ANGAR Reality Check
Just your reminder that no matter how angry/bad/sad/depressed you feel. You're never going to feel worse than the guys out on the field
Gardner fumbles.....stays on the ground, head buried....they tried to pick him up....but he wouldn't budge.
— angelique (@chengelis) November 23, 2013Gardner was barely audible, extremely down: "I lost the game myself, I fumbled the ball when they trusted me to drive down and score."
— angelique (@chengelis) November 23, 2013Devin Gardner fighting back tears at media podium, says he was trusted to win the game, blew it with a fumble.
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) November 23, 2013November 23rd, 2013 at 4:40 PM ^
Devin Gardner deserves better than Al Borges.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:51 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
Don't worry though, Hoke loves him some Borges.
November 24th, 2013 at 12:17 AM ^
100%
as does the team in general, but probably no one more than DG and Lewan
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:41 PM ^
all you "GARDNER SUCKZ, PUT IN THE BACKUP" dickheads can fucking fuck yourselves. Devin Gardner and the defense are all that's keeping our heads above water. Barely.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:46 PM ^
Great kid, but he makes a lot of mistakes.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:04 PM ^
He has been sacked 31 times this year(before today) of which 19 have come in the last 3 games. To say he's shell shocked is an understatement. Factor in that Funchess dropped at least 3 balls today, we can't run and the play calling is predictable. How good would you be?
November 23rd, 2013 at 6:03 PM ^
November 24th, 2013 at 1:58 AM ^
that Borges continues to call. If the man had a running game to take the pressure off or a better designed passing game, you could fairly evaluate him.
November 23rd, 2013 at 6:06 PM ^
...that some of the sacks weren't on him. I'm watching the same QB and he is inaccurate and often misses open reads. He may be shell-shocked because a lot of times when he throws the ball its at the other team; in fact, I would say he probably fears throwing the ball more than he fears being sacked. I know I do. I'm not questioning his heart; but we also can't ignore his play because he's upset after a game.
November 23rd, 2013 at 9:44 PM ^
He has looked horrible and lost at times this year. But if it is not mostly due to the bad oline play, then how come he looked so much better last year? I am not arguing here. I'm trying to wrap my head around why he looks this bad at times.
November 23rd, 2013 at 6:02 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:48 PM ^
While I agree about not personally insulting Gardner, to say that he is keeping our heads above water right now just isn't true. He was bad today.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:49 PM ^
that's not exactly true. Devin is not playing well, I'm sure even he would tell you that.
I dont think the takeaway here is that DG is doing well, I think the takeaway is that he's a really great guy, who cares deeply about the team, gives everything he has, and doesn't ever deserve to have his heart questioned.
But that's not the same thing as being critcism-proof for his play, even if there are myriad explanations for why he's not playing well.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:55 PM ^
Yes, he certainly isn't criticism-proof. The fumble was all on him. But he's all we have. He hasn't developed, at least in terms of decision-making and reading defenses, under Borges, and the offensive line puts a ton of pressure on him, since he has no running game to support him and he is continually blitzed into oblivion.
I appreciate his toughness and resilience. He looks very hurt. He just isn't the player we thought he would be this year.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:07 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:07 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^
I feel bad for the kid but you can't honestly think he's playing well. Runs backwards 10 yards on inevitable sacks, doesn't throw it away, and has fumbled more times than I can even remember. I can't stand Borges and hope he's fired but you can't blame him for Gardner not holding onto the ball. Anyone know how many fumbles DG has actually had this year???
November 23rd, 2013 at 9:30 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:18 PM ^
I disagree. Someone in the offense is putting WAAAAAY too much stock into DG's running ability. DG should be less eager to forego passing for his run. He consistently hesitates too much on his throws when there is a legitimately open receiver until that receiver does, in fact, become covered or DG gets sacked or DG breaks into a usually unsuccessful run.
Borge's playcalling doesn't exactly set DG up for success, but I lay at least as much responsibility on DGs doorstep.
Ironically, he was a victim of his success at running the ball early in the season followed by some unlucky interceptions which caused him to favor running WAAAAY too much when he makes his progressions.
That would be true no matter what plays would be called.
I do agree that there is no reasonable alternative in putting Morris in. So we just have to suck it up.
I also agree that DG has no shortage in heart. He wants to win, and he is crushed. I am sure he feels like he's hosed when he runs and hosed when he passes, which is leading him to analysis paralysis when he's in the pocket and it is KILLING him. I feel for the kid.
But even if I like DG, a LOT of this is on him. Not for lack of desire, but he's not seeing the open receivers. And he's seeing running holes that don't exist. And his offensive line isn't giving him a chance to get his head recalibated.
November 23rd, 2013 at 9:17 PM ^
PREACH, Monocle. Yes.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:42 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:42 PM ^
I feel bad for the guy. He has to work with a terrible QB coach and a horrid offensive line. One fumble doesn't change that.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:43 PM ^
We all acknowledge their hard work, sacrifice, and love of the University. Most of us are disappointed for them, not with them.
They deserve to be put in a better position to win games. Coaching has been atrocious all year.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:43 PM ^
Bleh, feel so bad for the guy. I just tweeted an encouraging message to him, then felt dumb because it is probably meaningless coming from a random fan.
Either way, just hope that he keeps plugging away. He had a rough game, but without him I truly believe this is a 5-7 season at best.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^
Tweeting student athletes?
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:56 PM ^
Tweeting words of encouragement should not be frowned upon.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^
Nope. It's about as creepy as it gets this side of tweeting high school athletes.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:37 PM ^
While I agree that tweeting recruits is creepy, I think there is a difference between a recruit and a kid who is already on the team.
Also, Twitter isn't Facebook.
Fans being able to tweet Devin Gardner "Go Blue!" is pretty much the entire reason Twitter exists.
November 23rd, 2013 at 6:20 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 9:19 PM ^
What if the MGoPoster is a 12 year old? Or a fellow student? Does this change the "creep" factor? I think it would. I don't mind it if encouraging tweets are sent by anyone, at any age.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:51 PM ^
I don't think it's meaningless. Gardner has, more than once this season, acknowledged the hateful things people say to him/the team via social media. (Jeremy Gallon actually fights with people on Instagram, which. Stop that, Jeremy Gallon.) Anyway my point is, I'm sure the supportive stuff is at least nice to read.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:24 PM ^
Hateful things to him via social media? That's f$%#ed up.
These are just kids, playing their hearts out, probably not even fully understanding the nature of the sacrifices they are making every Saturday for our entertainment. Even when we don't like the score.
Even if I, personally, am not high on DGs performance this season, I have no illusions that he is not doing his absolute best under an ENORMOUS amount of pressure in a situation not designed to maximize his chances of success.
I can't imagine these poor kids having to deal with the bullcrrap of tweets and the internet in general regarding their performance, and they haven't even graduated from college yet.
There should be keyboard license required before being allowed onto the internet.
November 23rd, 2013 at 6:09 PM ^
Yeah, it's awful. I try to stay away from Twitter/Instagram after games exactly for this reason - people are hateful when they're anonymous and behind a keyboard, and seeing the vitriol in your own fanbase sucks. They're college kids. I'm sure some of us say this stuff in our living rooms, but it's a whole other snakelike evil thing to say something directly to them.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:43 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:48 PM ^
But it was deleted for no reason. I posted it because I had insider knowledge regarding Gardner's state of mind but that was ignored because it got mistakenly lumped in with missing out on Hand.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:47 PM ^
Good reminder that these are not automatons, but actual human beings, with feelings, and thoughts, and plenty of shit to deal with already. They don't need endless heaps of trash from fans and other people telling them to "Go die," or to "Go fuck urself, u suk!"
I just cringe thinking about a player, a coach, or maybe one of their family members reading the open threads.
Someone actually wrote this about Courtney Avery:
Courntey Avery He is a garbage as bitch go back to warming the bench u piece of shit
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:00 PM ^
One of the reasons I chart the swearing in the Open Threads is the possibly vain hope that people will see just how ridiculous it is to get personal on this level. Not that many learn the lesson, but that it is a different story.
It has been repeated all year - criticize performance all you want, but when you're saying things like that about Avery, for example, turn off the game and read a book. When you feel compelled to get personal and/or profane like that, it is time to walk away.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:40 PM ^
Really? That's why you do it? I totally misunderstood the purposes of those threads, then. I thought it was supposed to be a "well, this season is really frustrating, might as well have some fun with how disappointed we all are" kind of thing. Like a mini-TWIS with charts, just for the board.
Welp, totally mis-read that one...
(But yes, I looked at the open thread for the first time all season and closed it after seeing someone talk about Fitz starting and Avery playing. People need to really evaluate their priorities and behaviors. GO FITZ! GO COURTNEY!)
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:44 PM ^
Well, it is that too. Actually, I have fun with it and it is MGoTWIS, but I do hope that people see that and maybe someone says, "Wow, maybe I shouldn't say these things..."
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:46 PM ^
I think dropping a "fuck" or "goddamit" at a fumble or INT is acceptable -- it's more of an utternace than directed at a player.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:54 PM ^
I agree. That's the part of it that is basically fun and MGoTWIS - I say those things sitting here (I did a lot of that today), and I would expect nothing less than similar frustration at those moments. There's a diary coming probably in December that will outline the seedier side of the profanity, of course.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:17 PM ^
I'm sure the pinnacle of this commenter's athletic achievement was the time he beat his stoned roommate at Madden in 2011.
November 23rd, 2013 at 9:21 PM ^
This made me laugh out loud. Well done.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^
Michigan plays on a very large public stages and its coaches are paid a fortune. If they can't produce results, the coaching staff deserves criticsm. and replacement if they can't take it, go do something else.
I think it is appropriiate to critique a player but it is not acceptable to go after them personally.
November 23rd, 2013 at 6:50 PM ^
This is just sad. Sad. Sad. Sad.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:44 PM ^
Someone needs to tell him that loss wasn't on him. I think he's better than what the stats give him credit for. Fergodsakes he's out there doing the best he can even without the guidance of a QB coach. He deserves more credit than we give him.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:46 PM ^
would have whipped these guys into shape by now.