Devin Gardner, Cade Hater
It's a lot of fun to listen to Devin Gardner and Sam break down the film every week, but a lot Gardner's criticism of McNamara is pretty ridiculous. If McNamara doesn't make a Tom Brady like read or deliver a perfect ball, Gardner really goes after him. It get's annoying to listen to. This tweet from last night is a perfect example. Gardner comes up with a completely nonsense take about what Daylen Baldwin was doing on the fade route that got intercepted to blame the whole thing on Cade and let Baldwin off the hook. It's a garbage take.
Baldwin was not looking for or expecting a back shoulder throw. He gave up on the route because the DB didn't bite on the move and never expected Cade to be throwing the ball. He doesn't look back or reposition himself for a back shoulder reception, he just shuts down his break. Then he notices the DB tracking the ball in the air and suddenly realizes, "Oh no, Cade threw the ball, where is it?!" and then looks back to see what is happening. Take a look, and after the play also look at Baldwin's reaction. He knows he screwed up, so should Garnder.
The idea that Baldwin was doing everything correctly there is complete nonsense, and I have no idea why Gardner insists on putting the whole thing on Cade. There must be some dislike there, or something. Whatever it is, it isn't good analysis.
I think you can argue that Cade was forcing the ball there and should have made a different decision, but if Baldwin breaks hard to the corner of the end zone like the route was designed to do, it's probably a 50/50 ball and at the very least he has a chance to keep Georgia from making an easy interception.
And really, I don't blame Cade for trying to make a big play there. He was trusting his receiver to win a battle and giving him a chance to make a play. Cade didn't think they were going to be able to dink and dunk or rush their way through the red zone, so he tried to make a play before the field got any shorter and Georgia's defense stiffened up even more. Plus he was getting Ryan Hayes shoved into his face by Georgia's DE, for the umpteenth time. So, probably not the right choice to throw that ball, but a defensible one, and there is absolutely no reason to let Baldwin off the hook for how he gave up on his route.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:20 PM ^
I love Devin Gardner, great Michigan Man, but I remember Devin Gardner, the player. He should jog his own memory, not bad but far from perfect!
January 1st, 2022 at 12:53 PM ^
Gardner has been shitting on Cade all year, very often unfairly.
And yes, Gardner the player had his fair share of failures and never led the team to a victory over OSU (almost did in an epic performance while hurt) or a B1G title like Cade.
That said, Gardner also never had decent coaching in college and may have at least had a career in the NFL as a backup had he been properly coached for 4 years.
January 1st, 2022 at 1:25 PM ^
He had three offensive coordinators in five years, was switched to wide receiver at one point, and then was hurriedly switched back when Denard got injured. And he still managed to turn in some epic performances in 2013 (Notre Dame, Indiana, Ohio State).
I can't think of another Michigan player with such a high upside whose development was so drastically impeded by poor coaching.
January 1st, 2022 at 8:02 PM ^
You mean managed not led. He managed UM to a victory over OSU cause the ground game won us that game.
January 2nd, 2022 at 9:24 AM ^
True but that doesn’t give him a right to keep shitting on Cade. What ifs never got anyone anywhere. Gardner was far from perfect in his day yet he talks like he’s Tom Brady
January 1st, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
He stunk he beat up on crap teams. Never beat OSU either so if I was cade I’d just laugh at him. Oh yeah and cade has that crazy thing called a BIG championship
January 1st, 2022 at 2:56 PM ^
It’s really disappointing that someone who knows better has spent all season stirring the pot. He is fundamentally wrong about this play.
JJ had a better game, but much of that was his ability to escape the bombed out pocket. JJ sailed some throws over the middle which will tend get intercepted a lot if it continues, so neither was good enough to win.
I have a complete lack of patience for people that try to blame this on specific players. Donovan Edwards was the only offensive player that significantly helped his QB all night long.
January 1st, 2022 at 3:43 PM ^
I remember watching Devin turn a 2nd and one into a 3rd and five by stepping out of bounds under pressure vs Iowa.
Throwing the ball away gives you 3rd and one. A 3rd grader should have known that. We were moving into FG range. We ended up punting and losing 24-21.
It seems like Baldwin had several poor “effort” plays this season. I am hoping Anthony can make a leap and get those snaps next year. We need a dominant 50-50 receiver next season.
January 1st, 2022 at 11:14 PM ^
I find it amazing how people remember the Hoke years. I have very few memories from that time period. And it's not because we lost a lot of games either because in contrast I vividly recall the Rich Rod years.
I don't know, to me there was nothing really special about Hoke's time here other than Denard's magic. Devin was a warrior for sure but he never moved the needle for me.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:21 PM ^
Aside from Devin’s analysis, I have no idea on this particular play why either one was in the game. Baldwin has barely played all year and JJ had just picked up a crucial 3rd down that Cade couldn’t pick up most of the night. JJ is more dangerous in the red zone area anyway because of his mobility.
January 1st, 2022 at 2:19 PM ^
baldwin getting key reps surprised me as well. then again harbaugh likes to play lots of guys and has no problem with packages including the likes of selzer, baldwin, etc
January 2nd, 2022 at 12:04 PM ^
Selzer didn't get reps until the game was way out of hand.
January 1st, 2022 at 5:17 PM ^
This. Especially once the game was out of hand, I wanted to see JJ and especially Andrel Anthony more.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:21 PM ^
Don't know where to post this and didn't want to start a new thread, but man the NYT really slammed our team last night. I'm not a NYT hater (I check it almost every day), but on this occasion I'd say fuck them for this unnecessary shot.
From my email inbox:
BREAKING NEWS
Georgia routed Michigan, 34-11. The Bulldogs will face Alabama for the national championship on Jan. 10.
Friday, December 31, 2021 11:08 PM EST
No. 3 Georgia showed up at the Orange Bowl and made many remember why No. 2 Michigan started the season unranked.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:28 PM ^
I don't know about you, but when I go for hard-hitting college football analysis, the New York Times is always stop #1!
January 1st, 2022 at 12:33 PM ^
I have breaking news email alerts sent to my email. This is copy and pasted from the body of the message.
But thanks for the downvote anyway.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:28 PM ^
Negative headlines involving Michigan get major clicks. Now that Harbaugh had a a stellar year you will see exactly ZERO “Top 25 head coaches” lists this offseason because they cant put him 13th behind Fitzgerald and Frames anymore.
January 1st, 2022 at 1:22 PM ^
Nothing more infuriating than when fans blame “the media,” which gives M tons of coverage when it wins and when it loses. You can’t have it both ways. Every single fan base thinks “the media” is secretly conspiring against its program. Shut up.
January 5th, 2022 at 4:49 PM ^
You shut up. Nothing I said was out of line. Love them or hate them most media is click bait. Lighten up Francis.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:30 PM ^
When Michigan is rolling they garner an inordinate amount of live and attention. When they fail (and rather significantly) the same level of scrutiny should be expected. It comes with the brand. It makes for great click bait for fans and haters.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:50 PM ^
I do a little youtube video about each Michigan game and I get tons more views after a loss. Anti-Michigan fans just want to troll it up.
January 1st, 2022 at 5:16 PM ^
Much like clicks to CNBC shoot up when the market is crashing vs when its rolling. Or much like how network news does bad news 90% of the time. Bad news sells!
January 1st, 2022 at 1:30 PM ^
The New York Times: not exactly a rock of journalistic credibility.
(if you know, you know)
January 1st, 2022 at 3:40 PM ^
Really ? Maybe not in sports, I'll agree but what other paper would be better ? WSJ truly has some tunnel vision.
January 1st, 2022 at 4:09 PM ^
All the major newspapers turned into garbage which is sad to me because I read the newspaper 6 days a week from the 6th grade on. I loved the local newspaper and would occasionally get a USA Today. Those days are over.
January 1st, 2022 at 5:18 PM ^
We used to get the times and WSJ every day, then I'd grab a USA today for the red section before washing my ink-stained fingers an hour later. Man, I was responsible for the death of lots of trees
January 1st, 2022 at 6:18 PM ^
I guess you ain't know.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:24 PM ^
Totally agree with you, op. Not DG. It was definitely a bad throw/decision. Baldwin looked extremely confused, during and after the play.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:24 PM ^
Devin being critical is different than the average fan being critical. He played the position for Michigan. Let him give his opinion if he wants.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:28 PM ^
He can give his opinion all he wants. We all can, even without having played for Michigan. That doesn't mean you just let nonsense fly. People here drag former player analysts for saying dumb things all the time.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:32 PM ^
This ^ ^ ^. Devin has been very even-handed in his analysis of both Cade and JJ all season. If you disagree, you need to go to Youtube and watch all the MMQBs of the year. Devin knows his stuff better than any poster here.
January 1st, 2022 at 12:44 PM ^
Even Sam Webb has called Devin out at times for his takes on Cade at times. For example when he took the time to rag on Cade after the Ohio State game. While he excused JJs poor play against MSU Hell Devin couldn't even get Cades name right for the first half of the season. Devin for whatever reason has a very clear axe to grind with Cade
January 1st, 2022 at 12:53 PM ^
JJ played well against msu. Everyone points to the fumble. Harbaugh said the fumble was on corum. JJ came in and dropped a dime for a redzone td, something cade was unable to do up until that point in the season. cade had 250 yards in the first half, but none with a depth over 12 yards.
January 1st, 2022 at 2:16 PM ^
No, JJ had one good pass and one good run and the rest of his plays were bad. And yes, the fumble he lost may have been on Corum but remember that he dropped the ball and kicked it OB on the previous drive. That was a bad fumble that he was lucky to get back.
Ridiculous to suggest the pass JJ made was something Cade was unable to do up to that point in the season. Cade also did it the next quarter with a tougher TD pass to Sainristil.
JJ is going to be a great player, but if anything the coaches used him too much this year.
January 1st, 2022 at 4:19 PM ^
Ridiculous to suggest the pass JJ made was something Cade was unable to do up to that point in the season. Cade also did it the next quarter with a tougher TD pass to Sainristil.
You have to be kidding? On the JJ touchdown, he is rolling to his right and throws from his 24 yard line and has Anthony, who is lined up as the outside WR go up and get the ball over MSU CB Chester Kimbrough. Anthony comes down about half-way into the endzone.
Cade drops back to his 27 yard line and stays in the pocket and hits Sainristil crossing over the middle from his slot position at the 6 yard line. Sainristill has a good 3 steps on S Angelo Grose.
I liked it that Cade stood tall in the pocket and delivered the ball on target to Sainristil but there is no way that Cade has the arm strength to drop the rock like that on Anthony.
Cade's touchdown to Sainristil:
McNamara adds to Michigan's lead with TD pass to Sainristil - ESPN Video
JJ's touchdown to Anthony:
Andrel Anthony Mosses defender for Michigan TD - ESPN Video
January 2nd, 2022 at 4:55 PM ^
Fair. I recall Cade's throw needing to be exactly as on time as it was because I recall (incorrectly) a closing window with another defender coming from the other direction. It was perfectly in stride though.
BUT, JJ's wasn't that tough either. It certainly didn't require special arm strength. All he had to do was make sure it was HIGH enough, and then it was all Andrel. The caption of the video in your link even puts it perfectly: "Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy lofts it..." and yes, it was similarly perfectly high. Something Cade had also done in previous games.
January 1st, 2022 at 1:24 PM ^
I call BS. Everyone forgets names now and again. Devin was on the Gattis bandwagon, and rightfully so, when Cade was struggling. When Cade threw a bad pass Devin called him out. When Cade threw a good pass Devin brought the accolades. Devin was absolutely not grinding an axe against Cade. Devin insightfully backed up Gattis when most of us were bailing on the guy, and Devin was absolutely right in hindsight. Rewatch on Youtube. Devin was right all year long.
January 1st, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^
Devin was very close to Milton. When Cade took Joe's job, Devin took it personally.
January 1st, 2022 at 1:59 PM ^
You're right and that is true. However, I don't think it's simply sour grapes. It is well-known that harbaugh plays favorites.
Milton was Gattis' boy and cade was harbs. Posters on this board don't agree, but I can 100% guarantee you that there are people in and around the program that felt like Joe did not get a fair shake. There are empirical data points to support their feelings. Look at the UFR's and Brian's comments for Joe last year vs 2019 shea and 2021 cade.
Regardless of what the base thinks about who the better qb is, there are people that did take the benching personally.
Adjacent comment: The picture that always stands out to me was Joe embracing jim on the way back into the tunnel after the Minnesota game. jim wasn't necessarily cold, but he didn't return the love. They just didn't have the same vibe or connection that he had with speight, shea (who could do no wrong), and cade. It's things like that that also feed into why some take it personally.
There are certain types of athletes, especially qbs, that take the Milton-mac situation personally because they've been there.
January 1st, 2022 at 3:28 PM ^
Anyone with eyes that thinks Milton did not get a fair shake is completely insane.
The guy played plenty last year, was awful, got replaced against Wisconsin and was outplayed by Cade, and still got his job back the following week against Rutgers only to play horribly once again and have Cade come in and massively outplay him again.
That Joe Milton has played at all at Michigan or Tennessee suggests he must have some kompromat on the coaches or something.
January 1st, 2022 at 4:36 PM ^
Yep. And if Harbaugh had it in for Milton, guess the guys in Tennessee did too. Or maybe he just isn’t all that good, despite the canon?
January 1st, 2022 at 6:20 PM ^
I didn't mention anything about Tennessee. Herndon Hooker is the better qb and did a hell of a job this year.
My point remains and I stand by it. There are people inside the program (former players included) that took the Milton-mcnamara situation personally. You can disagree with the results all you want. But, that doesn't change the facts I'm sharing.
January 2nd, 2022 at 9:14 PM ^
How is that even possible? Against Rutgers Milton scored zero points up to 4 minutes left in the half, when Cade came in. With McNamara the offense hummed for the rest of the game. How could any sane person think we should have gone back to Milton after that??
January 1st, 2022 at 2:52 PM ^
Hopefully it won’t be a Bilas/Amaker type of grudge he holds
January 1st, 2022 at 7:46 PM ^
This is just completely and provably false. If you actually watched Devin's analyses with Sam, they actually cover Milton during one of the commercial breaks for one of the earlier games. Devin completely trashes Milton, saying "he's done" and "will never start again." He goes on to say he has insane physical gifts but can't execute even the very basics of reading a defense. I think Devin was pretty mad at Milton's actions trashing Michigan on the way out. There was clearly no love lost at that point.
January 1st, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
Lmao. Sam is a huge M homer, let's not kid ourselves.
January 1st, 2022 at 4:40 PM ^
Sam Webb is now somehow a higher authority of football knowledge then DG?
January 1st, 2022 at 1:00 PM ^
This. He just says what had been blatantly obvious all year. I've had people disagree with me strongly about the very same topic and it's not even a debate. Just pop on the video. We all watched the same games.
Cade isn't awful. The issue is that he likely hasn't reached his potential and he's particularly deficient in the mental aspect of the game. People always talk about his lack of ability in comparison to JJ but JJ can get away with more because of his arm/legs. It's not that JJ is that much more mentally ready or prepared right now.
Cade is slow/not able to properly read a defense and so he's playing backyard catch out there. You can kinda to that if you have a heater but Cade also doesn't have a very strong arm. So, short of designed, one-read routes (flea-flicker, TE delay, maybe a quick out) he struggles. It's anticipation. By the time he sees it it's too late for his arm OR he just doesn't see it. JJ can see a guy break late and get it there. He's also playing backyard QB out there but he can get away with that right now.
Cade probably got Michigan to the Playoffs just by not making many mistakes. That has value. I have always preferred JJ but I also admit that he would have probably freshman mistake'd his way to a few UM losses this year. I was ready to accept those growing pains this year but even I grew to prefer the QB situation we had when it became clear that this particular UM could win The B1G with Cade.
Now? Seeing where we stack with the best of The SEC? JJ all the way. Cade would have to make a shockingly vast mental improvement to maintain his starting position and even make the job a true battle, IMO. He'd have to overcome his own current deficiency and the assumed mental growth of McCarthy to make it a battle in 22, which seems unlikely to anyone paying honest attention.
That's not mean. That's not being a hater. That's being honest about the scenario and position Michigan Football is in.
January 1st, 2022 at 1:59 PM ^
I’ll settle for winning the B1G and giving UM a chance in the CFP over risking winnable games in the B1G on the hope that the QB will perform at a moderately higher level in the CFP.
A bird in hand and all that. You can allow your players to develop over the course of the season rather while minimizing variance. No matter the result yesterday, you can’t deny the total results of the season as a whole. Goal number 1 always has to be best the team you play this week. Goal number 2 is beat Ohio State at the end of the season. Goal 3 is win the Big Ten Conference Championship. If you take care of 1 and 2, number 3 will follow. Once you’ve accomplished that, you can see where the chips fall in the CFP. Maybe you get the best defense of CFB history, maybe you get Oklahoma, Oregon, or Cincinnati and a more favorable matchup. I’ll take Cade as the starter next year or JJ and Cade splitting time if it gives the team the best chance at goals 1 and 2.
January 1st, 2022 at 3:58 PM ^
100% spot on. The other thing IMHO is that while fans can reason with getting experience for the young stud at the expense of the moment. Those fans don’t have to look the seniors for whom this is their last hurrah in the eye and know you’re robbing them of their glory to serve next year. I think Harbaugh, and most coaches, automatically default to doing everything to win THIS GAME. Too much work has been done by the men standing with you to allow for any other way.