How confident are you that QB and RT will be fixed in 2018
Or does it depend on what if any changes happen to the coaching staff in the offseason. If the guys behind Ulizio and JBB can't beat them out now, why is it realistic to expect them to beat them out next year. Same question at QB, Speight hasn't had a good game since Maryland last year and Peters can't even beat out O'Korn right now. It's been a big disappointment watching guys who have been in the system for 3 years struggle so much and curious why I or anyone should expect it to get better for reasons other than "Harbaugh."
October 10th, 2017 at 3:48 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 3:57 PM ^
I've been all in on McCaffrey since the reports have leaked out about his play so far, but I think having Speight back is important. The line remains the big IF. Who plays Left and Right Tackle? Let's say for arguments sake that Grant Newsome can't go? Then having Speight back there as a 5th year senior becomes a lot more reassuring, spotty past play aside, for this team to fall back on.
October 10th, 2017 at 3:48 PM ^
Now that we know that Peters is not proressing quickly (so far, that may change next year) to the level of stud QB recruit (he can't beat out JOK), we are left with McCaffery, and he'll be a redshirt Freshman and thus not optimum for dominance. As for the line, we lose two starters and a third is not good at football (again so far). So forgive me if I'm glass half empty guy this week.
October 10th, 2017 at 8:38 PM ^
LT-Newsome LG-Bredeson C-Ruiz RG-Onwenu RT-Stueber Looks pretty good to me.
October 10th, 2017 at 3:49 PM ^
Fixed? No. Better? Absolutely. I know the line stinks right now, but the track record of offensive line development at every other stop for Drevno and Fry is off the charts and I don't think they both completely forgot how to coach. Regarding the quarterbacks, Peters is a redshirt freshman and McCaffrey is a true freshman. If I remember correctly, Peters was not a Tate Forcier type with immense polish when we picked him up. He needed refinement. I think it's a bit early to panic about the quarterback position.
October 10th, 2017 at 7:49 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 3:51 PM ^
QB? Pretty good. RT if Newsome is done? Close to zero.
October 10th, 2017 at 3:52 PM ^
between Stueber, Filiaga, Newsome I think we will be ok at tackle
Bredeson at LG
Onwenu or Runyan at RG
Cesar or Runyan at C
but having more experience at WR, TE and RB will help
October 10th, 2017 at 3:53 PM ^
I'm worried more about QB play than the RT. We have some big bodies that are going to get more solid, stronger and fill that spot I think. That should go a ways toward helping the QB I would think.
October 10th, 2017 at 5:02 PM ^
Based on nothing - everything being equal I'd expect similar qb play. But, the receivers will be more experienced and (hopefully) be better positioned to help the qb, thus qb play will appear better.
October 10th, 2017 at 3:55 PM ^
I am somewhat confident.
not too confident - I'm not that kind of guy you know the type that thinks they know everything and are like "hey i know the answer to this question buddy" but really they don't know that much so what i'm saying is i'm not confident like that guy thank you very much.
but not under confident - I do have some confidence you know like the gal in the poker game who's holding three aces and betting just right to draw those suckers in but who knows someone might have some kind of full house so you have to be a little careful but she knows how to bet and will probably win so i'm kind of like her you see?
So somewhat.
October 10th, 2017 at 3:57 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:11 PM ^
We're used to it. If I hadn't always had next year to look to during the RR and Hoke years...
October 11th, 2017 at 2:03 AM ^
year would get worse under Hoke, you'd have just appreciated the current year. Carpe diem, man. Carpe diem.
October 10th, 2017 at 10:59 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 3:59 PM ^
is odd is that is that I knew we would struggle at some positions, but I think it is how we are struggling that has taken me back.
I knew that we could see two quarterbacks this year, but if I was told we were going to see a second QB due to issues or injury I assumed it would be Peters, not O'Korn.
I knew that the offensive line would not a dominant run unit but with Cole kicking out to tackle and LTT getting some play last year, I did not think that our QB would be under immense pressure on every play.
I knew that the wide recievers would have some growing pains, but I thought we would see pretty much all of them. I really thought we would see Nico Collins specifically for redzone fades. I never thought for a second that literally nobody would be getting open downfield.
I guess I knew that we would have some growing pains, but I thought the struggles we would see would entail growth. I really hope the coaches can get this season sorted out and that things are not as bad as they seem. This has been a discouraging week.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:03 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:04 PM ^
but if I was looking for a guy to improve my QB play, I think Jim Harbaugh would be on my short list
October 10th, 2017 at 4:05 PM ^
I'm confident they'll get better in 2017...And be better in 2018
Next game is Saturday.
2018 season is 11 months away
October 10th, 2017 at 4:07 PM ^
It's all relatable to the offense in general. The OL next season is basically just as young as they are now, maybe more experienced depending on Newsome's return. But will better RT play mean our RB's get better? Does that mean the young WR's start catching passes? Running better routes? Do we keep running 4 yard TE crosses?
Notable names forced into action next year are Collins, Martin, Filiaga, Stueber, Honigford, Samuels, Taylor, Ruiz, Peters/McCaffrey. Then the freshmen. A combination of these guys becoming above average players are the only way the offense is getting better.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:10 PM ^
I'd love to see how this year plays out before answering that question. 7 weeks left + bowl prep can go a long way. In no way is a RS Soph, and two true Soph OL done getting better. Anything could happen at QB. O'Korn could be good depending on the weather. He could get hurt and open the door for Peters to show his skill > #3/#8 skill+grasp of playbook. Speight could get better in 4 weeks and show he deserves this job.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:12 PM ^
Give Ruiz or Fillaga a chance. What have you got to lose. If UM loses to Wisc, Penn ST. or Ohio state then it is the toilet bowl for this team
October 10th, 2017 at 4:19 PM ^
We have a lot to lose seeing as we are only one game back in the division and control our own destiny. The offense is complete ass, but our defense is good enough to keep us in every game on the schedule.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:42 PM ^
Let's not throw the season down the toilet until we potentially lose to PSU. If we lose to PSU, then fine, who gives a shit. Put in Peters whatever.
October 10th, 2017 at 7:17 PM ^
Which if very possible, since IU defense > sparty defense. I could see a strange 14-9 loss next Saturday where the defense plays stellar but the offense gives the IU defense 7 and can't muster much on offense.
October 10th, 2017 at 7:56 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:12 PM ^
I will not feel good about QB if we see Wilton Speight jogging out there for the first snap against Notre Dame.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^
Other things in 2018 that people will be pessimistic about:
-still young and developing WR's
-shitty schedule
-new starting Center and Left Tackle
October 10th, 2017 at 4:18 PM ^
I'll believe it will improve when I see it improve. Until then I will just assume we get more of the same.
I hate being such a cynical, glass half empty fan, but it seems like every year for the last 4-5 years we have smoke blown up our asses from the media about how much more improved the OL is, how much more athletic it is, how cohesive it is compared to last year's unit, and so on. And every year, the line is somewhere between awful and average.
I'll believe its improved when it establishes itself at the LOS against a good defense. Hell, at this point I'll believe its improved when it establishes itself at the LOS against ANY defense.
October 10th, 2017 at 7:22 PM ^
2019 is when Harbaugh first true 2016 class will be seniors or rs juniors. If the OL does not improve by then I will start blaming Harbaugh and staff.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:18 PM ^
A lot of confidence! Because Harbaugh!
October 10th, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^
Quarterback, I'm 75% confident, because it almost can't be worse than this year. Currently John O'Korn has moderate ability and shoddy decision making. Next year, the quarterback is guaranteed to have more physical ability. The decision making can't get much worse.
Tackle, I'm 50/50. If Grant Newsome comes back, bump it up to 75%. If he doesn't, drop it down to 25%. I think that with the 2 freshmen Redshirting, there's a decent chance we can get one decent starter out of some combination of those two, the incoming freshmen, and Ulizio gaining experience. I'm not at all confident that we can get two.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:28 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:42 PM ^
Completely agree here. I think there's a perfect storm going on:
1. The offensive line is not very good due to a combination of inexperience and recruiting whiffs. Onwenu and Bredenson should both be redshirt freshmen and are both starting out of necessity, not because they're the best out of a large collection of options. Ulizio/JBB starts because well, who else would start? Kugler starts because our only other upperclassman center is playing left tackle and that just leaves us a true freshman as a backup.
2. All pass-catchers are inexperienced and our one pass-catcher who came in ready to play is out for the season. Experience is very important for these guys and we have none of it.
3. 1 + 2 leads O'Korn being jumpy when there is a pocket and nobody is open, which leads to awful decisions.
4. There might be some psychology affecting the young players as they see the QB getting sacked. In sports where you need to impose your will on an opponent, psychology matters.
October 10th, 2017 at 5:51 PM ^
October 11th, 2017 at 2:20 AM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:28 PM ^
of course this is slightly tounge in cheek but the defense having so much success and looking so compitent with some many new starters does really make the offense look that much worse comparitively.
Why can we replace talented departures with youth and inexperience across the board on one side and be totally inept on the other? I understand that offense may be harder to pick-up in college and especially on the O-liine but the regression seems pretty severe.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:28 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 7:55 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 7:30 PM ^
Games I though would be easy wins are now toss ups like at IU and Maryland. Plus the tough teams that have both good offenses and defenses, like PSU, WI and OSU may have easier victories over us. The glum part of me see 6 possible losses but may be we win both toss up games and have only 4 losses this season.
October 10th, 2017 at 8:18 PM ^
I think our defense will ROFLstomp Maryland and their 14th string QB.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:31 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:37 PM ^
Lol
October 10th, 2017 at 4:39 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 5:53 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 4:48 PM ^
Was it Hoke/Borges ("No need to sign a QB because we have Shane Morris coming in a year")?
October 10th, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^
Obviously we do know what the staff sees in practice, but they can’t keep doing what they are doing now.
October 10th, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^