How clear do you think the decision is at QB?
*If* there is a decision to be made. We don't know how serious Speight's injury is, but we have a bye, so it's conceivable he is healthy by MSU. If that were to be the case, do you think O'Korn is clearly the guy? Or do you think it's still an open question?
I feel like it's got to be O'Korn--he was more accurate, he's mobile and his skills seem to offset the issues we have in pass pro and with WRs/TEs not running routes perfectly. But I'm also wary of making too much of what was basically one very good half of football--even if it was the *only* good half of football our offense has had this year. And the staff is clearly seeing stuff in practice that we don't.
What do you guys think?
September 24th, 2017 at 10:29 PM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 10:29 PM ^
He earned the job with his performace on the field. Starting O'Korn also gives Speight more time to recover and recollect rather than be thrown into the pressure cooker again. Speight could still bounce back as a 5th year senior as Brain Griese did.
September 25th, 2017 at 6:00 AM ^
I hope that's not what you're hoping for. I'm hoping Peters or McCaffrey is as good as advertised, and much better than a bounced-back Speight.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^
I have to go with O'Korn. I thought Speight would be the guy, but from what I have seen over the first four weeks he is getting worse each game. O'Korn played quite well. He scrambled away from pressure rather than into it, as he did in the IU game last year and the Florida game this year. He actually threw the ball, which he seemed reticent to do in the IU and Florida games.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^
College coaches like to move the pocket around. O'Korn has the better mobility and throws a nice ball on the run.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:33 PM ^
At this point, unless Speight is 100% by the time practice starts this week I'd say O'Korn is getting the starters reps in practice the next two weeks and starting against MSU.
I feel bad for Speight but his injury leading into a bye week is perfect for getting O'Korn prepped for MSU. If I'm the coaches I don't even hesitate on that point.
September 25th, 2017 at 7:08 AM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 11:10 PM ^
It is quite likely that Speight looks terrific during practice, he might even shame all the other QBs. But here's the thing, during practice he's always wearing a red jersey and has no fear, no subconscience thoughts about taking a painful hit resulting in broken bones or worse. Speight is human and thus like the running back that blows out his knee, he may never recover pyschologically, even if physically healthy. Some can, some cannot, some take more than a season to recover. Speight is obviously falling somewhere between cannot and taking more than a season.
September 25th, 2017 at 7:43 AM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 10:33 PM ^
However, the difference when O'Korn came in was night and day. The whole team looked energized.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:33 PM ^
Crystal clear.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:36 PM ^
I'll give you all the transfer orders you need, Danny. But first you gotta extend me some fucking courtesy.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:40 PM ^
O'Korn.
- His mobility is an asset with a VERY average OL.
- Speight's just not playing well this year - he's missing too many throws, he's overthrowing guys, he's missing wide open players and throwing in coverage. Hopefully he'll "reset," push John, and be ready for when the time comes - and when it does, hopefully we'll see post-bye week 2016 Speight.
- The coaches for some reason call play action, speed outs, and short crossing routes for him.
This alone is enough for me to say O'Korn. I can't watch Speight stand back there waiting for guys to get open 20 yards downfield anymore, we're neither the Lions nor the Falcons and we don't have Stafford or Matt Ryan.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:42 PM ^
One thing that I've noticed is JOK has gotten progressively better from IU last season to UF and Purdue this season. I'd like to see him play a full game this season before I draw a final conclusion on Speight v O'Korn but I like how he is trending.
Speight has been off since Iowa last season. Perhaps that shoulder injury lingers.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:44 PM ^
I'm sure he's gotten better, I agree that he has.
But I wish people didn't put so much stock in that IU game. Those conditions were tough, it wasn't the best "situation."
Excuses, I know, but I guess I just don't put AS much stock into that performance.
Regardless, we've now seen that both guys are capable. It's just about consistency. Unfortunately - none of us can really predict that.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:56 PM ^
Totally agree about IU not being a good measuring stick. It was JOK's first start as a Michigan QB, it was at home where all eyes are on you to deliver greatness, and the conditions were shitty. It's a lot to live up to in non-ideal conditions. So looking at this year only I have to say that he has met my expectations which, like, yeah I'll take it given the crappy offense we've seen thus far.
September 25th, 2017 at 6:06 AM ^
I've only seen one QB look capable so far this season.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:35 PM ^
If they simplified the playbook for O'Korn and that's what made things work in the second half, why can't they simplify the playbook for Speight? Would things work as well or better if they did?
September 24th, 2017 at 10:41 PM ^
is that he isn't very mobile. He has good balance so you really have to hit him to knock him over, but he can't scramble as well. So even with a simpler playbook, he'd have problems. Our O-Line doesn't block so good. Speight gets hit. Speight gets rattled and then starts making bad throws. O'Korn's mobility makes more things possible right now and he can throw on the run much better.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:45 PM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 11:20 PM ^
It looks to me like his biggest issue is that he's over-thinking and/or has lost confidence in his arm. O'Korn looked like he was playing instead of thinking.
September 25th, 2017 at 6:09 AM ^
Speight's biggest issue is that he's lost his mojo.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:59 PM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 11:09 PM ^
Even this year he's shown some pocket awareness and he's run for a few 1st downs.
He's mobile enough to run play action. He's not mobile enough to spin out of that sack near our goal line, keep his head up, and hit a man down field for the first down.
Which is why I say, put his ass in the pistol and shotgun and run these easy thows for him. We can run the ball out of the pistol and the shotgun. It doesn't have to be every down, but let him sit back there and get the ball out quick to playmakers.
When he's under center, let him go play action and hit the TEs and FBs. Khalid Hill should have 8-10 catches by now. I don't think he has 1 all year.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:48 PM ^
Yes.
Get the ball out of his hands. Speight can run play action. Speight can throw a speed out. Speight can hit a TE on a crossing route.
I absolutely feel like our coaches were just being a little stubborn and "play to the expectation of the position" with him. No, simplify it a little bit and build him some confidence. There will still be opportunities to hit the deep ball.
There's a reason O'Korn was 5 for 5 on that first drive and it wasn't just because O'Korn is flat out the bettter football player. He's not. It wasn't because O'Korn is so much more mobile than Speight. He wasn't even running all over the place on that drive.
A lot of it was just the plays we ran. I'll pull it up now, because now I'm interested. Be back in a few.
September 24th, 2017 at 11:05 PM ^
First throw...
Looks like a play action pass, 12 yard curl route to Schoenle.
Second throw...
They ol' Y Banana play John Gruden and Andrew Luck talked about in the Gruden QB Camp (look it up if you haven't seen it)...NOW, Speight doesn't make this throw only because he's not mobile enough to avoid to get it off. This is the one where O'Korn immediately had a DE in his face and he jump passed it to Poggi.
BUT it was great play call...and easy read, you always hit the FB. First down Michigan. We ran this with Speight last year. Don't recall it once this year.
Third throw...
Shotgun, quick out to McKeon. Easy pitch and catch. Speight can easily make this read and throw. Ball is snapped and in McKeon's hands 5 yards down field in no more than 3 seconds. There was no standing in the pocket.
Forth throw...
Speed out/flat play to McKeon to O'Korn's left...again, pitch and catch. 3 step drop and ball is out in a hurry. One read. Easy stuff. This was 3rd and 9...O'Korn throws it 2 yards down field and McKeon runs for the rest. Again, get the ball out and let the guys make plays.
Fifth throw...
TD to Gentry. Play action. Gentry on a crossing route. It's 3rd and 4 and Gentry, just like McKeon catched the ball TWO yards down field on the run. You all know what happens next...
There is no doubt in my mind Speight can make these throws. But he's not being asked to make them. He's being asked to look off safeties and hit post corner routes and crap. Enough. Just get the ball out and let guys work. TWICE on that drive O'Korn throws on 3rd down short of the sticks and allows a TE to do the rest.
September 24th, 2017 at 11:23 PM ^
Speight can't hit that stuff because the other team is disrespecting his arm more than five yards out, so there's nine guys jamming up those crossing routes or overwhelming the offensive line.
And, he's had a lot, a LOT of open receivers that he tacopanted or threw into the ninth row.
September 25th, 2017 at 1:20 AM ^
Do you have some plays to refer to or is this just a baseless hot take?
September 25th, 2017 at 12:23 AM ^
I agree. It looked to me as if Speight and O'Korn were working with different game plans (by prior design or game adjustment), and the game plan for O'Korn worked better.
September 25th, 2017 at 6:14 AM ^
What part of Speight's three seemingly 3-and-out drives - which didn't lack for no-gainers up the gut - was more complex than the more-passing game they switched to with JOK?
September 25th, 2017 at 8:29 AM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 10:35 PM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 10:35 PM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 10:40 PM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 10:36 PM ^
I think O'Korn deserves another shot. He is a running gunslinger like Bret Favre. What that means is he's usually really really good. But then has some "WTF WAS THAT???" moments that sometimes cost games. I think our defense is good enough to cover most if not all of those WTF moments. So long as he is like he was against Purdue, I think he's the best chance to win. The problem with Speight is he doesn't have the mobility to make up for the offensive line's not so good blocking. His on the run throws are not good. O'Korns were. Again, it's one game but it's the best we've looked since Florida.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:38 PM ^
Offense has been stuck in neutral for 3 and a quarter of games.
Offense moved very, very well when O'Korn came in.
For whatever reason, Speight doesn't have it this year. Time to go to the guy that gives you a chance.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:41 PM ^
For me, the thought process is no different now than it was in the offseason. If Speight can constitutively be pre-Iowa Speight, then that's your best guy on the roster. If he's locked into post-Iowa Speight, then he's a liability, and the coaches need to more carefully address whether someone can be less of a liability.
That lattermost point is easy to overlook but crucial. I like to say that the Hoke era, more than anything else, taught us that "it can't possibly get any worse" isn't a real thing; just a tempting illusion.
Snapping back to reality, we have only seen post-Iowa Speight this year. And O'Korn was better than a liability in West Lafayette. I'm shocked to watch myself type it, but I think that means O'Korn deserves by far his most serious chance yet to be "the guy."
The Idle week couldn't possibly come at a better time.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:43 PM ^
Definitely. And not just for the QB's. Lots of little nagging injuries that can heal up. Improvement week has been a good thing the last 2 seasons and it will here too
September 24th, 2017 at 10:42 PM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 10:44 PM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 10:48 PM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 11:19 PM ^
We all know they know more than us - and 99% of us trust them to make the correct call.
But this question is asking us...not them. Not that our opinions matter, but I think everyone's just responding to the question(s) at hand.
- How clear do you think the decision is at QB?
- Who would you start at QB versus MSU?
September 24th, 2017 at 11:25 PM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 10:53 PM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 11:14 PM ^
Inner demons which manifested themselves on 11/12/2016 and have yet to be vanquished.
September 24th, 2017 at 10:56 PM ^
September 25th, 2017 at 7:23 AM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 11:03 PM ^
September 24th, 2017 at 11:06 PM ^