Speight vs Peters: Final Spring Practice

Submitted by MGoStrength on

I know this conversation will probably drag on for a while and it's still purely speculation at this point, so if you're already over it don't read any furter.

 

With that said, although I do still think Speight is probably #1 on the depth chart right now due to age, experience, and a number of quality games last year (with some bad ones too), based on what I've seen so far in the spring, and in particularl the last spring practice video, Peters looks way better than Speight.

 

Speight often threw to one WR without looking at other options.  Speight often through into traffic or good coverage, rarely completed his passes, and did not use any head, eye, or ball fakes to decieve his intentions to the defense.  

 

Peters on the other hand looked sharp, completed most of his passes, and found open recievers quickly.  Caveots apply.  I don't know who was playing defense on those recievers or even who most of the recievers were at the time other than the TEs that were easy to spot.  And, it wasn't live so the QBs knew they weren't going to get hit.  But, based on what I'm seeing this spring, Peters may be our guy next year unless there is a big swing in how these guys are performing in practice.  I don't see Harbaugh as the kind of coach to just give it to Speight based on last year if he's being out-performed by Peters in practice.

 

For those who haven't seen the video, here's the link from Scout:

 

http://www.scout.com/college/michigan/story/1774977-watch-u-m-s-final-s…

Ali G Bomaye

April 30th, 2017 at 12:57 PM ^

It's interesting to note that when he was at Stanford, Harbaugh started Tavita Pritchard in 2008 while Andrew Luck redshirted. Then, even though Pritchard returned in 2009, Harbaugh started Luck over him as a redshirt freshman.

Speight was significantly better last year than Pritchard ever was, and it's ridiculous to compare Peters to Luck. My only point is that Harbaugh has a history of allowing new guys to start over returning starters if they've earned it.

The Man Down T…

April 30th, 2017 at 3:08 PM ^

Harbaugh will put in the player he thinks will win the most games.  Even if it takes a couple games to get rolling.  If he puts in Speight, then that's awesome.  It will mean that Speight has improved and is ready.  If he puts in Peters, then that's awesome too.  It will mean that Peters has improved and is ready.  It's really that simple.

SlickNick

April 30th, 2017 at 1:08 PM ^

I trust Harbaugh so I dont even care to form opinions on who I think should be the QB..because it doesnt matter. I am not around the program everyday and I am certainly not a QB guru. The staff we have in place will always find the best players to help the team win, and will play them accordingly. Speight proved he can be a solid QB (most of the season), but when I see repeated videos of him struggling in 7 on 7s where the qb and skill players are set up to shine..its pretty damn frustrating. Also Me to me: "its spring, lots of new targets to get used to, new lineman to continue to improve, Harbaugh, relax."

TIMMMAAY

April 30th, 2017 at 1:07 PM ^

"Rarely completed his passes" 

He was the second ranked QB in the Big Ten. The fuck? And that, with our O-line last year. Recency bias is a real thing I guess. 

Speight's ability to improvise and keep a play alive, combined with his command of the offense will keep him in the #1 spot. This year at least. Peters will get some game action and valuable experience this year, setting himself up for at least two years running the offense.

Patience, dude. 

Elwood

April 30th, 2017 at 1:05 PM ^

A starting QB, recruited by the former staff, has regressed or at least failed to progress. Behind him, a highly ranked recruit, recruited by the staff, has looked good and often much better than the starter.

Reader71

April 30th, 2017 at 7:18 PM ^

We would need to see every practice, and all of the throws. That was a terrible question. Speight was bad in the spring game. As someone who has played in spring games, I must tell you that they are just a glorified practice, and only a terrible, terrible coach would make any decision based on that. If I'm honest, I don't think any working coach is that terrible. This is strictly a fan phenomenon. It is possible that Speight has been bad all spring. But we wouldn't know that, we only see a tiny subsection of the snaps. We will see.

Reader71

April 30th, 2017 at 8:36 PM ^

I do not disagree. He has looked bad. But we've seen something like 5% of the total reps taken (and we don't know the playcall or protection, so we are left to guess about the quality of reads made). We've seen 0% of the film sessions. We've no idea of Peter's leadership ability, how they conduct themselves with their teammates and in the classroom. There's so much we don't know. But we do know some things. We have seen 100% of the actual game snaps that either has played. Speight has played them all, and has been quite good in them, considering he was a first year starter, RS Sophomore, poorly protected. So, we know what kind of player Speight can be, including his weaknesses. We have no idea at all of what Peters can be. Some of us think he must be better than the other guy, because the other guy has faults (forgetting the inevitability that Peters will have faults of his own). Some of us think he will likely be worse because Speight is above average and so by definition most will be worse, particularly younger guys with no experience. I'm of the group that is not ashamed to admit we don't know anything at all about Peters except that he looks to have a good arm and he outplayed Speight in a televised practice. That's it.

Elwood

April 30th, 2017 at 8:52 PM ^

after reading the most recent practice report. I agree with your comment on not seeing faults/selection bias. Speight does have a lot of potential since he can avoid pressure so well. A lot of us were frustrated with him missing wide open check downs, forcing things, and a few missed deep balls (might be on the WR and not him). Even more of us were frustrated watching O'Korn versus Indiana! That alone makes your point. Thanks for engaging me in an informed discussion, that's why this blog is the best.

Reader71

April 30th, 2017 at 9:39 PM ^

And that's fine, that's why sports fandom is fun. But people really convince themselves of things to a degree of certainty that is totally unfounded. Part of the fun of my particular fandom is laughing at people who are just sure of something they cannot possibly be sure about. Regarding your question below: yes, it's a practice. It is not any more important than any other practice. And Speight has a full season's worth of games to support him. Again, Peters might be amazing, but don't make up your mind about that based on 20 throws in a spring game is all I'm saying.

HelloHeisman91

April 30th, 2017 at 1:34 PM ^

I am genuinely confused by people that are openly questioning Jim Fucking Harbaugh and his decision making on the Michigan QB for two reasons. 1.) You're openly questioning Jim Fucking Harbaugh's decisions on the Michigan QB. 2.) You get defensive when people point out that you're openly questioning Jim Fucking Harbaugh and his decisions on the Michigan QB.

MGoStrength

April 30th, 2017 at 1:54 PM ^

I didn't question his decision to play Speight last year.  The decision hasn't been made for next year yet.  I am merely providing discussion about who it could eventually be.  Can you see the difference between those two things?  Do you think a message board is not an appropriate place to discuss who might be the starters in the fall?

 

I am genuinely confused by how genuinely confused you are about this thread.

HelloHeisman91

April 30th, 2017 at 5:10 PM ^

Did you read your own thread?  You literally started a thread saying you think Speight is qb1 on the depth chart but that Peters is clearly the better qb based on practice film that was filmed from a worthless angle to evaluate.  There is a reason game film is shot from an elevated anlgle in the endzone.

So if you think the wrong guy is running with ones are you not questioning Jim Fucking Harbaugh?

MGoStrength

April 30th, 2017 at 6:19 PM ^

I said:

 

1. Speight is #1 on the depth chart right now. 

 

2. What I saw in the video from practice (Speight bad, Peters good)

 

3. Peters MAY be our guy next year UNLESS their practice performances change (with a bunch of caveots)

 

Nothing in there is arguing with Jim Fucking Harbaugh.

poppinfresh

April 30th, 2017 at 2:10 PM ^

With saying insiders and tape has shown peters making as many plays if not more than speight his spring. Speight isn't hurt right now. Competition is a good thing and a good problem to have. Coach will play the right guy.

JTrain

April 30th, 2017 at 2:12 PM ^

I am a nobody but I follow you here. I'm guessing Speight gets the nod for the Florida game. He's got to be feeling the heat though. The big ten season is plenty long and rough. Hoping the whole team stays healthy but if Speight gets ding'd, it opens the door for a pretty talented looking Brandon Peters.
Glad we have multiple options and a great coach to call all the right shots no matter what happens.

Zeke21

April 30th, 2017 at 2:22 PM ^

player on any team is the second string QB.

Trust in Harbaugh.   He will be on a high all year thanks to Rome.

Perkis-Size Me

April 30th, 2017 at 2:43 PM ^

Speight is the starter going into the UF game. That's not going to change. Peters looks great in practice and I'm sure he'll be very good when the time comes, but Speight has a ton of in game experience. Peters has none.

There's a big difference between practice time and game time. I wouldn't want Peters' first in game experience to be against Florida's defense. They would absolutely tee off on him.

Qmatic

April 30th, 2017 at 2:52 PM ^

We will not win more than 10 games and will not win a B1G Championship with Speight as our starter. I'm sorry, but he is a good QB who pretty much has reached his ceiling. We probably aren't winning a championship with RS Frosh Peters, but Speight has accuracy issues, poor release, and an inconsistent deep ball. Year 4 coming up for him and the same issues remain. I hope like hell I am wrong, but I just don't see it from him.

Qmatic

April 30th, 2017 at 3:33 PM ^

Yes he was. If he does not throw two detrimental picks vs OSU we are not in a situation where we need to rely on Smith to get us a first down; same goes for Iowa and the three wide open deep balls he missed. Speight played poorly vs Colorado, okay vs Wisconsin (two back to back great passes), poor in the second half vs MSU, really bad vs Iowa, pretty good aside from the two biggest mistakes of the game vs OSU, and poor for 3 quarters vs Florida St. I just haven't seen him be great against the top competition, and his limitations I feel are always gonna get in the way of that.

war-dawg69

May 1st, 2017 at 12:21 AM ^

Why is it always the same thing with this blog?. The truth is stated and then someone is negged for it. You forgot about him fumbling at the two yard line at osu. You just can't do that. I have no idea who is going to start but you can clearly see who the most talented QB is. The truth is Harbaugh has to decide if talent triumphs over experience.

Wolfman

May 1st, 2017 at 6:26 AM ^

I also recall reading an article prior to the IN game where it said, "O'korn would get the start over the injured Speight." But I'm not going to the injury in the IA game. Harbaugh doesn't have to decide if talent triumps experience. His decision is which player gives us the best chance to win the football game each and every weekend. This kid of reminds me of Carr, certainly not a qb guru like Harbaugh, but he did a good job with them, sending a number of them into the NFL. Yet all during Navarre's time as our starter, numerous fans, daiily, would suggest that someone else should start. I thought then, and I think its just as dumb now if anyone thinks the HC of Michigan is going to trot someone out to start at qb that he does not believe gives us the best chance to win.  And actually keeping his job is so far down on the list, I don't think it would even come up as to just how dumb this thought is. Jim Harbaugh, just like any coach in the U.S. at any level is going to play the best 11 on both sides of the ball. All coaches, depending on the level, don't know who these are. Believe me, he does. Cannot even fathom doubt to the contrary. 

AA Forever

April 30th, 2017 at 4:19 PM ^

Especially with another patchwork offensive line with no more talent and less experience than last year, and a very young defense.  Speight is not a QB who can carry a team, make the difference against a tough opponent, or keep us from losing at least one game that we shouldn't.  He is not a threat to run like so many other championship-level QBs, and his passing (after 4 years of practice and coaching) is nowhere near good enough to make up for that deficiency in really big games.

MGoBlue24

April 30th, 2017 at 2:53 PM ^

1. Harbaugh will decide the starter.

2. Anything can happen, and if it does, we all want the backup to be pretty good too.

3. Refer to number 1.

The Oracle

April 30th, 2017 at 3:05 PM ^

The question shouldn't simply be who's the best QB when next season starts. 2018 looks like the year. What would give that team its best chance? Wilton Speight, with his limitations, in his third year as the starter, or Brandon Peters, with a full year of experience behind him?

Nolongerusingaccount

April 30th, 2017 at 3:23 PM ^

"Way better" is an absurd assumption to make given the limited amount of video.  Harbaugh and company chart every throw.  They will know who the right QB will be.  Starting a QB prematurely (or when they are not ready) can also kill development.  E.g. Devin Gardner

Nick Baumgardner, who actually witnessed the practices, basically said Speight is still better at this point.  

There is still an opportunity for Peters to seize the job, but I can't see how a "way better" hot take is even possible.

maize-blue

April 30th, 2017 at 3:48 PM ^

Speight has everything you'd want in a starting QB. Everything except the undeniable arm talent. Arm talent is what Peters has. But he will have to build up to attain the other intangibles. Speight will be the man this year, unless he starts throwing INT's.