Who's Going To Be Our Starting QB This Season? It Really Doesn't Matter
Saw this on 247 and really couldn't agree more. I've been busy this off-season conversing with fellow fans and giving my reasoning behind why I think one QB will start over the next. This article just put into perspective something I think we all really know. It won't matter who starts this season because whoever starts is going to ball out. Couple that with the fact they're pushing each other as hard as they are. For the first time in a long time, I'll feel comfortable with whoever will be the backup.
The guy is batting 1.000 at producing quarterbacks. He's never missed.
In his first role as a full-time coach, he helped Rich Gannon put together the best run of his NFL career on his way to Super Bowl XXXVII and the 2002 AP NFL MVP Award.
He moved on from there to his first head coaching gig, taking over at FCS San Diego in 2004. That's not a program that regularly spits out NFL football players. But Harbaugh spit out two.
First he helped BYU transfer Todd Mortensen become a free agent for the Lions and Patriots. He had a little longer to work with his second quarterback project. After a couple of years with Harbaugh, San Diego's Joshua Johnson went on to be drafted in the fifth round of the NFL Draft and has kicked around NFL rosters for the past eight seasons.
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2015- Bama: Jake Coker. 3110 yards, 21 td/8 picks
2014- OSU: JT Barrett: 2,834 yards, 32 td/10 picks
2013- FSU: Winston: 4,057 yards, 40 td/10 picks
2012- Bama: AJ McCarron: 2,933 yards, 30td/3 picks
It's cute to say, "QB doesn't matter", but it's completely false when you consider the last four national champions. I can't think of a more impactful position that can absolutely change the course of a season than a capable QB.
It's silly to not be concerned about who the QB is. And that has nothing to do with how Harbaugh coaches them up, because I know he will.
QB surrounded tby incredible talent. But 30 TDs with only 3 interceptions all year is pretty incredible. Three interceptions all year is phenomenal. Not making mistakes is underratted when people judge QBs.
How can you deny that McCarron wasn't surrounded by incredible talent?
Answer to new SAT question:
Incredible is to Fritz Crisler as tremendous is to Lloyd Carr.
While true, he was still throwing to Amari Cooper and Kevin Norwood, his RBs were TJ Yeldon and Eddie Lacy, and the OL had Warmack, DJ Fluker, and Barrett Jones.
It's easier to not make mistakes when your supporting cast is deep and talented.
McCarran never was a Heisman level QB. And the talent he had around him clearly allowed him to shine.
But at the same time he was not just some average 'game manager' college QB.
Three interceptions on 2900 yards is phenomenal. His best ability was to avoid mistakes. That is something that middle tier Big Ten or SEC QBs never really achieve. While not a truely elite passer with an NFL rocket arm, he was fairly high level passer who could deliver the ball.
Simplist way to put it: He was not a top 5% college QB, but he was a top 15% college QB (surrounded by several top 5% players on offense).
If Michigan gets a McCarran-like performance from the QB position (2900 yards, 30 TDs, and 3 interceptions), then the playoffs is close to a lock.
Question: What was the last team to win a national championship with a truely mediocre QB?
Maybe LSU in 2007 with Flynn?
Some might say OSU in 2014 with Cardale Jones. But Jones played lights out, and while not really an elite QB, maybe he was elite for that particular offensive system. Very hard to bring down when running the ball. Always fell forward for 3.5 more yards.
No, he wasn't a heisman QB, but people tend to sell short on how good he actually was. I don't think you could throw some average QB where McCarron was and expect the same level. He's actually done some pretty solid work in the limited time he's had in the NFL.
And to be honest, I really like the offense, but I don't think it's at that level where you can just throw anyone in there and expect greatness. There's going to be moments where the QB will have to rise above everyone else, can't simply rely on defense every game.
he was pretty bad or at least meh at best. He struggled especially in the playoff and defense doesn't respect his arm and were more aggressive against the Bengals offense.
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And also, Harbaugh.
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It's so great finally having a true QB coach who will coach up EVERY freakin QB on the roster to be ready if their number is called! What that means is, so long as Harbaugh is our coach, we can rest assured we will NEVER have another meltdown at the position like we had at Nebraska when Denard went down, or at home when Shane was abused in front of the national TV audience when Devin went down. Now, it's "next man up" and there will not be the kind of falling off the cliff sensation!
will have a starter who will be able to run this offense efficiently. My best guess would be O'Korn due to his overall experience and the rave reviews we heard about him last season in practice. Peters is more talented and could beat him out in summer camp. I would not be surprised if Speight picks up from where he left off in spring play and out plays everyone in summer camp. The wild card would be Morris, may be Harbaugh saw some good potential when he told him to redshirt last year. I think we have at least 3 potentially 4 B1G caliber starting QBs.
2 years of playing experience is hard to ignore. However, if Wilton has a gret camp he still has a shot. I also like O'Korn for his foot speed and long ball potential. The schedule early lends itself to development for either one. I feel for Shane. He should probably transfer. I also wonder what Devin could have become under JH.
Harbs is saying soo much in the media. He wants it to be Okorn, gives his offense an extra few play calls with mobility. I look at it like Alex Smith 2.0 in JOK. Speight was in the lead after spring and Harbs made sure he told all media outlets the spot is up for grabs, and there is no leader . Fisch also seems to prefer a qb who can run.
2016- Okorn with Speight as backup
2017-Peters with JOK as backup
2018-Peters with Mccaf as backup
2019-Peters with Mccaf as backup
2020-McCaf with DTR or Sitkowski as backup
Also there is a far better chance Shane catches some balls this year at wr then he plays qb. He came out of Bradenton as the #4 in my opinion after being there for 4 days with some freinds and Sam, his father and mother (the family mom) said he had many opportunities to transfer, maybe join his brother at GVSU and would rather see it all the way thru with the chance at going to the ship. Peters is FOR SURE ahead of Shane on the depth chart.
I really doubt a RS freshman will unseat a returning 5th year senior starter.
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exceed the level of the QB position in the 90s and early 2000, when M had second and third string QBs that would start on most other teams.
Remember Matt Gutierrez? The battle betwen Brady and Henson? Scott Dreisbach sitting on the bench behind Brian Griese?
Remember those things?
This will be even better.
But wait! There's more!
Unlike most of the 90s and early 2000s, M will not have a vanilla predictable Carr offense and a bend but don't break approach to defense.
I'm available due to an idiot on Park Ave NY NY for September and need some work.
second year of working with Harbaugh and leaves me confident they will be a very good QB and the competition will bring out the best of all of them. We will be fine at that position.
I have no skin in the game either than wanting the best guy playing. They both seem like capable and good guys. Hopefully, one of them distinguishes himself in a good way in camp. If not, it would suck for the backup to have to sit despite being just as good.
The team, the team, the team!
where Rudock throw 3 INT's and thinking they should switch to Morris, but Harbaugh proved to be the QB Whisperer like the article mentions and turned him into a NFL QB. Like many have stated, I think it's going to be O'Korn (unless he becomes a turnover machine in fall camp) and Harbaugh is saying that Speight is ahead to motivate O'Korn and ensure he doesn't become too comfortable withe the #1 QB spot.