PopeLando

August 30th, 2016 at 1:44 PM ^

If Harbaugh can turn Wilton Speight - he of Borges recruitment - into a 2-year starter in front of 3 handpicked Harbaugh QB recruits (O'Korn, Peters, McCaffrey), nobody should ever worry about QB development ever again. Ever. Even if Nick Sheridan comes back from the abyss and is the sole QB on the team, Harbaugh could make it work.

I'm pumped for Speight! Go Blue!

JonnyHintz

August 30th, 2016 at 1:53 PM ^

To be fair to the hand-picked QBs....

Peters is currently a freshman and will be a redshirt freshman next year. McCaffrey will be a true freshman next year. I don't think Speight, being in his 3rd year of college, should be that surprising as a 2 year starter. As good as Peters and McCaffrey seem to be, they still have a lot to learn before they're ready to play QB at Michigan under Harbaugh.

As for O'Korn, he wasn't exactly "hand-picked." He was picked up as a transfer. Really, simply because there weren't many other options as multi-year transfers. Rudock was coming in as a grad guy. O'Korn was mostly to add future depth due to Hoke/Borges not recruiting QBs, with the expectation that he could battle for the QB job.

O'Korn's skillset doesn't really fit Harbaugh's intentions at the QB spot. But adding O'Korn to the mix just felt better than simply a Morris vs Speight battle. Adding a player with experience and a few years of eligibility is always a plus when you're looking at a position that was under recruited by the previous staff.

Don't get me wrong, Harbaugh has done a great job coaching up Speight. We have even seen improvement from Morris. But Speight being a two year starter over the current/next year's crop of QBs wasn't very surprising. Youre talking about two freshmen and a guy who's skillset doesn't fit the typical Harbaugh QB here.

OwenGoBlue

August 30th, 2016 at 2:41 PM ^

O'Korn's skill set profiles more closely with the QBs Harbaugh has had in the past than Wilton. Are you talking about decision making?

I really don't think there's a true "Harbaugh QB" mold; his offense adapts to the players which is new for us after RichRod's system and whatever the fuck happened in the QB room after.

JonnyHintz

August 30th, 2016 at 6:37 PM ^

Maybe skillset wasn't the correct word... Tendencies? Speight seems more confident in the pocket and appears to be able to progress through his reads. Whereas O'Korn seems like he's a little too quick to give up on the pass and takes his eyes off of the receivers as he starts to scramble.

O'Korn has shown in the past and in the spring that he isn't the most poised in the pocket. If his first read breaks down, he scrambles. He's more of a risk taker it seems too. He wants that highlight reel deep pass instead of the 5 yard wide open dump off.

Harbaugh seems to prefer the latter. He would prefer a QB who takes what the defense gives him. If that's a 5 yard pass or a 3 yard scramble, so be it. The key for a good QB isn't the stat sheet. It is to do whatever you have to do to efficiently and effectively move the ball down the field and score. Rudock was exceptional at this. Rarely did Rudock force the play. He took the safe route and let the athletes make the play.

Alumnus93

August 30th, 2016 at 2:23 PM ^

cmon...Peters just arrived and is 18. a full year and I'd bet he'd win job.
McCaffrey not even here.
Okorn is still a soph and transfer pickings are slim.
nonetheless it is an achievement but not what you're making it to be

Mr Miggle

August 30th, 2016 at 8:11 PM ^

Let's not forget that there was other competition. Malzone, Gentry and Morris were all more highly rated. Going into last season a lot of us would have projected Speight to be behind all 3 by now. 

The poster prefaced his comments on Speight becoming a two year starter, not just starting now. So he'd still have to hold off Peters, et al next year.

ijohnb

August 30th, 2016 at 1:41 PM ^

you are Michigan, 2012.  In that case, you start two quarterbacks or one running back and a wide receiver, depending on how you look at it.

Wolverine Devotee

August 30th, 2016 at 1:44 PM ^

Harbaugh called up an assistant who has 7 kids and told him "I caught ya"since he is now tied with him for the most kids on the staff.

Everything is a competition




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mickblue

August 30th, 2016 at 3:39 PM ^

10am to noon Mon thru Fri on WTKA. Heavy focus on football. No dog content. No Tuesday tailgate treats. Just meat and potoato football talk. No getting caught up on social issues. If I want that I'll tune into CSPAN. Lots of interviews with former players. I highly recomment it and it is easy to call in and opine.

Blue Bo

August 30th, 2016 at 7:00 PM ^

There are times to play it safe and there are times to live dangerously.  Risk-Reward.  Speight-O'Korn.   You will see them both when the time and circumstances call for it.