John O'Korn is Returning for the 2017 Season
According to Maize n Brew (but really according to a source that will go unnamed but sorta rhymes with Fart Biter) O'Korn is coming back to compete for the starting spot under center. For obvious reasons, most pundits are projecting Speight to lead the team again in 2017 but I'm really hoping the open QB competiton is just that and will sort itself out.
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:08 AM ^
My money for next year is Peters. I thought he looked the best during the spring game last year.
January 2nd, 2017 at 12:24 PM ^
He didn't play in the Spring Game though.
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:10 AM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:11 AM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 12:17 PM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:11 AM ^
I like that we will have a credible 3 deep at QB without including a true freshman. That seems ideal.
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:11 AM ^
Good. Depth at QB is a good thing. Having QB's who have been in the program for 2+ years in the film room is a good thing for the younger guys.
Still praying Peters wins the job.
January 2nd, 2017 at 12:37 PM ^
Everyone is saying Malzone is going to transfer.
I wanted no part of McCaffrey not getting a redshirt unless he is some how good enough to start from day 1 (not likely).
Now if Malzone does leave, we still have 3 QBs.
I don't think O'Korn is the answer, but there is a reason it was a QB battle. He's not as bad as Iowa just like Speight isn't as bad at FSU. We can't take one game and assume that's how good a QB is.
I like a Speight/O'Korn/Peters battle in the spring and summer.
People are down on Speight and rightfully so after that performance, I'm HOPEFUL Peters is better. But those saying he is without ever seeing him and without any inside info/chatter that he's the best QB on the roster are just wishful thinking.
We know we can win with Speight. As bad/hurt as he played...you can't go "this team was 6 plays or 6 inches from being undefeated" and then turn around and bash the QB. Speight played hurt/horrible in those 3 games (for the most part) and we still almost won.
To me that is ENCOURAGING. He's going to improve over the spring and summer. IMO, he's going to come back a lot better and 2017 Sepight would've made up the difference in those 3 games even if hurt or having a horrible game.
So if Peters is better than THAT?!! Hooo boy, we've got ourselves a 1st-Team all B1G QB or better on our hands. If not, at least we know the floor and we know we'll be in every single game even if our QB doesn't play his best. Toss in the natural improvement from year 1 to year 2 and even that might be enough.
January 2nd, 2017 at 1:25 PM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:36 AM ^
and a quick release, and a rocket arm.
January 2nd, 2017 at 12:26 PM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:13 AM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:13 AM ^
With that said, it's important to honestly assess strengths and weaknesses. Our inconsistent O-line and QB play were the weaknesses of this team.
It's not that Speight was bad - he simply did not display the leadership or clutch play necessary to close the door on further competition at the position. His teammates treated him as if he was just another dude on the team. He wasn't looked to for leadership or motivation. This was apparent in both his on the field play and his sideline demeanor. He got the job for this year. But he certainly did not take the job.
We need a leader at the position... whether it is Peters, Speight or O'Korn.
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January 2nd, 2017 at 11:23 AM ^
U know the rest.
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January 2nd, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^
in that I don't think we had the talent at the skill positions (aside from Butt) to support a good/ but not amazing QB.
I mean do you think we would have won any of the 3 games we lost if you:
1) Replaced Speight with Henne (as a junior)
2) Replaced Darboh/ Chesson for Braylon/ Breaston
3) Replaced De'veon for Wheatley or Mike Hart?
I'd argue that #s 2 & 3 would have a larger positive impact than 1.
January 2nd, 2017 at 3:45 PM ^
I think we'd have won all of three if we had one Jake Rudock under center (same point in season as last year).
Peters by all accounts has the physical package and football IQ. The big unknown and what separates the good/great from the rest, is whether he's calm under fire - makes plays, and protects the ball under pressure. Peters is an unknown. Speight had moments, but was not so much in that regard. I would expect him to be better next year, but I didn't see anything that I don't think Peters is capable of, with potential for more. It's a competition, so it'll play out, but I think all the Peters love (myself included) is just the hope that we can have a QB who comes up big in our big games.
January 2nd, 2017 at 3:48 PM ^
^^^^ this (double)
January 2nd, 2017 at 6:15 PM ^
Henne's deep passing was more accurate. I think there's a good chance he would have hit some of the passes when UM's receivers got behind the Iowa defense.
January 2nd, 2017 at 9:51 PM ^
This statement that Speight doesn't have the leadership is completely absurd. He was the quarterback because of his cool demeanor in the pocket and his leadership skills, the ability to run the offense without panicking. His sideline demeanor was fine. You don't have to be a rah rah guy like Brady to be a good leader.
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
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January 2nd, 2017 at 11:15 AM ^
but maybe John O'Korn has realized his chances of playing in the NFL are extremely slim, and that he needs to look forward to his post-college days as a regular working stiff like the rest of us, with a Michigan degree in hand. Which means in turn he may simply want to be part of a greater whole that will contest for a BIG championship and possibly beyond, and if he gets any playing time on top of that, great.
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:39 AM ^
before next season. His option to coming back was to be a grad transfer somewhere else.
Maybe he wants a master's degree from Michigan. My guess is like yours, that he likes being part of this team and would rather spend one last year with them before moving on and starting his career.
January 2nd, 2017 at 12:37 PM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:16 AM ^
Wilton seemed to have developed "happy feet" after his injury? He did not look comfortable a lot of the time. Is that the lack of protection or something that he developed after his injury?
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:30 AM ^
I noticed he got happy feet in the 1st half of the bowl game after his turnstile OL let him get hit within 2 seconds on every play. Thats usually a natural reaction. I noticed nothing like that at OSU.
Then that played in his head IMO and later in the game when he did have some time his internal clock was still based on the complete demolition he was facing in the 1st half. It happens to NFL QBs, forget a college guy in his 1st year starter.
Loving the "guy is not clutch" comments above - I guess Minn coming OFF the bench cold didn't happen. I guess that throw in the 1st OT against oSU on 4th down didn't happen. Dude had a bad game vs Iowa. Was the only offense vs OSU. Was the only offense vs FSU aside from 4th quarter Chris Evans runs. Vs a D line that was teeing off on him. And he looked not 100% health wise vs what we saw earlier in the year.
As for OP, it's great news to have 3 QBs who could possibly fill in - not too long ago it was Devin Gardner and pray. Guy is not going to the NFL - I am sure he is tired of moving around at this point; he put 2 years in - get that degree and play for one of the best historical programs ever and a team that needs veteran leadership next year badly. It's a win for all. That said I hope Peters passes him.
January 2nd, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
I agree
January 2nd, 2017 at 1:57 PM ^
The #1 sack-leading FSU defensive line absolutely destroyed our O-line. Only extraordinary QBs will find success under those conditions. And obviously, in his first year, Wilton is not yet extraordinary. Nor was Tom Brady as a junior.
(I'm not saying Wilton is Tom Brady. I am saying those saying they know his ceiling are pre-judging him before he has a chance to grow.)
January 2nd, 2017 at 4:08 PM ^
Was the only offense for OSU too. I'd call that one a bad game also.
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:32 AM ^
There's an old saying.."it's hard to throw when your lying on your back. "
His feet were happy because they got to the qb early and often. He took some big hits.
It's hard too when our receivers just don't get much separation. Couple that with Butt, his go to guy, going down early...well, the rest is history.
I thought he rallied well at the end. He found a way to win.
Our kicker puts that ball out of the back of the end zone, I bet our D holds and we win. Unfortunately, these little unfortunate blips defined our season.
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January 2nd, 2017 at 11:17 AM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:20 AM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:31 AM ^
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January 2nd, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^
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January 2nd, 2017 at 11:30 AM ^
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January 2nd, 2017 at 11:23 AM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:25 AM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:30 AM ^
We can go 4 deep with guys that give us a chance to win games with a decent defense and O-Line. We will never be LSU.
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:25 AM ^
O'Korn likes his teammates and likes being at Michigan. Probably values getting a Michigan degree, too.
Where ever he ends up on the depth chart next season, it is very clear that he is a very positive person to have on the roster. A plus guy no matter what.
Great news.
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^
half full, glass half empty situation, at least so far.
He showed some really impressive stuff in most games. Strong on both pre- and post-snap reads; can make all the throws; accurate (some here say inaccurate, but the overall numbers say otherwise); very strong on pocket presence, pretty good at extending plays, often got to the third read, etc.
But... he was inconsistent with accuracy (FSU game for example). Sometime he was just off. He has yet to show that he can have a really strong game against a truly good D. He has yet to have a really strong game on the road. He is just average at running when the pocket breaks down and/or there are no open receivers (though he did pick up a few key first downs with his feet).
To be the guy that can take M to the playoff he needs to improve in some areas. If he stays at his current level, then... you know the rest.
But it is very possible that he will improve a lot and actually be a more complete and consistent QB next fall.
Not saying that he has Drew Henson level natural talent or will develop into a Brady level QB. But he has some good stuff, and if he impoves in his weak areas he can become an all-Big Ten guy that gets drafted.
January 2nd, 2017 at 12:27 PM ^
January 2nd, 2017 at 2:02 PM ^
He needs to improve his accuracy under pressure. But he has the QB IQ to know what to do under pressure. That's not a trivial asset. He's half the way there.
January 2nd, 2017 at 11:57 AM ^
Make Speight re-earn the starting job. Let's not rule Peters out just yet.
January 2nd, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
He looked very, very good at times and just good the rest of the time. Yeah, he struggled with accuracy at times but he also commanded the offense in Columbus without the aid of a rushing attack, same for the Orange Bowl. I feel like Speight is getting the Navarre treatment. Good QB. Maybe he's not Andrew Luck but he's also done well enough that he should be appreciated far more than he is. This was a 3* RS Soph QB with a few years of Borgesing in his brain already. I'll be shocked if he doesn't start next year