Boyd could hurt us
Does the kid have talent? Yes, absolutely. But he does have a torn ACL that he will probably need a full year to rehab so he looks like a definite red shirt. Signing Boyd could hurt Michigan with Gardner. I think it is strongly believed that Gardner is a better prospect than Forcier and Boyd. After watching TP yesterday, it is clear that his best position is WR. So, to me I would rather have the Buckeyes with Boyd than with Gardner. It would make more sense for Michigan to bring in a guy like Denard who can contribute right away if Forcier gets hurt or doesn't progress like we all hope.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:56 PM ^
Gardner is far from a sure thing, and one extra quarterback probably isn't going to make a huge difference.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:03 PM ^
We're talking about the kid who won the AAA game MVP and wont take a single snap until a year from now. I think that would be used against us when other teams are recruiting Gardner.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:06 PM ^
Again, you're fooling yourself if you think that Gardner is anywhere close to a sure thing even if Forcier is the only QB that we recruit in this class, Truth.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:07 PM ^
It's kind of silly NOT to recruit someone this year because somebody better MIGHT come next year.
"Hey, Greg Mathews? Yeah, about that scholarship offer...we're rescinding it. Ronald Johnson might come here next year. Thanks, anyway."
January 6th, 2009 at 3:41 PM ^
what i was going to say but you did already, so, yeah. I agree. I mean, really they kid hasnt signed yet. If you get Boyd you take him. I mean how many times do you think we will take and start a freshman at QB in the next 4 years. Hopefully not many of them.
January 6th, 2009 at 5:13 PM ^
It is worth saying: Boyd is also more highly regarded than Tate Forcier. Getting him would be an unmitigated good thing.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:59 PM ^
I would take any 5 star guy that wants to play for the Maize and Blue. I think our chances with Boyd are slim and none, so if he comes it would be a very good thing.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:04 PM ^
Too many people are piling on Pryor after his TRUE FRESHMAN season. He's a tremendous athlete who needs to work on throwing the ball more accurately. He was playing against a team with an argument to be the #1 ranked team in the country, and also a team that had a lot of speed defensively. On top of that, it was probably the most-watched football game he's ever played in (I'm guessing it got more viewers than the USC-OSU and UM-OSU games).
Go ahead and keep underestimating Pryor. I'm sure he'll cause a lot of teams headaches over the next two or three years.
Also, nice job of projecting Pryor's best position based on one fade route. One time I ran for a 60-yard touchdown in IM football. With my 6'3", 240 lb. frame, I guess I should have been a running back. Damn my high school coaches for making me a tackle!
January 6th, 2009 at 3:10 PM ^
if you are going to sit here and tell me that Pryor is going to be an NFL qb you are off your rocker. You have to be able to pass in the pros, just ask Vince Young. Pryor has no passing skills at all, no mechanics or arm strength. Dude was locked down on both passes thrown to him and he came down with both, he will be a WR if he makes it to the league.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:12 PM ^
HE IS A FUCKING TRUE FRESHMAN!!! he is not going to be in the NFL tomorrow...he has couple of years to develop his arm!
January 6th, 2009 at 3:15 PM ^
you act like he's the first true freshman to ever start. his throwing is worse than Tebow when he was a frosh and Tebow is projected as a full back in the NFL, jokers.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:26 PM ^
There are a lot of future NFL players who don't even play as true freshmen because they're not good enough. Pryor passed up a 6th year (5th year) senior who took his team to the national championship game last year. He also ended up 8-2 as a starter.
You're right - he caught both passes that were thrown to him. One was against a true freshman safety, and one was because he pushed the cornerback to the ground and should have been called for offensive pass interference (there should not have been an off-setting penalty against Texas). Wow. Future Hall of Fame receiver right there. Yep.
Pryor has plenty of arm strength. He just doesn't know how to use it yet. Did you watch any of his high school clips where he was throwing bombs? No? Oh. Well, this post makes sense then.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:23 PM ^
Vince Young did fairly well passing in the NFL in his first 2 years (8-5, 10-6 records as a starter). Pryor looks 100 times better passing than VY did early in his career. Much of VY's development as a passer was related to mastering his footwork. Working with Major Applewhite helped cure that problem. As far as Pryor, I think its WAY too early to say his mechanics and arm strength are not there. He still has at least 2 years left before he could declare for the draft, in all likelihood, three.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:36 PM ^
No arm strength? That's b.s., his mechanics and accuracy are not good (yet), but he does have 'arm strength'.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:10 PM ^
I agree....i think every Michigan fan who is piling on Pryor is looking for some hope that he won't be good.
Any True Freshman at Ohio State who is not from Ohio, who wins the starting job from a Senior who is from Ohio is going to be very very good.
But as Pryor develops there will be Cissoko, Fitzgerld, Mouton, Cambell, Martin, Turner, Bell and company to welcome him!
January 6th, 2009 at 4:00 PM ^
I will no longer f with Magnus - he is officially right on all topics. 6'3 240 lbs officially makes you universally correct.
Does anyone else want to see Magnus and Will Campbell in a dance off?
I have to agree with Magnus and say the Pryor thing is getting ridiculous. He needs help in terms of footwork, point of release, and general mechanics that can't be denied - nor is his ability to look of safeties or decision making adequate in the passing game. The former however can be changed (even if the later can't). And the kid is a freshman, runs like he's is on air, and is very difficult for a single tackler to bring down. Basically he is Pat White and Vince Young in one quarterback and will be tough as hell to stop for at least two of the next three years. The biggest detriment to anything he will do is Tressel. Seriously, how do we lose to this guy every year. I am befuddled. It was obvious Texas was starting a young secondary - that you needed a pass first quarterback - yet in obvious passing downs most of the game he had Pryor in chucking the ball (see how much better their offense was once he started interchanging the two quarterbacks and put Boeckmann in on passing downs). He had Pryor on the first two point conversion through an out route, by far his worst throw. On top of that he's blitzing with 30 seconds left on the 40 yard line with only a safety over the slot receiver who has been destroying you all game. The Texas offense feasted on blitzing all year - just bizarre. Year in and year out he has amazing talent. And year in and year out - he doesn't win the big game. And is not a talent differential - it is a coaching differential.
But I digress - I think Terrelle will become a more complete package, he will never materialize as a pro quarterback (he will be a great pro at some position for sure on the field) but he will be a dangerous college quarterback who will torture us in years to come - mostly because he will learn to throw a slant and a serviceable out and people will have to respect his feet enough to let players slip past in coverage. Troy Smith had better mechanics (actually far better mechanics) as a passer when he came to college, but he couldn't run and didn't have running instincts like Pryor has - it will be really interesting to watch him grow the next three years.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:15 PM ^
I should have divulged my height and weight sooner. That would have alleviated some issues.
I would like to see me and Will Campbell in a dance-off. Not only could I maybe get his autograph, but I could be a Youtube sensation for being the first guy to lose a dance competition to a 315 pound man.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:05 PM ^
I dont think Boyd will sign with us....Tate is early enrolling and that will give him a leg up on anybody who comes to michigan this year....
I think if Gardner signs next year he will Re-shirt. and be ready to take over when Tate leaves.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:05 PM ^
I'll stick to 24. Jack will kill em all starting Sunday. Pryor is a WR?? Uh huh. Gardner is best prospect?? Uh huh. You think Pryor is a WR, but Gardner can throw?? Did you see Gardner's motion?? If any 4 and 5 star dual threat Qb's want to commit bring em in and we'll figure out who is best thru competition...I'm not worried about scaring off Tommie Fraziers son in the 2011 class.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^
Boyd is an incredible talent, and if he decided to come here, I would take it in a heartbeat if I had any say in the matter. Gardner is far from a "sure thing," and frankly, while Gardner is good and has a ton of upside, he's still a project. If you thought Pryor's throwing motion was bad, Gardner's is worse. He has a really bizarre sidearm throwing motion that will ultimately hurt him because he's only actually about 6'1" from what I can tell and what I've heard (he's listed at 6'4", but he's obviously not that tall).
Not that I wouldn't take Gardner either (I certainly would), but you're talking about passing on a sure thing because it might hurt your chances with this other thing that isn't even close to a sure thing to begin with. That doesn't really make much sense, does it?
We don't know how good Gardner is going to be. We know that Boyd is incredibly good.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:28 PM ^
This thread is ridiculous. Why do people keep bashing Pryor; he did fairly well yesterday despite being only a true freshman. He's going to cause Michigan more headaches for the next few years, so get used to it.
Why do people keep thinking we're going to sign Boyd? We're not, so stop throwing it out there.
January 6th, 2009 at 5:02 PM ^
Mr. Karma is reading these posts, and he is none too pleased.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:30 PM ^
Help NOT Hurt.
Boyd is good, everyone can see it, but more importantly than getting another good Dual QB here is..........
COMPETITION.
If Boyd was to come it would make Tate and even Threet step it up. The job wouldn't be handed to Threet because of experience or Tate because "He fits" the system better. It would make all 3 work their tail off to "EARN" the starting job and lead this team for the next 4 or 5 years.
Keep pressing Michigan, this kid could make the other QB's better.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:38 PM ^
I don't know how many people it takes or how many times it takes to say it...Boyd is not coming here! He wants to be a pocket passer! Until someone like Tate comes along, someone with the ability to be a throwing quaterback who happens to run well, everyone young QB/Athlete with dreams of playing QB in the NFL is going to equate RR's offense with Pat White. And last time I checked, absolutely no one in the NFL is drafting him as a QB.
And whoever thinks Pryor should be a receiver after one catch against a freshmen safety who he has 6 inches on is crazy. That would be like saying Henne should have played running back after he ran for that one random 1st down. He is going to be crazy good and be the thing Michigan nightmares are made of the next 3 years.
The one thing that bothers me about these athletic quaterbacks is how they don't embrace their athletic ability and try to be what they're not. Ask Vince Young how that is working out for him! You think Pat White would trade in the last 4 years of his life so he can be a 3rd string QB in the arena league? He knew what he was and used it to his ability and now will be the starting kick returner for some NFL team next year.
If Pryor takes off running like Vince Young did against USC, Ohio State wins that game!
January 6th, 2009 at 3:50 PM ^
You could very well be correct that Boyd isn't coming here. But just as I don't believe commitments until signing day, I won't say "never" about a kid until he signs with another team, either.
Michael Shaw and Roy Roundtree are proof that things can change.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:41 PM ^
not that Boyd is even favored to come here at the moment, but I wonder if you've heard the phrase "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". Give up on Boyd to land Gardner and you'll probably get neither.
Second, are you also saying that Michigan would be better off if Ohio State had Pryor at receiver and Boyd throwing him the ball? No thanks. I'll take Boyd on our side (or nobody's side), and Terrelle Pryor stepping out of bounds and short arming throws to avoid contact under center.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:55 PM ^
I wonder if you've heard the phrase "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". Give up on Boyd to land Gardner and you'll probably get neither.Both Boyd and Gardner are in the bush, so I don't get what you're trying to state here. We appear to have no lead on Boyd, nor do we appear to have interest from Boyd. Gardner, on the other hand, has at least acknowledged interest. So you're saying perhaps that we should give up on the guy who has interest to go after a possible dead end?
January 6th, 2009 at 3:58 PM ^
I think he's saying "We should go after Boyd and Gardner. Hopefully we'll end up with at least one of them."
January 6th, 2009 at 4:04 PM ^
what I was saying is that you should never give up on a guy in the present recruiting class because you think you've got a chance at someone in the next class. You get them to sign first and then you decide which years you can skip recruiting their position.
so I am agreeing with Magnus and disagreeing with formerlyanonymous.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:11 PM ^
I understand what you're saying. My point is that you have nothing in your hand, so the adage of two birds is wrong.
I'm sure RR and his staff have made their attempts, and we still seem to be well behind the curve. That's all I'm saying. I don't disagree with yeah, keep talking if he shows interest.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:57 PM ^
Jelani to join the Pryor welcoming committee also.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:12 PM ^
People (plural for "person") agreed with me on a topic!
January 6th, 2009 at 4:15 PM ^
I don't think that has happened since you asked BILG to leave during the coaching search.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:16 PM ^
Yeah, that strategy has really served Michigan football recruiting well in the past. Let's setup the chips to fall in Gardner's favor in 2010, since any verbal commit to UM is good as gold.
I do understand the fear of scaring away future recruits, but come on.
Michigan finishes the season 3-9 with about 8 games televised demonstrating to a national audience in excruciating detail just how horrible the quarterback situation truly is, yet, UM has only landed one QB recruit for 2009 so far.
Boyd is likely going to Clemson from the comments I've read.
Denard Robinson is a possiblity for UM. But regardless, Michigan needs a second QB in this class, or there will be serious issues again in 2009.
How much more obvious does Rich Rodriguez/Rod Smith have to make their plea to QB prospects? The Michigan Wolverines need a new starting QB! Do they have to buy Super Bowl airtime to get the story out?
It's a complete joke. I find it incredible that more freshman QBs around the country haven't been able to figure it out situation, and give Michigan more serious consideration. Do they not understand what a depth chart is?
As for Gardner, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that he is different from the 2009 prospects, that he really wants to play for UM, and that he doesn't give a damn about competition at the position, be it from Forcier, Boyd or any other '09 commit.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:23 PM ^
If someone was to buy a 30 second commercial space to advertise the opening for a Michigan Quarterback, I would gladly donate $20 for their campaign.
That said, we're not putting all our eggs in one basket. We are still making a push for a few other qb's as well. Nobody is arguing that. The main points being tossed around are a) do we even have a shot at Tajh Boyd? b) if we were to pull the greatest snake oil sale of all time of this recruiting season and get Boyd, are we screwing ourselves in getting a quarterback of any quality next year (see: Mallett)?
Lastly, I think we will have quarterback problems in 2009 no matter what. We will be starting either Threet (I think is likely) or a true freshman (Forcier/otherwise).
January 6th, 2009 at 4:26 PM ^
...and that he didn't even know Michigan had a rivalry with them.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and disagree with the last paragraph.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:57 PM ^
After watching TP yesterday, it is clear that his best position is WR.
Because he caught one five-yard jump ball?