Chris Balas on Brandon Peters: "There are recruiting mistakes, and this appears to have been a big one."

Submitted by Maizen on

Meanwhile Michigan had 4 passing yards in the 2nd half vs IU. I don't really know what to say about this if true, but thought it was extremely noteworthy.

Jon06

October 15th, 2017 at 7:33 AM ^

That's a brutal thing to say, but I think O'Korn deserves some appreciation for at least learning the offense well enough to be played ahead of air.

Perkis-Size Me

October 15th, 2017 at 7:34 AM ^

So what was the mistake? We haven’t seen Peters play at all so how do we know this was a mistake?



Is he just mentally not ready? It’s got to be some kind of intangible.

Quail2theVict0r

October 15th, 2017 at 8:00 AM ^

I’d say yes. At this point OKorn is a worst case scenario. Can’t complete passes, turns the ball over like crazy and requires a dumbed down offense to stay in. I’d say we need to try any other option at this point. Why do three other QBs have full ride scholarships if they can’t at least match this terrible production?

Mr. Yost

October 15th, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^

Don't pay them any mind.

It was the same thing with Speight..."It can't get any worse! Play O'Korn!!!"

Guess what? It's worse.

At some point you have to trust the people who see these guys play every day.

That post above about Malzone being a better option is exactly why this board is on the verge of going full M-live. What an idiotic take.

 

WE LITERALLY JUST DID THE "It can't get any worse" thing. You know what...let's just punt on 1st down and hope the returner fumbles...because it can't get any worse.

Kevin13

October 20th, 2017 at 9:39 AM ^

let's be fair to O'Korn, it's not worse then when Speight was in. He probably saved us against Purdue.  But, it's just not better.

I due agree with the assesment that we may need to start building for the future and both O'Korn and Speight are not the future for this program at QB.

I think you need to play to win every game and play the QB you think gives you that shot, but if things don't go well against PSU or we get a big lead against the like of Rutgers, put Peters or Dylan in the game and let these guys get experience so one is ready to take over next season and give us that improved QB play we desperately need.

Reader71

October 15th, 2017 at 11:15 AM ^

I am so grateful that no one attached with the football program thinks this way.

You would hate to be a fan of a team who gave up on a season because, “What’s the difference between losing more games than fewer games?”

I get that this is a very common fan reaction, but you should accept that this will never happen in college football because coaches are fired for losing and players only have so many games to play.

SeattleWolverine

October 15th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^

Giving up on a season? The implication is that you are making some huge sacrifice now for the future. That could be true if we were talking to Speight to Peters but O'Korn to Peters? Guess what? The now was 58 yards passing and an inability to pass the ball. With a bit of luck that there were not some INTs, just like against MSU. There is very little downside potential from the 58 yard performance we saw yesterday.  Name the game on the remaining schedule are you losing with Peters that you win with John O'Korn. But if you want to hang your hat on being all in on winning now and think John O'Korn gives you the best chance to go 8-4 then hey, by all means. Let's talk again next Sunday. 

 

Reader71

October 15th, 2017 at 2:52 PM ^

Your implication is that the coaches should go against their professional opinion and play a QB who gives them a lesser chance of winning each game this season in exchange for a potentially higher chance of winning future games.

Whether you think that’s a good strategy or not is irrelevant. It just doesn’t happen very often in college football. Because if you give up on too many games, you don’t get to coach the later ones you’re banking on.

Mr. Yost

October 15th, 2017 at 11:36 AM ^

And what does playing someone who can't beat out O'Korn do?

Are you REALLY trying to prepare that guy for the future?

If you can't beat out O'Korn playing the way he's played minus Purdue...you're probably not a very good quarterback.

Why would we "groom" you for the future with 6 games this year? Are those 6 games going to make you better than McCaffrey or an incoming true freshman?

I'm watching true freshman all across the country look capable. I think it's safe to say that we have a better chance at getting one of those than trying to build up someone who's not playing over JOK right now. Or getting a grad transfer ala Rudock.

...there is NO reason to play anyone if they haven't beaten out JOK except McCaffrey and he needs a year to gain weight, learn the offense, get stronger, etc.  - plus, as so many of you are saying...it's a lost year so there is no point in burning his redshirt.

So that leaves you with O'Korn, Peters, and Malzone.

O'Korn actually has playing experience and has won 3 games at Michigan...no matter how ugly those 3 games may have been.

Malzone is behind a walk-on and going to grad transfer this summer.

Peters - for whatever reason, hasn't passed O'Korn in 2 years. If O'Korn couldn't beat out Speight...he was probably worse than Speight. I think that's clear now. If Peters can't beat out O'Korn...why is he better than O'Korn?

This whole thing is dumb.

Pray for 0 turnovers and lights out defense. Like I said yesterday. If we can do that...maybe we can Krenzel our way to an upset. It's out only option at this point.

SeattleWolverine

October 15th, 2017 at 12:17 PM ^

I agree that the fact Peters can't beat out O'Korn is very ominious for his future. 

 

Anyway, my argument has never been to play Peters against PSU, WI or OSU. Fine, play O'Korn. But I think Peters should play against the 3 weak teams after PSU. Games in which the OL holds up better and he has a better chance to succeed. Maybe there is limited value in grooming Peters; there is zero value in playing O'Korn. 

 

But here's the thing, your final strategy is "Pray for 0 turnovers". Well guess what? John O'Korn has happy feet and makes poor decisions about who to throw to. He has 4 INTs in 82 throws. O'Korn is clearly not a Krenzel type and pretending otherwise is dumb. If anything, that argues for trying someone else to see if they can at least not give the ball away. 

JamesBondHerpesMeds

October 15th, 2017 at 2:59 PM ^

if Peters and the 2016 Alabama offensive line he brings along with him can beat out O'Korn, then let him play.

Otherwise, you're seeing QBs struggle because they're expected to be world-beaters and replacements for atrocious play at all the offensive positions, which we've basically seen Heisman winners do. See: Manziel, Jamar Jackson.

Dvoltzwolverine

October 15th, 2017 at 1:52 PM ^

I agree. There's a reason for 3 deep depth charts. I think people took to much credit to peters in a spring game. From what I've been reading all spring to fall practice was that Peters was falling back in the depth chart. I'll be honest, i was one of the people that wanted to see o korn, but after seeing him play, i saw why coach put him 2nd. on that note, I'm nervous to see what peters can do. I think the kid can be good in the future but like you said he's behind o korn after 2 years, that should mean something. So to me the future is mccafrey, then maybe Milton next but Peters needs to work harder or he might slip back farther in my humble opinion.

Kevin13

October 20th, 2017 at 9:52 AM ^

and believe me these coaches are and know it. We have young receivers, who will be better next year because of the experience they are gaining.  That goes with some of our OL also. There is no better preperation for a player then actual game experience.

Do you really think either McCaffery or Peteres would not benefit from playing 6 games this year and working with our young receivers in actual game experience?  Look I believe in trying to win every game you play and that means you play your best players to give you that chance. But, sometimes I think JH might be a little to loyal to his starting QB as he feels it will just rattle them more.  Speight was horrible this year and seemed never to be on the verge of being yanked. O'Korn came in and played great leaving all of us wondering why this change has not happened earlier. Now JOK is really struggling and not playing at the level we need to be successful.  Neither one of them is the future and everyone knows UM's next two years could be very good if we can upgrade at QB. Well Peters and Dylan are both guys you recruited to be the future, maybe that future is now and it's time to start preparring one or both of them to take the reins next year and get them the experience they will need.

It has nothing to do with beating them out right now. Hell Speight was barely better then JOK to win the job and never got pulled. Who says both of the young guys are just a hair behind JOK and getting them out there and experience and let them start improving. What we have played at QB so far this year has not gotten it done.  Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results..................

JTrain

October 15th, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^

Purdue game upside exists. Maybe with more reps. Synergy with receivers and TE’s builds gradually. I dunno. Trying to hang onto optimism for Don Brown and our D.

Think of the following scenario. The D plays out of their minds next week. Creates a turnover or two. Scores a TD. Special teams TD. Offense gets us a TD or a couple field goals. Anything is possible. We just need Purdue game O’Korn for the rest of the szn. Please God. Please.

robpollard

October 15th, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^

But they are better than 3 of the teams left on our schedule (Rutgers, Maryland and Minnesota) and we need to win those games. Plus, they just lost a close game at Wisconsin, another future opponent it would be great to beat.

Going 8-4 would be quite disappointing, but going 6-6 would be catastrophic. 

Mr. Yost

October 15th, 2017 at 11:39 AM ^

They're better than 3 teams left on our schedule and they're probably the same as Indiana.

So if you get Purdue O'Korn against PSU, Wisky or OSU...the logic is, you have a shot to win that game.

Meanwhile...if you get IU O'Korn against Minnesota, Rutgers, or Maryland...you STILL have a shot to win that game. Because IU O'Korn...just won.

So if the floor is 3-3.

Then you're banking on Purdue O'Korn in 1, 2, or 3 of the other games to give you a shot in those games. If you get IU O'Korn in those 3 big matchups...you lose.

It's not that hard to follow.

clarkiefromcanada

October 15th, 2017 at 3:10 PM ^

Those posters just want to run with a sky is falling narrative.

In the past week I've seen posters on this board question if JBC is the "right" coach for Michigan, question play calling (reasonable), offensive line (still need work but 200 yard rusher tho...) and ffs the defense.

There is a segment of the fanbase so beaten down in the decade before Harbaugh that they seem unhappy if not unhappy. It's conceivable that JOK could play well in games going forward. Purdue JOK is on film; GE exists. The question is if that version can show up.

jackw8542

October 15th, 2017 at 9:27 AM ^

O'Korn is trying his best, taking hits that would leave most of us hospitalized and getting back up for more, while half of this board wants to crucify him, denigrate him or both.  It is childish and sickening.  As for me, I trust the coaches to be picking the best man available and appreciate the level of effort that O'Korn is showing play after play. 

In case no one has looked at other results from the weekend, a number of the teams ranked above us failed to win a road game this weekend against teams that - based on their records - were not very good.  MSU barely beat Minnesota, which lost to Purdue a week ago (remember the team O'Korn played so well against), and Wisconsin - one of the games many of you are already writing off - was at home and still barely beat Purdue.

There are too many quitters on this board who have given up without taking into account that a win is a win and without looking at what our upcoming opponents are doing.  O'Korn will keep trying to improve, because he is not a quitter, and that seems to be more than can be said about a great many of the commenters happy to rip him.

B-Nut-GoBlue

October 15th, 2017 at 11:08 AM ^

The point is...139 measily yards passing for Michigan yesterday makes that game an easy, coast to victory.  58 makes it an OT thriller.  Literally.  80ish more yards passing means a few completions here and there for first downs and hell, touchdowns...and we win easily.  Instead....58.  58 passing yards on a perfect Fall day.

silverblue

October 15th, 2017 at 11:04 AM ^

Jack, this is the first time I've logged in...in...well, almost forever, and I logged in just to say, THANK YOU!  I absolutely agree.  JOK may not be the answer but the kid isn't a quitter, he's a courageous young man who wears the Maize and Blue, AND he is the best answer we have at this point.  You simply can't throw Brandon Peters or whoever into the lion's den at Happy Valley, at least not as the starter, unless, of course, that's the decision the coaches make.  I'm hoping for a great performance and a win, but if the game gets out of hand, and if Coach Harbaugh has enough confidence in young Mr. Peters to turn the reins over to him and see what he can do, so be it.  I'll support that, too, but I won't undermine Coach Harbaugh or our kids by engaging in player bashing.

MinWhisky

October 15th, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^

... a coach with the initials JH.  He bears primary responsibility for all of the QB and related woes on offense that have been pointed out by others on this board:

  • Sub-par QB play of Speight and JOK
  • Inability to find open receivers
  • Overthrowing
  • Can't go through progressions
  • Run from pocket too early
  • Play selection
  • No 'go to' pass plays
  • Young QBs haven't developed
  • Peters was a mistake
  • Don't utilize TEs enough

I'm really disappointed in JH's inability to develop a passing game given his previous experience as a player and coach.  Or maybe Andrew Luck was good because he was Andrew Luck and not because he was coached by JH.  Same with Ruddock.  Maybe the last half of his one year here was good because of his playing experience during the 1st half and not because of JH's coaching. 

rainingmaize

October 15th, 2017 at 1:57 PM ^

Also Speight wasn't complete dogshit last year outside of the Iowa game. I think this board is really undervaluing the importance of having experienced NFL caliber receiving options and a veteran OLine. A good offense can survive without one of those two, but being without both is problematic, especially when your QB has natural holes in their game. I still think the staff doesn't want to strut Peters out their and watch him get broken ala Gardner due to the overall inexperience everywhere on offense and Peters and his limited experience with the playbook and reading college defenses.

JOK IS NOT A JOK

October 15th, 2017 at 12:02 PM ^

This bs about what okorn cant do is just that ...bs. Plays in a monsoon, has an  unbelievable TD pass wiped out by our new hero,Higdon, against sparty. Had 5-8 passes dropped in that same game. bad weather in 2 of his 3 starts. Has an off line that produced a qb with 3 cracked vertabrae. Has numerous frosh.

CLion

October 15th, 2017 at 12:57 PM ^

You completely sidestepped the main thing people are actually concerned about: Peters.

Personally, I'm not "calling for Peters" because I have faith in the coaching staff to play the best man. And while I'm thankful we at least have O'Korn, he simply is not a good QB--yesterday erased any question about that. The result is 4 yards of passing in the 2nd half against an IU defense because the coaches don't trust him to do anything but throw a bubble or hand it off, severely limiting the playbook. So when people see that and no sign of Peters, they simply wonder how bad must Peters be?

Blue Velvet

October 15th, 2017 at 1:28 PM ^

JOK is out there giving it his all.  Let's not trash the kid.  I think a lot of us had high hopes for the season, and the State loss took the winds out of out sails.  I flew in for the game, like I did two years ago, and again walked out diappointed and somber.  But what good is all this anger and criticism?  We all hope JOK will look like he did against Purdue and, when we don't see that happening, we want Peters to step up and give us something we haven't seen all season - a productive offense.  I must have yelled for Peters to be put in at least 3 or 4 times during the game.  He wasn't - and we won anyway.  My guess is there is a pretty good reason we're not seeing Peters yet, and it's not JH's teaching him a lesson or rewarding seniority over production.  Is this disappointing?  Of course, but - setting aside the need to make any sort of judgment about a college kid at this point - what grounds does Balas have to call Peters a bust?