Michigan Football, Team 137, 2016 Season.

[jaadam4]

You guys are undefeated looking at a great chance to get to the Playoffs. If you get there Speight is your QB the next two seasons.

Negative homeboy. Harbaugh is still dealing with Hokes talent and not his own. We're not going to have this defense in the upcoming years. Harbaugh will do whatever to win not stick with a Qb thats not good

[froot loops]

We'll see

[Rocky Bleier]

It's possible that Speight is the QB next season. Experience counts. But if Harbaugh is being honest about every position being open for competition each season, I'm among those who hope that last year is considered last year.

[jaadam4]

We'll see

You're right. We might always have this kind of D with Harbaugh recruiting. Good point!

[hack]

Harbaugh hopefully will base that on how the QB plays rather than the overall result. And there's always the Alex Smith/Kaepernick experience to support the idea that Speight's incumbent advantage won't be worth much. Unless we really see the light go on I too hope that one of Peters or McCaffrey are ready to take the job.

[froot loops]

You're right. We might always have this kind of D with Harbaugh recruiting. Good point!

I guess I think Harbaugh values experience and game manager types more than raw talent. As a QB he was like that, most of his quarterbacks over the years have been this type of players. He really, really pumped up Rudock last year much to your chagrin. It's right in front of you, you just have to look.

[froot loops]

Harbaugh hopefully will base that on how the QB plays rather than the overall result. And there's always the Alex Smith/Kaepernick experience to support the idea that Speight's incumbent advantage won't be worth much. Unless we really see the light go on I too hope that one of Peters or McCaffrey are ready to take the job.

I think the Kaepernick/Smith thing is interesting, it worked in the short term as a gimmick. NFL teams were unprepared for the read option and it got them to a Super Bowl. But Kaepernick hurt him over the long term, Alex Smith is flat out the better QB. But using the read option on Dom Capers was genius and he is to be applauded for that. Perfect element of surprise.

I'm not sure if it is evidence for against when you view the decision knowing how Kaepernick got progressively worse and had a hand in Harbaugh's demise in Frisco.

[hack]

I guess I hadn't looked at it that way, as simply a move to use an offense the league was unprepared for. Perhaps. Certainly Harbaugh's history and recruiting suggest he's more interested in pocket passers. Dunno. Perhaps it suggests that he's not as open to somebody pushing from behind as he was in that specific instance for what you suggest as a specific reason. I just don't pay enough attention to the NFL to know, but I see your point.

[The Oracle]

Harbaugh just likes good QB play. McCafferey could be considered a dual threat and our #1 target in '18 is a dual threat. Take care of the football and play good...he's pretty simple.

[hack]

McCaffrey is dual-threat? Cool. I want dual-threat.

[WM Wolverine]

McCaffrey is a really good athlete and yes, he runs a read-option in high school. He's my favorite Michigan QB recruit since Henson. Believe I read he even played running back as a freshman.

[hack]

Hmm. Saw he was 6-5 and just assumed. But there's the lineage...

[Detroit Dan]

The way I see it is that the "experts" here are downplaying Speight prematurely. Just like last year with Ruddock. We've only had one close game, and in that Speight won it with a supberb play call and execution. (He was under heavy pressure most of the game, yet won it with superior play.) Who know's what he's capable of in close games down the road? Is there any reason he can't be as good as Roethlisberger?

And if he's not good, then why would not the coaching staff play the better player?

[jaadam4]

He really, really pumped up Rudock last year much to your chagrin. It's right in front of you, you just have to look.

What was he supposed to say about Rudock? He hates him? He had absolutely nothing last year.

[hodgkal]

Detroit Dan:
"The way I see it is that the "experts" here are downplaying Speight prematurely. Just like last year with Ruddock. We've only had one close game, and in that Speight won it with a supberb play call and execution. (He was under heavy pressure most of the game, yet won it with superior play.) Who know's what he's capable of in close games down the road? Is there any reason he can't be as good as Roethlisberger?

And if he's not good, then why would not the coaching staff play the better player?"


I agree completely. Harbaugh turned Ruddock into a very competent QB. Ferentz apparently didn't, or couldn't when he was at Iowa. Ruddock's credentials were apparently good enough to get him signed by the Lions.

I predict we'll see the same progress with Speight.