Michigan vs. Purdue Awards

Michigan vs. Purdue Awards


September 25, 2017

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Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . John O’Korn. You don’t want to see anyone get injured, but O’Korn did a pretty good job in place of the banged up Wilton Speight. O’Korn was 18/26 for 270 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception, and he put up the best quarterback performance of the season. He also led Michigan on its two longest drives of the season (84 and 86 yards), including going 3-for-3 in the red zone. O’Korn also passed the eye test with some very good throws, quick decisions, and scrambling ability. O’Korn should be the starter moving forward.

Hit the jump for the rest of the awards.

Let’s see less of this guy on offense . . . Speight, naturally. Maybe the injury will keep him out, anyway, but after completing just 54.5% of his passes during the first three games, he was 2/4 and took 2 sacks before he was knocked out of this one. Michigan was sacked a total of 4 times by a Purdue team that had just 1 coming into the game, but Speight took sacks on 33% of his dropbacks before getting injured. The guy just isn’t getting the job done.

Let’s see more of this guy on defense . . . Rashan Gary. He had 1 assisted tackle in this game. So far this season, he has 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. For a guy who some were projecting as an All-American, that’s not great production, and the easy part of the schedule is over for the most part. He doesn’t need to play more, but I would like to see him flash more.

Let’s see less of this guy on defense . . . nobody. I think the right guys are on the field.

Let’s see more of this guy on special teams . . . Brad Robbins. Robbins had been M.I.A. in the first three games, but the coaching staff must have grown tired of Will Hart’s inconsistency, so they burned Robbins’s redshirt. He responded with a 40.57 yard average on 7 punts. That’s not a great average, but he didn’t have any shanks like Hart, who is averaging 37.92 per punt.

Let’s see less of this guy on special teams . . . Kekoa Crawford. He had 1 kickoff return for 15 yards and is now averaging 17.86 yards/return. Michigan is #107 in kickoff return average nationally, and Crawford has all but one of Michigan’s returns. It’s time to give someone else a shot.

Play of the game . . . John O’Korn’s scramble and throw. On 3rd-and-6 from his own 18-yard line in the third quarter, O’Korn was dead to rights in the pocket . . . except he wasn’t. Shrugging off a tackler and putting his hand down to catch himself, he rolled out, kept his eyes downfield, and found Grant Perry for 12 yards to keep the drive alive. Chase Winovich, David Long, Zach Gentry, and others also made some great plays, but that O’Korn scramble kept Michigan out of trouble when it was 10-7 for Purdue and the Wolverines were deep in their own territory.

MVP of the game . . . John O’Korn. The offense was sputtering before he entered, and while it still sputtered for a bit once he got in the game, he eventually got things rolling. The thing I think might be overlooked is that Michigan had its best passing game of the season in the first game where they were missing #1 wide receiver Tarik Black, who is out for a while with a broken foot. Ty Isaac also did not appear to be 100% after being the best runner on the team for the first three weeks. Wilton Speight wasn’t being productive even with Black available and Isaac at 100%, but the backup came in and got things rolling with limited personnel. Quite honestly, I think this is a much closer game or perhaps a loss if Speight hadn’t been hurt.

114 comments

  1. Comments: 1356
    Joined: 8/13/2015
    Roanman
    Sep 25, 2017 at 7:33 AM

    Speaking of gorgeous plays, involving a tight end, I’m giving “Play of the Game” to Evan’s first touchdown. Sean McKeon takes three, count em, THREE linebackers right out of the play. Two follow him away from the play as he motions, then he takes on the third nose to nose on the backside. Runyon and Ulizio drive their guys straight out of the play. Gentry, who I believe can no longer be categorized as a terrible blocker and if he keeps it up not even a mediocre blocker, ties his guy up but good. Evans will still score through that hole when he is fat and slow. Just a great design, executed to perfection … in the red zone no less. Gorgeous.

    Got me a little bit excited.

  2. Comments: 14
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Umichjenks
    Sep 25, 2017 at 7:37 AM

    Lan I like your posts but earlier when we barely beat Air Force you said we should not criticize Speight for being terrible. I think you are probably rethinking that thought. He’s been terrible all year…

    Speight is only 12-3 as a starter bc our defense and senior laden team last year carried his limp arm to victories.

    Name one big game he went out and won us the game? Please go look at his stats vs Iowa, MSU (no tds), Wisconsin, PSU, OSU, FSU. Save me injury bs either. He missed at least 3 wide open tds vs Iowa before the injury.

    In his last 6 games he has 9 turnovers, 3 pick sixes, 2 lost fumbles, 6 fumbles in total, ~54% passing, about 170 yds passing/game. Not to mention the countless sacks he’s allowed by holding onto the ball and being hesitant. Not all the sacks are on him, but as a 2nd year starter and a new O line, that clock in your head needs to tick a little faster.

    Not all the offensive miscues are on him. Our OL sucks and our receivers haven’t gotten open or caught it when they are open.

    But here you are like JH himself making excuses for a 2nd yr starter who had been on campus for 3 yrs. This guy can’t even blow out Cincy and AF to get out back ups some PT.

    He never throws a receiver open, he throws late, he overthrows them in end zone by 6 feet, throws passes outside the hashes out of bounds.

    He’s the main reason we lost to Iowa, and OSU and FSU.

    I’m not saying O’Korn will lead us to the playoffs, but it was nice to see a QB throw receivers open or hit them in stride instead of throwing the ball to the other team or out of bounds.

    Once again Harbaugh doesn’t make a change unless his hand is forced by injury, ala Kaepernick over Smith when Smith had a concussion. He preaches meritocracy, except at the QB position.

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Sep 25, 2017 at 8:19 AM

      Speight has been bad for almost a year. Iowa, Ohio State, Florida State, the spring game, Florida, Cincinnati, Air Force… That’s six games and a spring game where he has not done well. At some point, reality should probably settle in.

      • Comments: 14
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Umichjenks
        Sep 25, 2017 at 9:58 AM

        I agree. The stats I posted speak for themselves. My issue is if Urban or Saban had a qb with those stats for even 3 games I think they would change QBs. Harbaugh has never changed QBs without an injury forcing his hand.

      • Comments: 1364
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        WindyCityBlue
        Sep 25, 2017 at 10:47 AM

        And we’ll never know for sure now, but I find myself wondering, if Speight hadn’t gotten hurt, but kept playing the way he started, would Harbaugh have benched him by the second half anyway?

        • Comments: 1863
          Joined: 1/19/2016
          je93
          Sep 25, 2017 at 11:50 AM

          I think it’s safe to assume Harbaugh was going to ride speight until he lost a game

          • Comments: 1364
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            WindyCityBlue
            Sep 25, 2017 at 12:28 PM

            I don’t think it’s safe to assume that at all. If we were deep in the third quarter, still behind and still with Speight playing the way he started, it would have been stupidly pigheaded to stick with him, win or lose. A loss to Purdue would have pretty much have ended any division title hopes we had in game 1.

            • Comments: 1863
              Joined: 1/19/2016
              je93
              Sep 25, 2017 at 1:28 PM

              Agree WCB. It would have been stupid & pigheaded
              But against Florida, we were told getting JOK in was “part of the plan”
              Not getting him in against Cincinnati–or even AF–signals to me that JH was content with the W, and hopeful (like Lank) that speight would play through it

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Sep 25, 2017 at 1:01 PM

            Harbaugh pulled Speight in G1 and said he would play O’Korn again.

      • Comments: 528
        Joined: 9/13/2015
        michymich
        Sep 25, 2017 at 7:53 PM

        I read a post by LK below and it seems to look at the 4-0 record and overall record. There is logic behind that thought process although as I have mentioned before it may be time to look at the record against quality opponents and not teams UM is significantly more talented than and can be overwhelmed. If we don’t go that route then we are left to look at the 2-0 record of JOK which also doesn’t tell the whole story.

        I’ll leave it to Harbaugh but I would advise him to go with JOK at least in the 1st half and go from there. I think it benefits everyone involved. I would practice against the double A gap blitz to get him ready. Team needs to see if a better option exists because as it stands without JOK, this is more than likely a 2-3 loss team. JOK is a +1 or -1 risk. Seems reasonable.

    • Comments: 21
      Joined: 8/13/2015
      steweiler
      Sep 25, 2017 at 8:31 AM

      Glad someone said it, and backed it up with the stats/facts. Well done.

    • Comments: 522
      Joined: 8/12/2015
      DonAZ
      Sep 25, 2017 at 8:43 AM

      >> “He preaches meritocracy, except at the QB position.”

      There’s something to this, I think. I mentioned in a different post that I suspect Harbaugh has a stubborn streak. I think it shows most clearly in the QB position. We’ll never know for certain because he’ll never admit it, and if asked he’ll deny it. But I think it’s there.

      I have a theory — I could be wrong — that coaches try to re-create some element of former success. For Rodriguez it was the Pat White / Steve Slaton combination. For Harbaugh I wonder if he views all QBs through the Andrew Luck lens. O’Korn doesn’t fit that model, but Speight — on paper — did. Hence it was Speight … damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.

      Had Speight (a) not been injured last year, and (b) progressed this year over last, then he may have become a fractional Andrew Luck. But something is up with the young man … starting the season he was either still hurting from his injury last year, or he had demons in his head that he couldn’t shake.

      There’s a fair chance O’Korn is going to break our hearts by doing sub-optimal things.

      The shame of it — if you can call it that — is I doubt Speight will do much this year, which means 2018 he won’t be the starter. O’Korn is gone after this year, so that makes him a stop-gap; he’s Ruddock 2.0. That means three games this year were “wasted” on a QB that is not the future.

      • Comments: 528
        Joined: 9/13/2015
        michymich
        Sep 25, 2017 at 1:34 PM

        I need to see a bigger sample size for JOK. All I know is the risk between Speight and JOK isn’t that great right now to give JOK a shot. Let’s see how it plays out. I also think giving Speight some time to work on some things and settle down isn’t a bad thing.

        I think you make some interesting points on Harbaugh although the options for Harbaugh have not manifested themselves until last week. I think Harbaugh would still be riding the Speight train because he really hasn’t strongly considered giving anyone else a chance in practice.

        Good post.

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Sep 25, 2017 at 3:25 PM

        The last time people claimed there was no meritocracy was Joe Bolden. How’d that workout?

    • Comments: 6285
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      Lanknows
      Sep 25, 2017 at 12:49 PM

      Speight did enough to win OSU and FSU. O’Korn hasn’t done enough to start. If he felt like he was the better QB but Harbaugh wasn’t giving him a fair shake he would have been out of here.

      • Comments: 1863
        Joined: 1/19/2016
        je93
        Sep 25, 2017 at 1:25 PM

        But… He didn’t. We lost

      • Comments: 3844
        Joined: 7/13/2015
        Sep 25, 2017 at 1:32 PM

        LOL. For someone who espouses YPA as a telling stat, Speight’s 4.3 YPA against Florida State was terrible. It was his lowest effort of the season, except for his 4.0 against Iowa, and his PER was also his second-lowest. Small sample size, of course, but he was 2/4 for 2.5 YPA with a 71.00 PER and 2 sacks before he left the Purdue game, too.

        • Comments: 6285
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          Lanknows
          Sep 25, 2017 at 3:03 PM

          Yet they were up late in the 4th needing one D stop to win. It’s a team game.

          Wish I was surprised you’d bring up Speight going 2/4 while getting sacked twice…

          • Comments: 14
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Umichjenks
            Sep 25, 2017 at 6:50 PM

            Yea, let’s forget the entire 1st half vs FSU where he looked like a scrub. Or the pick six vs OSU, or the fumble on OSU’s goal line. He cost us both of those games, the Iowa game and tried his best to lose us the Florida game.

            I’d swear you are a Speight family member because of the lengths you go to defend him when the facts prove he is an awful starting QB.

            • Comments: 528
              Joined: 9/13/2015
              michymich
              Sep 25, 2017 at 8:01 PM

              LK may turn out to be right but it’s worth the risk. The risk is reasonable and justified after the PU game. I saw enough from JOK to give it a shot.

              Do you want to be 9-3 vs. 8-4? Is this going to make or break the UM season?

              I was going to joke with LK that I would write him a letter of recommendation if he ever wanted to represent WS going forward. You can’t buy that kind of loyalty.

              Ask yourself about the potential upside. There is a downside but also the upside and plus Speight may settle down and feel less pressure. For all the talk it does look like Speight feels like he has to carry too much of the burden.

            • Comments: 6285
              Joined: 8/11/2015
              Lanknows
              Sep 26, 2017 at 1:29 AM

              Talk to me when O’Korn plays a top 20 D. Indiana wasn’t and he played very poorly. Indiana was solid. Not at the Iowa, Wisc, OSU, FSU level.

          • Comments: 3844
            Joined: 7/13/2015
            Sep 25, 2017 at 7:30 PM

            You’re right that it’s a team game – and Speight wasn’t very good as a part of the team. He deserves just as much blame as anyone else for that loss, if not more, since he plays the most important position on the field.

            Why the comment about Speight going 2/4? Small sample size? As if I haven’t talked about the last six-plus games? It’s all part of the same sample.

            • Comments: 6285
              Joined: 8/11/2015
              Lanknows
              Sep 26, 2017 at 1:07 AM

              I’m not arguing. O’Korn played a very good game. Does it mean anything for the future? It’d be cool if it did. Speight tore up Maryland and that was followed shortly by Iowa.

            • Comments: 6285
              Joined: 8/11/2015
              Lanknows
              Sep 26, 2017 at 1:27 AM

              Just as much – yes. More because he plays QB? No. Strongly disagree with this take.

          • Comments: 1863
            Joined: 1/19/2016
            je93
            Sep 25, 2017 at 9:08 PM

            He held on too long on the first, which has been a big issue

            “Speight going 2/4 while getting sacked twice… “

            • Comments: 6285
              Joined: 8/11/2015
              Lanknows
              Sep 26, 2017 at 1:28 AM

              Please explain why O’Korn has a significantly higher sack rate.

              • Comments: 1863
                Joined: 1/19/2016
                je93
                Sep 26, 2017 at 1:44 AM

                This year?

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Sep 26, 2017 at 4:08 PM

                  This year. He’s more than 30% higher than Speight. Last year they were identical (5.6 vs 5.7%).

                • Comments: 1863
                  Joined: 1/19/2016
                  je93
                  Sep 26, 2017 at 11:24 PM

                  Didn’t know, and admit I haven’t looked at those numbers… Maybe Florida weighs heavily on that number? One of my knocks on JOK though is that he “feels” more pressure than is actually there, not unlike Gardner used to
                  It (pocket presence) was a strength of speight last year, until he got injured. This year it’s gone
                  OKorn (for one game) was far better at this, compared to his previous outings, and what we’ve seen from speight in 2017

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Sep 27, 2017 at 2:35 PM

                  this year it’s gone because the pass protection has tanked dramatically after losing 3 seniors.

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Sep 27, 2017 at 2:38 PM

                  Your saying O’Korn is better at dodging pressure this year than Speight based on his performance against Purdue (1 sack all year before playing UM), presumably? But we’re tossing the florida game as evidence because it’s an outlier?

                • Comments: 1863
                  Joined: 1/19/2016
                  je93
                  Sep 27, 2017 at 9:52 PM

                  I’m not “tossing” anything. They both played against Purdue, and speight was folding before pressure even got to him. On the 3d down play he ran OOB, the TE was open right in his line of sight; he was done for

                  JOK scattered a bit against Florida, and I’ve conceded as much

      • Comments: 14
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Umichjenks
        Sep 25, 2017 at 5:15 PM

        Lan you’re delusional. We lost because of Speight vs OSU and FSU. Remember the 2 picks and the pick six and the lost fumble inside OSU’s 5 yard line?

        We have been winning in spite of Speight, not because of him. He’s a MAC level QB and the stats prove it. Read my post above…

        “Speight is only 12-3 as a starter bc our defense and senior laden team last year carried his limp arm to victories.

        Name one big game he went out and won us the game? Please go look at his stats vs Iowa, MSU (no tds), Wisconsin, PSU, OSU, FSU. Save me injury bs either. He missed at least 3 wide open tds vs Iowa before the injury.

        In his last 6 games he has 9 turnovers, 3 pick sixes, 2 lost fumbles, 6 fumbles in total, ~54% passing, about 170 yds passing/game. Not to mention the countless sacks he’s allowed by holding onto the ball and being hesitant. Not all the sacks are on him, but as a 2nd year starter and a new O line, that clock in your head needs to tick a little faster.

        Not all the offensive miscues are on him. Our OL sucks and our receivers haven’t gotten open or caught it when they are open.

        But here you are like JH himself making excuses for a 2nd yr starter who had been on campus for 3 yrs. This guy can’t even blow out Cincy and AF to get out back ups some PT.”

        • Comments: 262
          Joined: 8/12/2015
          Painter Smurf
          Sep 25, 2017 at 9:36 PM

          Speight’s worst game last year may have been Rutgers, believe it or not. Rewatched it again just before the season. Boy was he off the mark in that game. Had he been sharp, UM may have put up 90.

          • Comments: 1863
            Joined: 1/19/2016
            je93
            Sep 26, 2017 at 12:15 AM

            Yeah, that first drive against Rutgers was UGLY!

      • Comments: 1863
        Joined: 1/19/2016
        je93
        Sep 25, 2017 at 9:07 PM

        Will you at least admit that for every issue speight has struggled with for the last 10months, OKorn seemed to show well on? Even if only for ONE game?

        “O’Korn hasn’t done enough to start”

  3. Comments: 1863
    Joined: 1/19/2016
    je93
    Sep 25, 2017 at 9:32 AM

    Agree Don. JOK will without a doubt make some blunders, but he did things speight can’t do, and did others things far better

  4. Comments: 313
    Joined: 8/17/2015
    JC
    Sep 25, 2017 at 10:48 AM

    This game was something.

    I’ve never been terribly high on Speight. Anyone who wants to cite his record as a starter is diminishing the effects of having a top 5 defense. Maybe there are still some lingering effects from his injury last year, but the fact is he has been below average.

    O’Korn lit this game up. His throws looked accurate, with an appropriate amount of touch, and his release was quick. That interception I can’t put on him 100%. He made one risky throw at a different point in the game splitting two defenders, but he got it in there. He also needs to work on using his eyes to look off defenders. Even though his release is quick, he’s still telling the defense where he’s going with his eyes.

    Offense scored 28, that interception put Purdue in field goal range, came away with a field goal, so I really only credit the defense with giving up 7 points this game.

    Against Purdue, our offense scored the most points it has all season, and our defense allowed the second fewest points (7) it has all season (Florida – 3 pts). Those damn trick plays.

  5. Comments: 6285
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Lanknows
    Sep 25, 2017 at 12:41 PM

    Discussing the QB question for the next 2 weeks is going to be insufferable, if it isn’t already, but I’ll weigh in one more time. 1 game is one game. Housing Purdue means as much as getting stone-walled against against Indiana. Same guy did both.

    What does it mean for PSU? – it means we’ll have a solid option at backup QB, whoever that may be. Ya’ll emotional. I don’t care who starts. O’Korn’s earned it. So has Speight. Whatever. QB isn’t the issue, as I’ve said since Florida.

    Gary is playing awesome. He’s one of the most dangerous and respected players on one of the best defenses in the country. Who cares about the stats?

    Agree 100% on special teams.

    • Comments: 1364
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      WindyCityBlue
      Sep 25, 2017 at 1:03 PM

      Except it’s not “one game”. Speight hasn’t looked good in a long time. He hasn’t looked as good as O’Korn did Saturday in a long time, however good you think that is.

      Speight’s defenders have no more excuses. He and O’Korn played behind the same Oline, with the same RBs and reveivers, against the same opposition, under the same weather conditions, and O’Korn was clearly better at moving the offense. Going forward, he deserves to start.

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Sep 25, 2017 at 1:24 PM

      …except against Indiana, the weather was terrible, as I’ve mentioned several times.

      At Michigan, O’Korn has completed 32/45 passes for 521 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception except in the snow and swirling wind. Yes, some of that has been in garbage time, but it’s noteworthy. Toss in the Indiana game, and he’s at 39/61 for 580 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT.

      QB isn’t THE issue, but it’s AN issue. I don’t know why you need to be so obtuse about it. If your offense isn’t working, you put in a different QB, and things start to work, then…hmmm…let’s think about this one…

      Who cares about Gary’s stats? I dunno…maybe the people picking for All-Big Ten, All-American, etc. Obviously, winning is the most important thing for the team, but the pre-season hype isn’t going to amount to much if Gary ends the year with 35 tackles and 2 sacks.

      • Comments: 23
        Joined: 1/29/2016
        maizinblue88
        Sep 25, 2017 at 2:04 PM

        Numbers can be pretty misleading – Joey Bosa went from 13.5 sacks as a sophomore to 5 sacks as a junior but I think he was the most dominant defensive end in college football in his last season. Teams had to scheme around him every play. I think Gary may be getting some of that treatment, but it is true he needs to make a few more plays in the backfield to be considered for postseason awards.

        • Comments: 3844
          Joined: 7/13/2015
          Sep 25, 2017 at 7:28 PM

          I agree that numbers can be misleading, especially for a defensive lineman. But the numbers are necessary for post-season awards. You’re not going to be an All-American defensive end with only 2 sacks and a handful of TFLs. Bosa only had 5 sacks, but he had 16 tackles for loss as a junior.

          Right now Rashan Gary is tied for #28 in the Big Ten in TFLs and tied for #19 in sacks.

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Sep 25, 2017 at 3:20 PM

        Can you please stop acting like you’re some sort of Rashan Gary realist? You claimed he would start before he arrived on campus. This year you put him ahead of Hurst and Winovich and everyone else on the team beside Speight in your rankings. Acting like you’re the voice of reason against the hype is laughable.

        If you think coaches aren’t going to respect Gary because of stats you’re not paying any attention to what’s happening on the field.

        • Comments: 3844
          Joined: 7/13/2015
          Sep 25, 2017 at 7:41 PM

          Ummmm…what are you talking about? I’m not claiming anything about Gary other than the fact that if he doesn’t put up more numbers, he’s not going to meet the hype of Pre-Season All-American. I didn’t say he’s playing poorly or needs to be benched or anything like that. Unless you think he’s going to be an All-American when he’s #19 in the conference in sacks and #28 in tackles for loss, then what I’m saying is almost certainly the truth.

          As for predicting that he would start as a freshman, that was a Sam Webb gut feeling:

          http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/sam-webb-has-new-gut-feeling-re-d-line-starters

          Coaches might respect Gary, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be an All-American. What am I missing? Are you trying to argue that he WILL be voted as an All-American if his current pace continues? He’s on pace for 45 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and 3 sacks.

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Sep 26, 2017 at 1:10 AM

            “For a guy who some were projecting ” is just unnecessary and it’s not the first time. You’ve been hyping Gary as much as, if not more, than most.

            Gary is playing well. Maybe not as well as YOU thought he would.

            • Comments: 3844
              Joined: 7/13/2015
              Sep 26, 2017 at 7:26 AM

              This is flat-out false. Let’s take a walk down memory lane to when Gary was named a Pre-Season All-American by the Sporting News:

              https://touch-the-banner.com/mlive-rashan-gary-cracks-sporting-news-all-america-team/

              I said the hype was getting out of control. You said “I think the hype is deserved.”

              On my 2017 Season Predictions post, I did not have him as an All-American or even First Team All-Big Ten.

              https://touch-the-banner.com/2017-season-predictions/

              • Comments: 6285
                Joined: 8/11/2015
                Lanknows
                Sep 26, 2017 at 4:13 PM

                LOL. Ok you got me. The guy you picked as the #2 most important player and the guy you claimed would start over seniors last year…there are some people on earth who hyped him up even higher than you.

                Even in this post where you ranked him #2 you were trying to act as the voice of reason.

                https://touch-the-banner.com/2017-season-countdown-2-rashan-gary/

                • Comments: 3844
                  Joined: 7/13/2015
                  Sep 26, 2017 at 10:38 PM

                  I’m lost. After all these years, do you still not understand the way I do the countdown? Gary was ranked #2 because we literally have nobody behind him who has shown us anything. He wasn’t ranked #2 because he achieved anything awesome.

                  I’m “trying to act as the voice of reason” because what I say is what I believe, and I generally believe things for logical reasons.

                  As for claiming that he would start over seniors last year, again, I even provided a link that said Sam Webb’s “gut feeling” was that Gary would start. That info didn’t come from me. It came from the guy who’s touted as the most knowledgeable Michigan insider.

                  Your arguments are swirling down the toilet.

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Sep 27, 2017 at 5:53 AM

                  Kemp was the top backup DL headed into the season.

                • Comments: 3844
                  Joined: 7/13/2015
                  Sep 27, 2017 at 9:47 AM

                  Practice hype – which is less reliable than spring game performance – can be overrated. Kemp has exactly 1 tackle in his career up to this point, and that’s kind of the thrust of my point. We have zero data on these backups.

                  And for the record, it sure seems like Aubrey Solomon is the top backup defensive lineman this season, from both a playing time and production standpoint. The departure of all those seniors last year didn’t hurt Michigan so much in the starting lineup. Where it hurt was with that second unit, which isn’t capable of reproducing what the second unit did last year (Winovich, Hurst, etc.).

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Sep 27, 2017 at 2:34 PM

                  Unless Solomon played a whole lot of downs against Purdue (possible I missed this) – I don’t agree. It’s been Kemp, Johnson, Mone as the top backups from what I’ve seen.

                  The Kemp hype was there in spring and fall and his recruiting profile. Yes, none of these are a guarantee but it was consistent.

        • Comments: 1863
          Joined: 1/19/2016
          je93
          Sep 25, 2017 at 9:26 PM

          I have thought the same thing since I started reading your speight posts

          “If you think XXX because of stats you’re not paying any attention to what’s happening on the field”

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Sep 26, 2017 at 1:18 AM

            This is the standard defense against people using stats to back up their opinions. The thing the argument misses is that “stat guys” are watching the games like non-stats guys. It’s just additional information.

            You can use the information around you to supplement/enhance knowledge and offer some perspective. Without perspective… you get knee-jerk emotional reactions.

            • Comments: 1863
              Joined: 1/19/2016
              je93
              Sep 26, 2017 at 1:24 AM

              Watching the first 4 outings this year, the spring game, and the last three of 2016 makes it obvious speight was not very good. The stats support & enhance that observation
              Only stubborn emotions prevent from believing the obvious

              • Comments: 359
                Joined: 8/11/2015
                GKblue
                Sep 27, 2017 at 8:12 AM

                “Only stubborn emotions prevent from believing the obvious.”

                Biased stats can present a problem as we see often. Even unbiased stats can be wrong, ex from outside the world of football: I recently read that Mackinac (city of) Island was the fifth most dangerous place in the state of Michigan. This is an absolutely ludicrous assumption. The way the FBI used and compiled their stats was mathematically accurate when they apply a year round population of around 450 citizens against the crimes committed. What they failed to recognize is that this tourist community swells to nearly twenty thousand during peak months in the summer.

                So what I’m trying to say is stats have their place, but must be weighed against reasonable observation. Sometimes you gotta lay down your sliderule, throw away your trenching tool and open your eyes.

                • Comments: 1863
                  Joined: 1/19/2016
                  je93
                  Sep 27, 2017 at 9:37 AM

                  Much better said than I ever could sir!

                  “throw away your trenching tool and open your eyes”

                • Comments: 6285
                  Joined: 8/11/2015
                  Lanknows
                  Sep 27, 2017 at 2:31 PM

                  Nobody thinks stats should be applied blindly – least of all statisticians, data scientists, etc.

            • Comments: 528
              Joined: 9/13/2015
              michymich
              Sep 27, 2017 at 3:36 AM

              Hey LK,

              Let’s say Higdon runs 15 times for 100 yards.

              Are these effective rushing numbers?

              If I throw in another stat that 1 of his carries went for 99 yards would you say these are the results of an effective running game?

              If I add another variable than he broke off the 99 yard run on the last play of the game when UM was up 10 pts would this make a difference?

              I add another variable and tell you that he fumbled the ball twice would this factor into the stat calculation?

              I add another variable that the other running backs ran 20 times combined for 15 yards.

              You keep referencing these stats like they are gospel. As I mentioned before, Dantonio was quoted as saying stats can lie to you. Take that to heart. See below.

              Statistics can lie to you.”
              – Coach Mark Dantonio on Michigan State outgaining Notre Dame 496-355 in total yards and winning the time of possession battle 34:03-25:57, yet still losing by 20 points.

              • Comments: 6285
                Joined: 8/11/2015
                Lanknows
                Sep 27, 2017 at 5:51 AM

                You’re repeating the point I’ve made many times.

    • Comments: 313
      Joined: 8/17/2015
      JC
      Sep 25, 2017 at 1:30 PM

      With Speight at the helm our offense was 1/11 (I think) for TDs on trips to the redzone.

      With JOK at the helm our offense went 3/3.

      You mention that it’s against Purdue, like that’s a slight against JOK, but 2 of Speight’s 3 games were against Air Force, and Cincinnati.

      After the first few drives, with Speight in this game I thought we could lose. 6 drop backs for a total of 10 passing yards, and -16 yards from sacks. 5 ypc. 2.5 ypa. -1 yard per dropback. We could not move the ball.

      In steps O’Korn.
      28 dropbacks for 18 completions, 26 attempts, 2 sacks. 270 passing yards. 3 rushes for 12 yards, 2 sacks for 12 yards. that’s 270 yards on 28 dropbacks, or almost 10 yards per dropback. 15 ypc, 10 ypa, 10 yards per dropback.

      Speight’s best rating this season is 145.4 against Cincinnati, who hasn’t been lighting the world on fire.

      Speight’s passer rating against Air Force was 122.6 (30.5 adj QBR), compared to the only other stats I can find against Air Force, SDSU’s quarterback, 177.6, (50.4 QBR).

      With O’Korn in, our team moved the ball. Against Purdue the rating was 161.5 (86.5 adj QBR). For some frame of reference, heisman winner Lamar Jackson had a rating of 148.6 (adj QBR of 64.1).

      • Comments: 1863
        Joined: 1/19/2016
        je93
        Sep 25, 2017 at 9:30 PM

        Don’t forget that run out of bounds JC… TE wide open for a first down, right in front of him… Punt team up

    • Comments: 528
      Joined: 9/13/2015
      michymich
      Sep 25, 2017 at 1:37 PM

      QB isn’t the issue? You sure? It’s at least a main component of the issues otherwise the offense wouldn’t have functioned better in the 2nd half at PU.

    • Comments: 6285
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      Lanknows
      Sep 25, 2017 at 3:06 PM

      Indiana’s QB was better in the same weather.

      Arguing O’Korn is better than Speight means you think you know more about QBs than Jim Harbaugh.

      Let’s put this another way. If you want O’Korn over Speight you should also want Evans over Isaac.

      • Comments: 3844
        Joined: 7/13/2015
        Sep 25, 2017 at 7:31 PM

        Yes, Indiana’s STARTING quarterback was better than Michigan’s BACKUP quarterback in the same weather… Imagine that. It’s almost like starters get more practice snaps than backups or something…

        • Comments: 6285
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          Lanknows
          Sep 26, 2017 at 3:40 PM

          This is a terrible argument.

      • Comments: 3844
        Joined: 7/13/2015
        Sep 25, 2017 at 7:35 PM

        *sigh* You’re really grasping at straws. You’re resorting to the lame “You don’t have a valid point because you’re not a millionaire coach” argument. I’m also not the POTUS, so I can’t criticize Donald Trump. Nor am I an award-winning movie director, so I can’t criticize movies. And I haven’t won a Grammy, so I can’t be a music critic. And if I criticize a police officer, it’s because I know more about law enforcement than he does.

        I guess I should just turn off the comments on the website, because none of us has anything valid to say since we’re not as accomplished as Jim Harbaugh.

        • Comments: 528
          Joined: 9/13/2015
          michymich
          Sep 26, 2017 at 12:07 AM

          Is Harbaugh infallible? He is paid very well to deal with the media and the fans. Comes with the territory.

          I support any decision by coach Harbaugh. I will support Speight if he is the qb but Harbaugh will recognize, unlike LK, that a spark was given last game and let’s ride this train until proven otherwise.

          The only advice I will give coach Harbaugh is if starting JOK to let him know Speight isn’t coming in to replace him during the game. In fact, it may be better if Speight isn’t available until the following game which by that time Harbaugh will have even a bigger sample size.

        • Comments: 6285
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          Lanknows
          Sep 26, 2017 at 3:44 PM

          You can try putting those words in my mouth.

          What I’m actually saying is consider trusting the guy with about as good of a track record with QB development as anyone on the planet.

          Not every comment on here is a criticism of Harbaugh. That’s you’re outlook (e.g., “let’s see more of…”) and WCB’s – not everyone’s.

          • Comments: 3844
            Joined: 7/13/2015
            Sep 26, 2017 at 10:40 PM

            LOL. For as long as you’ve been visiting this site, I would think you’d have a better grasp on the meaning of my posts.

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Sep 27, 2017 at 5:53 AM

            I’m not the one implying comments should be off if we can’t criticize Harbaugh.

            • Comments: 3844
              Joined: 7/13/2015
              Sep 27, 2017 at 9:41 AM

              I’m not, either – it was sarcasm.

    • Comments: 1863
      Joined: 1/19/2016
      je93
      Sep 25, 2017 at 9:19 PM

      I agree with Lank. Folks shouldn’t make JOK out to be a playoff QB after beating up on one of the worst D’s in the nation, and under a brand new (offensive) staff
      I do though, think he looked far better than we’ve seen from speight, ever (if not since last Nov). I also think it’s sensible to start JOK against sparty, because their reckless abandon & hatred for UM is the worst thing for 2017 speight
      If JOK can do well again, we ride him until he’s not

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Sep 26, 2017 at 3:36 PM

        Ride him till he’s hot.

        • Comments: 6285
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          Lanknows
          Sep 26, 2017 at 3:37 PM

          err, till he’s not.

          I meant to agree there.

  6. Comments: 6285
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Lanknows
    Sep 25, 2017 at 12:46 PM

    As I’ve said repeatedly, Speight has disappointed me. Does that mean he’s worse than O’Korn? I don’t think it does. Having a solid day against Purdue doesn’t change that. But hey, if it continues through Indiana, MSU, PSU – I’ll be happy to admit I’m wrong.

    I thought O’Korn was going start over Speight. I thought O’Korn was a good backup. I wasn’t on the O’Korn sucks bandwagon after Indiana. I’m not on the O’Korn is the savior bandwagon now. Sorry – I need to see more.

    • Comments: 6285
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      Lanknows
      Sep 25, 2017 at 12:47 PM

      Part of why I have been such an advocate of Speight is that he has been better than O’Korn for 2 years.

      • Comments: 1364
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        WindyCityBlue
        Sep 25, 2017 at 1:09 PM

        Which isn’t relevant. The only issue is, who is playing better right now? Which starter gives us the better chance to win the next game?

        No one who watched them both play under identical conditions Saturday could rationally argue that the answer is Speight.

      • Comments: 528
        Joined: 9/13/2015
        michymich
        Sep 25, 2017 at 2:38 PM

        How much better has Speight been than JOK both would get an entire game.

        If UM played MSU an entire game twice with each qb, how much better would Speight be in his performance? 5%? 10%? Is this something significant or could you flip a coin between the two and just ride the hotter hand?

        Here is an offer LK. How about Speight starts and if he has a poor 1st quarter then switch to JOK? Would you support that or vice versa?

        • Comments: 6285
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          Lanknows
          Sep 25, 2017 at 3:14 PM

          I don’t think it matters who starts. Riding the hot hand seems like the best bet.

      • Comments: 14
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Umichjenks
        Sep 25, 2017 at 5:41 PM

        Guarantee that if O’Korn had started last year he would have had a similar record as Speight. Our senior laden defense carried Speight’s ass to 12 victories as a starter.

        He’s a garbage QB and you like JH keep making excuses for him.

        Just like in San Fran when Smith got a concussion and it was the only reason Kaepernick got a chance. Same story here with Speight. Harbaugh is stubborn and won’t change QBs unless an injury forces him too.

        Speight has not been good since his only good game versus Maryland last November.

        Vs MSU: 16-25 with 1 pick, No TDs
        Vs Iowa: 11-26 with 1 pick, No TDs (at least 3 missed wide open TDs)
        Vs OSU: 23-36 with 2 picks, 2 TDs and huge lost fumble inside OSU 5 yd line and killer pick 6
        B10 championship game: Oh wait we didn’t make it b/c of Speight
        Vs FSU: 21-38, 1 pick, 1 TD
        VS UF: 11-25, 2 picks, 1 TD
        Vs Cincy: 17-29, 2 TD (WOW, first game in last 6 with no picks)
        Vs. Air Force: 14-23 with no TD, no picks

        Lan, wtf are you watching? Speight has been one of the worst QBs in recent memory in his last 7 games. And we lost 3 of those games because of him, period.

        • Comments: 528
          Joined: 9/13/2015
          michymich
          Sep 25, 2017 at 7:03 PM

          If Speight was 1st team all Big Ten and he played really well then I wouldn’t be looking at the hook. If he was rock solid for two years then I would show him more rope. Where most of us disagree with LK is leaving Harbaugh outside of the equation, what has Speight done to justify keeping his job unconditionally?

          Let’s look at this another way. Speight has played with only the best defenses that college football can offer. By any statistical analysis used by LK, Speight has played with an advantages most qb’s can’t claim to have had in their career.

          Next, what is the record of JOK? He is 2-0? Against IU and PU. I bet if you allowed JOK to play this season at worst he would be 3-1. Extrapolate anyway you want but he would have had a winning record and more than likely an impressive W/L record. In fact, I would make you a bet than almost any qb would have had a plus .500 record.

          Lots of these games are non conference games. Lots of these games are RU and lesser conference foes. The question that really needs to be asked is what’s the record against the better Big Ten teams with at a minimum very good Big Ten defense? Since JOK is winning against lesser competition then tell me how Speight has done against the top of the conference including PSU. Throw in rival games.

          The sample size may not be big enough but I don’t think his numbers with a very good defense tells me he should be given unconditional access to the starting job.

          What would be the record of JOK starting at the same time as Speight. Almost identical if not slightly worse? What’s with the devotion to Speight? It doesn’t seem justified.

      • Comments: 528
        Joined: 9/13/2015
        michymich
        Sep 25, 2017 at 6:09 PM

        Was Henson better than Brady? If so, can things change?

        Players develop. Remember Jeremy Gallon? As you have stated many times before, you talk about a sample size. Well, shouldn’t we get a bigger sample size for JOK since we have a bigger sample size for Speight?

        If not, what has Speight done over 3 1/4 games to say Harbaugh shouldn’t try another option at least for the short term? Maybe for a 1/2 game. Seems reasonable. Don’t you think LK?

        • Comments: 6285
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          Lanknows
          Sep 26, 2017 at 3:35 PM

          Yes – I think O’Korn has earned snaps. I just think the people who think he’s suddenly going to be way better than Speight because he did well against Purdue are going to be disappointed.

          I often argue seniors can improve, rise to the occasion, etc. But I would be shocked too see a night-and-day transformation.

  7. Comments: 6285
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Lanknows
    Sep 25, 2017 at 1:00 PM

    Big picture time. 4-0. We’re as on-track for 9-3 as ever. But…

    I’ve never felt less good about beating PSU, Wisc, and OSU as I do know. I’ve never been as pessimistic about the OL and run game as I am now. That was an awful awful performance against a an awful defense. You’ve seen the stats: 4 stats against a team that had 1 in 3 games. 8 TFL. Season high in punts. etc.

    Purdue took away the outside run and there was next to nothing left. O’Korn was the MVP of the day. Isaac was the MVP of Florida. These are 5th year seniors – guys with track records. No sense that anything M is doing on O is remotely sustainable. Seems like grasping at straws.

    I think my comments along the way have shown I’m not a doomsday pessimist but I’m on the darkside now. The offense is simply too woefully bad right now to begin to be an optimist. I haven’t given up hope (O’Korn, Issac, DPJ, or Gentry can come and save the day!) but after Florida I thought there was very little chance this was a 4-loss team and now I wouldn’t be surprised at all.

    Oh and yeah — FIRE DREVNO. I mean, obviously not in season, but it would take an epic turnaround.

    • Comments: 528
      Joined: 9/13/2015
      michymich
      Sep 25, 2017 at 2:06 PM

      I wanted to defend Harbaugh. Was Harbaugh given anything to strongly consider to replace Speight during games or in practice? Did Harbaugh not want to see anything because his mind was made up or he had a bias toward a certain style?

      I think the answer is all 3 reasons. I agree with some people that Harbaugh is running his qb playing time different than the rest of the team because he was a qb and it’s a delicate position. You have to support your qb and it’s usually counter productive to have a controversy and pull guys. You become Mike Ditka. From what I saw it didn’t look like JOK was ready to lead this team even during the Florida performance and once Speight went out in the PU game maybe that allowed JOK to release because he knew he had the rest of the game to play.

      I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen going forward but I can’t blame Harbaugh for playing Speight and not JOK although it is reasonable to say Harbaugh was biased toward Speight because of last year and what he saw with some other guys. I think the meritocracy doesn’t apply to the qb position otherwise you would see changes during the season. Can we agree that the qb position is different from other positions and rightfully so?

    • Comments: 528
      Joined: 9/13/2015
      michymich
      Sep 25, 2017 at 2:12 PM

      UM has a good enough defense to win most of these games. UM could lose 4 games but it could also go undefeated with some luck. I see a couple of losses but who knows what happens at qb. Most of these teams are beatable but I would agree that the margin for error is clearly shrinking and will get really slim if qb play isn’t as good as it was in the 2nd half of PU. It will also get slimmer with continued missed blocking assignments.

      I am not as pessimistic but one thing I differ with LK is that the qb can compensate for some other deficiencies which you saw in the PU game. Without good qb play then you rely on other things and this team doesn’t have the horses to win without good qb play against the better competition.

      I think UM with mediocre qb play loses at PSU and Wisconsin at a minimum. Good qb play and they split those two games assuming the rest of the team plays to it’s norm.

    • Comments: 1364
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      WindyCityBlue
      Sep 25, 2017 at 6:08 PM

      Largely agree. After Florida, I thought that our win expectation had jumped above 9, and that 10-2 was more likely than 8-4, but after seeing our offense for the first 4 games, my expectations have retreated somewhat. I consider 10-2 very unlikely now, and 8-4 quite possible. We would be doing very well to win one of our three remaining tough games, and to avoid losing a game we shouldn’t.

      If there is any hope for our offense to improve significantly, it’s going to have to come from the Oline, and from O’Korn being at least steady and consistent. Maybe Ruiz getting better and stepping in for Onwenu at G? There’s a bit of finger-crossing there, but that seems about the most likely scenario we’ve got. Can Bredeson, Kugler or Runyan step things up a notch? Not holding my breath.

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Sep 26, 2017 at 12:57 AM

        There are always reasons/arguments for hope. The offseason OL logic “they can’t play much worse” may apply here. We have a couple young guys on the line and a couple new coaches. So maybe the O will improve faster than opposing Ds. Or maybe our coaches will figure out limitations and how to play around them. Seemed like the 2TE sets might be an answer…but only if they can run off them, otherwise it’s just a gimmick.

        Reliable QB play would of course be huge.

        My concern is that this team has no identity. Nothing sustainable on offense. I’d love to have reason to think different.

        • Comments: 1364
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          WindyCityBlue
          Sep 26, 2017 at 6:44 AM

          Well, I don’t disagree…our offense has had somewhat of a patchwork appearance about it, but that IS what happens when you have inconsistent quarterbacking and a shaky Oline…even if there are things you WANT to do to give your offense an identity, it’s hard to actually do them on a regular basis, so you have to take what you can get.

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Sep 26, 2017 at 4:16 PM

            At some point we’ll face a team where “what you can get” ain’t much of anything. I think we were very lucky to see Florida in Week 1.

  8. Comments: 48
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Nick.
    Sep 25, 2017 at 1:53 PM

    After watching the end of last season and the beginning of this season it has become almost unbearable to watch the offense at times. Plenty of college football QB’s have had mildly successful careers with poor mechanics. They play on good teams and often find a way to win. Mechanics aside, whatever ails Speight is between his ears. He has lost confidence in himself after being injured last season and it shows. He is playing as though he is expecting another injury, case in point being his ability to fold and take a sack the moment he feels pressure.

    The moment O’Korn completed his first pass after entering the game you could see the entire team give a huge sigh of relief and the confidence level go up. Each time he completed another pass it just kept growing. The thing I really like about O’Korn was the broad use of the playbook. It felt as though the coaches has begun to limit the play calling to try and build some confidence in Speight, but it never took hold. As the game went on and O’Korn began to complete passes the coaches opened up the book and began to spread the ball around. Even my wife noticed the change from our living room.

  9. Comments: 6285
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Lanknows
    Sep 25, 2017 at 3:16 PM

    Some of the same people calling for Peters a few weeks ago now are so sure O’Korn is the best guy.

    • Comments: 313
      Joined: 8/17/2015
      JC
      Sep 25, 2017 at 3:49 PM

      Or maybe the people saw that Speight hasn’t been great and are hoping for something better.

      Speight had negative yards against Purdue for the 10 minutes he was in the game. Negative yards on the 6 attempts, 1 first down (via 11 yard Higdon run), 2 3-and-outs, and 1 4-and-out after that Higdon run.

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Sep 26, 2017 at 12:48 AM

        No maybe about it. That’s the point. It’s not about want or hope. Anyone can go read a fantasy novel.

        • Comments: 313
          Joined: 8/17/2015
          JC
          Sep 26, 2017 at 12:15 PM

          It’s not fantasy. In reality, JOK played much better than Speight did in the same game, and much better than Speight has all year. Not really up for debate.

          • Comments: 3844
            Joined: 7/13/2015
            Sep 26, 2017 at 12:22 PM

            Speight’s QBR – Lanknows’s favorite QB metric – is #109 out of 126 qualified quarterbacks in the NCAA, and he’s #17 in the Big Ten of “unqualified” candidates. O’Korn hasn’t played enough to be “qualified,” but he’s #2 out of “unqualified” quarterbacks.

            • Comments: 6285
              Joined: 8/11/2015
              Lanknows
              Sep 26, 2017 at 4:17 PM

              and, for the millionth time, as with YPC – context matters, competition matters, as does sample size.

              • Comments: 528
                Joined: 9/13/2015
                michymich
                Sep 27, 2017 at 1:28 PM

                So I agree. You are saying the fact that Speight lost to higher level competition still reinforces the belief that he still lost. Is a 7 pt loss the same as a 40 pt loss if not dealing with BCS variables?

                Maybe another way of looking at his would be what is the win/loss record of Speight and JOK since the Iowa game.

                JOK is 2-0 against less competition. 1 road win and 1 home win.

                Speight is 3-3. Losses against higher level competition and on the road. Victories at home against lesser competition and a quality road/neutral win.

                So this begs the obvious question. What am I gaining or losing by going to JOK based on this sample size?

                I could get a loss at home but JOK still won against IU. We are still assuming that Speight is the same player as he was in the Iowa game.

                Anyway you look at this, anyway, it’s hard to see the cost benefit analysis as anything other than a wash for the most part. It’s basically a BIAS toward the incumbent. It’s previous starter confirmation bias.

                How about this LK. If I said to you that UM would lose to Wisconsin and PSU with Speight or JOK, would it matter who was the qb? What if I said that both would lose but the possibility was increased that JOK could add more risk to lose bigger or win by a slim margin because of his potential to affect the outcome of the game. Would you take that risk?

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Sep 26, 2017 at 3:04 PM

            I haven’t argued otherwise.

            What is fantasy is assuming that because you don’t like the starter the backup is better as if the coach is some know-nothing idiot.

            Not to say coaches can’t be wrong — but usually they’re right.

    • Comments: 1863
      Joined: 1/19/2016
      je93
      Sep 26, 2017 at 12:12 AM

      I’ve seen it other sites, but not here. Who said Peters should start?

    • Comments: 14
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      Umichjenks
      Sep 26, 2017 at 10:10 AM

      Love how you don’t respond to any of my posts with stats to back up the fact that Speight has been awful for the last 8 games or so. You offer no facts or evidence contrary to the overwhelming opinions that Speight is awful.

      • Comments: 14
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Umichjenks
        Sep 26, 2017 at 10:12 AM

        Talking to you Lanknows. Hope it’s comfy in the basement of the Speight household.

      • Comments: 6285
        Joined: 8/11/2015
        Lanknows
        Sep 26, 2017 at 3:11 PM

        I addressed this after Florida. Good defenses do this to people and Speight has played top 20 defenses in most of those games.

        O’Korn looked awful against a solid (not top 20) defense Indiana.

        That doesn’t excuse Speight’s performance against Cinci… But I’m not going to draw conclusions based on 1 game, as I’ve outlined repeatedly.

  10. Comments: 33
    Joined: 8/15/2016
    mos12
    Sep 25, 2017 at 4:42 PM

    I saw somewhere else that it was Ambry Thomas on the kickoff return not Kekoa Crawford. Too many number 1’s now?

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Sep 25, 2017 at 7:42 PM

      MGoBlue.com and CFBstats.com both say it was Crawford.

      • Comments: 1863
        Joined: 1/19/2016
        je93
        Sep 26, 2017 at 1:48 AM

        I just rewatchd
        After the TD and to start the second half it was Ambry Thomas returning kickoff

        • Comments: 33
          Joined: 8/15/2016
          mos12
          Sep 29, 2017 at 1:32 PM

          Thanks. The UFR just came out with the same conclusion.

  11. Comments: 400
    Joined: 12/24/2016
    INTJohn
    Sep 25, 2017 at 9:49 PM

    Thug Coach Award goes to Coach Brohm of Purdue:

    If Purdue’s defensive play in this game is an indication of what Brohm is bringing to the Big10 he needs to be banished RIGHT NOW!
    2 targeting calls and a probable 3rd that shudabeen called as well as a 5 yard out of bounds late hit as well as the cheap shot on O’Korn……….

    If this is the brand of football that Brohm is coaching he’s a fuking thug ass criminal Not a football coach at all and the qwiker the B10 chox him into line the better or else simply send him to a thug prison. He is not at all worthy of the title of Head Coach.

    To any parents of perspective players being recruited by Brohm:
    Do you want you’re sons to learn criminal thugery or be coached to play football at a prestigious engineering university?
    Cause if its the latter you’ll want your sons to play somewhere else! Brohm obviously coaches his defense to play like border line thug ass criminals and the qwicker Brohm is out of the coaching ranks the better.

    As I See it………..INTJohn

  12. Comments: 528
    Joined: 9/13/2015
    michymich
    Sep 26, 2017 at 12:15 AM

    I got this idea from a DonAZ post. So if people want Peters of whomever next year, wouldn’t it behoove to have JOK become the qb since he will be gone?

    Speight may be better than JOK (I don’t know) but I do know I’d rather have someone new as qb next year unless Speight improves or has the necessary pieces to become a solid and consistent qb.

  13. Comments: 528
    Joined: 9/13/2015
    michymich
    Sep 27, 2017 at 9:42 PM

    On another note, was rewatching the game and that Evans can really cut back. If this guy gets some holes look out. He just needs some space.

  14. Comments: 528
    Joined: 9/13/2015
    michymich
    Sep 28, 2017 at 9:04 PM

    Here is what just dawned on me. I remember Harbaugh mentioning that he wanted Peters to have a better command of the huddle or was critical of Peters on this issue.

    Maybe his affiliation for Speight comes from the fact that Speight always seemed to have a real good command of the offense and huddle. His understanding of where everyone is supposed to be on the field is compensating for any other positive aspects that others may bring to the table. Makes sense. Harbaugh wants a leader and Speight is a good leader and knows the offense.

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Sep 28, 2017 at 9:24 PM

      I don’t mean to rain on your parade, but that was the conclusion that many people reached about a year ago.

  15. Comments: 528
    Joined: 9/13/2015
    michymich
    Sep 29, 2017 at 12:16 AM

    I think fans also thought they were getting a good passer. My point is that these attributes of Speight were the deciding factor for Harbaugh and that he values these traits more than being a better passer.

    Maybe you realized that sooner than I did but I thought Harbaugh would value certain things that good quarterbacks have in addition to command. See Andrew Luck. I was wrong. It’s the command and leadership that Harbaugh really seeks in his qb and can work on improving other aspects.

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