Does Nussmeier Hire Open Up the QB Competition?
Like most people, I was not expected much of a QB competition this spring. It seemed like it was Gardner's job to lose, barring injury. Now that we have a new pro-style OC coming in, without any history with either QB, I think it could open the QB competition in the spring. Shane Morris obviously has a lot of talent and showed good poise during the bowl game. However, if Nussmeier is as good of a QB developer as advertised, we might finally see Gardner reaching his potential, like we've seen in a few games the past two years, more consistently. Do you all think Gardner still has a big lead on Morris this spring?
January 9th, 2014 at 12:42 PM ^
graduating McCarron 336 attempts--reserves 29. Gardner will start. Morris will get snaps as scores dictate. I see nothing in Nussmeier's past to suggest he'll get the backup QB extra snaps.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:51 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^
I am big advocate of backup QBs getting more time than they typically do. My point is that Nussmeier has never shown a tendency to do so. Finding spots for backups to get more time has nothing to do with whether (you think) McCarron is better than Gardner---in fact the opposite would be true--as Alabama was in a position score-wise to play the backup earlier than Michigan. Since McCarron was graduating, why do you suppose the backup didn't get more reps in Alabama blowouts?
So your argument is simply that you think Morris should start or that there should be a shared position with Morris getting snaps when the game is on the line. I, and most here, disagree with you. I don't believe there will be a QB controversy or even a genuine competition. If you think otherwise, then I believe you grossly underrate Gardner and overrate Morris's bowl performance.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:57 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
No experience? I seem to recall him playing in the bowl.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
I'm not as concerned about the competition between the two. I just want to see Nussmeier DEVELOP them to max potential.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^
Nothing to see here.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
As long as Nussmeier can get the full potential out of both of them, this'll be a good problem to have.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
Gardner was 75% of our offense. The only realistic way Morris starts at QB in 2014 is if Gardner gets hurt. That is no slam on Morris--he looks like he has the tools to be quite good. But Gardner is a 5th year senior who has played incredibly well at times. Unless he just melts down for some reason or gets hurt, he is going to be our QB.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^
It will be a 2QB system until one stands out.
We need to start turning the program around. No player is bigger than the team. Not even the upperclassman. Hoke mindset needs to evolve.
January 10th, 2014 at 8:41 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 12:23 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^
The two are different types of QB's. Morris would have to clearly outplay Gardner for him to take over in my opinion. However they are both too good of athletes for one to sit the bench. I think it depends upon where Gardner thinks his best bet is for the NFL.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
Great thing is there will actually be competition that should allow the new OC to open the playbook.
I would expect Gardner to win the job, but it will be interesting to see where Morris is given he effectively did not play his senior year of HS and could not enroll early. Also, having Bellomy back, along with Speight enrolling early and looking to have significant upside, it should really allow for competition and not as much "thinking" about only having one proven QB and concern for making play calls (not that DG did not get abused all year anyway, but many hits could have been avoided through quick passing and not using naked boots/play action when the running game just did not work)
The new OC should be able to push the envelope on play calling and exploit more of DGs ability to run and throw. With both Morris and Bellomy are on the sidelines along with Speight getting the benefit of spring to continue to develop, it should only make all of them better players.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 1:25 PM ^
I thought Hayes was destined to move to WR. I figured he was going to fill the Drew Dileo role and split time with Norfleet; however, after the bowl game, I wouldn't mind seeing Hayes/Green/Johnson/Smith compete for the 2 RB positions.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:43 PM ^
Of course there's a competition.
But we're fooling ourselves if we think Morris has a real shot at beating Devin. Morris was surprisingly good in his one start, but come on folks, he's still nowhere near where Devin is at.
Now, if Devin somehow turns into Andrew Maxwell at the start of next season and is THAT awful, well obviously go to the young guy. But let's be honest here...that ain't happening. Devin is really good. He was really bad at times this year. But...he got shell-shocked into fear of throwing picks combined with a terrible pass protection. It was the perfect storm. He worked through it though, or else there's no way to explain how the Ohio game happend.
So, yeah, there's competition. But it's not a very close competition, honestly. I think it's easy to see why starting a very talented 5th year senior is more preferable to starting a very talented true sophomore.
January 9th, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
That said, Shane's pocket presence in his first start was better than I've ever seen from Gardner. Shane has a helluva arm, too, and leadership qualities to boot. We'll see.
January 9th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
Couldn't we Red-shirt Morris in 2014? Couldn't Gardner/Bellomy shoulder the QB and Back-up QB roles? Or is it imminent that we have 3 able-bodied QB's? I personaly feel that if we were to Red-shirt Morris, the depth chart would look like this...
Devin Gardner- RS SR
Russell Bellomy- RS JR
Shane Morris- RS FR
Wilton Speight- FR (Assuming a RS)
leading into the future with a QB in every class now...
2015 depth by class
Russell Bellomy- RS SR
Shane Morris- RS SO
Wilton Speight- RS FR
[insert True Freshmen here]
If I'm way off- then downvote away, but I just feel that would be the best way to build depth, unless we do in fact take another QB in this 2014 class- in that case, this is a moot point.
January 9th, 2014 at 2:41 PM ^
January 10th, 2014 at 5:15 AM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
Here is one for the people that see black helicopters
before the bowl game he had the Twitter & Instagram name of @qu9rter8ack
after the bowl he changed it to @DevG98
hurmmmmn ;-)
January 9th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
2900+ yards, 20+ TDs, and Michigan record books for passing...
I'm sure Shane will push Devin, but there's not a chance this is actually a competition Shane wins. You can't bench that kind of production with the whole "guy who can vince young you on 3rd and long" aspect.
Nuss has PLENTY to work with in DG, and his background suggests Devin's multiple skillsets are well within his comfort zone.
This should be a great pairing.
January 9th, 2014 at 2:37 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 2:43 PM ^
Remember the pre-season hype and compliments from George Whitfield and the Manning camp? DG made A LOT happen this year - AND he was hurt! The praise was from people in the know. I am looking forward to this upcoming year and the progress the whole team is going to make.
January 9th, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^
January 9th, 2014 at 3:35 PM ^
when this board debated whether to hold Shane out of blowout Ws like Central, Akron (!), and Uconn (!) to preserve his redshirt. Hoke obviously sided with those who said that your top backup must be used in garbage time to give him experience if called upon in a pinch. I expect him to take the same approach in 2014, meaning that Bellomy would have to beat out Shane for Shane to be redshirted. I don't expect that to happen, but I don't think it's a crazy idea either.
January 9th, 2014 at 5:58 PM ^
say it all together now: Devin is the QB.