QB depth chart update
I posted a nugget from umbig11 over on the TTB message board. It's just a small nugget, but I feel like it's noteworthy, considering the spring game performances of the quarterbacks.
http://touch-the-banner.com/forum/topic/qb-update-from-umbig11/
August 25th, 2017 at 9:14 AM ^
August 25th, 2017 at 8:31 AM ^
what i have heard/read is that malzone is such a strong michigan guy that he wants to stay with the team for as long as he can
August 25th, 2017 at 8:52 AM ^
True or not Malzone deserves to continue his career and hopefully get some playing time at another collegiate team, so good luck to him! Hopefully he will never lose that strong Michigan bond. GO BLUE!
August 25th, 2017 at 8:32 AM ^
I don't doubt the information, but I think Harbaugh is trying to send a message. The guy who is supposed to be above the 3rd string guy doesn't seem mature enough in important ways to pull that off.
August 25th, 2017 at 9:11 AM ^
Let's not lose sight of the fact that JH felt it was entirely within the bounds of normalcy to take our now-two-years-running starter (Speight) and tell him he sucked so bad he ought to just give up and transfer out ... exactly one season before handing him the keys. And he did that to him ON TV!!
He won't always get it right, of course. But do we really want to second guess Jim's judgment on how to build his QBs up into a state of excellence?
I highly doubt Harbaugh has thrown in the towel on his hand-picked rockstar talent. In my own mind I'm planning to let the potter work the lump of clay without judging the interim steps.
August 25th, 2017 at 9:32 AM ^
"He [Harbaugh] won't always get it right, of course."
Heresy. Burn this fellow as a witch. :-)
August 25th, 2017 at 10:09 AM ^
August 25th, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^
The guy loves to apply pressure--but not too much. I've been reading some recent popular psychology articles that made me think of Harbaugh. I might make a diary out of it.
August 25th, 2017 at 10:26 AM ^
I double posted, so I'll use this as an opportunity to ask for a source on that. Was it his outburst when he was mic'd up or part of an interview?
August 25th, 2017 at 11:34 AM ^
He was mic'd up
You couldn't see Speight, but it was obvious who it was that Jimmy was tearing into: it was a QBs-only meeting and Wilton was the only one tall enough for Harbaugh to be looking up at.
Pretty sure last year Speight directly commented that it WAS him, and that it was a seminal moment in his development (painful as it was to be humiliated like that on TV).
I don't have any links ... just my recollection of the event.
August 25th, 2017 at 1:32 PM ^
https://vimeo.com/126390556
It's at about 12:45 of that video. He says something like If you don't want to listen "go fucking somewhere else".
August 25th, 2017 at 1:35 PM ^
https://vimeo.com/126390556
About 12:45 of that clip. He says if you don't want to listen "go fucking somewhere else."
August 25th, 2017 at 8:35 AM ^
Still don't get why so many people are writing Peters off? He's only a RS Frosh with two guys who have college game experience infront of him. To many guy write guys off if they are not play by their Soph RS Frosh year which is foolish. Peters will be the #2 next season the number one if for some reason Speight exits.
August 25th, 2017 at 8:36 AM ^
August 25th, 2017 at 8:45 AM ^
This is the same thought that went into WS and lord behold he's the starting QB for two years now. JH is the king of motivation and games menship. I wait till spring of 2018 to come to a final concluision given the fact DM wont play this year and two seasoned guys are ahead of BP. I am not going to hop on the "if a guy hasnt played his 1st 2 years hhere he's a bust train"
August 25th, 2017 at 8:56 AM ^
Joe Milton has an incredible senior HIGH SCHOOL season. People around here will be writing Speight, Peters and McCaffery off. It happens every year and it is ridiculous. Speight is going to be better this year than he was last and I guarantee people will still not be satisfied even though he is obviously the best QB to lead our team.
August 25th, 2017 at 9:11 AM ^
August 25th, 2017 at 10:08 AM ^
Fair or not, for a lot on this board the expectation of QB play with JH as coach has a floor of Chad Henne (college Henne) and a ceiling of Tom Brady (NFL Brady).
So until Speight at least gets to Henne level (such as have a big game and come through in the clutch against better teams), many will hope for his unseating by Peter/McCaffrey/O'Korn, etc.
August 25th, 2017 at 11:31 AM ^
August 25th, 2017 at 8:37 AM ^
So far I'm impressed.
Also, Harbaugh is UMbig11.
Mental warfare to turn peters from average Jedi into Luke Skywalker type Jedi. Not sure sure I spelled skywalker right. So yea....
Relax everyone. It's Friday. And I'm in vacation for 12 days.
Who's got it better than us!???!???
NOBODY
Why? See "year three Harbaugh teams" under google search.
Carry on.
August 25th, 2017 at 12:37 PM ^
This post has a certain "THE KNOWLEDGE" feel to it.
.
yes
.
August 25th, 2017 at 8:37 AM ^
Also so many people wanted to throw WS away despite going 10-3 as a first year starter. Now that Peters isnt ready he is some how already a bust after a RS season lol?????
August 25th, 2017 at 8:37 AM ^
Also so many people wanted to throw WS away despite going 10-3 as a first year starter. Now that Peters isnt ready he is some how already a bust after a RS season lol?????
August 25th, 2017 at 8:54 AM ^
Also, our strong defenses kept other defenses on the field longer, wearing them down, this helping our offense
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 25th, 2017 at 8:58 AM ^
So you're not in the 'Speight Camp'...
August 25th, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^
August 25th, 2017 at 9:09 AM ^
of every good team (which we were last year), so that point is a little ridiculous. Also, how is any player supposed to play the same against a crappy team (Rutgers) and an elite team (Ohio St.). I think our expectations are so freaking high for certain players that we never can be satisfied. We won two of the four games you noted above so he obviously played well enough to win those games. Also, he was hurt 3/4 the way through Iowa and still hurt in the OSU game.
August 25th, 2017 at 10:53 AM ^
Im not a huge Speight fan, but with an average run game and inconsistent oline play, I thought he did fairly well. Higdon and Evans should provide a spark in the backfield that was kacking last year which would take some pressure off of Speight. If this years oline is as athletic and strong as people are saying, then look out.
August 25th, 2017 at 8:40 AM ^
Sounds weird. I'm a little skeptical that Peters all of the sudden can't play. As others have noted and if true, big if, it sounds like a mental thing more than a physical skills thing.
August 25th, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^
like Peters forgot how to throw a football. All reports are that he has more raw talent/higher ceiling than Speight or O'Korn.
But if your are not the best at running the offense, being a leader, making the reads, etc....you fall down the depth chart.
And people have to remember that Pep Hamilton has brought changes to the playbook, new terminiology, etc..
Reports are that the route trees are different/more complex. More NFL level concepts. If Peters is not picking the new stuff up as quickly as the others, then he falls down the depth chart.
None of this means that he won't win the starting job later in his time at Michigan.
August 25th, 2017 at 8:40 AM ^
I think Peters has a bright future, I really do. He's only a RS sophomore.
But those of you who think he lit it up in the spring game need to go back and re-watch the tape (stream?). He stared down receivers and could have had three picks, not one, if not for some good fortune. Not saying he didn't make some good throws--he did--but he also made some questionable decisions, and from everything we've heard about Harbaugh, minimizing risk is a huge part of what he wants in a QB.
August 25th, 2017 at 8:45 AM ^
August 25th, 2017 at 8:48 AM ^
August 25th, 2017 at 8:42 AM ^
not going to get too riled up hearing this news about Peters. I had no doubt Speight was going to win the job again. I also am going to reserve any judgement about our future QB situation until I see Speight suit up and play a game in his 2nd year with Harbaugh. I thought Speight was pretty good last year and Year 2 come bring some big things as far as improvement goes. Peters could potentially be a backup for two more years (couting this one) so hopefully he can be groomed into a stud come his RS Junior season. If not McCaffery, you are up. GO BLUE!
August 25th, 2017 at 8:44 AM ^
I'm glad Speight has pulled away. I would be sad/concerned if a returning starter with the season he had last year couldn't do that. Peters has time to learn.
August 25th, 2017 at 8:45 AM ^
Most of the ordering here doesn't concern me. I have some concerns about Speight, but it's ideal if our best QB is also the one with the most experience in ths system. Perhaps he's even solved the issues that concern me. And if a senior won the backup job, sweet.
What concerns me is the word "fading" about Peters. If taken literally, it doesn't mean that the older QBs are just pulling away (which is plausible even if Peters is doing quite well). Instead, it suggests he's regressing. Note that nothing is said about McCaffery ("He's so good already that he would play over Peters!"), but only mentioned as a reference to how far Peters has fallen.
I hope Peters shakes off whatever's up and works through it. I've been more excited about his potential than that of any Michigan QB since Gardner.
August 25th, 2017 at 8:47 AM ^
August 25th, 2017 at 8:47 AM ^
JH is the king of motivation and games menship. He is lighting a fire under BP knowing DM wont play and will rs. Peters will be a starter by his RS Jr season and I am taking bets on it lol. send your paypal accounts if you want your money taken lol
August 25th, 2017 at 8:51 AM ^
I never truly thought there was actually a competition. I always suspected it was just talk to keep up the whole meritocracy thing. I, for one, was always excited about the prospect of having a starting QB last year, that performed as well as Speight did, that had two years left. That's important consistancy we've been lacking at the position.
It's also really not strange that a 5th year senior like O'Korn who's been here for 3 years now is above Peters at thsi point. Just my take.
August 25th, 2017 at 9:06 AM ^
I believe the competition was actually real - if either O'Korn, Peters, McCaffrey, or Malzone had performed better than Speight in all aspects, I think that person would be the starter. But Speight certainly had the inside track, and took advantage of it. Good for him.
August 25th, 2017 at 9:29 AM ^
I think the things the other QB's would have had to do to jump Speight were set so high that they never were actually going to do them. It's unlikely they would all of a sudden be better than our returning starter in almost every way from just a few months ago. And that's probably what had to happen for any of them to make that jump. If it were even remotely close in practices, it was always going to be Speight's job.
August 25th, 2017 at 9:07 AM ^
"I never truly thought there was actually a competition."
Then Im afraid you don't get Harbaugh....every position is a competition, no matter how good the player is.If not, then the further ahead the player is from his peers, the softer he gets.
August 25th, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^
To be fair, just because there's technically a competition at every position doesn't mean there's a real (i.e. close) competition.
August 25th, 2017 at 9:27 AM ^
I think that the competition might have been real to some extent, but the things either QB would have had to do to dethrone Speight were set so high that they were always unattainable. If it were at all close in any capacity, it was always going to be Speight's job.
August 25th, 2017 at 8:48 AM ^
If true, I'd be skeptical if McCaffrey saw the field as a #3 in a blowout. Only way McCaffrey gets on the field this year is if Speight goes down with an injury and O'Korn struggles. If we see a third QB in garbage time, it will likely be Peters. Whats the point of burning his redshirt in a blowout? He only plays this year out of a true necessity.
With that said, I am not surprised that McCaffrey has reportedly moved ahead of Peters on the depth chart. When you come from that family you are used to competiton and his football IQ is probably off the charts. Then again, this could very well just be Harbaugh shooting a warning shot across Peters' bow to motivate him, as well as to test his resilency. A mentally strong player will take this on as a challenge to do better. A weaker minded player will go into his shell. Ball in Peters' court now.
August 25th, 2017 at 8:55 AM ^
Hypothetically if Speight went down and JOK wasn't cutting it, the clear choice is Peters to enter the game. I can't see a scenario where McCaffrey's RS gets burned. that would suck
August 25th, 2017 at 9:41 AM ^
I read the post to say that Peters is QB3. He would be QB4 but for McCaffery's redshirt. But McCaffery is redshirting, so Peters is QB3.
August 25th, 2017 at 8:54 AM ^
Magnus, couple quick questions (just curious on your thoughts)
- do you think Speight is the starter for 2 more seasons?
- how did you rate Peters and McCaffrey coming out of HS?
In my elementary evaluation, I think McCaffrey has more leadership and game IQ qualities than Peters, but Peters has the superior ability to stretch a defense down the field. Both seem to have pretty solid accuracy on short and mid level throws. Both have more upside than Wilton.
August 25th, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^
does return for next season, he'll start. You're not going to bench a 2 year starter in favor of an inexperienced QB. Only way that he'll get benched is if he sucked this season.
August 25th, 2017 at 10:33 AM ^
I would prefer that Speight leaves for the NFL after this season. Because if he does, that probably means he had a damn good year.