Devin Gardner Appreciation Thread
Devin, wanna burn your redshirt and hand the ball off so I can teach Tate Forcier a lesson? OK, coach.
Come in as a hybrid QB/WR in a dual-QB formation to mix it up? No problem, coach.
We're thin at wideout, Devin. Do you mind relinquishing your role as a heir to the QB throne to help our depth? Sure thing coach.
Nevermind, Devin. That didn't work out very well. Wanna give it a go at QB this week?
Ultimate team player, and looks to be one hell of a QB. Minnesota or not, this kid just made me very optimistic about the 2013 season.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:23 PM ^
If you take out the interception and the sack he took on the following drive instead of throwing the ball away, that's an 'A' game. The kind of game you expect from a much more experienced QB. Pretty amazing considering he just started practicing at QB this week. I'm very happy for him.
Now the offensive line on the other hand....
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:23 PM ^
Not trying to piss on the parade, just genuinely curious.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:23 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:24 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:24 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:25 PM ^
Thanks a ton, Devin! You gonna ball big time for Michigan next year.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:25 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:25 PM ^
but I'd love to see how many of you were the same Devin bashers after the spring game...please man up and identify yourselves. I never once doubted that Devin was our #2 QB (although I did like the WR decision).
Devin is a great athlete, can run and throw, and also Borges deserves a lot of credit today. GO BLUE!
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:29 PM ^
But like you, I agree with that WR decision. He has made some catches right when we needed them. He's been a heck of a player for us. Next year looks like a good one for him.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:52 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:07 PM ^
but I've also felt uncomfortable with all the the waiting for Shane as if DG weren't even here. Makes me even more selfishly happy he got to prove himself.
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:25 PM ^
If he's granted the medical redshirt for 2010, then I wouldn't say he's been screwed over. He'd still have two years to start at QB (not counting any starts this year), and he's gotten the opportunity to also play WR while Denard has been here. The burned (?) redshirt is the big issue.
November 3rd, 2012 at 8:51 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:45 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:26 PM ^
That has to have been one of the best games where a backup qb has started that I've ever seen
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:29 PM ^
Good point, one usually doesn't see this out of a "backup". Vandenberg for Stanzi vs Ohio State in 09' is my number one, though. He played lights out as a true freshman and damn near knocked the Buckeyes off in the Shoe.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:35 PM ^
It's up there.
Notable games for backup QB's starting...
*Ryan Mallet vs. Minnesota (2007) 11 of 20 for 238 yards and 1 TD.
*Todd Collins vs. Oklahoma State (1992) 29 of 42 for 285 yards and 2 TD's.
*Elvis Grbac vs. Maryland (1989) 10 of 20 for 187 yard and 2 TD's.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:27 PM ^
He has done everything asked of him. He deserves the accolades this week. I would love to see him come in against NU, Iowa and OSU to see how he does there too. He deserves the #2 slot and a shot at #1.
Don't let Minnesota take away from that either. His passes were really good. His decisions were really good. He played a hell of a game. He would have given Nebraska fits had he been prepped to go in the week before.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:27 PM ^
I appreciate Devin in this thread.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:29 PM ^
The tale of your back-to-back 90 yd TD drives in Q2 will be told and retold by many generations of Michigan fans!!!
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:47 PM ^
but no generations of Michigan fans talk about Minnesota games. Except for that comeback game
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:08 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 8:27 PM ^
And '77.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:31 PM ^
I'll bet you are the starter next season!
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:32 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:34 PM ^
w00000000000000t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DG can ball.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:34 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:36 PM ^
Two things come to mind:
1) I still think people who wanted Devin to go in last week without having taken any snaps at QB in practice are wrong. Those who are now wondering why he was moved in the first place when Bellomy is clearly unprepared have an excellent case, however.
2) I was about to throw in the towel on next year when Devin struggled in the first quarter. The way he finished the game was simply awesome, though. It's an extremely tall task to prepare for the QB position after just one week of taking reps, and we should all be pretty excited at how well Devin handled the situation. Wonderful effort out there. And I think even if Denard comes back 100% next week, Devin will continue to take at least some QB reps and will remain the #2 for the rest of the season.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:38 PM ^
From what I recall at the time DG's medical redshirt was something that we wouldn't know about until after his senior year but was something that was more or less expected to go through without a problem. Now folks seem to highly doubt it will happen. Since there has been a complete lack of information/updates I wonder why the perception has changed.
Even so, for today- WOOOO!
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:39 PM ^
Another great moment for Michigan football! He played calm, cool and focused. Devin has prepared for this moment for a long time and he carried it off.
Great athlete!
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:41 PM ^
To be honest, I think Devin is a better decision maker than Denard. Denard is still the #1 guy this season, but I think this game shows us who the QB will be next season.
Also Re: his medical redshirt, on Inside Michigan Football when he comes up on screen to talk, the nameplate graphic said Sophomore QB.....
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:52 PM ^
Twice Devin took advantage of a free play and chucked it downfield (and drew a PI one time) and multiple times he did first read, second read, run and got some good yards. He also looked surprisingly composed in the pocket when it collapsed (constantly)
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:41 PM ^
Devin was impressive. It is odd to have that confidence in a qb and not hold my breath every time he drops back. I love Denard, but now i have feelings for Devin as well. Impressive showing.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:41 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:46 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:48 PM ^
Bellomy
Gardner
Hoke
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:11 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:42 PM ^
in a row. Impressive.
Hopefully he can be as good when facing the buckeyes. Then we can plan for Rose Bowl.
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:44 PM ^
Devin is loving life right now. He maintained all season that he is a season and will play next season. He just earned the right to be the frontrunner.
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:00 PM ^
He is not only a season, but a DAMN GOOD season
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:20 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:02 PM ^
Thanks Devin, you probably saved Al Borges job today, and gave us a glimpse of M offensive football circa 2013 going forward.
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:05 PM ^
Devin's passes in the final three quarters looked tight, and what a sight to see a receiver being hit in stride on a long pass. Kid's got a pretty big arm, considering some of those passes (scramble, long TD to Dileo) were not with perfect QB technique. I have to think that his work at WR has been helpful in terms of feeling the speed of the game and knowing where the receivers will/should be.
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:10 PM ^
Ill tell you what... I hope I don't see Denard play QB again this year, after seeing Gardner POISED, CLUTCH, EFFECTIVE. Seriously.... I cannot stand watching Denard play anymore, running those stuffed zone option reads. Denard tried hard and did well but I would rather have Gardner going forward, to save the season.
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:19 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:21 PM ^
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:39 PM ^
I can understand why some people are going to have this sort of reaction to this game. Doesn't make it any more correct, but it's understandable.
First off, it's Minnesota. Sure, they're better this year than they were last year, but it's still unclear how much this performance means.
Second, I think you could make a pretty solid argument that Borges is more comfortable calling a game with Gardner at QB than with Denard. That doesn't mean the Gardner offense is actually better, it just looks more polished because it's in the OC's comfort zone.
Third, regardless of caveats, this was an outstanding game for DG. I've been irrationally high on Gardner since he came on in garbage time against Bowling Green in 2010, and it's great to have a reason to be rationally high on him now. I'm hoping harder than ever that his medical redshirt comes through and we get 2 years of DG starting.
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:50 PM ^
Well know that I was the original Denard supporter, over Forcier, enough that I got booted for the post "Its all about Denard"..... but the last 8 quarters Ive seen Denard play, was enough to not be able to watch it any longer. Gardner is a better QB and is heady, something that Denard unfortunately has shown me he is not. Play Denard in the slot and/or at rb...but Gardner needs to be the QB going forward.
November 3rd, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^
Today was a good start for Gardner to build his case for next year, but he still has a lot of proving left to do. If Denard, God forbid, is still out for the OSU game, I'd like to see how Gardner plays in that kind of game before anointing him as the starter for next year.
November 3rd, 2012 at 6:38 PM ^
He's absolutely done enough to call him next seasons starter.
It's not gonna be Bellomy anymore, and no way a freshman will come in and take it from Devin.