2018 Starting QB, who you got?

Submitted by Prince_of_Nachos on

Curious what the board thinks.

Who's taking the first snap at Notre Dame next September 2018?

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[EDIT: With ~800 replies, the results seem statistically significant; see pie chart]

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taistreetsmyhero

December 11th, 2017 at 3:06 PM ^

sure as hell took a huge bet on himself. Left a starting job with a clear path to the NFL to come to a team with a totally different offense and a QB battle against 2 young, highly talented QBs.

I have to believe Harbaugh told Patterson (and his reportedly very involved Dad) something to give him some external confidence in his likelihood to be starter.

Joined: 08/08/2012

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Perkis-Size Me

December 11th, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^

Any guess before the Spring Game is throwing darts at a dartboard blindfolded in a pitch black room. 

Patterson has more upside, but he's the gunslinger who's likely going to be the high-risk high-reward guy who will be the sole reason you either win or lose a game. Peters knows the system and has actually played in it. He'll have almost five games of starting experience going into the offseason, including the bowl game, and by all accounts thus far, he's made smart decisions with the ball. No turnovers. Patterson can't say the same. 

Maybe all Patterson needs is a change of scenery, and there's no denying his talent. If he can avoid turnovers he's probably the guy. But gut feel right now is Peters. Since I haven't seen what Patterson can do in this offense, all I can base anything on is what he's done previously. And I saw a guy who threw eight picks in five games, after you take away Ole Miss' two bodybag games to start the season. Now how many of those were his fault, I don't know. But turnovers are turnovers. Peters has taken great care of the football in the gametime he's been given. 

At the end of the day, I'm going with the guy who I can trust more to not turn the ball over. How many big games has this team lost over the last few years over costly turnovers? 2013 OSU, 2016 OSU, 2017 MSU, 2017 OSU immediately come to mind. 2009 OSU where Forcier threw five picks in an extremely winnable OSU game. 

Joined: 11/30/2011

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MacMarauder

December 11th, 2017 at 3:44 PM ^

To me there is enough evidence to support the idea that Harbaugh is not totally sold on Peters.  Starting JOK over him, running a limited version of the system, etc.  Add in the rumors about Peters being behind McCaffrey, and the fact that Harbaugh worked so quickly to pick up Patterson.  I just don't think Harbaugh thinks Peters is the guy to lead the team.

I'm not trying to write Peters off, I'm sure he will have plenty of opportunity - but my money is on Patterson being the starter in 2018 (assuming he is eligible of course).

Joined: 01/22/2016

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lhglrkwg

December 11th, 2017 at 3:48 PM ^

I also think it’s about having MULTIPLE guys on the roster who are capable. We saw how quickly a QB going down can rock a whole season. I think they were rightfully leery of having an unproven Peters backed up by a bunch of guys who have never played a college game. That is dangerously thin. I wouldnt take the as a public rebuke to Peters...necessarily.

Joined: 07/03/2008

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Year of Revenge II

December 12th, 2017 at 7:04 AM ^

It made sense at that point, but that does not mean that Peters did not know the playbook, or that Harbaugh did not trust him to run it.  

It meant that Harbaugh felt the most important aspect to playcalling at that point was to limit mistakes, and Peters delivered for him.  We had a great chance to pull out that game in WI had Peters not gotten hurt.

Joined: 11/12/2013

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Year of Revenge II

December 12th, 2017 at 2:00 PM ^

Nobody gets "the reins" but the coaches. 

Peters had no experience to speak of when he went in.  JH was trying to get him ready for @WI and OSU.  

In a sense, what you are saying is true, but it also means that JH felt no mistakes was the path to victory in those two games.  We were going to win the other one no matter hown conservative or aggressive the offense was.

Joined: 11/12/2013

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Winchester Wolverine

December 11th, 2017 at 4:03 PM ^

Agreed. Patterson's skill set and playmaking ability should be enough to revolve the offensive strategy around him, in contrast to sending out a guy to simply manage the offense and make a few throws. I'm not saying Peters doesent have the potential to be a playmaker, he certainly does, he's just not there yet. Patterson is, according to film.

Joined: 01/07/2015

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SalvatoreQuattro

December 11th, 2017 at 3:32 PM ^

He offers a dynamic element that Peters does not. He also has more experience in running an offense. More importantly I think he is a take charge type of guy that Harbaugh wants. You don’t fly down to a school to pursue a guy if you don’t believe in the guy’s skills. The job is Oattwrson’s to lose.

Joined: 11/30/2010

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LSAClassOf2000

December 11th, 2017 at 3:50 PM ^

Followup question - what if you only need 80% of the playbook? Most teams probably don't even use that much of it, I would think. 

I guess we need other criteria here in order to speculate meaningfully, if that's even possible before the spring game, which it likely isn't. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

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Sllepy81

December 11th, 2017 at 5:06 PM ^

in his first appearance vs Minnesota and his first few starts vs Peters this year. Peters should've had enough reps and time by now to show better. The bowl game will tell me how good he is. he has time to focus on 1 team. He looks less comfortable than Speight does, Speight at least moves in the pocket. Peters has Navarre feet so far, he doesn't have Navarres oline.

Joined: 01/02/2013

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Stringer Bell

December 11th, 2017 at 5:24 PM ^

Outside of one drive against Minnesota, Speight looked pretty terrible as Rudock's backup.  And sure he looked pretty good early on in 2016 against mostly cupcakes, but you're talking about a RS sophomore with an experienced group around him vs a RS freshman with a very young group around him.  Comfort in the pocket isn't everything (though I'm not sure why you think Peters looks uncomfortable in the pocket, I certainly didn't get that) and the difference in arm talent isn't even close.  Peters will be a very good QB, Patterson is a very good QB.  Whoever wins the job should be good enough to lead us to the playoff.

Joined: 11/06/2014

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yzerman19

December 11th, 2017 at 3:38 PM ^

Peters all day.  And he will be Speight - like in his ability to get us in the right play and formation.  And un-Speight like in his accuracy.  He will lead us to a 2-1 record in the big three games and the B1G title game.  I have foreseen it.

Joined: 02/03/2012

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Wolverine9773

December 11th, 2017 at 3:39 PM ^

I seriously doubt Patterson comes to Michigan without some kind of arrangement in place to start. I don’t think he leaves Ole Miss to sit on the bench. My money is on Patterson.

Joined: 11/25/2012

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lhglrkwg

December 11th, 2017 at 3:51 PM ^

The dude he lives and breathes competition. The guy who had to calm down in the basketball game with his family. I just can’t picture him guaranteeing anythig. I could picture him pointing out the current state of the depth chart and that he has a great chance to start, but it seems extremely un-Harbaugh to guarantee a spot.

Joined: 07/03/2008

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Perkis-Size Me

December 11th, 2017 at 4:39 PM ^

I seriously doubt Harbaugh would make that kind of arrangement. If he promised Patterson a starting job, that completely negates anything Harbaugh has ever said about competition, and is a huge recruiting detriment. And if I was a future QB recruit, I wouldn't want to play for a coach if I knew that at any time, he could bring in a transfer and promise him that he'd get the job. 

I think all Harbaugh promised Patterson was a chance to compete for the starting job. I think Patterson took a big gamble on himself by coming here. Not to say that it was foolish, but it's definitely a gamble. Leaving a program where you are the undisputed starter and coming somewhere that already has a guy ahead of you who's played very well in his limited snaps. There's no guarantee Patterson starts here next year. Or ever. I'm sure he had the chance to go to a program where he had a clear path to the field and he would be the de facto starter from Day 1. That's not the case here. But he knew he'd be learning from one of the best. 

May the best man win. 

Joined: 11/30/2011

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WorldwideTJRob

December 11th, 2017 at 8:44 PM ^

Any coach in the country can promise “a chance to compete for a starting job”, but your actions speak louder than words. Peters was clearly the best QB on the roster this season, he displayed as much during the Spring Game and when he got his shot to play. Yet he didn’t see extended playing time until late October. Another example...Evans had it going in the bowl game last season, yet Jim kept giving it to Deveon trying to showcase him to NFL scouts. The “meritocracy” line sounds good but he has favorites and biases just like any other human being. Doesn’t make him a bad guy or a bad coach, just that he uses “coachspeak” like the rest of the guys when talking to the media.

Joined: 07/05/2010

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1WhoStayed

December 11th, 2017 at 9:15 PM ^

Have a look at Ole Miss QB play and you’ll see the Throwin’ Somoan (his choice of nickname) had better numbers. There is no guarantee Patterson would start coming off an injury. I’m happy for another QB option, but lots of people are favoring Patterson more for his HS ranking than his actual play at Ole Miss.

Joined: 09/07/2015

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DaveHuck

December 11th, 2017 at 3:45 PM ^

Joe Milton. Harbaugh declares the QB spot a meritocracy and everyone gets pissed off, decommits on the same day and leaves us with Joe Milton scratching his head and wondering, “What the f#@& just happened?” Milton then goes on and wins the Heisman and the national championship over Ohio State 66-0, after completing only 3.6% of his passes. He immediately declares for the NFL draft, signs an agent and becomes ineligible, saying “What the f$#@ just happened?” and leaves us searching for Rudock 2.0.

Joined: 10/04/2015

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Lawyer12

December 11th, 2017 at 3:46 PM ^

I honestly can’t believe that anyone thinks this is a close call. Patterson is the starter so long as he is healthy and cleared to play. He is a legit Heisman level talent. Remember this kid has only started a few more games than Peters. He too will improve greatly this coming year. He will be very, very good under Harbaugh.

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