Pure speculation: Would the loser of the Tate/Denard battle transfer?
Pure speculation, but let's say that by years end one of the two has established himself as the clear starter (Chitown has recently predicted that Denard, will be starter by year end, which prompted my thought here). Wouldn't the loser of that battle, being second team, and understanding that DG, a likely 5 star QB, is coming next year, reasonably conclude his future playing opportunities are slim to none? And given the current landscape in college football, particularly with QB's, then decide to transfer? I think the answer is likely yes. What do you think?
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:52 PM ^
USC recruits QB's that are in Rivals' top 30(usually top 10) every year and then pits one against another. Pete Carroll doesn't seem to mind or care. This is for the team, right?
Looks like CoachRod has embodied the same mentality.
Let's just try and stay focused: win maybe seven, even eight games this season, any way we can. This is really putting the cart in front of the horse.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:50 PM ^
Members of the Forcier family are required by law to only stay two years at any one school.
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:18 PM ^
I find this kind of speculation to be distateful. This isn't like a pro athlete heading into free agency. These are kids going to college. It bothers me when fans say things "He'd be a fool not to transfer." Transferring is a huge, life-changing event.
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:46 PM ^
either, but that isn't what's being done here. And no one is (or should be) concerned about this either, it's just pure speculation, like any two fans might do if they were having a one on one conversation. Lastly, transferring isn't exactly something terrible or daunting as you portray, plenty of non-football students do it every year. Joe Flacco wouldn't be in the NFL today if he hadn't transferred from Pitt.
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:47 PM ^
That some of the Michigan players read MGOBlOG during their limited free time? It sounds like a stretch, but can anyone here see Tate or Denard sitting in their room at night reading this stuff? I really hope to God Tate isn't reading this.
Just a few months ago Tate was proclaimed the new savior of Michigan football. Now, before a down has even been played, people are talking possible transfer. (I'm guilty of it myself in an earlier post.) Tate, if you're reading this, I'm sorry man. I didn't mean it.
I think we need to lay off the "Possible transfer" talk and just be happy as hell we finally have some great QB's.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:02 PM ^
what exactly is the harm in discussing this? It was disclaimed as pure speculation, it harms no one, it denigrates no one, it advocates nothing, it hurts no one's feelings, it doesn't take a position that would be controversial or confrontational. If you were Tate and you read this thread, a thread where not one person criticized you, and clearly people are hoping the hypothetical never happens, how exactly are you going to be upset? You may as well neg Brian for posting publicly the mailbag question about Sheridan starting the other day and answering it. That was far more potentially hurtful (in your scenario) to someone's feelings than this.
August 22nd, 2009 at 11:39 PM ^
My post wasn't meant to offend your thread, sorry if you took it that way.
The point I was trying to make is that Michigan has some really good QB's, and especially after last season, that's a really good problem to have. Instead of speculating about who may or may not transfer in a year or two, we should be speculating about who may or may not play this year.
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:17 AM ^
I just don't see the harm in the speculation, as long as it isn't harmful spec. or taken seriously. I too think it's great that we could potentially have 3 good QB's, and I'm not trying to find any negative in that But it's also reality these days that if a team truly has 3 talented QB's, one doesn't usually stay. So it was in the spirit of a bar conversation with a fellow fan that I asked the question.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:06 PM ^
forcier is going to mainstay for 4 years. i think people should work all future scenarios around that premise. i do believe denard is good enough to be the second used qb that rr was referring to. i would really like to see a redshirt on devin. that would give him 2 years as thee guy.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:45 PM ^
After my first season as a dynasty in NCAA'10, Denard transferred to a MAC school. I tried to talk him out of it, but lack of playing time caused him to leave. He got in about 2 series a game, mostly to run the option..
told you it was non-scientific! :)
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:18 PM ^
It has been stated many many times that if Denard doesn't pan out as a QB, this offense can find a place for him (because he's crazy fast, and we like crazy fast). He knew that coming in. I wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't an upside for him coming to Michigan.
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:20 PM ^
If Tate wins the starting job there is a pretty decent chance that Denard sticks around I think. Rodriguez can sell him on the Jarret Brown thing where he is the backup qb and also plays another position. And Tate is not a very big guy and there is a decent chance he could get hurt.
If Denard wins the starting job I do think that Tate would transfer. Both of his older brothers transferred (though I'm not sure on chris forcier though, i know he went back and forth on that though) and I dont think Tate can play another position.
As to Gardner I am pretty sure he will redshirt. I've heard that is supposed to be kind of raw and needs some work on the fundamentals. Even if he is a Vince Young type talent, Vince Young redshirted at Texas (though you could argue that Texas was in a different position than Michigan is now). And I'm sure that Jones will probably redshirt also. If Denard wins the job and Tate wants to transfer, Michigan will be ok as long as he waits a year so that Michigan has qb depth and so that Gardner and Jones can redshirt.
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:29 PM ^
I don't think anybody is going to leave. Forcier will be the starter and do the bulk of the work. Denard Robinson will see his snaps as well with the packages he is in. If after this year he moves to another position he can get playing time there beause he is athletic enough to play a couple positions. Then when Devin Gardner comes in he will most likely redshirt to improve his mechanics but after that he will be a back up a couple years then start a couple years. Hopefully that is how this whole thing works out but you can never tell.
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:25 PM ^
I'm less worried about one of these guys transferring than I am about Gardner leaving if he has to sit on the bench for three years before starting, which is possible.
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:46 AM ^
It's COMPETITION that has been the theme of Rich Rodriguez since he took over. Having this many QB's who are talented is going to make each of them better, keep each of them up at nights practicing, sleeping with footballs, on their toes academically and in the film room doing whatever they can to be better. I hope they have established a friendly rivalry that Gardner can add to.
One thing about Gardner is his seeming desire to do whatever is best for the team. By all accounts, he is a fantastic receiver--he could play there at least his first two years. And do very well.
And having this kind of offensive talent will make the defense better as well. How fun will it be to have a team whose defense faces nobody better during the season than its own offense?
And the transfers will stop--I know Michigan fans are a bit gun shy due to the turmoil of the last two offseasons, but the transfers and decommits are coming from guys who will and would never have seen the light of day. There is no way that will happen when the metamorphosis is complete and Rodriguez knows how to use all his weapons.
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:23 AM ^
Okay.......
Devin Gardner will NOT be moved to WR for his first couple of seasons. I'm shocked that you would even think that's a possibility. That's NOT how you go about developing a quarterback.
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 PM ^
Thank you.
August 24th, 2009 at 12:56 AM ^
But, you see Jay, you just don't see the value in having a QB play WR. Then he learns how the WRs think, and this makes him a better QB. It's so obvious. If you play a QB at WR in NCAA 20##, he still gets his awareness increased. This is clearly how to go about developing a QB.
/sarcasm