Using O'Korn in Read Option Packages: Discussion Thread

Submitted by stephenrjking on

John O'Korn is reputed to be more of a running QB than Wilton Speight. Jim Harbaugh was the head coach for the 49ers masterpiece playoff win over the Packers in which the pistol read option, run by Colin Kaepernick, shredded an unprepared Packers defense, helping propel San Francisco to the Super Bowl--he knows how to coach this.

So it seems like we have a situation in which the QB as a runner could be and perhaps should be a real option. What are the challenges and advantages of such an arrangement? It should be noted that many of the blocking schemes that would be used in such a package would be the same, and of course there is already a package of plays for Jabrill Peppers in a pistol formation. 

One real advantage I can think of is that even a hint of read option would allow O'Korn to occupy an option blocker in pistol and shotgun handoff plays, plays that Michigan has already shown to some extent. A week after that famous win over the Packers, the 49ers ran all over the Falcons merely by handing off to Frank Gore, with a Falcon defender ready for a Kaepernick keep that almost never came. 

So there are options. Discuss looks, problems, challenges, etc here.

MGoBoard
Football

FauxMo

November 14th, 2016 at 2:47 PM ^

With all due respect, I am sure this possibility has gone through Harbaugh's mind, given that - as you note - he has experience doing this successfully in the past. So unless he thinks something is very, very wrong with our offense, or unless Speight is very injured, my guess is we'll get more of what we've seen thus far. 

Joined: 06/17/2010

MGoPoints: 137521

ijohnb

November 14th, 2016 at 2:54 PM ^

I really don't see this injury changing what we do on offense very much.  Watching O'Korn's film from Houston, he did some spot running but he was mostly a drop back passer.  It was when he was asked to do more running the following year that he imploded and got benched.  I think we are going to run the exact same offense with possibly a little bit more read option.

The last thing Harbaugh wants to do is start teaching and focussing on entirely different concepts with two weeks left to go in the season.  Speight had a couple of nice games, he also had a couple of really bad games.  To see him go down is a dissapointment but I don't view this is a really a season defining (making/breaking) occurence.  I think O'Korn will step in and do fine, and if we get stops we will win or have a chance in every game that we play.

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 69986

stephenrjking

November 14th, 2016 at 3:19 PM ^

Ah, and this is where this conversation is worthwhile. I agree that teaching entirely new concepts isn't a great idea.

However, installing some pistol read option is not such a stretch. For one, nobody would expect it to be the core of the offense. For two, OL blocking schemes and run concepts could be kept largely intact. For three, ZR plays are already in the playbook. And, prominently, installing new material every week has become a Harbaugh trademark at Michigan.

I believe the value in a ZR package is not primarily in revamping the offense, or in surprising a team that doesn't know how to handle it (of course the teams we expect to play know how to deal with it) but to add a look and to utilize an asset we did not previously have, a QB who can run.

I believe a couple of genuine ZR plays, perhaps 3 QB runs at most, would be sufficient to add to such a look, and, importantly, to force a hypothetical EMLOS to respect O'Korn on pistol gives. That, essentially, adds a blocker. Could make a big difference in the running game.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143524

charblue.

November 14th, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^

mindset of both Indiana and Ohio State in preparation for their matchups. And with OSU two weeks away, the scouting on Speight now goes out the window for the Buckeyes. That is the good thing. The bad thing is that O'Korn doesn't have the same game experience as Speight.

And that puts offensive efficiency and production in greater jeopardy.

Joined: 05/25/2010

MGoPoints: 11365

DrMantisToboggan

November 14th, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^

Well, Speight broke his collar bone so....

 

The parallel here is showing a stout opponent a brand new offense with a quarterback with a different skill set. Harbaugh has already had stuff that nobody was going to see before OSU, not even Iowa when we were on the ropes. Nothing has to be wrong to run something brand new against OSU.

Joined: 11/26/2014

MGoPoints: 74183

corundum

November 14th, 2016 at 2:49 PM ^

Challenge: Shane Morris is your default starter if O'Korn goes down. I know there isn't much statistical evidence that shows mobile QBs are more often injured, but I'm of the school of thought that more hits means more opportunities to have something go wrong. Hopefully they can win with a vanilla offense against IU, then unleash the QB runs against OSU when we really need it.

Joined: 05/10/2012

MGoPoints: 47323

mgowild

November 14th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^

I was going to say the same thing... Read option would be a nice surprise to bust out for OSU, but they're already down a quarterback. They probably don't want O'Korn to be taking extra hits. 

That being said, having O'Korn with Evans or Peppers (or both) in some sort of option play would be quite a threat.

Joined: 08/10/2016

MGoPoints: 1631

BlueUPer

November 14th, 2016 at 2:50 PM ^

Each of our next two opponents are Zone Read type teams.  Does that change the mentality at all of our coaches in terms of preparation? 

UM was one of the few teams that used TE's, Fullback, etc.  

Joined: 10/03/2010

MGoPoints: 6450

corundum

November 14th, 2016 at 3:03 PM ^

This is a great point. Ideally there is little drop off with O'Korn and we can just continue with the status quo. Harbaugh's biggest challenge will be to keep O'Korn from being a one read and run guy. If he can use his mobility to extend plays and keep his eyes downfield, then we should be just fine. Another obvious but important point is that he needs to limit turnovers. Our defense is great. We should be able to win every game where we score 24+ points. I know O'Korn comes from the 'deep ball is always open if you throw it hard enough' mindset, but he needs to be patient and go through his progressions just like Speight was doing before Iowa. If Darboh can continue running right past defenders, then I'm all for unleashing the bomb.

Joined: 05/10/2012

MGoPoints: 47323

DavidGoesBlue

November 14th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^

We already have run pistol sets, but it seems like it's only for option plays. I think with O'Korn we'll see more variation in our sets, utilizing more speed.

As long as De'Veon isn't our RB in those option plays we should be fine with Evans, Peppers, or Higdon (maybe Isaac).

Joined: 02/03/2016

MGoPoints: 807

markusr2007

November 14th, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^

Can't forget that while Speight won the starting job over the summer, Harbaugh said multiple times that was very pleased with both quarterback's work ethic, playbook understanding and performance in practice and preparation.

That said, O'Korn's skill set is different, which might prompt Harbaugh and Fisch to consider some nuances to the call sheet, including yes, some zone read option plays, QB draws, etc. to keep defenses more honest than they were with Speight.

But O'Korn is surrounded by a cast of very high talented players at RB, WR and TE who will be playing on Sundays.

More important than reading defensive ends and jooking them out of their jocks for a 5 or 11 yard gain on the ground will be O'Korn improving the timing and delivery on passes with Butt, Darboh, Chesson and the backs.

I'm pretty sure that timing is already there and won't need much in-game testing.  O'Korn will just run the plays.

I think it will surprise people the confidence Harbaugh bestows upon O'Korn and lets that kid gunsling it downfield as if nothing changed.

 

 

 

Joined: 10/21/2008

MGoPoints: 19372

doggdetroit

November 14th, 2016 at 3:30 PM ^

It will only be a positive if Michigan wins the NY6 bowl to finish 11-2. Otherwise they would finish with the same record as last year and they would be facing a rebuilding year in 2017 when virtually the entire two deep runs out of eligibility/moves on to the NFL early.

And while I would be pleased with a 10-2 regular season (I predicted an 11-1 record) it does beg the following question: if Michigan, which returned almost their entire two deep this year, can't beat OSU when OSU returned something like 6 total starters (the fewest in the country), when will they? 

Joined: 09/05/2015

MGoPoints: 2337

UofMCraZ

November 14th, 2016 at 3:56 PM ^

just happens to be one of the best QBs in the Big Ten (maybe even the nation).  A very good QB can make up for alot of holes.  Not to mention a Junior WRRB named Samuel as his safety valve. 

In my opinion, next year will be the year OSU takes a full step backward...JT, Samuel, and Pat Efflein will go pro on offense...Worley, McMillan, and Conley will go pro on defense... Now 2017 becomes a really young team with no upperclassman leadership 

Go Blue!!!

Joined: 10/14/2015

MGoPoints: 3160

shswhit51

November 14th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^

I'm worried about our blocking schemes being effective with such a drastic change. There hasn't been one instance of pepcat formation being blocked effectively or even correctly which makes me worried to see how quickly our O line can adapt to this new scheme



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 11/18/2011

MGoPoints: 1437

uofmchris

November 14th, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^

This wont be an ''unprepared'' Urban led team. You can bet you azz that he'll be ready for anything that his thrown his way. Hell, his staff has 2 weeks to scheme up a defense around O'Korn / Peppers. With that said:

Looks: We'll more than likely see some new formations that have been saved for 'the game'. Downside is that these new looks will not come off as a surprise to anyone on Ohio's team.

Problems: O'Korn gets laid out on a keeper and Sugar Shane is now your #1.... YIKES.

Bottom line: O'Korn or Peppers are gonna have to have the game of their life if we are going to go into Columbus and win. You can bet that Ohio is going to bring maximum heat on the QB which means our OL will also have to have their best outing yet.... 

I'm not counting us out, but this shit sucks.

Joined: 01/13/2013

MGoPoints: 2058

wahooverine

November 14th, 2016 at 3:29 PM ^

All of a sudden OKorn is Colin Kaernick?  Let's get real.

Okorn being a better runner than Wilton Speight (a slow lumbering runner) does not make him a read option qb. His running stats from his freshmen of the year campaign in Houston: 174 yds at 1.4 per carry and 1 TD. He's a passing qb who has above average athleticism and running ability. He's not even a better runner than Shane Morris. To suggest there will be a overhaul of the offense or a massive expansion of read option plays is just baseless and dumb. Just because he ran a lot during the spring game doesn't make him a running qb.  He has a good arm and he will need to hit passes to Darboh, chesson and Butt to keep this offense clicking.  His better running will yes allow for the occasion zone read but mostly I think it opens up more roll out and waggle plays.  Speight was effective in his ability to process coverage and progress through reads and rarely make bad throws. I trust Harbaugh can adjust the offense around him enough to beat Indiana and go for broke against OSU.

 

Joined: 11/14/2011

MGoPoints: 6799

Jim Harbaugh's…

November 14th, 2016 at 3:40 PM ^

Wonder if they'll take it easy with the running given the remaining QB depth...if he takes a bad hit I don't want to have to see Morris out there agaist OSU. Don't see a huge benefit to putting him in the line of fire and blowing up an offense that's been clicking so far.

Joined: 02/06/2015

MGoPoints: 16

skegemogpoint

November 14th, 2016 at 3:31 PM ^

I predict we see JO'K handle 60% of snaps, Shane 30% and Jabrill 10%.  I also think we see JO'K and Shane on field at same time.  Don't forget that we saw Shane line up at WR in Spring game. 

Joined: 07/08/2008

MGoPoints: 503

stephenrjking

November 14th, 2016 at 3:51 PM ^

Well, it might be. Throws a bad pick, can't move the offense on third down, etc. But not because he is as helpless as Bellomy. With 2 weeks as the starter in practice, he will be fresh and will be familiar with the playbook and the timing. You are right about your reaction, though. Splitting snaps with Shane Morris would be a panic situation, one that won't occur until the game is already out of hand. 

 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143524

Heywood_Jablome

November 14th, 2016 at 3:49 PM ^

Read option is not something you can just start doing.  It takes a ton of reps to get the QB/RB comfortable with exchanges.  Otherwise, it's going to be a fumble fest.

What we have is what we have. Harbaugh will throw in some new wrinkles, but 90% of the offense is going to be what we ran with Speight.  It's too late in the season to change now.

 

Joined: 10/24/2015

MGoPoints: 1123