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 1:26 PM ^
'bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' metaphor. We have room for Speight even if Peters demonstrates superiority. If Peters keeps the job, Speight is one hell of a backup. And that does not even consider McCaffrey, etc.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:26 PM ^
I hope the talk about this doesn't slide into the idiocy that surrounded Spike Albrecht, who people blamed Beilein for letting go, when it was clearly in Spike's best interests (if he wanted to try and play serious minutes) to go somewhere else.
If Speight stays at Michigan next year, he will be in a serious QB competition with Peters and McCaffrey. Unlike this year's compettion with O'Korn, Speight won't have the advantage of being the "future" of the position (that's Peters and McCaffrey) and unlike this year's battle iwth Peters, both will have playing time experience. The odds are against Wilton.
But if Speight wants to stay and battle for a spot that he'll won't likely get, that's great, as who knows what will happen; if he doesn't because he thinks (a la Shane Morris) he will only get a starting job elsewhere, that's great -- even though it would stink for Michigan, as it would be nice to have a 15 game starter as the backup (the most likely scenario).
Either way, at minimum, he will have put in his 4 years and put himself on the line for Michigan.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:37 PM ^
It is not a correct assumption to say that Speight won the job because he had an extra year and O'korn didn't. I think it has become clear that Harbaugh isn't going to make his QB decisions based on the future. He will play whoever gives him the best chance to win. I assume Speight would think about next year in the same realm of thought. If he thinks he can beat out Peters/McCaffrey to play next year, he will not be concerned about being there for only the one year and not being the "future". And I don't know why you would assume that Speight won't win the job. He may not, but it seems silly to discredit him as a realistic winner of the job based on what he has done so far.
November 6th, 2017 at 4:03 PM ^
I didn't say that was the main reason Speight beat O'Korn - as you said, the first criteria is "Who gives UM the best chance now."
But any coach, if there is basically no difference between two options, will go with the option that has a longer future with your team. That's basic time management: any time invested coaching up the younger QB will have a longer payoff for your program than the QB who won't be here next year.
So, if based on how they perform -- in camp physically, handle tasks thrown at them mentally, have command of the huddle/team, etc -- Peters and Speight are tied, Peters would win. His longer future at UM is a tie-breaker.
Plus, I didn't assume Speight won't win the job next year, but it would be foolish not to recognize he has a tougher battle in 2018 than he did in 2017 (which is a good thing for the team, though not for him). There are literally hundreds of players each year who make decisions based on that (e.g., "Let's see -- I think I have a so-so shot at starting at Team X or an excellent shot a starting on Team Y. I will go with Team Y").
November 6th, 2017 at 1:28 PM ^
I hope he recovers and comes back. Also, can we stop posting board topics that basically tell non-Peters QBs to go away? I don't know how anyone can look at the past 2 weeks and say with any confidence that he's the QB of the future for next season.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:45 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:28 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:38 PM ^
he might be a decent fall back, but hopefully not needed. Not sure why everyone wants him back starting so bad. Did you not see how terrible he was in the first three games? Why do people think he can be out of playing all this time and think he's going to come back and play so well all of a sudden?
Peters is the QB and has done a better job in his short work. Let him continue to play and grow into the job, he has a much higher ceiling, he just needs to continue to play. A good week by Peters this week and there is no reason to pull him from the starters roll. The offense has been clicking with him under center and you don't want to disrupt that.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:52 PM ^
While I mostly agree, the running game wasn't that good until after his injury. That would help alleviate some of the pressure he was facing. Not saying that would totally revert him back to pre-Iowa Speight, but it would be a help. Still need to block pass rushers regardless of who is the QB.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:57 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 2:48 PM ^
I think it helps because it gets safeties and LBers cheating up, opening up passing lanes and, maybe, alleviating some of the pressure he was under from the pass rush. Peters will have gotten to play maybe the 3 of the 4 worst teams on Michigan's schedule these three weeks; my guess is Speight would have put up good numbers against these teams as well with good running attacks.
November 6th, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:36 PM ^
has left the barn...Peters is your new starter from this point forward...
November 6th, 2017 at 1:43 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:57 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 5:06 PM ^
I am not a big fan of hot takes from anonymous internet posters but that is today's world.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:38 PM ^
Speight's situation in 2018 will be very similar to Jake Rudock's decision in 2016. I for one hope he stays.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:14 PM ^
I, for one, am glad that Jake Rudock decided to go pro in 2016. Med school can wait for that young man. I am not sure how this otherwise compares.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:33 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 6:06 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:39 PM ^
If he's going to be available for The Game, he would need at least a week of full pads practice to prepare after at least a week of conditioning. That means the docs have about a week to decide if he's ready to begin conditioning, if he hasn't already. UMBig11, any information you can provide?
November 6th, 2017 at 10:17 PM ^
November 11th, 2017 at 7:36 AM ^
Agreed wholeheartedly, great to have WS back!
November 6th, 2017 at 1:44 PM ^
Or is it other factors? Just amazes me that people (supposed Michigan fans) are so willing to chauck aside Wilton's contributions last year, his ability to play through pain and injury, and his effort in the early part of this season behind a very weak offensive line and novice WRs.
I'd take a healthy Wilton running today's Michigan offense over Peters, without question. I'm guessing Harbaugh feels the same way, but regardless, I trust the coaches who live ith these guys day-in, day-out to make the right call.
We need you Wilton. Those who stay...
November 6th, 2017 at 1:50 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 3:07 PM ^
I wish we had JT Barrett..
November 6th, 2017 at 1:52 PM ^
Until Speight throws a ball this year someone doesn’t have to jump for I would bring pressure all day.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:04 PM ^
very interesting how Speight sprays the ball high & wide while
Peters seems to short arm, turf throw, somewhat..
one game soon we will see perfection,... that is the goal
November 6th, 2017 at 4:47 PM ^
He's a RS freshman that was sitting behind John O'Korn and has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in two games at a pedestrian 6.6 YPA.
There is absolutely nothing to suggest defenses have played scared of that, and have ceded the run game. Same gameplan by the defenses as they played against O'Korn, and our o line and running game is good enough to maul bad defenses, even though they're playing run all the way. The running game destroyed IU with O'Korn starting, and IU is a lot better at defense than Rutgers and Minnesota. They weren't scared of O'Korn passing and no one was scared of Peters either.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:17 PM ^
one too many pick sixes etched in my memory...
but I would be glad to have Speight as the starter because I also remember a 4th down touchdown pass in overtime at the horseshoe last year...
jdon
November 6th, 2017 at 3:31 PM ^
that have made the offense look good. Other than having a little better pocket presence (not pinballing around in a panic), I don't really see how Peters has been better than O'Korn. And even that may be more opponent related as there wasn't pressure in the Rutgers game for him to have to respond to.
November 6th, 2017 at 8:32 PM ^
The OL and RBs (and probably the receivers as well) have been performing at a much higher level, with fewer mistakes, over the last couple of games than during the first half of the season. It's not as though Peter's passing has opened up the run game- rather, vice-versa. A better performing run game makes for a much more effective passing game. That complicates direct comparisons.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:50 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:56 PM ^
Speight is ready and healthy to play by the OSU game I think we could feasibly play both QBs just to keep OSU off balance. It is not like they do anything appreciably different from each other so it really may not provide a real tactical advantage, but it could be just distracting enough that it could be good for something. I would not put it past Harbaugh to do that.
November 6th, 2017 at 1:56 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 2:30 PM ^
cannot go on in perpetuity though. It would not be good for the development of the QB or the offense as a whole to seriously have an open practice for the QB start every week. It is a good think to force the mentality of competition, it is not a good idea to completely obliterate continuity all together. At some point you just have to have a "starter."
November 6th, 2017 at 6:54 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 1:59 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 2:00 PM ^
..no way, would not want to start a rusty Speight against OSU...
recipe for turnovers.
go with the kid for better or worse to start the game... see how he does,
bring in Speight if so required.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:03 PM ^
Still too early to say for sure on Peters but what I do know is that I've seen enough Speight.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:51 PM ^
I will just say, how does one get -9998432 points? Holy fuck man. I'm impressed!
November 6th, 2017 at 5:47 PM ^
One of my finest achievements if I say so myself! Don't talk badly about Harbaugh if you care about your MPoints.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:11 PM ^
If Speight is 100% healthy and ready for Wisconsin but more likely Ohio State, it will be an interesting decision make by the coaching staff. I for sure would like to see more from Peters though. He has looked good in the small sample size but I'd really like to see them let Peters air it out this weekend against Maryland.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:20 PM ^
Speight: Interception
Peters: Completion
Small, biased sample size and all; I am sorry, Speight was and is an interception machine.
We cannot do worse with Peters, and in fact have done much better.
No decision at all, imho.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:26 PM ^
Tom Brady's first college pass was an interception.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:34 PM ^
Not sure of your point. Speight followed up as an interception machine. Brady, not so much.
I also do not even care to check if what you say was true vis a vis my point. Was that Brady's first start?
November 6th, 2017 at 2:47 PM ^
Brady's first career pass at Michigan was an interception also. So basically, Tom Brady and Speight are exactly as good as each other, and this proves it.
November 6th, 2017 at 2:55 PM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 2:57 PM ^
November 7th, 2017 at 11:30 AM ^