Can DG be fixed? Who Broke Him?
Interesting write up from Matt Hinton over at Grantland, discussing DG and how the wheels fell off. I agree with Hinton saying that when DG is on, it's a Wow Experience. ND last year, the OSU game, etc. Devin IS a damn good QB (at times). Last summer scouts were salivating over him at the Manning Passing Academy. He graduated and is working on an MSW. He does great work in the community and has always been a model citizen. He's also now in his 3rd system, with a new QB coach, as the unquestioned team leader and his fundamentals (and probably his Mental-mentals) are a mess.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/qb-curve-devin-gardner-michigan-wolve…
To Saturday and Beyond: We should find out today whether Gardner or Morris is slated to start this weekend’s Big Ten opener against Minnesota, which seems like a damned-if-you-do/damned-if-you-don’t scenario. The general feeling among the fans is that Gardner is a lost cause, and it’s time to move on. (He appeared so out of sorts against Utah that some observers left wondering if Gardner is harboring a secret injury.) On the other hand, Morris has done nothing whatsoever in his relief appearances to suggest he’s going to fare any better; his only career start, in last year’s Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, went poorly, and his first possession against Utah, following Gardner’s second interception, ended with an even uglier interception. Hoke is in no position to sacrifice the present for the future.
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
Let's be honest, it was really ugly.
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^
Gardner starting on Saturday. I am not an optimist for this season, but the next three games (Minnesota, Rutgers, and Penn State) are not automatic L's. If we win those games, we have some momementum, and Gardner isn't great but he has the experiene that Shane does not have. We lose any of these games, you can through Morris in there, and he'll have plenty of time to gain experience and learn. Call in the final, final, chance for Gardner. dunno.
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:44 AM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^
that DG hasn't been a gamer? Seriously? Last year's OSU game qualifies DG as a gamer the rest of his life.
I am comfortable that Malzone has never come close to enduring the pressure and hits that DG has. But like all unproven players, he must be better cuz he ain't the one we want replaced.
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:45 AM ^
It's not one thing that needs to change either way, it's complex.
DG came to Michigan about as raw as you can be as a QB. He was a phenomenal athlete that spent much of his time with his eyes on the defense looking for how he could make plays. He was like that because he was successful like that.
He got into college and was rushed onto the field by Rich Rod when Tate decided to go all Tate. Rich Rod wasn't really an advocate of teaching technique at the QB position as far as throwing. His thought was similar to those that don't fix a shooters mechanics in basketball; essentially, fixing things can only make them worse. Rich Rod's focus was have some simple read and get the ball out on time and where it needed to be. Get the reads down in the run and pass game, and go from there.
Then Hoke came and brought Borges with him. Borges had a West Coast Offense system that relied on timing, technique, and mechanics to beat the defense. You don't need the strongest arm, but you need to be accurate and on time, so mechanics are an emphasis. Borges then proceeded to focus a ton of time on footwork his first few years. The idea being: get the feet right, then the timing is right, and then the rest of the mechanics follow suit. This is harder and in ways more foolish than taking a guy that had never been a QB and teaching him how to be a QB with good mechanics, because both Denard and DG had been QBs, not only for years in High School, but for multiple years in college. They had taken a ton of reps as QBs already.
So then the third year under Borges happened. The OL was a mess, the offense couldn't work the ball down the field. You see flashes of what DG can be: his mechanics look good, he can throw all the throws, he's fairly accurate. But then the OL begins breaking down more and more. What happens then is mechanics start to revert under pressure. DG's eyes start dropping like they did in high school. And the problem snow balls as Borges starts calling more "unleash the dragon" plays because he doesn't trust the offense to be consistent. So suddenly DG is taking more hits, and it just gets worse.
Then DG gets a third OC and QB coach. Now this coach is focusing on getting the ball out on time and focusing a little more on the defense and trying to get the offense to be consistent and simple. With those things being stressed, mechanics slip again. DG still hasn't gotten over the pressure from last year, and now the problem has at least partially shifted from the interior OL to the edges of the OL.
So basically, three different coaches have focused on completely different things in quite different offenses. DG came in raw, and when he started getting pressured, reverted. It all snowballed.
If things come together, which they could, DG's potential is through the roof. He's learned a lot about QB play, he's learned a lot of tricks of the trade from a few different guys. But that's asking for a lot to click and sink in mid-season, which is unlikely. He may be the best QB Michigan has right now, but he looks uncomfortable right now, both with the offense, with the pressure, and with himself and his capabilities (confidence) right now.
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
One thing from rewatching the game: Putting DG under center with this offensive line is a terrible idea. When they run shotgun and someone gets beat, he usually has time to avoid the rusher and either scramble or get rid of the ball (as this year we are seeing a lot more of individuals being beat rather than wholesale collapse on the line). But when he's under center and they are calling play action, he's got no chance. He turns around and he's already being hit.
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:00 PM ^
DG is a long-limbed guy like Pryor and Vince Young were. His body is always going to make him have longer strides and a slower delivery than some QBs. Operating in tight spaces and making quick movements isn't his strong suit, but if you give him some space he can be a dangerous playmaker.
Both those guys had success because they got to drop back from the shotgun, put pressure on the defense to defend them in the run game, and have a little time to find their talented playmakers.
DG isn't running by design much at all, the line isn't giving him much time, his WR corps isn't making plays (outside of Funchess), and we're putting him in situations that, like you said, aren't advantageous to his skillset (doesn't threaten the D with his legs without turning his back, has to do complex footwork in a tight space with the line often getting shoved right back into him).
September 24th, 2014 at 12:35 AM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^
He can be fixed. Probably not in the time left in college, but Gardner has all the tools to be a good QB. As for who broke him, let's just say it's a combination of a crappy offensive line, a bad OC, and a clueless HC who demands an archaic offensive philosophy that flies in the face of reality.
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^
I think DG could find success in the NFL with the right coaching and the right situation -
Maybe 2-3 years on the bench then some spot starts
He has all the tools
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
Morris or Gardner, damned if you do, damned if you don't.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^
Hard to have confidence when he was hit 8,000 times last year and he has to throw early and often into WRs who can't get open.
PS: Why does Hecklinski get a pass? The WRs are not shaking their coverage, and they are often not where the routes call for them to be.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
He's the product of 3 different OC's and playing 2 different positions. I have been thinking about this quite a bit lately and all I can say is that I feel terrible for DG. With all that talent, which is evident (see the prior 2 years of ND games), he has lost his confidence by being trained by 3 different systems. I truly do believe that if R2 was still at AA, DG would be nothing short of a Geno Smith'ish player...
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^
I don't think a Qb should be told he is a legend until he is 40 years old.
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:19 PM ^
Just going to pile on and agree with what many have already said, but it's clear what's wrong with DG and what will fix him. He's a spread-option QB being asked to run pro-style play action. The coaches can either try to adapt the scheme to suit DG, or they can try to mold DG to suit their preferred scheme. The latter does not seem to be working out too well. DG is not AJ McCarron, so why run an offense that is suited for AJ McCarron? I see two options going forward:
1) Keep the current scheme and if so bring Shane in to run it; or,
2) Adapt the scheme (even a little) to suit DG's talents.
I think option 2 gives Michigan a better chance to win.
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:32 PM ^
What i dont understand is not one designed run for DG yet..Either his foot didnt heel right which at times seems possible like the missed pass to Funchess that DG seemed to not push off his foot..Or if he isnt injured then the coaches need to go because you dont go 4 games with DG and not call a designed run
September 24th, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^
I am guessing that they don't have designed runs for him because:
1. They already knew that DG is probably our best chance of winning games because Shane isn't quite ready yet, and you cannot throw Shane to the wolves if he is your projected starter next season. Talk about a confidence drain... Look at DG and what confidence can do...
2. They are worried that if he takes a good lick, that could reaggrevate an old injury or he simply won't be able to compete at the highest level we need him at: for better or for worse.
3. Everyteam knows that DG can run and so designed runs will be harder to pull off if they keep having a qb spy.
4. O-line woes. If you're still having O-line troubles, doing a QB run is almost asking for him to get drilled.
September 23rd, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^
DG isn't broken. The offense is because it has a coordinator who is used to having the best personnel money can buy. Worse yet, that OC is runing his offesne according to David Brandon's MANBALL mandate. MANBALL only works when you have a large personnel advantage. When the personnel is close to equal, it might as well be a neanderthal trying to fight a ninja.
September 23rd, 2014 at 4:35 PM ^
Agree completely. 3-yards and a cloud of dust only works if you can dominate talent-wise at every position. That was the whole point of the spread option--it allowed less talented teams to compete. If the spread-option, hurry up allows teams with lesser talent to be successful, doesn't it follow then that a team with superior talent also running the spread-option would be that much more successful--ie, national championship contender?
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:38 PM ^
The #98 was a horrible idea. What a clown show Brandon & Hoke has made us ... ugh
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:46 PM ^
msu 2013 perfect example, one they found Cook, then they took off...sorry but Its over for DG, and we cant keep blaming the OL anymore, it seems like the game is too fast for DG and he has gotten very slow on his decision making
September 24th, 2014 at 12:27 AM ^