Speight Returning?
Per Harbaugh:
"Got good news in recent cat scan. Doctors surprised he's so far along."
Wilton seems like a great candidate to grad transfer a la Shane Morris in the offseason, but I(much like many of you I'd presume) can't shake the feeling that Jim believes he gives us the best chance to win. If I was forced to bet on this, I'd say Wilton is starting against ND on September 1st rather than for Central/someone similar.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:10 PM ^
in whatever capacity at michigan.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:57 PM ^
You can't have enough game-ready QB's on the roster. It is hard to make it thru a season with one QB. May the best man win the job, and may the next best man win the back-up job...and so on.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^
Just look at Maryland if you want evidence of this.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:37 PM ^
Who was the last Michigan QB to start every game in a season for us? I honestly can't remember. Did Denard do it his junior year?
November 6th, 2017 at 2:59 PM ^
Rudock in 2015 - though he didn't finish every game.
November 6th, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^
It really is a shame that the Big Ten Office led by Delany told the refs not to call those penalties if committed against Rudock.
Apparantly it was the only way they could think of to disincentivize grad transfers, because think of the poor coaches having to play against a player they invested in.
Poor Kork Fire Antz.
November 6th, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^
I was more or less agreeing that, at some point, you're going to need to your backup QB. Whether it's a full game or a decent chunk of a game.
I just looked it up - 2011 was the last time we had our starting QB play all the meaningful snaps in a season. I think Gardner got a few in the MSU game that year, but I can't recall if they were truly meaningful. Regardless, having a competant backup QB is very important and not just for internet message board commenters.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:58 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 4:48 PM ^
Mike Torrico is going to take over the radio broadcasts?
November 6th, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:21 PM ^
jones fractures aren’t trivial. they happen pretty frequently in the NFL (dez, julio, watkins, etc) and seem to take a full calendar year for them to return to full capacity. at this point it’s better to let him heal completely
November 6th, 2017 at 1:27 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:35 PM ^
The name and "joined" date match up plus I read that his dad is a Michigan alum and a doctor.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:44 PM ^
For whatever reason, I am thinking The People's Jones (great name by the way) is a younger cat.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:48 PM ^
Is, that's a lot of MGO points for less than a year.
November 6th, 2017 at 3:21 PM ^
With a name like MGoBourbon I'm not sure how much of your medical advice we ought to listen to.
November 7th, 2017 at 8:47 AM ^
I advise you to drink heavily.
November 6th, 2017 at 4:59 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:46 PM ^
just finished recovering from a Jones fracture a few weeks ago. It was definatly trivial to me, I honestly was back in the gym doing cardio in 3 weeks. I didn't tell my doctor or employer that, the xrays always showed I was still healing but I felt 100% after a few weeks. It is definatly a strange injury.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:48 PM ^
Glad you are doing well. Wonder how it would hold up if you ran as fast as you could, changed direction, ran as fast as you could again, then got drilled by someone running at you full speed.
November 6th, 2017 at 3:03 PM ^
people who meant you no good.
November 6th, 2017 at 3:01 PM ^
And as we saw with Caris LeVert, foot injuries are unpredictable. You definitely shouldn't rush a guy back.
November 6th, 2017 at 4:10 PM ^
Anyone know about Nico Collins? He limped off the field in a great deal of pain Saturday. It didn't look good.
November 6th, 2017 at 10:04 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:14 PM ^
Peters will still be the starter this week. I hope they allow him to prove that he shouldn’t be the starter before replacing him with Wilton. I think Brandon has the full trust of an offense with a momentum. I don’t like replacing him without cause at this point.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:19 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:21 PM ^
If Black is as good as we think, he might not stay here that long.
And if he upgrades our passing game in an OSU game we have a chance to win...
November 6th, 2017 at 1:22 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 7:41 PM ^
Even if Speight is cleared tomorrow, he won't be starting this week. He hasn't been practicing - he can't be in game shape, nor can his timing be proficient with the WRs. Aside from that, he'll have to earn it over Peters in practice. Not sure he can do that within the next few weeks...
November 6th, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^
I wouldn't hate Wilton starting. I think with more experineced receivers, a great running game, and more than adaquate pass blocking (three things he didn't have this season), Speight is good enough to get the job done should he be the starter.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:22 PM ^
He is very clearly the best QB on the roster, at this time. It isn't even a question. Unless Peters has an epiphany in the next two weeks, if Speight is healthy in time for OSU, he should play.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:26 PM ^
What would it take from Peters for you to give him the nod over Speight for OSU? I think a victory over Wisco and MD with no glaring mistakes would justify playing him over a healthy Speight. I also think there is a difference between healthy Speight and game ready healthy Speight.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:33 PM ^
Not that Speight has shown this as much this year as last, but I'd like to see Peters handle pressure effectively. The OL kept him totally clean against Rutgers, but when he got pressure against Minnesota he seemed a lot less effective. He doesn't have very active feet in the pocket and made himself a pretty easy target on not only 2 of the 3 sacks, but on a lot of pressures as well. A step or two to reset might have let him get some of those out cleanly instead of letting pressure effect his throw. Speight has shown flashes of excellence at this in the past.
Also, it's hard to really know how much of the passing offense Peters has access to at this point. With Speight, you at least have everything at your disposal, even if his accuracy issues hamper the execution.
November 6th, 2017 at 3:12 PM ^
It's true Speight did show excellence in his ability to step up and avoid outside pressure. Assuming there is no pressure up the gut, we all would then wait to see what kind of ball would be thrown from the redshirt junior. Comeon guys, Peters is two years behind Speight with college coaching and almost an entire year on field action. If you guys remember correctly, Speight didn't even get a ball downfield as a starter until the Wiscy game to a wide open Darboh.
That hit Peters took was good for him. Yeah it probably shook the skeleton a little but if he's a real football player, which he looks the part, you realize that isn't even nothing. He bounced back from that hit with his head up. What pisses me off is that Ruiz wasn't sharp enough to jab that looping lineman. I don't see what you could be thinking there. Obviously you can see your center out of the corner of your eye and should know his proximity. These young guys need to pay attention more in practice and quit fucking around.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:33 PM ^
Uh, a "healthy Speight" is a "game ready" healthy Speight. That's what healthy means. And to answer your question directly; a lot. He would have to do a lot. I don't know if you're just young, or just a casual football viewer, but it's glaringly obvious that Peters is light years behind Speight in comprehension of the offense. That isn't a deficit you can make up in a couple weeks. It just isn't.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:40 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:46 PM ^
It's ridiculous to think that coming off a back injury, Speight will be ready to play his first game agaisnt that pass rush. I don't care how well he comprehends the playbook.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:51 PM ^
Speight tends to do well with extra practice time. Technique coaching settles him down and he responds well. He had two horrible passes in the Florida game, but it's not a coincidence that it was otherwise Michigan's best offensive performance prior to the last two weeks. Recall that he hit a deep TD to Black and another perfectly-thrown deep pass to Eubanks in that game.
If Speight is healthy the entire offense is available, something OSU has no film of. The hope is that he would be a bit fresher, motivated, well-studied (if he has a chance to play against OSU he can start watching film of them now, why wait?). He'd have a couple of weeks of work on mechanics to tighten up his longstanding passing issues, time that has been shown to help him in the past. He is well-motivated.
This wouldn't be an issue if Peters knew the entire offense, but he doesn't. Not even close.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:03 PM ^
Speight has played in the team has gone 3-3. He has completed 55% of his passes with 6 TD's and 7 Int's and averaged 176 yards a game. Before he was hurt against Purdue he was 2-4 with 10 yards and looked terrible. He also looked bad in the Spring game.
If he plays against OSU he will have been out of action for 7 weeks. What makes anyone think, from his most recent performances and lack of playing that he will come back and make a difference against OSU? He played poorly against some terrible teams. Our offense is clicking right now. Not saying it's all because of Peters, but you don't mess with something that is working.
Speight has had his chances and not done the job. He should've been pulled before getting hurt. The future is Peters and maybe even McCaffery next year. Let him play and give him the same amount of rope Speight got without being pulled. Don't have him looking over his shoulder. Let him play, make mistakes and grow as a player. The team will be better off for it in the long run.
November 6th, 2017 at 3:54 PM ^
the team has gone 3-3.
Some context is helpful: the three losses were at Iowa, at OSU and in the Orange Bowl (by a total of 5 points). We were not far from being 6-0 in that stretch.
Anyway, while he didn't set the world on fire in September, his so-so September self might still be the best QB on the roster, especially if it allows us to use a larger playbook.
On 4th and goal against OSU, in a do-or-die situation, who do you want throwing that pass? Speight's already done that (in the first OT last year), while Peters hasn't.
November 7th, 2017 at 4:18 AM ^
seriously.
A couple reasons...first, while Peters has turfed a couple throws the other balls he throws are "numbers" while Speight makes every single receiver work for it. I can't tell you how many slants he's thrown behind the receivers.
Also, if Peters is going to get a taste of OSU I'd rather it be this year. I've seen flashes of brilliance from this team....put it together more consistently and we will be difficult to stop.
If Peters has limited access to the playbook, then its time to expand that. Main thing is not to get him blown up like he was last weekend...
November 7th, 2017 at 11:36 AM ^
his wins were against crappy teams such as Florida, Cinncy, Air Force and he did not play well. He actucally didn't play very well in any of the six games. Against Purdue he played the first quarter and we didn't pick up a first down with him in the game and as I stated he played poorly in the Spring game.
We used the whole playbook with him in these games and our offense struggled. Our offense has clicked the last two weeks with Peters and he's gaining experience with every game. If he plays well the next two games I want the QB who has been playing and moving the offense, rather then a guy who's been sitting and when has had the chance hasn't played well.
November 6th, 2017 at 3:20 PM ^
Exactly man. Great point. When I was hurt I was begging my coaches to watch film of the opposing teams. I knew their formations and plays like the back of my hand come gametime. If anything Speight should be doing this anyway and helping the team. He knows the defenses and he should be looking for tendencies to help the staff and the offense. You have 3 weeks boys. Just get it done!
November 6th, 2017 at 1:56 PM ^
If he's playing a game, he was cleared to practice a lot earlier, especially non-contact drills. The doctors don't clear you to play on your way to the stadium, and if they did the coaches wouldn't be stupid enough to put him out there. Speight was reeling after the Awuzie hit last year for a couple games and limped into the bye week, got some work without pressure, and came out and went on a tear. I don't think being back for your first game against Ohio is really that big of a deal provided he's had adequate time to prepare. Of course, if Peter's carves up Wisconsin, it's moot, but I suspect he's going to have his struggles unfortunately.
November 6th, 2017 at 4:08 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^
Our offensive improvement has been mostly on the ground. I don't think the QB has much to do with it. Higdon's two 200-yard games have come on days when we passed for 58 and 56 yards, respectively.
I do think our passing game may have greater upside with Speight (for all his inconsistency) than with Peters, though, so if Speight is healthy I'd be tempted to put him in.