QB vs Ohio State: Thought Experiment

Submitted by Carcajou on

No indication so far that Michigan's starting QB versus Ohio State will be any other than John O'Korn. Maybe not a best case scenario, but not much choice at the moment. You go with what you've got.

Spare us the negativity on JOK- true or not, we've heard it all before. It's stale, unoriginal, pointless, and depressing, Yes, he gets overwhelmed and presses too hard sometimes. Got no choice right now but to root for the young man.

Not sure what was available downfield (Thanks, Fox!), but for some inexplicable reason on the last possession he seemed determined to run for the first down on 3rd and 4th down, when he was clearly outnumbered. Was this a matter of dropping his eyes? Or was it not trusting his receivers and protection, based on past experience?

With the exception of that looping stunt that always seems to fool them (and resulted in Peters' injury), Michigan's pass protection has improved recently, even at this game looking back at it. Peters was getting a little bit of time, and DPJ adjusted nicely on that deep post (if thrown properly it would have been a TD).

The receivers still need to do more, not only about separation, but being more physical. McDoom didn't put up enough effort IMO on that Hitch & Go to the end zone that was underthrown. While not perfect passes, receivers had their hands on four of O'Korn's incompletions, so it can't all be on him. Not sure if he throws a more difficult ball to catch, or what.

Senior Day. Last home game- maybe last game of football ever for JOK.He is in serious need of some kind of redemption. Here's hoping that Michigan's coaches can somehow get him in the right mind to perform the game of his life.

So again, sparing us the snark and negativity: Fast Forward to 4PM Saturday, and Michigan has upset Ohio State with John O'Korn at QB. How did they do it?
 

Barn Animal

November 19th, 2017 at 10:05 PM ^

The defense forces multiple turnovers that are either returned for TDs or give the offense a really short field. While also holding OSU to under 17pts. The offense doesn't turn the ball over and put up 10-13 points on their own. M wins something like 20-17. Very unlikely, but if we were to win I would say this is the most reasonable way.

fksljj

November 19th, 2017 at 9:55 PM ^

In the very possible situation where O'Korn gets hurt (not that I'm wishing somebody would get hurt) I wonder what our options are at this point assuming Speight and Peters can't go.

xtramelanin

November 19th, 2017 at 9:56 PM ^

which ohio hadn't scouted, and JOK was way comfortable with.  O-line learned enough to pull it off.  then JOK got comfortable and threw the ball.   defense played lights-out, as per usual.  

Goggles Paisano

November 20th, 2017 at 5:50 AM ^

I remember after we missed that 2 pt conversion, I was about as pissed off after a game as I have ever been.  I had some furniture sitting in my house that needed to be moved, but I needed another person to help me as it was a 2-man job.  I had so much anger flowing thru me that I picked all that shit up and moved it myself.  My wife was looking at me like I was nuts.  

I was pretty pissed last year too, but after the furniture moving incident, I try to reign it in as much as I can.  

tybert

November 19th, 2017 at 10:03 PM ^

Altnerated Qbs each play - O'Korn 1 play, someone else (Malzone, McDoom in WC, etc.) next play. Run weird formations, trick plays, etc.

Get 2 special teams TDs, a pick six and end game with a goal line stop.

There - easy as that!

fksljj

November 19th, 2017 at 10:10 PM ^

I made a mention of doing something similar earlier. They just need to toss their offensive playoff out the window for this game and do something outside of the box. What do we have to lose?! We're not playing for anything. Besides the game. Let's see some trickery, a fake punt attempt, something, anything creative. He better not be punting with 6 minutes left in the game if we're down and it's a close game like he did in the Wisconsin game. "Gee, we need points fast so what am I'm going to do? Give them the ball!"

SouthOfHeaven

November 20th, 2017 at 12:47 AM ^

All three QB's are healthy and are going to start, all at the same time, playing out of a new formation called the "Dragoncat". OSU will never know who will be getting the snap on any given play, and Michigan will exploit this confusion and pour on the points. Pep Hamilton will redeem himself and revolutionize the game this Saturday. 

Lakeyale13

November 19th, 2017 at 10:03 PM ^

If Michigan beats OSU with John O'Korn it will be because Tim Biakabatuka ran for for over 230 yards, Charles Woodson will have 2 pick six's, and Desmond will return a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns.

Blueblood2991

November 19th, 2017 at 10:12 PM ^

I've noticed on crossing routes, Peters does a nice job of throwing the guys open. O'korn waits til they are open and then throws it. By that point, the defense is already closing in and is ready to pop it loose. Doesn't excuse the drops by any means. It's an improvement for OKorn though because he wasn't seeing them at all earlier.

They are going to have to get creative to win. Lots of screens. I'd love to see some old Jedd Fisch wrinkles, like the double fake screen that always left a TE open in the middle. There's plenty of ways to catch the defense off guard instead of the wildcat that never works. Hopefully Drevno and Co ' know that they might be coaching for their jobs and pull off something magical

Ramblin

November 19th, 2017 at 10:28 PM ^

He has succesfully thrown the ball before.  I watched a replay of his at Houston.  It wasn't all bad.  It wasn't against big ten competition, but he seemed capable.  The guy that we recruited to Michigan has to be in there somewhere.

He needs help.  Everyone needs to step up.  No more drops.  No fear.  No turning the other cheek. 

The whole team needs to play like there is no tomorrow.  Every rip on their character from inside and oustside the program needs to be on their minds every play.  Every cheap shot.  Every bad call.  They need to believe and embrace the fact that it is up to them.  Sink or swim.  Even a lot of Michigan "fans" want them to lose from what I can tell. 

I'm hoping to see pure anger and hatred in their eyes.  A cornered animal.  A kid getting bullied that has had enough and closes his fist in rage...  



Stranger things have happened.  I wonder if Harbaugh has an "Any Given Sunday" speech ready to go.  Now would be a good time.

Go Blue.  Beat Ohio.

bronxblue

November 19th, 2017 at 10:16 PM ^

They do it because Barrett turns the ball over a bunch and Michigan is able to capitalize on short fields.  And who knows, maybe O'Korn throws a bomb or two that connects.  But these are all huge reaches, based on no evidence of past performance, and just pure homerism.  

In reality, the way Michigan wins is if Peters or, hell, Speight goes at QB, they get a career game out of Higdon, Isaac, and/or Evans, OSU busts a couple of times on defense and forgets they have running backs on offense.  Or, and this is not something I hope for, but Barrett gets hurt and OSU has to roll with a backup QB.  My guess is said player would be fine, but throw a guy into a heated game with no preparation and anything can happen.

 

trustBlue

November 19th, 2017 at 10:22 PM ^

Harbaugh & Co. unveil a suite of creative offensive plays that havent been put on tape all season, in what turns out to be a season long rope a dope leading up to Ohio St.

 

Qmatic

November 19th, 2017 at 10:42 PM ^

2013. We were fresh off the -57 yds rushing game vs State, another negative yard rushing game vs Nebraska, the Northwestern 9-9 end of regulation win with the fire drill field goal, and an egg of an offensive performance vs Iowa.

Borges said fuck it and we slung the ball around, ran a lot of read option and put up 600 yards. Unfortunately we don't have Jeremy Gallon, Devin Funchess and Devin Gardner this year.

Swayze Howell Sheen

November 19th, 2017 at 10:34 PM ^

I thought (per title) that you were going to suggest a thought experiment. But you want us to do all the work! So here we go.

Unlikely case: OSU gets lost, doesn't show for game. Forfeit win, first in history. Afterwards, Urban and team eat pizza on golf carts. UM WIN BY FORFEIT.

Also unlikely: OSU comes to Ann Arbor but forgets uniforms. They play in their coats and ties, and are surprisingly game, but the lack of pads eventually starts to hurt, and we batter the bloody life out of them. UM 49, OSU 10.

Somewhat likely: OSU comes to the game and actually remembers to bring uniforms, etc. Game plan, however, assumes that OSU just showing up is enough, and calls only for repeated QB draws. Astonishingly this works well until Don Brown "downloads" it (word of the year, no?) and Michigan pulls away late on three 50-yard field goals by rebort hero, Q. Nordin. UM 18, OSU 7.

Somewhat more likely: OSU has a fine game plan but is basically just bored; they're going to play Wiscy next anyhow, why bother with too much effort here? They only start playing for real in second half, and by then, it's too late: Michigan sneaks out a win. UM 24, OSU 21.

Even more likely: Wilton named surprise starter. Limps out to play, crowd goes crazy. Throws five touchdown passes, and runs one in to boot. Celebrating last TD, he injures his back again, but no problem: he just won the damn Game. UM 42, OSU 31.

So likely it's almost probably: Brandon Peters elects to play. Brain still a little foggy, but heck, he can tell Blue from White, and honestly, do you think concussed BP is less clear than perfectly healthy Terry Bradshaw? Pulls of Montana-like comeback, capped by 20-yard strike to DPJ to win with 30 ticks on the clock. UM 28, OSU 24.

My actual guess: Michigan plays well but then the wheels come off. UM 17, OSU 28.

Thanks for making me do that, now I'm sad.

 

 

 

titanfan11

November 19th, 2017 at 10:45 PM ^

out, some one notices Peters' laces are undone... he doesn't think much of it, and when they run out of the tunnel and touch the banner, he trips, along with Speight and JOK. But when they get up, it is just one player, wearing jersey #29, and with Denard's legs. A Bo shaped cloud then winks while looking into the stadium.

uminks

November 19th, 2017 at 10:55 PM ^

Then out of the tunnel runs Wilton.  He does a good enough job passing that our run game opens up and both of our backs run for a combined 300 yards and we win the game 27-23.

Steve-a-wolverine-o

November 20th, 2017 at 10:58 AM ^

+1 for most plausible.

Haha. Anyways, why isn't anyone here talking about Purdue O'Korn. You know he exist somewhere in there. Maybe he needs to follow his anger into a old hollow tree in a foggy swamp and discover his dad is Darth Vader. Then when he returns, he has a new swagger and throws for three touchdowns and rushes for two. Harbaugh is crying tears of joy as JOK is carried off the field, a Wolverine Hero!