A Question for Borges: What Happened to the Veer?

It is a good question. Another possibility is that Devin wasn't sharp on his reads during these plays from not taking many qb snaps so Borges removed them from the plan rather than having some bad decisions being made.

hey yo

I think it's pretty obvious that Denard's skill set makes QB runs a necessity. If you're going to have Denard as your QB, and I agree he should be the QB, there has to be a reason for it. I'm sorry, but he's not playing QB based on his throwing ability. I think Gardner looked, at least on Saturday, a lot more comfortable as a thrower. Borges may just trust Gardner more passing. I'm not sure if that's the way Borges wants it to be, but that's the way it is. The running game hasn't gone well without Denard (due to both the RB's and the linemen). Maybe they just thought they could exploit the Gophers through the air. Maybe Devin just is not great with the decision making involved with the veer/option. There's a lot of variables. I'm just tryin to enjoy the ride, man. It's fairly obvious that Borges doesn't plan on continuing the QB run attack forever, but it may not be the best idea to scrap it completely when we no longer have Denard.

TL;DR Version: I don't know, man.

I seem to remember some called runs with Gardner. One was a QB sweep that picked up a first down.



But let's be honest, Borges wants to run a more traditional system. In addition, he was probably a little concerned about Gardner getting injured.



I think everyone needs to stop their hand wringing over the offense and see how this season and next season play out. Borges seems pretty set in the way he des things and I don't see it changing. Lets just hope his plan for the offense and the players he end up with make for a good combo in coming years.

Borges gameplanned to keep Gardner healthy.

You don't want to run your only serviceable qb unless you need to. I think the veer would've come out had it been a close game in the 3rd quarter. Maybe they will brim it back out if the next game is a close one

We were playing Minnesota.

We don't really know how much of the playbook Devin is comfortable with or what they really worked on in practice. All we know is he took more snaps in practice. My hope is that Borges thought we didn't need to run Devin or run the inverted veer to beat Minnesota.

I remember when, just a year ago, most of us thought that between DRob and DG, the QB position was an embarrassment of riches. This year, not so much, obviously.

The TD to Dileo was awesome, and showed that DG had great vision, but it looked to me like he threw the ball off his back foot and - hard to tell - but its possible he was actually in the air when he released it. Ugh.

So, Borges is probably trying to play with the cards he's been dealt. He doesn't have a great OL, his #1 QB is hurt and even when healthy, is no one's idea of an elite passer. His primary backup, now hurt, is also an INT machine. His new back up is his former #1 WR. His RBs haven't been effective and, along with his remaining WRs, aren't the speediest bunch.

Net net, no veer.

Dude he's trying to protect the only functional QB he has left

I went back through some of my own notes on this year,  and for the last several weeks anyway, we've run the "inverted veer" about 6-7 times per game (at least, up to and including Nebraska), so it is occasionally in the mix. I think that many of these plays this season, especially lately, have been gives to the RB, however, or at least this is what I noticed - as the season has progressed, it seems fewer of them have been keepers for Robinson. It also seems like there have been quite a bit more inside zone runs and some off-tackle plays in the calls in order to get the RBs involved more, especially this season. As others have mentioned, having watched the  Minnesota game, we ran the base offense virtually the whole game, so my assumption as well is that the inverted veer was just not an  option in this game given the situation. 

I think it is also because DG is not the home run threat that Denard is. He's a big athletic guy but doesn't possess the kind of speed that makes the read plays as dangerous. Because of that, it is more effective to have him use his arm first, and his legs when he sees fit. And obviously, keeping DG healthy was part of the thought process.

My guess is that, despite those who whine to the contrary, Borges has done everything he can think of within his system to help accentuate Denard's strengths.  When Devin is in, he can see over the line of scrimmage, and more traditional WCO plays are more appropriate.

 Besides, unless Bellomy plays a lot better against live competition, it would be stupid to send Devin on too many runs due to risk of injury leaving them with their #3 as their starter.  I know it's human nature to second-guess the playcalling when "our" team loses, but they did just win pretty handily with a second-string QB at the helm.

I hope to see both QB's play against NW.  It would be a great change-of-pace having one guy as dangerous as Denard and another who can pass from the pocket and actually see what he is throwing at.

I think its because DG doesnt need to run to be effective like Denard and he was able to easily beat Minnesota without running a lot and risking injury

Gardner is a dual threat QB, but his size is better then Denard and he is more a passer then a runner. He can make plays with his legs, but seems better in a drop back setting and not trying to run. DG is much more a pro style guy then a spread guy in my opinion.

if Gardner goes down, we are down to Jack Kennedy. Also, given our D, Minnesota's poor O Borges probably believed we don't need to win a shootout, so why take the risk (and while Gardner is fast, he's more of a traditional QB, who can run as opposed to a running QB, who can pass).

Devin himself say something to this effect?) Will be interesting to see what we do against a Northwestern team that's 103rd in passing defense but 24th in rushing D. Maybe more of the same, but I'm sure the coaches believe they need to get rushing production out of this O line, get better organized before OSU. 

and after this season I will miss seeing him in the Michigan uniform on Saturday's. The guy has been through so much and I have been a huge fans since he signed with us four years ago. 

Having said that, I would like to see Devin remain in the mix at QB for the rest of the year. Not taking every snap or anything, but getting significant snaps to further prepare him for next season when he should be our starting QB. 

If Denard was in the running for the heisman or something I wouldn't be saying this. If Denard was good at taking care of the ball on each and every possession I wouldn't be saying this. The fact is though, he hasn't shown that all year. I still want him to get the lions share of the snaps at QB, but would like to see Devin out the quite a bit too so he can really start getting some game experience before next season. 

He has shown some real signs of progress, and I don;t think there is much (if any) drop off when he is in there as opposed to Denard. You lose a little speed and gain a little in other areas. I would just like to see him get some more snaps going forward.

Given the consensus --- as I understand it --- that DG’s lack of QB PT would affect his ability to make the split-second reads that make the option go, Borgas seemed to focus DG’s run game on straight handoffs, quick pitches, and an occasional keeper. In the passing game, however, DG seemed to have more creative control.

On the highlight-film, reverse-direction rollout, Devin spotted an arm-waving Drew Dileo in the endzone and delivered a 40+ yard pass that Drew didn’t have to move a foot to catch. That whole sequence was far more talent that coaching. It showed why coming out of high school Devin was such a hot QB prospect.

In looking for some comparison to Devin I thought of VaTech’s Logan Thomas: a big, rangy guy with good speed, a good arm, who can see over defenses, who can make plays with his feet and who seemed genetically predisposed to playing QB. In fact, once he settled down after the first quarter, Devin really did make playing QB look easy, which is what great athletes do.