- While Harbaugh says that it was the "plan" to play Peters yesterday, my guess is that the actual "plan" was to insert him in the second half with us up at least 3 or 4 touchdowns. But I think that Harbaugh was left with no choice but to play him because the offense could simply not function with O'Korn at QB - he just could not fundamentally lead the offense. And even then, my guess is Harbaugh was planning on going back to O'Korn but when the offense started executing with Peters running the show, he couldn't pull Peters. Harbaugh's post game comments/tone was interesting. I think he sounded legitimately surprised at how well the offense played with Peters at QB.
- I feel bad for O'Korn. He is a kid with some good physical tools . . . but he just doesn't seem to be able to "think" the position well. In fact, I wonder if he overthinks it . . . and when you're thinking too much, you're not playing. On his second fumbled snap, you could see him looking at the defense . . . basically, his lack of confidence in what he was doing and thinking to much was paralyzing him - a textbook case of paralysis by analysis.
- You can see that Peters has good physical tools. He is big and strong with pretty good feet and a good arm . . . but he didn't necessarily do anything spectacular. But when he came in, the offense started playing better and players started making plays. I think Peters being put in was kind of a wake up call for the other offensive players which realized that it was do or die time. And once Peters showed he could make some plays, they started playing with a big more focus and confidence. But he looks like he still has a long way to go. He botched a couple of running players and had a couple of underthrows . . . but he's got upside.
- The offensive line looks like it is steadily getting better. Both Isaac and Higdon are averaging about 6 yards/carry. I hope Owenu is ok.
- Walker looks good and I hope he is ok . . . although I thought he looked better in his early carries and then started dancing a bit too much. I want to seem him make one cut and go. As others have pointed out, he looks like he needs to get a little stronger in his lower body.
- I'm curious to know what led to moving Drevno to the field. My guess is there was some shift in playcalling responsibility.
- I'm a bit concerned about the defense . . . this marks 2 straight games that the defense has not played that well IMO. I think the stats are a bit deceiving . . . while we didn't give up a lot of total yards, the offense really dominated time of possession and protected the D. It looks to me like the D is getting a little worn down (perhaps because we are playing the starters so much). I think giving up two touchdowns where Rutgers had to drive the length of the field is not good enough.
- Interesting that Spanellis got in the game. He must be doing well in practice.
- I think MSU loses big to PSU next weekend. MSU's offense has been better than expected this year but I just don't see their D being able to stop PSU.
- I think the most overrated player this year is Saquon Barkley (I saw posts yesterday claiming he was a once a decade player). Yes, he's an excellent multipurpose back . . . but I don't see him as the best pure running back in college football this year. Note that both both Ty Issac and Karan Higdon average more yards/carry than him. Dobbins on OSU scares me more as a running back than Barkley.
- Evans should be a slot/third down back. He is just not strong enough to be a pure running back in a pro style offense . . . and pounding him into defensive lines and linebackers is going to do nothing but get him hurt.
- I feel bad for O'Korn. He is a kid with some good physical tools . . . but he just doesn't seem to be able to "think" the position well. In fact, I wonder if he overthinks it . . . and when you're thinking too much, you're not playing. On his second fumbled snap, you could see him looking at the defense . . . basically, his lack of confidence in what he was doing and thinking to much was paralyzing him - a textbook case of paralysis by analysis.
- You can see that Peters has good physical tools. He is big and strong with pretty good feet and a good arm . . . but he didn't necessarily do anything spectacular. But when he came in, the offense started playing better and players started making plays. I think Peters being put in was kind of a wake up call for the other offensive players which realized that it was do or die time. And once Peters showed he could make some plays, they started playing with a big more focus and confidence. But he looks like he still has a long way to go. He botched a couple of running players and had a couple of underthrows . . . but he's got upside.
- The offensive line looks like it is steadily getting better. Both Isaac and Higdon are averaging about 6 yards/carry. I hope Owenu is ok.
- Walker looks good and I hope he is ok . . . although I thought he looked better in his early carries and then started dancing a bit too much. I want to seem him make one cut and go. As others have pointed out, he looks like he needs to get a little stronger in his lower body.
- I'm curious to know what led to moving Drevno to the field. My guess is there was some shift in playcalling responsibility.
- I'm a bit concerned about the defense . . . this marks 2 straight games that the defense has not played that well IMO. I think the stats are a bit deceiving . . . while we didn't give up a lot of total yards, the offense really dominated time of possession and protected the D. It looks to me like the D is getting a little worn down (perhaps because we are playing the starters so much). I think giving up two touchdowns where Rutgers had to drive the length of the field is not good enough.
- Interesting that Spanellis got in the game. He must be doing well in practice.
- I think MSU loses big to PSU next weekend. MSU's offense has been better than expected this year but I just don't see their D being able to stop PSU.
- I think the most overrated player this year is Saquon Barkley (I saw posts yesterday claiming he was a once a decade player). Yes, he's an excellent multipurpose back . . . but I don't see him as the best pure running back in college football this year. Note that both both Ty Issac and Karan Higdon average more yards/carry than him. Dobbins on OSU scares me more as a running back than Barkley.
- Evans should be a slot/third down back. He is just not strong enough to be a pure running back in a pro style offense . . . and pounding him into defensive lines and linebackers is going to do nothing but get him hurt.
