If Wilton is really lost for the year, moving forward how many more of Jabrill's snaps should be shifted to the offensive side of the ball? Would you be surprised if he starts taking 30-40% of the snaps behind center?
Obviously, this news really sucks. But it's time for Harbaugh to get really creative now. How much wildcat can realistically be effective?
November 14th, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^
to see how a PepperKorn offense would look like. A lot of mobility to play with there...
November 14th, 2016 at 2:03 PM ^
Enough to avoid the Bucknut grinder?
November 14th, 2016 at 2:41 PM ^
simply brilliant.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:47 PM ^
The only open question is whether we'll seen PepperKorn in a bowl.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^
They are slated for the Planters Deez Nuts Bowl
November 14th, 2016 at 5:38 PM ^
Man, I just noticed my typographical error.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:00 PM ^
30/40% snaps where the defense knows it will be a run 100% (so far). Don't think so. Peppers shouldn't throw until OSU game.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:43 PM ^
I don't have stats to back it up, but it also seems like he runs to the right 95% of the time. Iowa knew what was coming and snuffed it hard.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^
and defenses have kind of figured him out at this point. We need to see a throw down the field if the opportunity rises. And they should use him more of a decoy.
November 14th, 2016 at 5:54 PM ^
I feel like they have to be running him to the right everytime just to set up something big like a pass or pitch. Using him as a decoy rb or wr should definitely be done a few times coming up
November 14th, 2016 at 8:24 PM ^
Put him at running-back and play action pass. He needs to be a decoy and not let him touch it every play. Sweep him right and option pass it all day. Drag the tight end or ends and run wide receiver comeback routes to the open spot whereever it is on the field. Or fly them deep and clear out the corners and safeties. Peppers needs to be utilzed and needs to be in there way more. Hell give him a series here and series there as a break on offense or defense but get him in the damn game on a consistent basis for once. I love Michigan but I hate when a team uses their most talented player on defense. Can you imagine how hard it would have been to cover Deion Sanders if he had made the receiver postion his trade?
November 14th, 2016 at 2:02 PM ^
I think there's a better chance that Peppers takes 3-4 more snaps a game than there is him taking 30-40% of the QB snaps. O'korn seems to be a very able thrower. Let us not forget how tight the QB competition was at the beginning of the year.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:50 PM ^
a designed pass, in the redzone, saved all year for OSU.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:01 PM ^
If Speight is out for the year, that does indeed suck. But I think you don't want to go PepCat more than 15% of the time, especially against OSU. O'Korn is a capable quarterback who has had nearly two years of coaching by an excellent staff, so the plan should be to get him into the IU game early, and let him get his feet underneath himself before facing a very tough test in Columbus.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:35 PM ^
I am betting that O'Korn will start on Saturday.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:41 PM ^
Much more of this. The downside is getting Okorn hit too many times!
Morris can/will run more option-type sets.
Not saying, we go all 1980's Nebraska, but....
November 14th, 2016 at 2:47 PM ^
More Morris lead-blocking package to the left, please.
November 14th, 2016 at 5:57 PM ^
I love the Morris kamikaze package ha
November 14th, 2016 at 2:02 PM ^
knows how to defend the peppers wildcat now. all he does is hand it off and run it. they load the box it's done. they will see Iowa's defense on it and go the same route.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^
Because of how defenses are playing Peppers at QB, I want to see him in certain packages as a RB. I think the offense can do more by running read option with Pep at RB. If the defense wants to load the box, then O'Korn can hit the WR on those RichRod type pop passes.
November 14th, 2016 at 3:26 PM ^
attacking the edges. Not just with Peppers, but with Evans and others.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:19 PM ^
The Peppers' wildcat package hasn't been very effective the last several weeks. Its so well defended and predictable now that I almost wonder why they still do it. It sprung the big flea flicker play against Maryland, but that was almost botched, and also it was against Maryland. So take that with a grain of salt. Aginst real defenses with actual well coached and talented players on it, its been ineffective.
If Michigan wants to beat Ohio State, they are going to need all they can get from Peppers on defense and O'Korn to shine on his own on offense.
Also, any wrinkles they could add to it now -- like Peppers passing -- are so blindingly obvious I can't see a defense like Ohio State falling for them.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:20 PM ^
Frankly, it hasn't been that effective at all this year. Works to gain some yards in the red zone, yes, and there was that one big Peppers run against Rutgers, but that was an athlete being miles better than everybody else on the field. Peppers plays are generally sniffed out by opponents right now.
Maybe that's prep for something new. But right now he's not getting a lot of spectacular gaps.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:52 PM ^
Think it was during the MSU game that I started calling it Michigan's Heisman package. Honestly all it feels like these days. Just a way to get Peppers run some on offense to boost his Heisman campaign. Would honestly rather see more carries go to Chris Evans. Statistically, they are equal but Evans has triple the runs.
Evans -- 65 carries, 7.8 yards/play, 3 TD
Peppers - 21 carries, 7.7 yards/play, 3 TD
I mean, if you're going to put Peppers in the game, why not go Peppers at QB, Evans at RB, Smith at FB, and leave O'Korn on the sideline? Do some freaky triple option type thing. Although that would require the OL to hold the edge, which has been dicey as hell lately.
November 14th, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^
kind of thought it was becomming a little tranparent in that way too. I have started to wonder if other players were becomming a little bit tired of the Peppers hype machine. Notwithstanding the Maryland game, it doesn't seem to me that our team has had the same kind of chemistry in the last few weeks. The Peppers stuff was getting a little bit overboard a couple of weeks ago and I have start to wonder if there were some on the team who thought they were being overlooked.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^
Read option with okorn and peppers could be deadly
November 14th, 2016 at 2:24 PM ^
If O'Korn is the guy, it's time for an all-out pistol read option package. He can move, Harbaugh can coach it, and the team could use something like this. Doesn't really matter who the RB is in that situation, though Peppers flying in from the slot would be a lot of fun.
Rather, it is almost time for an all-out pistol read option package. This Saturday, hopefully, they beat Indiana. Then they install it.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^
Is that really your MGoPoints???? Damn.
While I love your idea, I don't think installing an entirely new package with 2 regular season games left is advisable.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
very devoted to the site.
November 14th, 2016 at 5:03 PM ^
...in terms of MGoPoints.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^
you now line up Peppers as a RB. Run a read option.
Best case for Michigan is a Kap like situation where JOK comes in for a pretty good Alex Smith and lights the world on fire.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:57 PM ^
Too much chance of getting hurt and we need him on defense. We have a lot of capable backs that can play. I just thought the play calling agains Iowa was kind of vanilla.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^
My Monday afternoon Hot Take:
Would it be in Michigans best interest to keep Jabril's main focus on defense? Or would they benefit more by splitting his reps 50/50 on defense/offense? Personally, win at all costs. Play him more on offense while slighly decreasing his defensive assignments. Call me crazy, but it might be our only shot against Ohio.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:20 PM ^
for Pepcat plays. Unlesss there are wrinkles and counters they haven't shown yet, I think we are seeing enough, or maybe too many reps now.
November 14th, 2016 at 3:02 PM ^
He's had less of an impact on the field the last couple of weeks. Against Iowa he was almost invisible. Starting to wonder if he's worn down. Would rather have 100% demon terror Peppers on defense than 75% of Peppers on defense and offense. They have similar weapons on offense (Evans) but not on defense.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^
has played an entire season of football as a starter at Houston. He was brought here to play. I think he is going to be expected to step in and play QB, period. I think Peppers may get a couple more snaps per game but I don't think this is going to change things that much in terms of distribution of plays or the style of offense we run. I have actually been a little disappointed that I have not been able to see what he could do. Obviously, this entire situation sucks with Speight but let's see what this guy can do.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:44 PM ^
No doubt Harbaugh will have him ready to play - he is not an untested freshman who has never been in a game before.
November 14th, 2016 at 7:10 PM ^
Just checked in, and unless I missed something, no one else has made this most pertinent point. O'Korn was clearly being considered to start this year. Let's wait and see.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:06 PM ^
The Pepcat hasn't been very effective lately
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November 14th, 2016 at 2:10 PM ^
Yeah, because it screams "RUN PLAY" and all 11 players blitz
November 14th, 2016 at 5:03 PM ^
If we dont have a Denard-to-Roundtree style Oh No play geared up for OSU then I will be sad
November 14th, 2016 at 2:06 PM ^
And Fuck Ferentz
November 14th, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^
rcmb is that you?
November 14th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^
hasn't shown much, and is increasing ineffective. Gotta ride with O'Korn
November 14th, 2016 at 2:14 PM ^
Maybe it is time to line him up more in a slot role? An Evans, McDoom, Peppers, Chesson, Darboh lineup sounds ncie.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:09 PM ^
O'Korn is still a good and capable quarterback that will actually allow the offense to do a little more in terms of read-option plays. If anything I think this will mean us seeing less of Pep behind center and more of him in other spots in the offense.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:10 PM ^
Those who stay... I swear I've heard that somewhere before. O'korn had every reason to leave when he lost the job to start this season. Time to shine and prove why that saying is true.
November 14th, 2016 at 2:43 PM ^
Exactly.
Harbaugh's a QB whisperer, he's proven it time and time again.
O'Korn adds a different wrinkle. He's going to come in hungry. And the players will rally around him.
Speight is surprisingly mobile for his size, but O'Korn is another level. He'll keep LBers honest and personally, his threat to run alone adds a dimension we didn't have before, which I'm excited to see.
He came to Michigan and sat for a year because he wanted to be coached by Jim Harbaugh and play. I have no doubt he's ready.
Speight is simply unflappable. That quality wins championships. That's why he was the starter. He threw two great passes with a broken collarbone. And didn't seem phased whatsoever.
But don't forget O'Korn ALSO called his wide-receivers to practice routes, timing and throws during their off-time in addition to Speight doing the same.
Any back-up QB knows they're just one play away from being the season starter.
They are roommates together.
They're currently in the thick of a hunt for the Big Ten Title.
Speight is going to be helping O'Korn every step of the way.
He's going to be great and it will be fun to watch.
November 14th, 2016 at 7:00 PM ^
Well said DairyQueen
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