How clear do you think the decision is at QB?

Submitted by Eye of the Tiger on

*If* there is a decision to be made. We don't know how serious Speight's injury is, but we have a bye, so it's conceivable he is healthy by MSU. If that were to be the case, do you think O'Korn is clearly the guy? Or do you think it's still an open question? 

I feel like it's got to be O'Korn--he was more accurate, he's mobile and his skills seem to offset the issues we have in pass pro and with WRs/TEs not running routes perfectly. But I'm also wary of making too much of what was basically one very good half of football--even if it was the *only* good half of football our offense has had this year. And the staff is clearly seeing stuff in practice that we don't.  

What do you guys think?

Hail Harbo

September 24th, 2017 at 10:06 PM ^

All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty back together again.  Similiarly, I don't think there is any putting Speight back together again.  There is a stark contrast from pre-Iowa Speight and post-Iowa Speight and the trend line is consistently moving to the negative.

taut

September 24th, 2017 at 10:07 PM ^

I'm leaning O'Korn, but I'm curious about one thing. Did O'Korn have any long pass attempts on Saturday? I don't remember any but I could have missed a few plays.

Not saying he can't make that throw, maybe the coaches wanted the ball out quickly, or maybe there just wasn't the right scenario to go long. I've just been thinking that I didn't see that aspect of his game, so that is a "?" for me right now.

SWFLWolverine

September 25th, 2017 at 10:47 AM ^

and receivers need to leave some room between themselves and the sideline to adjust to the pass. When they arr running vertical pass routes so close to the sideline, the throw has to be perfect. Run it 1/3 of the way from numbers to the sideline and give the QB room for error to the outside. When you are tight to the sideline, the QB cannot miss inside and so is more apt to error to the outside. 

ChuckieWoodson

September 25th, 2017 at 9:17 AM ^

This site prides itself on objectivity. And I think in most cases, the collective does a good job of this.  However, Harbaugh still has the savior effect here and I think it does impact the ability to critique and be totally objective.  One game doth not a QB make, but my god if Speight comes out for that first series against MSU, there will be some boos like you've never heard in the big house, at least IMO.  JOK won the job until he loses it.  It was a completely different team with him under center.

huntmich

September 26th, 2017 at 2:46 AM ^

Sorry, it's not 4-0.  It's 24-6. 

 

Michigan is a vastly improved product that seems to continue to improve as the recruiting maintains the kind of quality that can win national championships. Until I have a reason to question Harbaugh's leadership I'm going to trust that he knows what he is doing.

 

You're pointing at an offense loaded with talented underclassmen and telling me that they aren't good enough to win a national championship yet. I'm pointing at that same team and telling you that they might be good enough to guide this elite defense, that Harbaugh brought on with the help of DB, through the B1G this year.

 

O'Korn finally looked servicable, after looking not servicable every other time we saw him. I'm still going to trust Harbaugh to make the right decision on who to put out there.

huntmich

September 26th, 2017 at 2:44 AM ^

You're pointing at an offense loaded with talented underclassmen and telling me that they aren't good enough to win a national championship yet. I'm pointing at that same team and telling you that they might be good enough to guide this elite defense, that Harbaugh brought on with the help of DB, through the B1G this year.

 

O'Korn finally looked servicable, after looking not servicable every other time we saw him. I'm still going to trust Harbaugh to make the right decision on who to put out there.

jabberwock

September 24th, 2017 at 10:17 PM ^

but I'm far more impressed with his quick release.

Those quick outs to the WRs were actually quick for the first time this season, Speight looks like he throws in slow motion in comparison.
I also like OKorns wheels and moving the pocket.

I do think Speight generally makes better decisions, and gets sacked less; so I won't necessarily be disappointed to see him play vs MSU.
But if he can't move the O down the field than run with JOK.

Real and Spectacular

September 24th, 2017 at 10:08 PM ^

O'Korn looked great but he still scares me. Can't forget about his Indiana start last year, and although he is more mobile, pocket awareness always seems to be an issue. Even his series against Florida he was taking sacks and getting rattled in the pocket. I'd like Speight to be declared healthy so that way we have options and MSU has to prepare for both.

Toby Flenderson

September 24th, 2017 at 10:11 PM ^

I think it is somewhat fair to give JOK the benefit of the doubt against Indiana. He was forced into his first start in an awful weather condition as someone who has never played in snow before. I am not saying he is perfect, but his ability to move out the pocket is a huge strength with our O-Line struggling. I agree that I would like Speight to be ready to go if JOK comes out and is a disaster. 

pescadero

September 25th, 2017 at 9:37 AM ^

It was his first start at Michigan, after ten weeks of getting backup reps, and it was VERY windy - then started snowing.

 

He didn't play great - but they were only throwing the ball in obvious passng situations (whether due to weather or O'Korn)... and that always makes a QB look worse.