Excuse the article but Gardner will not be ready by spring

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Gardner was also the reason we were out of most games too.

He wasn't responsible for a single one. Name me one game where our running game was doing well, our O-line was giving him time and our defense wasn't giving up big points that Gardner ruined?

We have a proven starter at QB entering his 5th year, there is no controversy. There's always this misconception, and I'm guilty of it, that the guy behind the starter is going to be better or at least can't be worse - well - they can be worse. As we saw with Shane in during the BWW bowl, it won't matter who our QB is unless we get a running game, our O-line blocks and our defense stops the other guys.

 

[bamf_16]

Iowa, msu, Akron, Uconn. ..hes was awful. Psu he was pretty bad. 8 picks and 2 fumbles thru the first 4 games. 2.9 ypc for a running qb? 34 sacks. Led his team to 7 wins...must I go on? He had good games, a couple great games, and a shit ton of shitty games.

Akron: He threw three picks, two of them pretty bad. But he also had 2 passing TDs, a rushing TD, and over 350 total yards of offense.

UConn: He was worse than awful.

MSU: Team debacle. I don't mean to be a dick (ok, maybe I do) but if you put most of the blame for that game on the QB or you rely upon it heavily in judging QB play, it reeks of sheer ignorance, that you're one of those, "Blame the QB!" guys b/c it's the easiest position to see on the field.

Penn State: The team went on the road and put up 34 points in regulation, (27 offensive points) with 17 coming in the second half. Putting up 17 offensive points in the second half of a game and losing usually points to defense, a defense that gave up, what, an 80 yard TD drive in 30 seconds? Gardner put up 360 total and 3 TDs.

Iowa: Still think this is the game that got Borges fired.

It's sad when the person disagreeing with you has to make your arguments for you, but I think that's the corner into which you've painted yourself.

It's not necessarily that Gardner had shitty "games" but rather some really individual shitty plays. That pick at PSU where he threw it right into the stomach of the LB, the pick against Akron where it looked like he forgot what color jersey UM was wearing that day, those were awful PLAYS. The examples of awful "games" where he was terrible all around are much less frequent and actually take away from the argument you're trying to make.

If you want to make the point that he had a lot of awful "plays", plays where the mistake was so glaring you wanted to jump through the TV and strangle him, I'm right with you.

If you want to make the point that he had a lot of awful "games" where he made more mistakes than he atoned for, well, I can't get on board with you there.

 

[TheVictors]

Who gives a shit about the spring game? They were invented by espn.

 

[mhughes0021]

Akron: He threw three picks, two of them pretty bad. But he also had 2 passing TDs, a rushing TD, and over 350 total yards of offense.

UConn: He was worse than awful.

MSU: Team debacle. I don't mean to be a dick (ok, maybe I do) but if you put most of the blame for that game on the QB or you rely upon it heavily in judging QB play, it reeks of sheer ignorance, that you're one of those, "Blame the QB!" guys b/c it's the easiest position to see on the field.

Penn State: The team went on the road and put up 34 points in regulation, (27 offensive points) with 17 coming in the second half. Putting up 17 offensive points in the second half of a game and losing usually points to defense, a defense that gave up, what, an 80 yard TD drive in 30 seconds? Gardner put up 360 total and 3 TDs.

Iowa: Still think this is the game that got Borges fired.

It's sad when the person disagreeing with you has to make your arguments for you, but I think that's the corner into which you've painted yourself.

It's not necessarily that Gardner had shitty "games" but rather some really individual shitty plays. That pick at PSU where he threw it right into the stomach of the LB, the pick against Akron where it looked like he forgot what color jersey UM was wearing that day, those were awful PLAYS. The examples of awful "games" where he was terrible all around are much less frequent and actually take away from the argument you're trying to make.

If you want to make the point that he had a lot of awful "plays", plays where the mistake was so glaring you wanted to jump through the TV and strangle him, I'm right with you.

If you want to make the point that he had a lot of awful "games" where he made more mistakes than he atoned for, well, I can't get on board with you there.

you can definitely make a case both ways...its easy to look at stats like yards and say he had a hell of a year. But the arguments are earily similar to the Stafford apologists. You brought up his PSU game....sure yards and tds were good. But his completion percentage sucked ass and he had very costly turnovers. I said he played well in some games....and I think hes a decent qb. But I want to see what morris can do ....I think hes more of the qb mold hoke keeps pertaining to when he constantly states we need to get back to "Michigan football"...but we never do. I think hes frustrated with devins mental mistakes and is ready for a change now that he has a new coordinator. I think nussenmeikslkjdoijer probably wants to work with a more traditional qb. Hoke would be the first guy to say "devins our starting qb" if that's what he felt.....hes always been loyal to the upper classman. But he didn't say that and I think its cause morris or someone else nussenemijoinekjnrer has his eye on has a better chance of starting. Devin isn't an nfl qb. Morris has potential to be a next level guy. Part of your program needs to be about developing guys to go to the next level or your recruiting will suffer.

 

[mhughes0021]

He wasn't responsible for a single one. Name me one game where our running game was doing well, our O-line was giving him time and our defense wasn't giving up big points that Gardner ruined?

We have a proven starter at QB entering his 5th year, there is no controversy. There's always this misconception, and I'm guilty of it, that the guy behind the starter is going to be better or at least can't be worse - well - they can be worse. As we saw with Shane in during the BWW bowl, it won't matter who our QB is unless we get a running game, our O-line blocks and our defense stops the other guys.

akron. touss saves his ass and had a good running game. Devin sucked....the entire game.

 

[Michchamp]

Just let them compete
I will trust the best to rise to top

...

that's no fun. surely you can tell us the name of one player who just sucks.

 

[Gulo Blue]

I blame the line for a lot of Gardner's bad decisions. Not any specific bad decisions, just in general. If he had a more normal amount of time to make decisions, they would have been better decisions.

 

[mhughes0021]

I blame the line for a lot of Gardner's bad decisions. Not any specific bad decisions, just in general. If he had a more normal amount of time to make decisions, they would have been better decisions.

HEs made a lot of poor decisions when hes had time....which im sure is the reason why the job has been "opened up." If hoke felt that devin didn't get a fair shake and did the best he could with what he was given....he would be the starter.

 

[Michchamp]

over Gardner's last 4 games of the season, he threw no INTs.

In Big Ten play, i.e. the last 8 games of the regular season, he threw a total of 3 INTs (2 against PSU & 1 against MSU), against 14 TDs.

that's an avg. of 1.75 TDs/game and 0.2 INTs/game.

Gardner wasn't the problem; the lack of a running game to kill the clock was a problem. The poor OL play was a problem. You simply cannot blame him for those things.

Since no one here will watch a single practice between now and September, no one can really say who should start for us. But based on past performance and experience, it's completely insane to call for someone other than Gardner.

I would of course like to see Morris get more PT; hopefully we'll have some big leads where we can rest Gardner so he can stay healthy.

 

[mhughes0021]

well agree to disagree.....but high profile back ups on a average at best team....you start the high profile guys and try to develop them so you can become an above average team. Its not a very crazy concept....

 

[Michchamp]

You are completely insane.

 

[TheVictors]

I think Gardner's confidence eroded game by game until the end where he seemed to settle down. I wouldn't say Morris should be the starter, but having 'competition' at each position is probably half coachspeak and half coach tactic to motivate all during the off-season. If Morris believes he can start in the Fall, he'll work that much harder and for Gardner the motivation is clear and may be a factor all next year.

I was disappointed with his play last season, but it's hard to say Gardner shouldn't start. The Spring Game is stupid and in no way indicative of game success so until next season, I'm fine with 'competition' at the position.

The OLine is key. That group will gel and mature too.

 

[thewolverines24]

well agree to disagree.....but high profile back ups on a average at best team....you start the high profile guys and try to develop them so you can become an above average team. Its not a very crazy concept....

It's a great concept....in EA Sports NCAA Football.

 

[mhughes0021]

You are completely insane.

Im completely insane cause I want to start morris....a highly rated traditional qb in a newly installed traditional offense instead of devin....an anything but traditional wide receiver at qb. Yup...im ****ing crazy lol.

 

[Michlady]

Who gives a shit about the spring game? They were invented by espn.

Yep just like LOI day media events

 

[thewolverines24]

Im completely insane cause I want to start morris....a highly rated traditional qb in a newly installed traditional offense instead of devin....an anything but traditional wide receiver at qb. Yup...im ****ing crazy lol.

Gardner is not a WR. He was moved there just to get him on the field and to try and help the team. He was a five star QB coming out of high school and has been a QB every year at Michigan. DG has the dropback passing game and he can make amazing plays with his legs. Just bc he can run doesn't make him an option/"nontraditional" QB.

You want Morris because he is highly rated? DG was just as highly rated as Morris coming out of high school. Your argument doesn't even make sense. Then you have the game Morris started, and he proved he isn't even close to ready. I'm sure he'll improve this offseason, but he is not going to catch up with DG.

 

[mhughes0021]

Gardner is not a WR. He was moved there just to get him on the field and to try and help the team. He was a five star QB coming out of high school and has been a QB every year at Michigan. DG has the dropback passing game and he can make amazing plays with his legs. Just bc he can run doesn't make him an option/"nontraditional" QB.

You want Morris because he is highly rated? DG was just as highly rated as Morris coming out of high school. Your argument doesn't even make sense. Then you have the game Morris started, and he proved he isn't even close to ready. I'm sure he'll improve this offseason, but he is not going to catch up with DG.

2.9 ypc is "amazing"? I want morris cause dg was highly rated, was given a shot, and for a year and a half proved to be mediocre and make a lot of mental mistakes. Youre using 1 game to try to prove morris isn't ready. ...im using a year and a half to show dg isn't ready....who's the crazy one?

 

[food4thought]

Here is a link to Gardner's splits on espn:
http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/splits/_/id/501543/devin-gardner

Negatives: It shows that he really struggled in 3rd down situations, and had the most turnovers in close game situations (when leading by 7 or less or tied)). He also threw too many of his interceptions inside his own 40, giving the opposing offenses short fields. He was putrid throwing the ball in the early non-conference schedule. The biggest thing that really jumped out at me was his home/away splits, though... he really struggled on the road.

Positives: He was really good in the red zone, where he posted his highest completion percentage and, more importantly, did not throw any picks. He also had his best stats against the top 25 (was MSU ranked?). He had good overall numbers vs the B1G (although the Indiana and OSU games skew those numbers quite a bit). He only threw 3 picks in the 2nd half of games.

Other interesting notes: He seemed to depend much more on his legs on the opponents end of the field, particularly in the red zone... this might help understand why he was a much more effective passer in the red zone, since defenses had to respect his running ability. This also suggests that he would be a much more efficient passer with a good run game to keep defenses honest. He was much more effective in the 1st and 3rd quarters than he was in the 2nd and 4th... was he physically wearing down, or did opposing coaches do a better job of making in game adjustments?

Bottom line: Mixed bag of good and bad. He struggled in obvious passing situations, and was very inconsistent overall. The lack of a run game really hurt him, though. I also think we need to remember that despite the fact that he was a redshirt junior, this was his first full year of playing QB. The switch to WR also took practice reps at QB away from him, hurting his development. Still, he showed up big against the best teams (except MSU). I think there is reason to expect him to be better next year due to experience, and perhaps significantly better if the run game is at least respectable. JMO

 

[hungry]

Coachspeak, Gardner is the starter if he's healthy

They were both 5* qb's

 

[mhughes0021]

Coachspeak, Gardner is the starter if he's healthy

They were both 5* qb's

if its coachspeak....its very unlike hoke who has been loyal to a fault to his upper classman.