Gardner the next Pryor BS...

Submitted by pee on freep on
I am so tired of hearing people compare Devin Gardner to Terrell Pryor. I hear it said way too often that Gardner could be the next Pryor. God I hope not... 1. Pryor is a douchebag. Gardner by all accounts to date clearly has a humble and hard-working head on his shoulders. 2. Pryor was/is overrated. He was I believe the number one overall recruit. Gardner in my opinion has been underrated as he has all the physical tools of Pryor but with a better head on his shoulders. 3. Pryor hasn't done shit beyond on Rose Bowl win. I understand that he has been held back by Tressel, intentionally or not. But honestly with all of the hype he had should he not have accomplished more with the caliber of players and coaches around him? (Not too mention with Michigan not playing Michigan Football...) If Gardner accomplishes what Pryor has to date then I will be thoroughly disappointed. If Gardner has multiple photos and accounts of him being a douchebag outside of football I will be thoroughly disappointed. Can we please put a ban on comparing Gardner to Pryor? I hate limiting him so much...

Mr. Robot

August 6th, 2010 at 11:18 PM ^

Do you mean that as in you hope he's not as good as Pryor or in genuine caring that we don't get someone as bad as Pryor?

I assume you mean the former by the way you said it, but I ask this seriously because I also know some Ohio State fans who can't stand the guy. I also have a hard time reading the general opinion of the fanbase because that seems to shift drastically based on whether or not OSU won their most recent game or not (See: Purdue).

willywill9

August 6th, 2010 at 6:54 PM ^

#3 is off base in my opinion.  I've never won a rose bowl.  That means I really haven't done anything.

Seriously though, is he the best passing QB?  Not at all.  But he's 2-0 against us, beat a Pac 10 school to win the rose bowl.  We haven't been anywhere near that in a few years.

willis j

August 6th, 2010 at 9:33 PM ^

true but why does Pryor get all of the credit? I know its always about the QB wins and losses but lets be honest. OSU beats us the past two years regardless in most cases. Two years ago for sure. 

Its not like he is Vince Young who beat us in the Rose Bowl or Troy Smith tearing our D apart. He has potential sure but lets not say he is the reason for their success over the past two years. 

bluesmash

August 6th, 2010 at 6:57 PM ^

Robinson is and should be everyones main focus right now, if he goes off this year it will completly change the outlook of the michigan football team.Will being able to hold on to the ball longer on offense help the defense?  Yes. He will give the big ten fits if he can pull down the ball and make runs like he did in the western game.

dieseljr32

August 6th, 2010 at 7:00 PM ^

This is the first time I've heard of the comparisons between the two QB's.  I would never want Devin Gardner to resemble Pryor on or off the field despite the massive hype train that follows Pryor around.

My friend once played Devin Gardner against UConn on NCAA 11 and he fully torched UConn's secondary which I thought was funny seen as how he's only rated a 76 overall on the game..

Steve Lorenz

August 6th, 2010 at 7:03 PM ^

Gardner to Pryor is a new one in my book.......I was thinking more along the lines of a Vince Young who currently plays quarterback for the Tennessee Titans and played for the University of Texas in college. 

mejunglechop

August 6th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^

Yeah, Pryor's just a Rose Bowl win. If that's all Gardner does, I'll be super disappointed too.

 

/s

JimBobTressel-0

August 6th, 2010 at 7:05 PM ^

Pryor hasn't done anything? Really? Two Big 10 championships in two years as a starter - something Henne accomplished once and Michigan accomplished twice in this decade - and a Rose Bowl ring counts as nothing. Okay, just checking.

chunkums

August 6th, 2010 at 7:09 PM ^

Pryor was a sophomore last year when he lit up Oregon, and I'm willing to bet that he would be downright nasty in our offense.  There are worse people Gardner could be.

MichiganExile

August 6th, 2010 at 7:18 PM ^

1. Pryor is a douchebag.

Probably, he certainly sounds like an idiot in interviews. You know what though, he's a 21 year old kid. I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt and just assume he's not very bright.

2. Pryor was/is overrated.

Are you an NFL or college scout? He hasn't lived up to his world beater hype, but he has been serviceable for OSU. He isn't putting up Troy Smith '06 numbers but he is only a Junior right now.

3. Pryor hasn't done shit beyond on Rose Bowl win.

A lot of #1 overall recruits never win a thing because football is a team game after all. However, Pryor has won two conference championships and a Rose Bowl as many have already pointed out. Maybe he's overrated, maybe not. Unfortunately at this juncture he has a lot more on his resume than anyone playing for Michigan.

If Gardner accomplishes what Pryor has to date then I will be thoroughly disappointed.

I won't be.

 

Can we please put a ban on comparing Gardner to Pryor?

Sure, if people can please put a ban on the Pryor jealousy.

Blue in sec country

August 6th, 2010 at 7:18 PM ^

Well maybe he'll live up to pryor's hype?! That would be great. 4 Big Ten championships, 4 heismans, 4 NC, and own all Michigan passing and rushing records. But seriously the hype around him was going to be hard to live up to.

learmanj

August 6th, 2010 at 7:18 PM ^

I'd take a QB that is something like 22-4 as a starter.  One big difference between the two is...DG actually chose Michigan.  I honestly don't know why people hate on Pryor so much.  I know he didn't pick us over OSU, but I think he is fun to watch and can make a big play out of nothing.  If he was on UM's team, everyone would be hyping him as a Heisman favorite.

Tater

August 6th, 2010 at 7:52 PM ^

If Pryor had signed with Michgan, RR would be utilizing his talent correctly, and Pryor would be a legit Heisman contender.  Instead, Tressel is trying to turn him into something he isn't: an NFL-type pocket passer.  And as long as Pryor keeps trying to be something he isn't, he will continue to "underachieve."  I hope they never figure it out.

UMxWolverines

August 6th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^

Fact is he has had a lot of talent around himto back him up. He did finally have a breakout game vs Oregon, but he hasn't done enough to deserve to be on the Heisman watch list yet. He's only on it because he was the #1 recruit a few years ago and he's a QB.

Raback Omaba

August 6th, 2010 at 9:15 PM ^

Gardner and Pryor are very similar in their stature and skill set. While Gardner wasn't the 1# recruit overall, he was a pretty highly ranked recruit. Any comparisons between the two are because they play in the same conference, for rival schools, and have similar skill sets. Let's not fool ourselves - we would've loved to have pryor in 08 and still. Is he a douchebag? Well, unless any of you know him personally, then you really can't comment. Is he dumb? I'm leaning toward yes- but there are many, many dumb people in the world, many who have and do wear the winged helmet. Pryor won a rose bowl and b10 championship as a soph. He didn't do it by himself, but still a feat-if Gardner manages the same thing his sophomore year, I will be ecstatic- and I'm willing to bet that gardner would do it with a pretty decent team around him too, Dumb thread-I hate pryor like the rest of you, but that's bc he is a buckeye. He's been a pretty decent qb imo

Magnus

August 6th, 2010 at 9:37 PM ^

These are the threads that show whether you have perspective or not.  Pee on freep, you have a very biased opinion of Pryor that is clouding your judgment.

Next time, you may want to think twice before saying that a true sophomore (now a junior, obviously) hasn't done shit when he's 2-0 against his #1 rival and won the Grandaddy of 'Em All.  Only one team each year (out of 120) wins a national championship, and only one player each year (out of 10,200 potential scholarship players) wins a Heisman.  Are you going to tell your son that he hasn't done jack shit when he loses in his high school state championship game?  Are you going to tell your daughter that she hasn't done jack shit when she finishes second in the Homecoming Queen voting?

thesauce2424

August 6th, 2010 at 10:23 PM ^

I've heard a lot of people comparing Gardner to both of these guys.  There's one thing that sticks out in my mind. Gardner isn't really that fast. If you go back to his "hello" post, you'll notice that he ran in the 4.6 range.   Though this is not slow and it is surely fast enough to be successful in the spread, it's not quite in the Pryor, Young or even White range. The difference, in my opinion, will be that by the time Gardner becomes the starting quarterback he will have developed nicely with respect to throwing mechanics, we will have experienced linemen and skill players around him, and his ability to throw effectively will allow his other more elite athletic skills(despite pretty average speed) to make hime a dangerous threat.  I also believe that he will be a much better pro prospect than any of the above mentioned. 

I know there were a couple videos of him scoring on longer running plays from the spring, I just don't think he's as fast as those other guys. I really think that will be a blessing in disguise as it will make him develop into a passer more quickly than it would if he had 4.4 speed.  He'll quickly learn that he wont be able to outrun everybody and we'll benefit from that.  I honestly cannot wait until it's time for Gardner to step under center( or stand a handful of yards behind center actually).  Those will be some exciting years.

nucegin60

August 6th, 2010 at 11:01 PM ^

I don't believe garnder is quite the freak athlete TP is TP was a pretty decent basketball recruit, a chizeled 230 or maybe more, and although the 4.3 reported by OSU might be a little bit of a stretch, I don't think that it is too far off. Hell, I'm pretty sure he played linebacker in high school and had like at least 12 sacks. While this is no commentary on this as quarterbacks, to say that Devin Gardener completely the same skill set as Terrelle Pryor as an athlete is a little bit of a stretch.

WolvinLA2

August 6th, 2010 at 11:40 PM ^

OK, Pryor is not the brightest guy.  He says dumb shit.  And he can't throw the ball really well.  But if Gardner is what Pryor is (keep in mind we've only seen frosh and soph Pryor) then I think we'll be very good.  Pryor is a truck.  When someone is wide open, he can hit them.  When they're not, he'll run for the first down.  There's a reason they won the Rose Bowl last year, with an underclassman for a QB. 

If Tressel would let him use all of his tools, he may have won the Heisman already.  

chitownblue2

August 7th, 2010 at 2:42 PM ^

 

 am so tired of hearing people compare Devin Gardner to Terrell Pryor. I hear it said way too often that Gardner could be the next Pryor.

Both are large, strong, fast QB's who are threats to run and throw. Both, coming out of HS, were said to need work on their passing. I have heard both compared to Vince Young. To me, this is a pretty reasonable comparison, although this is the first time I've heard it.

1. Pryor is a douchebag. Gardner by all accounts to date clearly has a humble and hard-working head on his shoulders.

This could be the product of the media you consume. Pro-Michigan media (like this Blog) is going to be more prone t praising Gardner. That said, I have heard that Gardner is a good kid. What I quibble with is that Pryor is a douche - I can really not think of 1 soundbyte I've heard from him other than "Everybody Murders" - which is more an indication of stupidity or poor public speaking, not being an asshole. I have seen almost NO displays of character from him in a positive or negative way - he just seems like a football player to me.

2. Pryor was/is overrated. He was I believe the number one overall recruit. Gardner in my opinion has been underrated as he has all the physical tools of Pryor but with a better head on his shoulders.

Pryor has led his team to 2 BCS bowls as a true freshman and a true sophomore. He was the conferences 4th leading rusher (as a QB!) last year, and it's leader in passing efficiency as a freshman. I realize that he's played for good teams, but he has, to this point, been good, especially considering his age. I think nominating him for the Heisman at this point is crazy, but I see no reason to believe he won't continue to be a good Big 10 QB.

Further, I'd say it's impossible to say Gardner is under-rated. HE HASN'T PLAYED A DOWN. How can you even say he's "under-rated"? I haven't seen enought of him to distinguish his play from a loaf of pumpernickel bread.

 Pryor hasn't done shit beyond on Rose Bowl win. I understand that he has been held back by Tressel, intentionally or not. But honestly with all of the hype he had should he not have accomplished more with the caliber of players and coaches around him? (Not too mention with Michigan not playing Michigan Football...)

He's accomplished a 21-5 record. HE's accomplished 2 BCS appearance, and one win. He accomplished being the B10's most effective runner as measuered by YPC this year, and accomplished being the B10's most effective passer as measured by efficiency the year prior. What more is he supposed to accomplish? They're 21-5 in 2 years!

If Gardner accomplishes what Pryor has to date then I will be thoroughly disappointed. If Gardner has multiple photos and accounts of him being a douchebag outside of football I will be thoroughly disappointed.

You'll be upset if he gets us to two BCS bowls in the next 2 years? If he leads the B10 in passing efficiency this year? If he leads the B10 in ypc on over 100 carries next year? Come on.

And what "multiple photos"? You mean the one of with a beer in his hand and his arm around a girl? OH NOES! COLLEGE PLAYERS DRINK AND FLIRT WITH GIRLS? What stories?

I have seen 3 indication of "character" from him:

1. The high school basketball game fight 3 years ago.

2. He apparently got a stern talking to in the spring scrimmage 2 years ago.

3. He cried after losing to PSU.

I don't think 3 is a bad thing. The second item...if you have ever played a sport, you have played with plenty of kids who have needed the coach to put their ego back in check at some point. BFD. The 1st? It's not good, admittedly, but it happened awhile ago, and I think that a fanbase that was prepared to defend the honor of Demar Dorsey shouldn't think that's a BFD.

TIMMMAAY

August 8th, 2010 at 12:58 AM ^

While I agree with your larger point, I have a quip...

I can really not think of 1 soundbyte I've heard from him other than "Everybody Murders" - which is more an indication of stupidity or poor public speaking, not being an asshole. I have seen almost NO displays of character from him in a positive or negative way

What about the taunting/ trying to fight opposing fans at one of his basketball teams' tournament games?