Question of the week
Soooooo do you give Peters a shot or do you roll with O'Korn again and chalk up Saturdays game as simply a bad game? Obviosuly everything is earned in practice but just curious given the JO that showed up Saturday looked like the one from the Inidana game last year
October 9th, 2017 at 10:08 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 10:09 AM ^
That will just start the "WHAT ABOUT MCCAFFREY" shouting.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:10 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 10:12 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
Put a fake mustache on him and PUT IN MILTON!!!
October 9th, 2017 at 10:20 AM ^
I'll go with Doyle, fly him in from DC.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:19 AM ^
Put him in.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:48 AM ^
Put Hurst at FB and Winovich at TB and run the Wildcat with Gary at QB.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:56 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 11:01 AM ^
ball did not cross the goal line. His ass did, but the ball didn't. And O'Korn tripping over the center on the next play was hilariously predictable. I am just surprised that it did not result in a fumble that was returned 99 and 3/4 yards for an MSU touchdown.
October 9th, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^
Say what you want, but Malzone was a GAMER anytime he played... and I say he'd have beaten MSU. My gosh, I still cannot believe we lost and how mentally weak O'Korn is... spouts off how after Purdue game how much he cared about showing up Tony Levine... thats immaturity. And before you scoff at Malzone.... Perry is our best WR by a mile, and nobody expected it, either.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:38 PM ^
Tarik is better.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:12 AM ^
Oh I'm already waiting for McCaffrey.
But I remain more interested in the "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR ABILITY TO CALL ADEQUATE OFFENSIVE PLAYS THAT AREN'T THE MOST PREDICTIBLE, INEFFECTIVE, BORING PLAYS I HAVE EVER SEEN AT ANY LEVEL OF FOOTBALL." shouting.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^
Isn't this an either/or problem? How can an offensive scheme be simultaneously too complicated for our players to execute but also too simple & obvious that the defense sees it coming a mile away.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:18 AM ^
Thats a valid argument. I am in the middle of the round, like Peters isnt playing for a reason but then you look at JO and kind of scatch your head
October 9th, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^
But I think that does answer the question. We always hear that Peters doesn't have command of the offense. When you're the man in charge of offense and everyone else around is young and will need hand holding from time to time to get them in the right position, its likely that what that knock on Peters is really saying is that the offense is too complex and he doesn't have a grasp on all of it yet.
So while Peters might be the better arm talent and more accurate QB, if he's not entirely sure where everyone is supposed to be lined up on 60-80 different formations (if Mich ran 40 vs. MSU, they definitely have a lot more than that they haven't used), and isn't 100% sure of all the different checks, then that feels like a pretty good description of "doesn't have command of the offense."
October 9th, 2017 at 11:38 AM ^
This is exactly where I'm at and it doesn't bother me. Kid is just a RS Frosh, it takes time to learn the playbook but given what you said (extreme youth) adding in a kid who doesn't know much of the playbook is a recipe for disaster.
IF we do see him it won't be until after PSU. No way they start a kid who isn't ready yet at night on the road.
October 9th, 2017 at 1:45 PM ^
It probably is too complex.. Dantoni inferred it...shook his head at the 40 formations... lets not knock Peters here.... Harbaugh and Hamilton are expecting them to be pros, yet pros don't have to take 16 credit hours, either... this isnt msu and 10 formations and don't have to go to class so they have all the time in the world... 40 is overkill especially when our players, you know, have to go to real class, and at a tough school. My gosh, I still cannot believe what a choke job it was losing.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:42 PM ^
I'm not convinced it's a choke job. This team might not be good and MSU might be. That is harder to swallow but just as or more likely true.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:29 AM ^
is lost in poor execution. To say it is "complex" is not to say that it is difficult to prepare for right now, because our players are "thinking it out" before executing it, it isn't second nature. I think it is also contributing to turnovers because so much emphasis is being placed on scheme that very little focus is going to fundamentals. Essentially, Michigan's offense is them vs. themselves right now, and it is principle over outcome. What the coaches are looking for is an offense that completely dictates the game as a result of precise timing, efficiency, and execution. Our first drive against Michigan State stretched out over a full sixty minutes. The issue is that these are college kids with practice time and eligibility limits. I am not sure if a college team can run what Harbaugh is trying to run right now, frankly.
October 9th, 2017 at 12:03 PM ^
A valid point. I think they can execute it well if the core players have been in the system 3+ years, but asking a team where half your starters are 1st or 2nd year players to execute what is quite possibly the most complex offense in college football generally isn't going to go well IMHO. I mean, the fact that even when the OL pass-blocks effectively there didn't seem to be any receivers open 90% of those instances kind of points to a very young group of skill guys not adept at running the routes consistently well yet, a portion of which I would say is due to the higher level of complexity of what this staff is trying to do.
October 9th, 2017 at 11:03 AM ^
It's too complex because there are 40+ formations, but it's too simple because they are calling the most obvious/boring plays out of said formations. The whole jack of all trades, master of none theory.
October 9th, 2017 at 11:22 AM ^
Couple of things I read postgame might hint at some of that complexity. Read somewhere that Dantonio said Michigan ran 40 different formations. They had under 80 offensive possessions, so that's 1 new formation for every 2 plays. That's an awful lot of time spent on game week and in the offseason installing all of those formations. And for a young offense, that limited practice time might be better spent elsewhere. Be great at 10 formations instead of mediocre at 40.
Another one came from Nick B's twitter feed (I think) where upon his rewatch of the game, he noticed how often the WRs are taking 2-3 false steps before they ever leave the line of scrimmage. That sounds like overcoaching and asking players that haven't played a ton to focus on technique too much instead of just getting off the line and getting open. Your OL can't block, why are you having your WRs dance at the LOS?
Both of those things feel like overthinking things and wasting time on technique and play design that's not really going to make any sort of difference because you don't have the talent and experience to pull it off in the first place.
So rather than spending time on all of that, find simple ways to get people like DPJ the ball in open space. Find a way for more quick hitting plays that don't require your OL to block for 5s to allow the complex play and routes to all play out.
October 9th, 2017 at 12:10 PM ^
The "dancing" at the line is supposed to allow you to beat press coverage - we were taught similar technique when I played WR in high-school. They just may not be that effective at beating it yet because everyone outside of Perry is super young still and FBS is a hugh step up in compitition level for most players. Or, they could just be teaching the technique poorly, because to your point, you still have to be fast and get into your route at the same time.
October 9th, 2017 at 2:17 PM ^
Its another thing that makes me wonder if Pep is a good fit for college, or at the very least is taking longer to get reacclimated. Its one thing to teach NFL players for the last three years on how to run a route and the things you should be doing (like steps at the line), but it takes another mindset to teach someone barely out of high school that's never really run routes before what to do.
Just ditch all of that for the time being and focus on things to get them open ASAP.
October 9th, 2017 at 6:34 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^
Cuz I may or may not have shouted that myself 25-30 times Saturday night.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:42 PM ^
There is another QB already hiding on the field on all special teams plays. Maybe he just needs to run the show on offense too?
http://www.mgoblue.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=16323
October 9th, 2017 at 10:45 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 11:31 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 1:25 PM ^
There's a difference when there's losing with a purpose. We could at least acknowledge that our young QB is gaining invaluable experience that will help us down the road. Watching Speight and JOK continuously struggle offers no such perspective.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:39 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 10:27 AM ^
I don't disagree with any of your points. However, I think it's safe to say that most of the fanbase's patience with the offense is already gone, regardless of the QB.
October 9th, 2017 at 1:03 PM ^
In special teams and (especially) defense, UM is in really good shape. We are far from a "dumpster fire."
There is no game on our schedule which I don't think UM can keep close because of our D and special teams.
Now, do I think we'll beat Penn State? Heck no -- but it will most probably be 17-7 or 21-10, not a blow out. And if we have a couple things bounce our way (literally - we need the football gods to bounce a dropped ball to us), we could win.
That's not the situation you start someone a QB who has talent, but needs significant time to grow and develop that talent.
October 9th, 2017 at 1:49 PM ^
I for one like Speight, and hope this snaps him out of the funk. btw drew brees was in one in SD and they drafted rivers because of it, and snapped brees out of it, and the rest is history.. same thing is happening now with alex smith.
now, when Speight returns, expect a headier player.... lets hope.....
October 9th, 2017 at 10:52 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 11:44 AM ^
My thoughts exactly. One more loss and I'd argue it's worthwhile to start developing the 2018 option (whether Peters or McCaffrey or both). At that point, what difference would it make? If someone's going to suck, at least make some effort to improve for the long-term.
October 9th, 2017 at 11:08 AM ^
Can the offense be any worst if Peters played. If not, play him and let him get game experience.
Personally I doubt very much that by playimng him he it would reduce our chances of winning. On the up side we may find we have another Brady.
October 9th, 2017 at 11:34 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 10:10 AM ^
I don't know if any of our QBs will look great behind this offensive line.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:55 AM ^
Michigan has an offensive line? Could not tell from watching us this year...
October 9th, 2017 at 10:10 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 10:11 AM ^
The fans who saw tough, commanding bastards Speight & Gardner turned into Skittles by awful pass pro now want to ruin Peters the same way.
— Seth M. Fisher (@Misopogon) October 8, 2017
October 9th, 2017 at 11:25 AM ^
Ah, I see. So the answer is to wait out his entire eligibility until we have a better offensive line that will no doubt have to be tested by someone else at QB? Huh? That doesn't make sense on few different levels.
October 9th, 2017 at 12:49 PM ^
*reads tweet again*
No, that's not what we're saying at all. There's a reason he's third on the depth chart. Forget his name for a second and tell me it's smart to throw a 3rd string QB into a game with no protection.
Peters will get his opportunity.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
I want to see O'Korn in one more fair weather game. I hope the weather is good on Saturday. Indiana's defense isn't horrible, so I'd like to see what O'Korn can do in one more game. If he can be Purdue O'Korn, we can win the rest of the games on our schedule.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:23 AM ^
Exactly. Let's wait and see what we have in Peters during the second half of the Rutgers game.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^
I'm in this boat too. Honestly, O'Korn was leading us down the field and both fumbles crushed promising drives. He put together a nice drive to get us our only touchdown and then the weather changed. Obviously three interceptions is not a good day no matter what but throwing in a monsoon isn't easy. His interceptions also didn't have as severe of an impact as either of the fumbles. He even led us at the end to give us a chance and his receivers didn't help him out, McDoom :(. It was a bad performance but I haven't written him off like a lot of people have.
October 9th, 2017 at 11:19 AM ^
whether it's O'Korn's vision, receivers not getting open, poor pass protection blocking, or play calling, Michigan must be able to get pass completions down the field (10+ yards). Otherwise, we will do poorly the rest of the schedule. Dink passing or O'Korn running for his life to gain a few yards constantly will result in more losses. I don't think our running game is that bad. It's not great, and they need to fumble less. But if we start completing more passes down the field, other teams will start backing off stuffing the box. Then, the running game will do better also.
Saturday was very frustrating to watch.