and smash a db unlike other backs. He definitely deserves more carries. Higdon runs hard and deserves the lions share and it seems he is going to get them. I think evans would be good on screens. He is a space type of guy who does'nt do as well with contact but is fast and elusive if you give him a hole to run though. Love to hear Balas elaborate on this statement as I think he ends up with egg on his face.

Joined: 10/07/2016

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samdrussBLUE

October 15th, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^

It would be best if you didn’t say anything about this situation. It’s so vague and cryptic, that nothing good will come out of it. And yes, it reads like he is not being played for things other than being able to move the football down a field.

Joined: 01/21/2012

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Oh Deer

October 15th, 2017 at 9:40 AM ^

I think that is exactly what he is saying - it wouldn't go well. Not sure what the hangup is, because the physical tools are there. Maybe he's just not capable of handling playing at a high D1 program?

Joined: 01/29/2013

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Harbaugh is my…

October 15th, 2017 at 8:18 AM ^

Any specific reason why Walker doesn't get more chances? He had 1 carry for 8 yards, yet the staff continues to run Evans who got 5 yards on a day when the line blocked well. They need to use Evans on jet sweeps and give Walker 5-8 touches.

Joined: 05/20/2015

MGoPoints: 124

goblue4321

October 15th, 2017 at 9:11 AM ^

I thought same thing, dude is a sophomore looks like he hasn’t picked up a weight, I don’t see how these kids aren’t lifting atleast 2 hours every day

Joined: 02/01/2017

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scanner blue

October 15th, 2017 at 9:39 AM ^

If he had school issues as a freshman he's probably still in the academic center after practice. There's a reason it's right down State St. between Schembechler and  South Quad. ( note: I still have my letter from the college of engineering placing me on academic probation).

Joined: 07/14/2014

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jblaze

October 15th, 2017 at 8:26 AM ^

We can all make inferences about what Balas really means, but he’s correct in that there are 3-4 QBs that Would have come to Michigan that would be starting now inatead of Peters. The kid from IU would have been awesome here. Same with the Cincinnati kid.

Joined: 08/29/2008

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Gulogulo37

October 15th, 2017 at 10:34 AM ^

Not to mention we aren't throwing to Simmie Cobbs. Yes, the QBs have been bad, but I've scrolled through this whole thing and no one's mentioned the OL or WRs when talking about bad QB play. Our run game got on track, which makes O'Korn's performance even more troubling. Speight wishes he had this run game when he was in there.

Joined: 03/16/2010

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BoCanHam15

October 15th, 2017 at 8:32 AM ^

Of our posters as bosses! We have some of the most miserable, misguided, demented comments on a regular basis! People in here that have watched football actually seem to believe that just because a person recruits someone it's a can't miss or foolproof method! Let's see, has anyone ever attained a degree before and never worked in that field of study? Of course. Some people go to the military and after they retire, they can become teachers. But some of them do not have a teaching degree. I have a couple of family members that have teaching degrees that have never taught but are doing very well, in another career field. There are at least 10-15 quarterbacks that get drafted every year to try and replace a guy from the previous year. Hell, Deshone Kizer wanted to play at Michigan and instead went to go play for Barney in South Bend. Only to be ill prepared to attempt to play in the NFL on Sundays. Harbaugh has failed us because he attempted to evaluate a young man to become a leader on the field. Sometimes people become leaders in different aspects of life even though we hoped they were destined to fulfill our hopes and dreams. Newsflash: There are zero handbooks on how to raise kids successfully. These are just kids, trying to become men. We don't have all the answers either.

Joined: 07/08/2016

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SD Larry

October 15th, 2017 at 8:32 AM ^

It is so easy for him to speculate ridiculous things without any evidence. For whatever reason (probably because the coaches thinks its in the teams best interest) , the explanation for Peters' position on the depth chart is being maintained on the sub only and the coaches want it kept that way.  Hard to know unless you have the time and access to watch him everyday in practice.

Joined: 10/05/2014

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Oh Deer

October 15th, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^

Do you seriously think the coaching staff wouldn't trot Peters out there if they thought he were a better option at this point or even an equal option? Seriously? When the program was in shambles a few years back many would always say it can't get worse and the next week... it got worse. Read between the lines. Peters not getting any run should be telling all of us something.  

Joined: 01/29/2013

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ToledoWolverine

October 15th, 2017 at 11:22 AM ^

This is the idea I cannot get past. Maybe Peters is the best QB on the roster but he’s an asshole, maybe he throws to the wrong team too much, maybe he’s standing out in left field with a catchers mitt on. I don’t know, none of us do. What we do know is that Jim Harbaugh is more competitive than most people any of us can think of. There are countless stories of him not wanting to lose, at anything, be it pick up basketball with DJ Durkin, his brother, his niece, chess with recruits, climbing trees, picking fights with opposing coaches, whatever the case may be. The man wants to win and needs to win more than any of us want him to. He will play whoever gives the team the best chance to win, now, not next week or next year, he wants to win right the fuck now. Just trust in his abilities and ideas.

Joined: 10/02/2008

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Toby Flenderson

October 15th, 2017 at 8:33 AM ^

I trust umbig11 that Peters is not reeady to go in.

It is just mildly concerning that a RS Freshman who early enrolled in 2016, cannot beat out a 5th year senior who passed for 57 yards. I am not saying that Peters should go out there and look like a world beater, but I would hope that he could at least beat out a QB who is clearly not Big Ten level. There are instances around the country in which RS freshmen come in and can play decently. It is upsetting that Peters is not in that camp.

Joined: 01/16/2012

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war-dawg69

October 15th, 2017 at 10:55 AM ^

According to who?. This seems more personal than talent driven. There is zero doubt JOK will start against penn state and Michigan will lose. JOK will not do well in the game and I am forecasting less than 100 yards passing or several turnovers. That is the reality we are facing. I for one will stop arguing with and backing people who are good with what is coming. There is no doubt this blog will implode next saturday with what is coming. I really don't care what anyone is saying Brandon Peters will perform better than JOK. This is a personal issue with the staff or something but I really have no idea. I really don't like being down on anyone but JOK is not getting it done and Peters is way more talented. Maybe they are protecting Peters, but I can't wrap my head around that either.

Reality is we could compete and beat anyone with good QB play. It is such a shame and don't want to be negative, but the train is about to come off the tracks. Maybe Peters doesn't want to play. LOL. No reason to watch the game next week if JOK is starting.

Joined: 10/07/2016

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SalvatoreQuattro

October 15th, 2017 at 11:53 AM ^

Why the hell would you think that a guy who has never played more than a few snaps would outperform a fifth year senior on the road at night vs PSU? You literally are basing this on desperate hope which is to say nothing. You cannot wrap your head around the fact that Peters is worse than JOK is at this point. That is the reality of it.

Joined: 11/30/2010

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Maynard

October 15th, 2017 at 12:52 PM ^

Then you are okay with him transferring? Because if he isn't ready to hand the ball off after two years then he won't just magically become ready.This is just an opinion but I think if he doesn't get a shot the rest of the season, he will be transferring. And if his father is troubled by the situation, I really can't blame him. Seeing the shitshow we just witnessed it would seem reasonable to then think, well my kid is not going to get a shot with a former NFL player's son coming in behind him. 

 

Joined: 02/19/2016

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XiX

October 15th, 2017 at 1:48 PM ^

but there's more to being a QB than simply having talent. I'd think we as a fanbase would understand that by now considering Shane Morris and Ryan Mallett. Two extremely talented guys who couldn't get the mental part of the game down, making their talent meaningless.

I believe we'll see Peters at some point this season but I really hope people don't have their hopes built up too high in this kid. Fromm and the few other young QBs playing at a relatively high level appear to be the exceptions and not the norm, and I'm not one to think I know more than the people paid to do this stuff.

 

Joined: 11/04/2015

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dryadams

October 15th, 2017 at 8:43 AM ^

and there are 10 other guys on the field with O'Korn.  we have WRs who haven't figured out how to get open in the college game and who can't seem to catch the ball when it hits their hands.  the right side of the O line is a disaster.  it feels like the pro style playbook is above what the offense can do right now, but i don't see many adjustments being made to it by the coaching staff.  the only bright spot is that Higdon has shown what he can do, and i hope the OC exploits that.  if Peters is the answer, he'd be in.  but he's not.  our reality, like it or not, is what we've seen these past few weeks - we have the number 1 defense in the country and no offense to match it.  there is no magic pill to fix this.  

 

Joined: 11/09/2013

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Watching From Afar

October 15th, 2017 at 9:28 AM ^

The OL played significantly better yesterday then they did last weekend. Guys like Gentry were running wide open down the field but O'Korn didn't even see him and threw up a prayer to Crawford in double coverage. Same with last weekend. There were two, almost sure fire TDs open but O'Korn didn't go through a progression to get to them. I thought Speight was playing terribly, but I didn't expect O'Korn to be significantly worse.

Joined: 10/10/2016

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