Harbaugh: John O'Korn to remain starting QB against Rutgers.
John O'Korn will remain Michigan's starting QB vs. Rutgers, Jim Harbaugh says. Brandon Peters still backup.
— Aaron McMann (@AaronMcMann) October 23, 2017
October 23rd, 2017 at 2:16 PM ^
Yeah but O'Korn still couldn't lead the offense to score more than 13 points.
If Peters is nailed to the bench, then that suggests that he may be in the doghouse, or maybe McCaffrey is looking significantly more promising than Peters in practice to the point that Harbaugh is hellbent on saving his red shirt for the long haul, and doesn't want to give the impression that Peters is the heir apparent by playing him in mop up time.
October 23rd, 2017 at 2:15 PM ^
In his defense, John O'Korn is better than the alternative, John O'Limp Bizkit.
October 23rd, 2017 at 2:29 PM ^
Well if we can't find time against Rutgers to get Peters some snaps, that's a really, really bad sign.
October 23rd, 2017 at 2:31 PM ^
O'korn didn't go completely nuclear against PSU, but he still had a below average game. JOK is a 5th year senior who is not a big ten caliber QB. How has Brandon Peters not beaten out JOK is baffling to me. This is concerning to the greatest degree. When MSU's season went south in 2016, Dantonio benched TOC for Lewerke to prep for next year. Michigan is not going to the big ten championship, Michigan will go 8-4 this season. Why are we wasting time with a guy who will not be here in a year? It is beyond annoying that Brandon Peters is developing the way he should be.
Next year QB battle will be intriguing to say the very least.
October 23rd, 2017 at 2:45 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 2:41 PM ^
This is the correct, rational decision. O'Korn gives Michigan the best chance to win.
October 23rd, 2017 at 2:52 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:22 PM ^
There is evidence:
A) The QB competition came down to Speight vs. O'Korn. Peters was not a factor.
B) We now have had 7 games worth of average to poor QB play from Speight/O'Korn yet Peters has not sniffed the field.
C) Peters recruiting profile is not one of a blue chip/can't miss prospect. His suitor list reflects a good rather than great prospect.
This tells me that Peters is still significantly behind O'Korn at this point and that things can absolutely get worse. The only way Michigan loses to a Rutgers (#33 defense per S&P by the way) is by having Peters make his first career start during which he will make mistakes as first time starters always do. This is what Hoke did back in 2014 starting Morris over Gardner against Minnesota. Michigan was better than Minnesota, yet they ended up losing because Morris was significantly worse than Gardner. Remember, back then Morris was "the future".
Now, I do want to see Peters get some extended minutes. Perhaps give him the 2nd quarter? However you divide the time, O'Korn should still be getting most of the snaps unless Peters lights it up. Again though, given A, B, and C, that is unlikely to happen.
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:26 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 2:47 PM ^
I see both sides of the arguments for JOK and for Peters. JOK appears to be getting better. He played better against much tougher competition in a very tough road environment. Something to be said about that. But is it enough to get the team to 8 wins or more? Perhaps by Wisconsin JOK will be at Speight's level. This shit is impossible to predict but I understand why the coaches would want to stick with JOK.
October 23rd, 2017 at 2:50 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 2:53 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 2:57 PM ^
If Peters doesn't play in the Rutgers game....it's because he got arrested this week.
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:03 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:23 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:08 PM ^
The reason that O'Korn is still the starter is probably because Jim doesn't want to put a freshman qb into a situation where he is probably going to get hit a lot. I don't know about Peters' mobility, but I'm guessing O'Korn is more mobile. Peters also probably does not grasp the playbook as well as O'Korn. We should probably be thanking Harbaugh for trying to protect a future investment, while the O-line improves.
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:18 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:40 PM ^
The 2nd year enrollee might not know the playbook as well as O'Korn.
October 23rd, 2017 at 8:28 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:40 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:55 PM ^
I stand corrected. If everything you said is true, then he should be starting.
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:09 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:12 PM ^
That was my sky is falling post. Everyone else is doing it so I gave it a shot. It is pretty concerning though.
October 23rd, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^
There has to be some kind of extenuating circumstance with Peters that we're just not being made aware of. Either:
1) He really is that much worse than O'Korn. Which I didn't think was possible, but Theon taught us all a valuable lesson once. It can always be worse.
Or:
2) Peters just mentally isn't ready, doesn't have the work ethic, or is in Harbaugh's doghouse for some other reason. And maybe Harbaugh is keeping him on the bench to prove some kind of point. But I can't see why Harbaugh would do that if Peters is the difference between winning and losing. I have zero basis for that, but just trying to find a reason.
Either way, if Peters doesn't play at all this year a lot of folks will be going into the offseason thinking that McCaffery will be the guy in 2018. Which is fine by me. He's got a lot of talent, comes from one hell of an athletic family, and between him and Peters, only one of them is going to get to play. They've both got the kind of talent to where the one who gets benched will think he can go start somewhere else.
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:21 PM ^
Does anyone know what John O'Korn's passer rating is on his 3rd down passes to the left, inside of 5 yards, at home, going towards the south end zone, intended for tight ends, when the weather is below 72° with variable winds annnd, what song was playing in the stadium before those plays? If so, could you please start a thread about it? I think if Harbaugh knew those stats he could exploit the Rutgers defense.
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:23 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:27 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:45 PM ^
namely the scheme itself. Some of those plays have 3 deep routes without obvious designed checkdowns. They know they have OL problems and there's zero chance of waiting for the deep digs to bust open (especially with the hellaciously poor route running). What is the thinking here?
Something's going on. I know Pep Hamilton turned Cleveland into an offensive juggernaut and all (cough-cough) but something's rotten in Schembechler Hall.
October 23rd, 2017 at 7:28 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 7:42 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:27 PM ^
O'Korn's issues are multiple, but his biggest flaw is a glaring lack of control of trajectory. Spread teams throw the ball short, quick release and flat. A pro passing game demands the ball travel on multiple trajectories. Deep balls in particular. I saw Tom Brady in the spring game of 1998, his deep ball was impeccable not only for its distance and accuracy but he put really nice air under it to allow is guys to get to it effortlessly. Every deep ball that JOK throws is a slightly modified line drive. He puts the least air under it possible, because his training is to throw the ball flat for receives to quick catch and run.
He may play this weekend, but like PSU, you will see 9 in box, lots of blitzes and no room for receivers because they know he cannot take the top off on any down with any protection level. It;s just not his game.
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:36 PM ^
Still waiting on someone to tell me the wisdom of playing John O'Korn in a 42-13 game if the gap between he and Peters is so great. It would seem to me that putting the only quarterback that gives you a chance to win (or the best one) in danger of injury in a game that he has already been sacked 7 times, is not the brightest. So which is it? Is JOK that much better than Peters and the coaches made a dumb decision to keep him in rather than have Peters hand the ball off? Or was the gap not that large and there is another reason?
Where is the wisdom on this? What is the logic in that decision? Can't have it both ways. Either there is a large gap or there is not.
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:58 PM ^
If O'Korn is truly that much better than Peters, then Peters may indeed be a recruiting miss. But if the difference between the two isn't that wide, then it sure seems like the staff is being way too short sighted in not giving Peters the chance to prove himself on the field and gain invaluable experience on the field.
I know the defenders point to Peters only being a redshirt freshman, but come on. He enrolled early and has been in the program almost two full years after being a top top prospect. It is getting late, early for him if he can't beat out O'Korn.
October 23rd, 2017 at 4:47 PM ^
I am guessing that Peters will see some time.
IMO, we need an offensive lineman to play right tackle, a safety who can both cover and tackle, and a championship qb before we can contend.
QB could be Peters, could be McAffrey, but both need a little experience and time, and JH is smart enough to recognize that. In the meantime, O'Korn continues to improve with Speiight injured. If Speight wasn't hurt or could come back, he would still be the guy, but IMO, not the the answer at qb.
October 23rd, 2017 at 5:33 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 6:30 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^
Good for him then. My assumption is they'll split snaps. O'Korn played well enough last week to get a shot at beating up on Rutgers a bit.
October 23rd, 2017 at 5:32 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 5:41 PM ^
Harbaugh said O' Korn would start. Maybe he only plays the first series. I definately feel that against the given opponent, Peters has to get snaps.
October 23rd, 2017 at 5:41 PM ^
Harbaugh said O' Korn would start. Maybe he only plays the first series. I definately feel that against the given opponent, Peters has to get snaps.
October 23rd, 2017 at 5:41 PM ^
Harbaugh said O' Korn would start. Maybe he only plays the first series. I definately feel that against the given opponent, Peters has to get snaps.
October 23rd, 2017 at 5:41 PM ^
Harbaugh said O' Korn would start. Maybe he only plays the first series. I definately feel that against the given opponent, Peters has to get snaps.
October 23rd, 2017 at 5:41 PM ^
Harbaugh said O' Korn would start. Maybe he only plays the first series. I definately feel that against the given opponent, Peters has to get snaps.
October 23rd, 2017 at 5:43 PM ^
If i said it once, I said it 5 times
October 23rd, 2017 at 6:19 PM ^
We aren't getting the whole story. We just can't be... Could we? Peters is in the dog house for something... I feel bad for Okorn. Nice kid. However he looks bad. I mean bad bad. And Peters looked good in the spring. Like really good... Hmmmm.
Also, why did McCray not get subbed out after it was obvious he was completely mismatched against Barkley and they were exploiting it? I dont' care if the guy behind him is young/not very good. Simple question, can he remotely keep up with the person he is defending? Is his 40 time within 2 seconds of the person he is covering? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.
Finally, if the starter is decided by way of practice, why is Harbaugh announcing the starter on Monday?
This is really strange at this point... Would love to be a fly on the wall in the meetings that are taking place. However, we have no choice but to support coach at this point.
The pain of being a Lions and Michigan fan is truly lovely.
October 23rd, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^
October 23rd, 2017 at 9:49 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 12:07 PM ^
Smoked
October 23rd, 2017 at 6:20 PM ^
This is disappointing, but not surprising.