Zone Left

June 4th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^

It's not necessarily a fear thing. There's only one QB on the field at a time and that's a crowded depth chart. If I were advising him, I'd tell him to seriously think about heading elsewhere. 

If his goal is to get to the NFL, he needs to maximize his probability at being a multi-year starter and that's going to be much tougher at Michigan with our depth chart.

CRex

June 4th, 2011 at 12:08 PM ^

At some level I feel stupid for saying this, you should never turn down talent, but isn't stocking our depth chart with elite QBs just setting it up so someone transfers?  I'd almost rather focus on Morris and take rawer talent ATH type QB this year (that we could move to WR/DB down the road maybe).  

Coaches know best of course and it is dumb move to turn down elite QB talent, still I feel like overloading is just going to set up more transfer drama and the like.  

CRex

June 4th, 2011 at 12:15 PM ^

Is a five star going to volunteer to sit for three years though (1 year behind Denard, 2 behind DG).  I just worry we'll see something where the kid comes in, fails to knock out DG and transfers out in a huff.  I'd rather take someone who will stay and help us build experienced depth than come in and bail out rather than sit behind DG.  

I feel like Bellomy will push DG enough as it is.  To me it's almost like this year we're just looking for the guy who ends up at the third string for awhile.  

TTUwolverine

June 4th, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^

I like Morris as much as the next guy, but he won't even set foot on campus for two full seasons, and who knows what happens in between.  Easing up on an elite QB because you've locked up a high school sophomore is a bold move, Cotton.  Also, there is always the possibility that the coaches aren't particularly confident in the abilities of Devin Gardner just yet [ducks... narrowly dodges flying fruit].  

EDIT:  And on the transfers thing:  media drama aside, if one QB transfers usually that means you've got a kick ass starter in front of him.  Ryan Mallett disclaimer goes here.

ILwolverine

June 4th, 2011 at 12:13 PM ^

But it is usually the player that loses the playing time battle or does not pan out that transfers. Why not stack our chances of getting a great qb and if one is a bust or transfers because others are better it doesn't matter since we have the other elite players

M-Wolverine

June 4th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^

But that reason is why a QB of this caliber is not life and death. But you never turn down talent. Competition is good, and you never know who pans out. Most transfers aren't as much drama as some lately have seemed to be.
<br>
<br>Two situations - imagine if Rich had said "I have Denard AND Tate...I really dont need a QB anytime soon...if Devin comes, he comes". Then where's our QB depth? And yeah, it seems odd for a top QB to commit to maybe sit for 3 years; but again, you never know. One guy in just such a situation- Henne, behind also highly touted Gutierrez. And we all know what happened there.
<br>
<br>You don't recruit "back-ups"; you have to recruit guys who can play.

kriegers

June 4th, 2011 at 5:34 PM ^

Some get injured. Some aren't as good as their rating.  Some lose the love for the game.  

Since you never know who's going to work out, better to get as many of the best players as possible. 

The rest will sort itself out.  

Let me assure you, the starters rarely transfer b/c they're pushed too hard in practice. Now the 3 or 4 deep guys (whether they were highly rated or not) that aren't seeing the field may have a better chance elsewhere.

Always get the best players.

turtleboy

June 4th, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^

Alabama is very high on him too, even though there's a 5 star qb from Alabama in this class they would prefer Kiel and have made a very strong push for him. Realistically he has to pick between 3 schools at this point. All of them have starting qb's picked out and depth at qb so he'll have to fight for his spot at any of them  Oklahoma has 4 scholarship qb's, Alabama has 3, we have 3.

Elno Lewis

June 4th, 2011 at 12:55 PM ^

Bellomy is gonna surprize us alll.

 

 

and, i really think a QB can have a single successfull year and easily make it into the NFL.

 

 

Zone Left

June 4th, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^

Cam Newton proved that, but it's probably better to get a couple of years as a starter. Lots of QBs struggle in their first few games as a starter while they work out the kinks.

JohnnyV123

June 4th, 2011 at 1:46 PM ^

Cam Newton wasn't a one year starter he started the year before and led his team to the JUCO national championship.

Not the same kind of competition but it certainly helped him start without having to work out too many kinks. Newton did have a lot of games where he started off very shaky before getting it together though so the points still sort of valid.

LUNKR70

June 4th, 2011 at 1:06 PM ^

I personally think QB isn't a huge need but can't turn away a talented player like Kiel. Would only help push the other QB's.. rather get a stud RB

neoavatara

June 4th, 2011 at 1:48 PM ^

is my guess. That is fine.  With Morris in 2013, I think we look at an Appleby or someone of that nature, and if not...well, not ideal, but so be it. 

maizeandblue21

June 4th, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^

Someone may commit on the 10th and Gunner will commit within the next 10 days and if in the next 6 days he makes it out for a visit we could be in good position. but in all actualility he most likely go to Oklahoma

clarkiefromcanada

June 4th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^

I'm taking the long view on this whole Kiel commitment; if he comes that's great and if not we have a number of viable options at the position. This is not Sheridan/Threet redux and this talk of Kiel, Appleby etc. is very reassuring.

ryebreadboy

June 4th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^

Did Kiel ever make it out to visit again?  And has he been anywhere else recently that might have spurred the decision to commit?  I hope we get him, but I'd actually be just fine with Appleby; I think he's a good, under-the-radar prospect who could end up being an excellent QB.  That said, let's all cross our fingers for Kiel!

WestSider

June 4th, 2011 at 5:16 PM ^

he is well known. if there were such a choice, I'd take BDunn over GKiel, and be very, very happy about it. I'm not very impressed with our stable of running backs, and looking quite forward to see if Rawls and Hayes can push the upperclassmen. And if FitzT can stay healthy, he might be interesting as well. 

Brayden09

June 4th, 2011 at 6:31 PM ^

Watching the video of a freshman in high school play that well gives me goosebumps. On top of that he was the best QB at this years camp. We don't need Kiel. We need a Michigan man that wants to be here.

Little Brown J…

June 4th, 2011 at 7:03 PM ^

In terms of QB depth at Oklahoma, Alabama, and Michigan, then Michigan is the school at which Kiel would see the field the earliest.  Oklahoma has Blake Bell who is a RS Freshman who will take the reigns after Jones leaves, and Alabama has AJ McCarron as a Sophomore and Philip Sims as a RS freshman.  I am assuming Kiel would be able to overtake Bellomy, so the school that he would have to wait the least before starting would be Michigan.  I still think Oklahoma is the favorite to land Kiel, but I think there is still a slight chance for us.

NJWolverine

June 4th, 2011 at 7:13 PM ^

because all he has to do to win the starting job is beat Gardner and Bellomy.  In order to win the starting job, Gardner has to fit exactly what Borges wants IMO.  Borges isn't going to adjust his offense for four years.  With Denard, he has a special talent and someone who had a really good season, so he has to adapt for Denard's two remaining years.  However, it's unreasonable to expect an OC to adapt for four years, which could be a problem because I don't think Gardner has proven he can make all the pro-style throws yet.  If Kiel comes in and he displays a better ability to make those throws, he will start.  Competing with someone who was recruited under an old regime and a last minute QB is better than competing against QBs who were recruited for the same system.  Bellomy could be a wild card here.  He really came on strong his senior season and  I'm glad we landed him.
 

jmblue

June 4th, 2011 at 7:44 PM ^

Why is it unreasonable to expect an OC to adapt his offense to the talents of his players?  Isn't that what he is paid to do?  Bo's OCs found a way to adapt from the talents of option QBs (like Leach) to mostly dropback guys (like Harbaugh) back to mostly option guys (Taylor/Brown).  I would hope that Borges can do likewise.  Besides, Gardner is more of a pocket passer than Denard, anyway.  Even if RR were still around for his starting years, I don't think we'd have run the exact same offense with him.

 

Waveman

June 4th, 2011 at 11:00 PM ^

I love DG... I hope he's an all-American, but he hasn't shown anything yet. I know it's a long shot, but if we sign Kiel this year, I would assume that 2 years from now, DG is in a dog fight for that starting QB role, unless someone can convince me otherwise.

 

Don

June 4th, 2011 at 11:39 PM ^

???? You say it as though Gardner's had plenty of opportunities and has been a disappointment so far.

He was a pure freshman who had a total of 17 snaps in 4 games playing behind two sophomores who already had significant experience. He hasn't had a chance to show anything yet, or not. There is an almost complete lack of meaningful data.

Xixor

June 5th, 2011 at 2:46 AM ^

The first post of thread asks if Gunner Kiel ever took a 2nd visit to Michigan but I never found an answer so I thought I would ask again. If he has not already visited a 2nd time, does he have a visit planned, I believe I remember reading that he planned on visiting Michigan again. Speaking of visits, are Jarron Jones and Erik Magnuson still planning on visiting Michigan soon, and have Adolphus Washington and Dwayne Stafford rescheduled their visits? If Gunner has taken, or will take a 2nd visit before he decides I think Michigan has a decent shot with him. GO BLUE!!!!

NateVolk

June 5th, 2011 at 8:04 AM ^

My Oklahoma friends who follow it close on a  subscription basis tell me that it it is between Alabama and Michigan. Michigan considered the late horse charging hard on the back stretch.  

These guys called RJS fairly early, so maybe they have some insight.