Is John O'Korn The Great Hope?
Next year's defense is going to be great, right? Our OL is mostly back, and there's even cautious optimism that Cole might be able to fill right in at center with Newsome moving to LT, and one of our RBs (or a future 5-star RB, hypothetically) will surely be able to have a strong season next year.
Our receivers are good but not great, but the play on the field has clearly shown that Harbaugh and Drevno know how to draw up plays that will get them open. They just need someone to get them the ball.
...It sounds to me like we're a QB away from being a serious playoff contender next season. Like, really serious, preseason top 5 type. But it doesn't look like it will be Shane, with mounting whisper evidence that he may transfer. Wilton Speight made a couple of plays but there's no evidence that he's anything other than a career backup here. And it's not clear yet what Zach Gentry will be--Angelique Chengelis (who I like) took a vague non-denial by Tim Drevno and turned it into a story suggesting that Gentry may switch positions.
That leaves us with transfer John O'Korn. I saw one or two people in isolated threads say that they heard he looks good in practice, but we hear that about hundreds of guys. He does have a year of experience starting at Houston, with promising but mixed results. But, really, we know nothing about what he will be on the field in a Michigan uniform.
There's a lot riding on this. Anyone know what to expect?
November 6th, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
November 6th, 2015 at 12:38 PM ^
I don't know the exact system but Doug Meacham does "Air raid". He was co-coordinator with a guy named Travis Bush in 2013. Meacham was also the QB coach. Meacham went to TCU in 2014, Bush stayed - so I doubt they changed the system too much.
People say Bush tried to change O'Korns throwing motion - no idea if that is true but what we do know is he succeeded with Meacham, and suffered when Meacham left. Meacham likewise made Boykins go from an ok running QB in 2013 to a 2014 Heisman candidate. He appears to be a heck of a QB coach.
By the way TCU had 2 OCs - the other guy came from Texas Tech.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:10 PM ^
The Hope is that given a year with this offensive staff, that one of the QBs will emerge as something better than average. O'Korn, he of the big arm and prior experience, is the Prediction of the one who will emerge. For me personally, I have no clue who it's going to be, but I'm confident that whoever plays next year is going to be good.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:12 PM ^
Was it just me (probably), or did anyone else get the sense of "he looks like a Michigan QB" when he was playing last week? Especially on that last drive?
I have this prototypical Michigan QB in my head, sort of a composite of everyone that has played the position as long as I've been watching games, and for the first time since Carr retired I thought, we have a Michigan QB on the field.
Not to take anything away from Devin, Denard, or even Tate, but they just didn't look like Michigan QB's to me.
Also, I rarely drink.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:20 PM ^
November 6th, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^
If memory serves, Todd Collins threw a very pretty long ball.
November 6th, 2015 at 2:03 PM ^
Collins had a 15 year NFL career. Granted, mostly as a back up. Jake Rudock won't sniff the NFL, even if he wanted to. Rudock's ceiling is much, much lower than any version of Todd Collins.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:49 PM ^
Tate showed flashes of great potential....too bad he couldn't keep it together.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^
1) He seems to have pretty good pocket presence for not having played much (so he looks the part
2) "He sure doesn't look like Bellomy, even though he hasn't completed many." That thought occurred before he settled in.
I'm not ready to anoint him anything yet, but he showed more than I expected.
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November 6th, 2015 at 12:13 PM ^
in his freshman year threw a ton of jump balls to the king of jump balls, Braylon Edwards.
That is a great thing for a freshman QB to have. When in doubt--chuck up a punt to Braylon Edwards and let him go get it.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^
watch out for that freshman that is playing out of his mind now. jh will use freshman if he is the best.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:15 PM ^
November 6th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^
November 6th, 2015 at 1:41 PM ^
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November 6th, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^
or does he just need to be ruddock + 1 or 2 deep balls completions a game and throw one less dumb pick a game and we're 8-0 this year (and by translation next year as well)
houston evidence says its greater than p50 that the above is very possible
November 6th, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
Rudock did plenty to get the team to 7-1. He had nothing to do with the last play against Sparty.
The Utah game is on him. So, not too bad a job this year.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^
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November 6th, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
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November 6th, 2015 at 12:39 PM ^
I think FCS level for a pro-style system would be best for him. Try and pull a Flacco. Unfortunately, not a lot of nearby schools in FCS. If he could pull a grad transfer, there may be some more options. Jeff Driskel has done pretty well at La. Tech. after appearing like he had no future at the QB position.
I think stepping down to GVSU is an admission that playing football isn't in his future and he just wants to see the field again. Nothing wrong with that if that's his choice, but my guess is he's not to that point.
November 6th, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^
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November 6th, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
The kid has been on campus now for what, 9 semesters? He might be able to graduate in spring 2016 and transfer out with immediate eligibility.
November 6th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
Morris is not an early enrollee and is a true Junior. So this is his 3rd fall semester and he has been here for 2 winter semesters and possibly 2 spring/summer semesters.
Possibly by the end of spring/summer semester 2016 he could graduate early and do a grad transfer with 2 years of eligibility left. But that assumes he took a pretty heavy course load during spring/summer semesters.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^
There's a lot of rumor circulating about it. "Whisper talk." Also, just from the staff writers at Mgoblog: It is expected that there will be a couple of playing-time transfers in the offseason, opening spots that are actively being recruited. When Speight played on Saturday, Brian revealed that he had known that Morris had not been the second-string for some time, and suggested "make of that what you will."
And Harbaugh revealed that the decision had been made to pursue a redshirt, in consultation with Shane and his family.
I don't think he's taking that redshirt to get an extra year being a backup at Michigan. It sounds like he's taking it to have another year of eligibility somewhere else.
November 6th, 2015 at 1:32 PM ^
November 6th, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^
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November 6th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^
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November 6th, 2015 at 1:05 PM ^
If he isn't going to win the job in the spring I think he bounces out.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
I'd like to hear some spring practice news before I even start thinking about next year's QB.
Even if Morris were to transfer, it would be silly of him to leave before he graduated and he may be able to get that done by next summer so if he wasn't the #1, he could grad transfer and have 2 years to play.
I say this because I have a feel for what Morris IS...so if O'Korn is going up against him, I'll have a barometer.
I'd like to see the spring snaps and then see where we are.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
There is a reason we have so many QBs.
Harbaugh and Jedd Fisch are going to put them to the test. One or two will emerge and become the starter and primary back-up. I expect our QB production next year to be solid, but not spectacular.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
I think the headline here is Newsome being 6th best lineman as a two star true freshman. Harbs/ Drevno have the eye for talent.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:24 PM ^
Grant Newsome was a 4* recruit. He was also a Hoke commit.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^
aha, thanks. I've been confusing him with Nolan Ulizio.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^
I am pretty sure he was three or four stars and committed to Hoke.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^
November 6th, 2015 at 12:25 PM ^
That Wolverine D or whatever his name is seems to be the only one who thinks that will work.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^
His freshman year when he had an offensive coordinator worth a damn he put up bigger numbers than Henne did in any year at Michigan.
Then said offensive coordinator went to TCU (where TCUs offense has been pretty good to great ever since). And Houston replaced him with Travis Bush, who was UTSA's first OC in their inaugural season, then left for Houston to be their RBs coach, then QB coach, then OC.
Predictably, it didn't go well, and the whole staff was fired after 2014.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^
I'm thinking O'korn next season and Peters for 3. His play granted while in hs is incredible...the kid can sling the ball.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:24 PM ^
November 6th, 2015 at 12:26 PM ^
Morris has too much potential and will be in a battle with O'Korn next year and will win it. That gun of his is going to be under control. He will be able to put a touch on that nuclear weapon of his and will show why Harbaugh wanted to keep him around longer. He ain't gonna transfer anywhere but will lead us to playoff gold next year.
November 6th, 2015 at 1:31 PM ^
Shane has been a wonderful ambassador for UM football since his commitment during his Sophomore year in high school. Unfortunately, due to a lot of different circumstances not all under his control, he has not played many meaningful minutes of football since 2011, his Junior season at De La Salle. Ever since that time, all we keep hearing about is his "rifle for an arm." Numerous coaches in schools and at summer football camps have tried to help him develop touch on his passes, and to quit looking down his receivers as soon as he drops back to pass. Hasn't seem to work very well so far.
Again I hope you're right about Shane. He's been loyal and a resolute competitor through it all. May a Cinderella finish to his football career be in the cards for him at UM.
November 6th, 2015 at 5:03 PM ^
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November 6th, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^
GVSU rumor? - his brother goes to GVSU so that MAY be why he would go to a game.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^
November 6th, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^
November 6th, 2015 at 1:39 PM ^
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November 6th, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^
November 6th, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^
of playing in the system for the entire season. Also, he is maturing as he gets older. Next year he should be at his peak as a QB in the Michigan system. It is rumored had he been eligble this year he would have been starting.
Morris and Malzone do not fit the JH mode for QB's. Both are too short. More than likely they will transfer.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^
Linebackers will be our biggest weakness. We are losing Ojemudia, RJS, Bolden, Morgan, and Ross. Hopefully playing behind our DL will make the learning curve a little smaller but we need to find at least 4 guys who can play at a high level for the MLB, WLB, SAM, and Buck positions. And no, Peppers can't play them all.
We are far more than a QB away from playoff contender next season.