O'Korn (and other B1G QBs) vs the weather

Submitted by unWavering on

I was pretty discouraged with the performance turned in by O'Korn yesterday, as I'm sure many of you were.  If we go into the Shoe and have virtually no passing attack for large swaths of the game, I don't think we have much of a chance.

Then I started thinking, how much of O'Korn's performance can be blamed on the weather?  I looked at the QB performances across the league and compared them to season averages, and posted it on The Big House Report.  Looking across the league, QB performance was way down.

That said, O'Korn's performance was concerning, even accounting for the weather.  Here's to hoping that whoever takes the field next weekend is well prepared.

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Mr. Yost

November 20th, 2016 at 3:41 PM ^

Throwing and playing are 2 different things...

It's his non-throwing shoulder, I don't think throwing was EVER the issue.

IMO, the issue is can he take any type of hit and/or land on that shoulder without damn near killing himself.

He should be able to throw relatively close to normal, but if he gets sacked, can he get back up? If he runs and simply gets bumped out of bounds, or slides...can he get back up?

Our OL isn't the strongest, we have to worry about making the injury worse and his long-term health.

This is being a complete computer coach...but I'd play them both on Saturday. Rudock would NEVER be under center and he'd be quick throws and handoffs, we just wouldn't tell the opposition that.

We'd use O'Korn's mobility and have him take the deep passing routes that require more time in the pocket and a potential hit to the QB.

Keep Rudock as clean as you can through playcalling and let O'Korn do the rest.

This is all assuming what I said above is accurate and that it's more on whether or not he can take contact versus whether or not he can throw the ball.

Joined: 07/25/2011

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maizenbluenc

November 20th, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^

O'Korn, pass blocking and the weather, and wondering about the receivers too. Those conditions sucked for easing into a first start / full game. It wasn't going to go well or be a good look, and running into Indiana was going to be hard sledding. It seems though that the o-line has lost a step the past two weeks (nagging injuries / communications issues at Kinnock). And then the receivers haven't seemed as quick either / unable to separate quick enough. It would really be interesting to get insight on this.

Joined: 07/21/2009

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ijohnb

November 20th, 2016 at 12:51 PM ^

his one and only job was "don't turn the ball over," he did his job. But on the scale of Russell Belomy to "he could have been the starter" he was closer to Bellomy. He kind of freaked out every time there was the hint of pressure and was not even close on some basic throws. After yesterday, I do think it is possible that Peppers basically splits snaps against OSU.

Joined: 09/21/2009

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Mr. Yost

November 20th, 2016 at 3:47 PM ^

For one rivalry game? He can go 90 plays.

That said, and I've been screaming this since the Rutgers game. STOP with the QB lead and QB sweep plays with him. Or the read-option with no read plays with him.

He will be far more effective if there's a chance he gives...If you know you're going to get in the gun and run a read-option look but hand it off every time...why not have Peppers run that?

1. He's more likely to draw attention

2. It's another snap, but he's not really doing much

3. It will keep the defense honest - or they'll just keep getting burned by the RB

 

Let him hand the ball off and when you run a read-option, actually have him READ the DE.

It makes no sense to keep putting him in when 100,000 people know he's keeping the ball and then run the play were he always keeps the ball.

Joined: 07/25/2011

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AA Forever

November 20th, 2016 at 3:57 PM ^

When he came in for O'Korn in the 4th quarter, I said "Great, he's going to take a direct snap, keep the ball, and get tackled after a two yard gain".  Which is precisely what happened.  When   not only the play call, but the result, is so completely predictable, it's time to shelve the Peppers wildcat.  It doesn't work.  Stop wasting plays on it.

Of course, now the hordes will say that Harbaugh is playing 11 dimensional chess, and has been running the play that way for weeks just to outfox Urban Meyer, and will magically insert all kinds of wrinkles into that play come Saturday.

Joined: 08/14/2016

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TrueBlue2003

November 20th, 2016 at 5:02 PM ^

I was angry at first that he held onto the ball, but it seemed like every time they went wide to show the receivers, nobody was open (like the one Harris fell down and the other two receivers were covered tightly).  I thought he made very good decisions and protected the ball.  Some of the times he did throw, it didn't look good though, and that wasn't all wind related (like the slant to an open Darboh early on that he just turfed).

Joined: 01/05/2010

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Mr. Yost

November 20th, 2016 at 3:53 PM ^

I saw this a couple of times (one crucial time in the 2nd half), but I think you're generalizing the entire game off of it.

O'Korn had terrible weather and I've seen Harbaugh's QB's make siginificant strides after their first start. I have no reason to believe O'Korn won't improve...it's just will it be enough?

IMO, if it's 3rd and short...put Peppers in the game and run that midline read-option and give it to Smith every damn time. Then when that DE starts to crash or hesitate...send Peppers around the edge for a huge gain and/or TD.

We have to get more creative with him...at the same time we have to be more honest with him.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

ijohnb

November 20th, 2016 at 12:57 PM ^

the second time in two weeks, I don't think the play calling was up to par. They needed to get him throwing the ball, even just some hitches and wide receiver screens. He wasn't throwing until "do or die" downs and you could tell how much the pressure affected him. I know they wanted to establish the run, but I thought they should have established him instead. It actually kind of looked like the game plan you would have when you need to just sneak by for one game, which could be an indication that Speight is going to go in Columbus.

Joined: 09/21/2009

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FauxMo

November 20th, 2016 at 1:46 PM ^

And he did look a hint better later in the game. That long pass to Darboh was almost perfect (and could have been impacted by the weather), and that play action pass to (I think) Butt was great. But being "OK" is not likely to cut it against OSU... 

Joined: 06/17/2010

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robpollard

November 20th, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^

ESPN's production rarely let us see how the receivers were doing, but one sack (where I also yelled, "THROW IT") on the replay they showed O'Korn was getting ready to throw it to Harris and then Harris trips, so O'Korn has to double-clutch and eat the ball. Besides Harris, there was no one to "THROW THE DAMNED BALL" to.

I am sure there were at least a 2-3 plays where a ball could have been thrown, but our receivers sure did not seem to be getting open.

Joined: 06/03/2009

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Blueblood2991

November 20th, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^

Osu was a 2pt conversion away from losing to Tyler Oconner. I'm not freaking out if okorn gets the start.

The frustrating thing is Westerns qb threw for 450 yards in the same type of weather.

Joined: 06/11/2015

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