Sam Webb Believes Morris Starts Saturday?
Listening to WTKA during their MGoBlog roundtable segement, and unless I didn't hear him correctly, but Sam stated he believes UM goes with Morris (well, I believe he said 'the backup' I think) to start on Saturday. Anybody else hear that, or am I just hearing things? We all know Webb is really plugged into the program, so I somehow think this is unlikely to be a guess unless he's purposefully sandbagging or something. Anyway, passing along some info for those not listening; the future is now I suppose. And the future better start winning or the next few months are going to be, ah, trying.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^
This is well said. It holds true for every other position on the team. Jake Ryan has been yanked out when he was making mistakes. It should not be that much of a scandal for this to happen to Devin, given his undeniably poor play.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:49 AM ^
Jake Ryan was put back in the game and/or started the next week.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
behind pulling them off the field as equivalent?
September 25th, 2014 at 2:03 PM ^
Devin was treated the same as Jake; he got yanked from the game after making his bad mistakes. Actually, Jake was treated better than Devin in this regard. Jake got pulled, and when his backup wasn't playing any better, he went back in. Then he started the next game and ever since. Devin got pulled, didn't go back in when his backup was making the same mistakes, and now has potentially lost his starting job. You think Devin is getting preferential treatment because he is the quarterback?
September 25th, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
I rather feel the same way - if it is the case that Morris will be starting on Saturday, then on the bench is a guy who has seen two head coaches, three offensive coordinators, was recruited as a QB, switched to WR then back to being a QB, has played hurt but toughed it out and in general someone who, despite having a real adventure in the program, has given everything he can to it. It would be extremely difficult not to feel bad for Gardner if this is how it shall be this weekend.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
If it does happen, I hope they still find ways to get Devin meaningful and rewarding game action in some capacity . . . throwing, running, catching . . . because he can do all of that.
He's too valuable to just be on the bench for 8 straight games. And, he deserves better.
September 25th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
I echo those sentiments as well, and the real lessons from football are being learned quite well by Mr. Gardner. He deserves whatever gratitude anyone in the program can bestow upon him.
I am also sure that, should Morris start, rather than sulking, Gardner is preparing as if he will be called upon to play, Yet I cannot help but feel this move HAS to be made, because Gardner is not a good decision-maker on the field, and his biggest asset (the ability to run) is not really even being utilized.
Regardless, I have to admire Devin Gardner for the way he has comported himself for 5 years at Michigan.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 10:38 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
Yup, anyone with a heart has to feel the same way. The only thing that makes me feel a bit better about it is I think Gardner could definitely use a week off to gather himself and probably heal up physically too. As disappointed as he has to be about this, I'm sure there's a part of him that is probably relieved too.
Who knows how long this will last. too. If he doesn't give up, which nothing he's done so far indicates that he will, he could be right back in there next week, or heck it might even be earlier if Morris doesn't do well.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:42 PM ^
Same thing here. The guy takes an absolute beating on the field, selling out his body to win. He has his degrees and he could just walk away but he puts it all out on the line every week Nothing but respect for him.
September 25th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
I still think that Devin Gardner gives Michigan the best chance to win. Not just this weekend, but throughout the season. Given that, I think that Hoke is really rolling the dice with his future by changing QB's in mid-stream. I guess that we'll find out in the weeks to come.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^
Well, it's not like a Rose Bowl or Big Ten Championship is on the line. The difference between Gardner or Morris starting is more likely the difference between an invite to AdvoCare Texas Bowl or the New Mexico Bowl. Better to play for the future so the next coach can see what Morris can do over the next few years. Plus, assuming Garnder moves to WR, it will help him for the future. He wasn't going to be an NFL QB, maybe he can show some skills and make a roster as a WR/athlete type.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^
at 0-0, then he should be summarily fired.
If you believe you're not going to win, you will be right 100% of the time.
I highly doubt that's Brady's thinking.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:40 AM ^
Surprised and pleased to see you upvoted on that. I tend to think DG is our best chance and felt in the minority. I'd really like to think this isn't just being done out of pressure on Hoke and the staff, but it feels like it.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:07 AM ^
I don't think it's a response to external pressure; I think it's a response to what they see when they look at the film.
Film Focus: Michigan vs. Utah
The first comment in that post is relevant too.
Not saying it's right or wrong, just that I think this is the reason. If Morris consistently gets through those progressions quicker in practice (and I've had the sense that he does in games, though it's a really small sample size and I don't trust it) then he may have won himself a start.
---
There are really two separate issues in the post: (1) slowness of reads and (2) poor footwork/not stepping into throws. I don't care what anyone says, #2 feels like he's carrying an injury they won't talk about.
September 25th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
It almost sounds like you want to blame us on Morris potentially starting.
We don't have that kind of control. This coaching staff and the AD don't give a damn what we say on here or anywhere else on the blogosphere.
If Morris starts and he is great then I'll give the coaching staff their due for the decision. If he starts and does not do well that is on the coaches.
I also echo what other posters have said above and really hope Devin plays at a high level the rest of the year since I know he has it in him. He's shown us countless times. Also, another counterpoint to the injusry excuse: OSU 2013. Dude played on a broken foot for an entire half and still had a great performance. I truly think and hope it's mental and that somebody can get through to Gardner he can do this and he lead us to a decent to good season. He's just got to play within himself and the offense and take what the defense gives because there is always some kind of weak point.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
And I think the player's psyche and morale is a big deal - especially in college football. If Hoke decides to start Shane on Saturday and it does not go so well, how damaged is DG if/when they try to reinsert him as the starter?
September 25th, 2014 at 5:40 PM ^
I still think that Devin Gardner gives Michigan the best chance to win. Not just this weekend, but throughout the season.
Yes, but what about cumulative win total over the remaining 2 years of the career of Morris?
If starting Morris this year leads to 2 less wins this year but leads to 2 extra wins per year in 2015 & 2016 - I thik you take the extra losses this year.
September 25th, 2014 at 9:57 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 9:57 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 9:58 AM ^
This is good for Gardner, if this is the case. He then becomes the backup and according to Nuss, the backup is always the most popular in town.
"The backup quarterback is always the most popular guy in town," Nussmeier said.
September 25th, 2014 at 9:58 AM ^
Assuming the inside dope is correct, I wonder what Nussmeier and Hoke's mindset is on this. It's possible that the coaches feel that Devin needs to step away, and Minnesota is a game that either could win. It's possible that they've finally lost patience with Devin's tendency to turn the ball over and lock in on his primary receiver. It's possible that Morris is playing lights out in practice, and they want to give him a longer look on the field. It's possible that Devin is hurt, and this is an optimal game to give him a week off to nurse what ails him.
I've been a bit underwhelmed with what I've seen of Morris so far, but he does have an arm that can stretch the field. If I were running the show (and there are countless reasons why I'm not), I'd be in Nussmeier's ear all day long telling him that we need to have some designed runs for DG, to keep the opposing defenses honest - I really think that would solve a big part of DG's struggles.
Or it's possible that Gardner starts on Saturday. But dayum, it's intriguing!
September 25th, 2014 at 11:15 AM ^
I agree about the designed (and not designed) runs, especially now that the drop-off from Gardner to his backup doesn't seem terribly steep. Obviously we don't want to see Gardner get hurt, but it wouldn't completely change the team in the way that it would have last year if he had gotten hurt or in the year that Bellomy backed up Denard.
I'd like to see the coaches increase their risk tolerance a bit, with letting Gardner run being one example of that.
September 25th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
Sam has been saying that for a few days. It's tough to get excited about such a quality individual getting benched but I would imagine even Devin would want whatever is best for the team. Perhaps some time watching and learning at Nuss' hip can help slow the game down for him when his number is called again. Fact is, it's tough to argue with the results and in tough environs the offense hasn't worked with Gardner under center. How much of it is him, how much was the youngest OL in UM history, Borges, OC transition, subpar position coaching, poor RB play-- it's unlikely outsiders will really ever know.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
I think that Gardner is really struggling under center. Our running game is still lacluster, and does not seem to justify playing under center. I personally think our best chance to win the BIG is with Gardner in shotgun.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^
Absolutely. He has shown much better results from the shotgun, especially when he does some running from there. We are a different offense from there.
Morris is not the magic answer. We don't have the OL, running game, or WR's yet to put Tom Brady under center. Morris does get the ball out quicker, but half the time it's to the other team.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
ND: 59% completion, 0 TD, 3 INT, 189 yards, 0 offensive TDs
Utah: 53% completion, 0 TD, 2 INT, 148 yrds, 0 offensive TDs
Those are Bellomy numbers. I don't see how you can simply allow a QB to play indefinitely without performing even a little.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
We are benching a returning senior QB based on statistics with a sample size of 2 games? Also, not to knock the kid, but if you look at Shane's stats throughout his career they are not very impressive 0 TDs / 4 INTs / 53.7% completion rate.
My point is not that Shane is a bad quarterback and/or will not improve - I think both of those statements are wrong - but rather that it's not as easy as looking at statistics (especialy 2 games) to say that we should bench our senior QB 1/3 of the way in to the season
September 25th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
We are benching a returning senior QB based on statistics with a sample size of 2 games? Also, not to knock the kid, but if you look at Shane's stats throughout his career they are not very impressive 0 TDs / 4 INTs / 53.7% completion rate.
My point is not that Shane is a bad quarterback and/or will not improve - I think both of those statements are wrong - but rather that it's not as easy as looking at statistics (especialy 2 games) to say that we should bench our senior QB 1/3 of the way in to the season
September 25th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^
even brady is always in shotgun.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
given that about half of the plays were from the shotgun. I looked at the opening drive against ND and wouldn't you know it, the last play from scrimmage was Gardner in the shotgun bailing out just as two receivers came wide open. His bail out was three yards shy of a first down.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^
I disagree. What we need is more 3 TE sets. Maybe bump that up to 4 TE sets. Do we have enough TEs for a 5 TE set? Gardner thrives with more TEs in my opinion.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 3:59 PM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 11:07 AM ^
He was in shotgun the vast majority of the snaps. Unfortunately, the idea that there's such a simple solution to Gardner's struggles is very unlikely.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^
The interesting thing for me in watching DG in shotgun is he never looks at his outlet receiver (on plays he has one). He'll have a RB coming open in the flat and he almost never looks at him, instead he tucks and runs or dances around the pocket for a sack. He only ever throws to a RB if it's part of a designed play.
He has all the physical tools but the mental part is holding him back. Why not see if it can click for Shane and maybe show better production.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:32 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 11:44 AM ^
When I scroll in my mind back to what's left of UTL2, I recall Gardner being pretty deadly out of the shotgun where he didn't have to backpedal, analyze, set, and throw. Maybe its as simple as the angle of his head from "locking on" to his receiver was smaller due to the dropback and less visible to the guys on the field, or he had more time to watch the route develop from its start and anticipate the break where the receiver gains a step or an inside position.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^
But the plays detailed this week at maizenbrew where he was fatally slow getting through his progression were all out of the shotgun. There's criticism there, too, of the under-center play action stuff but it isn't anywhere close to the whole problem.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
If anyone was wondering a 3-4 year old sapling works great for a pitchfork.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:03 AM ^
September 25th, 2014 at 10:05 AM ^