Wilton Speight (MGoVideo)

Submitted by LLG on

Wilton Speight - Michigan Football Doppelgänger by Michael Spath 

The article begins:  "When he completed his redshirt sophomore year at Michigan, John Navarre was 11-5 as a starting quarterback, had thrown for 3,018 yards with 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, almost an exact 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio."

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Double-D

June 15th, 2017 at 9:40 AM ^

Speight moves way better in the pocket and has much more pocket awareness. He can move the chains with his feet. He reads progressions and does not just stare down one receiver for a lifetime. Navarre had a better arm but let's see as Speight matures. I would go with Elvis.

Joined: 12/21/2013

MGoPoints: 87294

Gulogulo37

June 15th, 2017 at 11:04 AM ^

He certainly is better in the pocket. That doesn't mean he moves the chains with his feet though. How many first downs did he actually run for? I think moving the chains with his arm because he escaped a sack with his feet is more fitting.

Did Navarre really just stare down receivers though? That seems dubious to me. My X's and O's knowledge certainly isn't great and would have been nearly non-existent then and if there was even UFR back then it would have been the beginnings when Brian probably wasn't as knowledgeable as he is now. Navarre broke a bunch of passing records despite/because of having a bad rushing offense. Most years I think it was even worse than Michigan last year, no?

Joined: 03/16/2010

MGoPoints: 28300

Reader71

June 15th, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^

He did a bit of the staring down early in his career. But he developed into a very good reader of his progressions. And it must also be said that he always had one great receiver, starting with Terrell, then Walker, then Edwards. So, lingering on that first read might have been a bit more acceptable then, as he could be pretty sure his guy would come open. Speight doesn't have that luxury.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

Double-D

June 15th, 2017 at 12:42 PM ^

So much unrealized potential. Two things held them back from National Championship caliber play. Conservative play calling and the lack of dynamic QB play. I saw one double pump fake in his entire three year career late his senior year. It led to a wide open touchdown because everyone including the ball boy bit. That's not Speight. I am not here to hammer him. Navarre had a great career. He had a great arm and was very accurate with the ball. He rarely made mistakes. Harbaugh coaching him.... Predictable play calling and locking on to one receiver can neutralize a talent advantage.

Joined: 12/21/2013

MGoPoints: 87294

atticusb

June 15th, 2017 at 10:07 AM ^

Nice video, and there's definitely parallels w/ Navarre, but "faith in Harbaugh", "wait for on-field results before judging" and all that jazz... 

Joined: 08/23/2015

MGoPoints: 3774

mastodon

June 15th, 2017 at 2:01 PM ^

1.  We don't like to do comparisons because one party comes out on the lesser end.

2.  This is a very poor one, as no recollection of any batted down passes from Speight.

Joined: 04/20/2011

MGoPoints: 2393