The Korn Has Landed! QB Transfer John O'Korn is now in town

Submitted by EastCoast Esq. on

Try not to make too many Korn-y jokes.

 

Just touched down in Detroit. First time seeing snow in 4 years. Gonna be a great weekend! #GoBlue

— John O'Korn (@JohnOKorn) February 20, 2015

Seriously, though. I'm excited to see what this kid can do once he's eligible.

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CoachBP6

February 20th, 2015 at 5:16 PM ^

I like your enthusiasm but I just don't see it. I realize there are many unknowns at QB, but after watching his highlight film and several full games I'm not sold on him being able to start at Michigan. Harbaugh will coach him up, so we'll see.

Joined: 12/18/2013

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maize-blue

February 20th, 2015 at 5:25 PM ^

It's weird how people have completely written off Morris. Speight is often never mentioned. I'm confident that with a group consisting of Morris, Speight, Malzone, Gentry, and O'Korn that there is a guy that can lead this team and well. But I think Morris and Speight will show more than people think and will make it tough for the others to overtake them.

Joined: 01/10/2013

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klctlc

February 20th, 2015 at 6:19 PM ^

He has played a little and it has not been positive.  We all know Harbaugh will help him improve, but he has a long way to go.

Competition is good, depth is good and options are good.

I truly hope you are right on both counts.  Speight is a true unknown.

Joined: 09/02/2009

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champswest

February 20th, 2015 at 8:56 PM ^

2 games. One was a bowl game as a freshman and one game as a sophomore. That is a pretty small sample size. He wasn't outstanding, but he was okay under the circumstances. Factor in that none of the quarterbacks have been getting much coaching and have had a different OC each year, how could we expect any better results? I don't know if Shane will be up to the task, but let's not write him off just yet. There will be lots of competition and someone will emerge.

Joined: 10/04/2009

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CoachBP6

February 20th, 2015 at 7:08 PM ^

I have been saying Speight would be the starter from opening day 2015 through the end of his career for over a year now. I fully expect Harbaugh to mold 1-2 of these guys into valuable QB's in the offense, allowing our wolverines a shot at 9-10 wins next year.

Joined: 12/18/2013

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alum96

February 20th, 2015 at 5:05 PM ^

Not true at all.  You could have a game manager in 2015 whose main job is a lot like Connor Cook in 2013 - just manage the game, dont make huge errors, work at making our run based offense have some threat of pass game, dont lose field position on every exchange between offense and defense, let defense win most games, be conservative.  IF Jim doesnt find what he likes in our 2 older QBs and is not ready to have a true freshman take the reigns. 

And if Malzone wins the job he is going to be even more conservative with a true freshman - and it would IMO be a death knell for Speight and Morris futures if Malzone wins the job.  So you'd enter 2016 IMO with Malzone, Korn, (both with 1 year starting full time), Gentry and KJ Costello or like 2016 recruit.  Korn has a great chance to win that as a JR.

Korn's freshman year is what we'd expect around here from a JR.  It was a lot like Henne's first year.  Without Braylon and Hart.  You could argue it was in a more QB friendly system than Henne I suppose.  But he showed the goods.  Whatever demons he had in 2014 he needs to get fixed.  But dude flashed a lot of talent and has that mobility you'd see in a Luck type (not saying he is Luck at all - just saying the game is similar in style based on stats).

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Lanknows

February 20th, 2015 at 5:14 PM ^

Make me sleep better at night.  Defense, running game, Harbaugh!

Offense - Drevno and an experienced OL plus a stable of talented backs make me optimistic.  If you're not throwing a lot, the lack of impact playmakers at WR is mitigated.

Defense - More questions, especially irt finding edge rushers, but DT, ILB, and DBs seem well-stocked and poised for success under Mattison/Durkin.

Let's put it this way -- I'm more optimistic than I was headed into 2013 or 2014.

The QB situation warrants another discussion altogether.  I think Morris' ability to run could be a significant asset.  I'm also higher on Speights than many others, especially relative to Malzone.

Joined: 03/23/2012

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lawlright

February 20th, 2015 at 6:02 PM ^

The thing is too for Morris has anyone said how he's recovered from his concussion? I like to think that it's just one concussion and he's fine. But that's slightly old school thinking. We won't know how he's recovered until spring ball.

Joined: 11/08/2013

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chadman127

February 20th, 2015 at 6:46 PM ^

Not to be a dick, but isn't your line of thinking going a LITTLE too far?  I wasn't aware it took someone an entire off season to recover from a concussion.  I could be wrong, I'm not a doctor.  This is a legitimate question.

How long before concussions in football make it to the political agenda to be discussed in Presidential debates as a social issue?

I mean, I get it, let's make things safe, but come on.

Joined: 10/07/2010

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not TOM BRADY

February 20th, 2015 at 8:49 PM ^

Concussions are serious. That's why people have started calling them brain injuries. They are. Once you have one you are more likely to get another and so on. I don't think the concussion will be Shane's issue. I think it will be his ability to complete a pass. All I've seen from him is his arm. Has shown nothing else to show he can be a successful QB.

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Muttley

February 20th, 2015 at 10:48 PM ^

when throwing into traffic.

But I wouldn't rule out a Harbaugh offense with receivers getting open more frequently and a game-manager Morris QB that can let it go when it's there.

Harbaugh has to improve and simplify Morris's options.  I'd give Morris a good a shot as any at winning the job.

Joined: 07/07/2009

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JonnyHintz

February 20th, 2015 at 5:17 PM ^

I'm not very high on O'Korn. I mean he put up some very good stats as a freshman, but then again, what QB doesn't put up good stats in those offenses? I mean 3,000 passing yards is great and everything, but he did it in an offense that passes ~ 60% of the time, whereas Harbaugh's college offenses typically RUN it 55%-60% of the time. Then go back to last year and he struggles, eventually losing his job to a WR. Sophomore slump? Maybe. Result of a new OC? Possibly. But it isn't something that says "future starter at Michigan." If he is what Harbuagh's looking for, then by all means, coach him up good. But from what I have seen of the kid so far, I'm not very high on him.

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JonnyHintz

February 20th, 2015 at 6:57 PM ^

I completely agree. But that is what I'm saying. He doesn't impress me much. His experience is good and all, but he isn't much more than Russell Bellomy to me. I mean it would be great if he comes in and wows everyone. But like you said, he's a placeholder in the class after Morris to me.

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JonnyHintz

February 21st, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^

I'm aware. I know his offer list as well. His top offer was for Wisconsin, which isn't exactly a hot spot for QBs. My opinion of him isn't based on who went after him. It's based on watching him play. He just isn't impressive to me at all.

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Ike613

February 20th, 2015 at 10:04 PM ^

.. a world in which Bellamy puts up 3,000 yards at any program at any level?  I'm not seeing it... that alone puts O'Korn at a level above Bellamy in my book.  He actually did it in college, I don't care where, something I can't imagine Bellamy ever doing.

Another way to look at it... had Bellamy stuck with his Purdue commit.. do you think at any point he'd have seen much PT there?  I don't.  I think a guy like O'Korn would have at a minimum challenged for the starting spot at a place like Purdue, or been the starter.  Does that mean he'll be a starter at UM, maybe not, but I think to compare his talent level to bellamy is ridiculous based on what O'Korn has already accomplished.

Joined: 02/19/2009

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JonnyHintz

February 21st, 2015 at 1:13 PM ^

First, I'm not comparing them talent wise. But to me, they are playing the same role. Bellomy was taken are in the cycle right after Hoke was hired. He was a place-holder in that class just to have a QB in the cycle. That's what O'Korn is to me. Not that O'Korn is comparable talent-wise, but I see a comparable role on this team. Now, your only real view of Bellomy was his game against Nebraska. That's not much to base him on. But look at the season in which O'Korn passed for 3,000 yards. He has just two games all season in which he attempted less than 30 passes. He also had 4 games in which he attempted 40 or more passes. This, against the likes of Temple, Rice, Memphis, UTSA, or SMU. I mean his toughest opponent was probably Vanderbilt. You give any QB 35-40 passes a game against that level of competition, he is probably going to go for 3,000+. And yes, that includes Bellomy. O'Korn was a product of that offense. Not that he isn't good or anything, but he isn't a 3,000 yard passer in a Michigan offense that will see maybe 20-25 passes a game. So take those stats with a grain of salt. Again, I'm not comparing his talent to Bellomy. But his "accomplishments" are more about the system he was in than his talent.

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JonnyHintz

February 21st, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^

Again. It's the system. O'Korn was in an offense that threw the ball a ton. Twice in his 3,000 yard season he attempted fewer than 30 passes. 4 games he attempted more than 40. Not to say he isn't a talented kid, but you can't look at his 3,000 yards as 3,000 yards when he would be attempting 10-15 fewer passes PER GAME in a Michigan offense. But you're comparing an entire season with O'Korn at Houston against the likes of Temple, Memphis, SMU, etc., to Morris starting against Kansas State and Minnesota? Is that really what you're trying to do here? Don't misinterpret what I'm saying. I'm not saying the kid is a scrub and can't ever play. He very well may turn into our starter. But in watching him play, he doesnt impress me. His stats, due to the offense he was in, do not impress me. Harbaugh could very well coach him up and he could be a serviceable starter. But at this point, right now, to me he is the least impressive scholarship QB on the roster.

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