Using O'Korn in Read Option Packages: Discussion Thread

Submitted by stephenrjking on

John O'Korn is reputed to be more of a running QB than Wilton Speight. Jim Harbaugh was the head coach for the 49ers masterpiece playoff win over the Packers in which the pistol read option, run by Colin Kaepernick, shredded an unprepared Packers defense, helping propel San Francisco to the Super Bowl--he knows how to coach this.

So it seems like we have a situation in which the QB as a runner could be and perhaps should be a real option. What are the challenges and advantages of such an arrangement? It should be noted that many of the blocking schemes that would be used in such a package would be the same, and of course there is already a package of plays for Jabrill Peppers in a pistol formation. 

One real advantage I can think of is that even a hint of read option would allow O'Korn to occupy an option blocker in pistol and shotgun handoff plays, plays that Michigan has already shown to some extent. A week after that famous win over the Packers, the 49ers ran all over the Falcons merely by handing off to Frank Gore, with a Falcon defender ready for a Kaepernick keep that almost never came. 

So there are options. Discuss looks, problems, challenges, etc here.

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BakkerUSMC

November 14th, 2016 at 4:10 PM ^

This may sound heartless, but why not utilize O'Korn's running ability despite the risk of injury? It's not like we're switching to full triple-option offense, but let him scramble when necessary and take risks! We do have like 37 other QB's waiting in the wings, I don't think Morris, Malzone, Gentry, etc.. would mind a few more reps before the game!

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Kevin13

November 14th, 2016 at 4:15 PM ^

and actually think we can do more with the offense with O'Korn, because he is very mobile. I expect our offense to do just fine this weekend and don't expect any dropoff. I am actually kind of excited to see what wrinkles they put in the offense this week against Indiana and it gives O'Korn a full game before we play OSU.

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funkywolve

November 14th, 2016 at 4:27 PM ^

Where's the whole idea of O'Korn as a runner coming from?

At Houston he had 109 rushing attempts for 122 yds.  Yeah, some of those are sacks but that's not exactly making me think the guy is going to be a difference maker with the read option.

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allintime23

November 14th, 2016 at 4:38 PM ^

Why would you expect any real changes to what we've been doing all year in the last two games of the year? I think O'korn will know our offense and have a shorter range but more accurate passing attack and be able to get out of the pocket for seven or eight yard runs when needed. I think we'll lose a lot of the deep threat. I was huge on O'korn early in the year when speight was inconsistent and then I got to see a little of him. He should be able to get the job done if he doesn't turn the ball over.



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Durham Blue

November 14th, 2016 at 5:57 PM ^

I saw some 20 to 30 yard darts in the YouTube video from his freshman year.  He's no Brett Favre but it looks like he's got a capable arm that can go deep when needed.  I agree, as long as he's steady and doesn't throw a bunch of picks I don't foresee much of a dropoff from Speight.  The biggest thing may be shaking the rust off.

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funkywolve

November 14th, 2016 at 6:25 PM ^

There will be some nice twists and wrinkles but the offense isn't all of a sudden going to change into something new.  There just isn't enough practice time.  In the NFL there are no limits on practice time so they could spend as many hours as they wanted repping new plays for Kaep when Smith got hurt.  

Harbaugh and the offensive staff will probably sit down with O'Korn and figure out what he's comfortable with and build upon that.  We might see more of certain pass plays but we're not going to see almost an entirely new offense.

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Naked Bootlegger

November 14th, 2016 at 4:46 PM ^

It will be an interesting week of practice, that's for sure.  Indiana's run D has been pretty good, so a few more read option plays with O'Korn might be a nice way to keep things off balance.  

 

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F-ckOhio

November 14th, 2016 at 5:34 PM ^

I am verifying your gameplan???

Lets take our back up QuarterBack, Who is faster than the previous Statue, So now we think we have a mobile QB, Then we are going to  Change our Offense 2 weeks before the biggest game of the season, Oh by the way the offense we are changing it to, the Offense (OSU) see's everyday in Practice with similar or better Athletes. I have just a couple of Questions?

1) Risk Management: What happens to our Season if Okorn gets hurt?

2) What or Who says Okorn is a threat running? Yes he is better than Speight, But he is no JT Barrett, Tommie Frazier, or Lamar Action Jackon?

3) Changing Offenses: What Offense can we change to that Urban, OSU, & Staff hasnt seen or wont be ready for?

4) Time Frame: Oh Yeah, we are going to do this 12 days and 1 game before the biggest test of the year?

5) How this effects other Michigan Players? 

6) Hositile Environment, If IOWA was tough to play in, Is not OSU gonna be tougher? Now we are running an Unfamiliar Offense

7) OSU is a better team, with better Athletes, with a better Coach than IOWA

8) Oh yeah, Okorn hasn't played MEANINGFUL football in 2 years

9) THE FACTS: Okorn has 109 Career Rushes for 122 Yards & 1 TD  over 1 & half seasons.

As Hanibal Smith used to say, I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER

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I Want To Believe

November 14th, 2016 at 5:51 PM ^

John O'korn is a turnover machine. O'Korn hasn't played a meaningful snap all season and yet now all of a sudden he's going to beat Ohio state in the shoe? Lmfao. I'm a realist. With Speight down we have maybe a 10% chance to beat osu. Had osu not lost I'd give us a better chance. But this Buckeyes team fixed their problems like they always do. Our problems seem to leak out as the year goes on and then by the time we play Ohio we're down key starters, or playing like shit.

I hate being a negative Nancy but this year was our best chance at beating them until god knows when. Idk how many more losses to them I can take (in a row).



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Mr. Yost

November 14th, 2016 at 5:56 PM ^

You realize you just called him a turnover machine and said he hasn't played a meaningful snap?

That makes no sense. (Unless you have some inside practice insight and O'Korn can't stop turning the ball over in practice - I'm going to go out on a limb and say this isn't the case)

Calm the fuck down and breathe.

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newtopos

November 14th, 2016 at 6:01 PM ^

We won't do it, but I thought the adjustment Baylor made last year when they lost their top two QBs and WR was incredible.  The bowl game against NC was amazing.  I'd love to catch OSU off-guard with a game full of single-wing and other stuff we never put on film and pull off the victory.

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Mr. Yost

November 14th, 2016 at 6:05 PM ^

I'm sure it'll be implemented as it already was with Speight, he just never kept the ball and the one time he did he had a touchdown and De'Veon Smith took the ball from him because NO ONE, even his own RB, ever expected him to keep it.

My opinion on O'Korn is "wait and see."

Personally I thought he was better than Speight going into the season and even through week 4 or 5, Speight started to improve and in that bye week he found a cheat code or something because he went from serviceable to someone who can win the game for you.

In the Iowa game I think he regressed to early season Speight and forget the things he'd learned and taught himself over the bye week...he looked out of sorts and wasn't doing the things he himself said he was working on.

As for O'Korn, he brings some things to the table - the element of surprise and lack of tape are valuable...and if he is truly better than week #1 - #6 Speight, even if he's not as good as week #8 - 10 Speight, that's something we can work with.

Indiana at home will be a nice game to get game one out of the way and make that 1st to 2nd week jump.

Personally, I think he can do it. I think he's got the temperment that he'll rally the team and he'll make plays. But it can't be on O'Korn just like it couldn't be all on Speight.

We're fucked if we have anyone other than Harbaugh..including Meyer or Saban. But the starting QB goes down late in the year and you have a backup with promise? There is only one coach in the country who can win the next 2 games if they're winable...and he's our coach.

He's a QB and he knows how to get the most of out his guys in the short-term. It's up to the rest of the team on whether that will be enough.

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chs33042

November 14th, 2016 at 6:59 PM ^

These are the reasons I thought O'Korn hand the upper hand. What Jim did with Kaepernick. All the starting experience he had. Add that will JP in the back. Talk about now knowing whos getting the ball.

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Zok

November 14th, 2016 at 7:33 PM ^

To me this just opens up the possibility for 3-4wide sets that start in shotgun only to scramble for 5yds on 3 and 4. Just having this to keep drives alive will be huge. We know his tendency is to run. Maybe this will help some. Can't be on every 3rd down but a few timely scrambles could go a long way.

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uncleFred

November 15th, 2016 at 1:00 PM ^

but adaptation is not transformation. 

What differences have we seen when O'Korn played in garbage time? Did it look significantly different? There may have been differences. I'm not knowledgeable enough to recognize such things most of the time.

How will Harbaugh adjust the passing game to compensate for differences in synchrony that Speight has built up with the receiving core? Read the 1 on 1 interview with Butt. He knew where Speight would put the ball as he adjusted his route and actually caught it when his vision was partially blocked. No disrespect to O'Korn, but he and Butt can hardly be expected to know each other well enough pull off such coordination.

Assuming a backup starts, it will be interesting to see what Harbaugh does, and I'm looking to the anaysis of the Indiana game. Which brings up one more thing. A lot of us are looking beyond the Indiana game, discussing it like it's some high quality scrimmage. Indiana has played a number of "better" teams pretty tough this year. Beating them with a backup QB, even at home, is not a given.  

So in that spirit Beat Indiana!

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