DG's performance in UA AA game
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
He didn't look bad, but he looked like he'll redshirt.
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:25 PM ^
Would he be cool with that? Seems like one of the reasons he chose MI was to have the ability to compete right away.
I'd like it, but would he?
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:38 PM ^
I think RR has made it clear that he will have the ability to compete right away, but the best player will start. DG has shown a good work ethic and attitude, I think he will be fine.
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
Tim estimated it at 3-5 passing for 13 yards and a TD, 4 rushes for 7 yards.
He didn't get to play as much as we all hoped and too small of a sample size to make any real conclusions.
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^
I thought DG looked pretty much like Brian and Tom VH have described him. He has a lot of raw talent but needs to clean up a few things to be an elite level QB. He is fast and has a strong arm, but his mechanics will have to be a little bit better.
I believe it was Brian who has referred to his motion as resembling that of a shot-putter late in the season. I won't go quite that far from what I saw today, but to me he looked like he was using all arm when throwing and coming from a bit low. I don't want to sound negative here, because I feel very postive about DG's future. His motion and feet sorta reminded me of Vince Young early in his career. I see a pretty high upside for DG, but I think it may take a year or two for him to be BCS ready.
I think, when it's all said and done, that we will really enjoy DG's contribution to Michigan football.
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:13 PM ^
to see who would start, he lost both tosses. considering he only threw 4 passes i thought he looked about as good as one could look given the circumstances. he's pretty thin though, just from a physical standpoint i don't see any reason not to red-shirt him
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:24 PM ^
Gardner is pretty tall but really skinny for his size. He did not play that much from what I watched. The highlight of the afternoon was some rapper during the halftime show. The sound guy gets a gold star for that one.
January 3rd, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^
It always weirds me out to see old people listening to rap. Especially Jeezy.
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:17 PM ^
The defenses always look better in these games. It's much easier to just be good athletes without a real game plan (which is what both sides pretty much have to do) on defense than it is on offense. The QB's and WR's have no chemistry or timing, the o-line has no cohesion. And as others said, he didn't really get a chance to show much. I really wouldn't read into this game at all.
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
His running (Past the line of scrimmage) seemed kind of odd to me. Little bit concerning. After watching it, I would say his best physical attribute is his ball placement on down field throws, which is excellent. Short throwing can be tightened up, and what I guess I'll call his "running mentality" can be improved through coaching and practice/getting used to the speed.
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:33 PM ^
The dude is more jacked than most high school linebackers. His size is on par with VY coming out of high school, with more lean muscle mass.
...er, no homo of course.
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:40 PM ^
and weighs about 200 lbs. he's gonna need to be about 230-235, he's skinny
January 2nd, 2010 at 9:27 PM ^
To second this statement. I'm 6'4 and I haven't been under 200 pounds since half way through high school. I'm not terribly out of shape, it's just that you weight more the taller you are. 6'4 and an even 200 pounds is very skinny.
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^
I am 6'2" and 140 pounds. THAT is skinny.
DG will be fine when Barwis shovels some protein powder down his throat.
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
Come on Austin, put that in context. You run triathlons and have genetic flaws in your metabolism. A college linebacker would snap you like a dry twig.
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^
BEEFCAKE!!!
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:47 PM ^
He was listed at 6'4" 197lbs. I thought prior to the game that he was closer to 215 but I would say about 200 is accurate. There was a play where he got plowed over when laying out a block for the rb when he reversed fields after a hand off. It had a lot to do with poor pad level on the block, but you could tell that he could definitely use another 20-25 lbs. But based on tate's physical progression, i dont think that would be a problem.
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:48 PM ^
That was entirely poor pad level, he was standing up. Jamarcus Russell would have been blown back, maybe not blown up, but definitely knocked backwards. I think that's part of his running mentality, he's never had to be a physical player before, hardly ever took a direct shot, so getting squared up (Or throwing a block, in this situation, the former applies to another play) is new to him. Part of the teaching process he needs to under go while red shirting
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:44 PM ^
The potential is obviously there. But he needs a redshirt season. We don't have the run game or defense to let him learn on the fly like OSU did with Pryor. DG will benefit greatly by sitting out a season and improving on the basics. He could be extremely special and when his career is over at UM, I think we'll remember it fondly.
January 2nd, 2010 at 11:07 PM ^
I think that DG can be a special player. I agree that he needs to redshirt. Starting another true Freshman QB is not the way to go. I think DG would benefit from a redshirt year, and get time to learn RR's system. I really hope that everyone involved understands that.
January 2nd, 2010 at 11:36 PM ^
A redshirt would definitely be the ideal situation. Vince Young, Michael Vick, and Pat White were all good running qbs who redshirted. Only way he will play is if he is clearly ahead of Tate(unlikely) or if Tate get hurt. The biggest concern with Tate is that he got beat up as the season went on and it seemed like it really affected his play. Hopefully Robinson learns to throw the ball a bit in the off-season and can provide some depth at QB.
January 2nd, 2010 at 11:28 PM ^
DG for player of this new decade??? or Tate for that matter???
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:11 PM ^
Gardner looked raw AND skinny. He's not a great runner because he's not very strong. He's like Kevin Durant playing football.
I do agree that Gardner reminds me of Vince Young. Once he puts on 25-30 pounds, he'll be a great runner and he'll be able to fight off a pass rush a little better.
In the meantime, he's too scattershot with his arm to play next year. I don't know if Gardner will redshirt, just because we have practically no depth. But if he does play, the results probably won't be pretty.