Should Devin start against Purdue?
I have trouble writing this; I love Denard, I love what he brings to the table as an option QB, I love him as a rolemodel-guy, but we need someone who can throw the ball better. Someone wrote (many someones) that he was hurt, but perhaps that is all the more reason to have Devin at the helm now. I think the Purdue game would give Devin some valuable snaps against a beatable team. We could sprinkle healthy doses of Denard here and there, and of course there are the 'trick' plays as well, but I think it may benefit the team in the long run if Devin was given the start. It would certainly benefit Devin, that throw when he was across the line of scrimage had rookie written all over it.
What do you guys think?
October 15th, 2011 at 5:51 PM ^
Me as well. Any takers? Please?
October 15th, 2011 at 6:53 PM ^
Duh since we have a bye week.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 15th, 2011 at 5:40 PM ^
Play who the coaches think gives the team the best opportunity to win. But play one.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:40 PM ^
October 15th, 2011 at 6:10 PM ^
The OP has 1700 points.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:41 PM ^
While Denard obviously didnt throw the ball well, the wind was a huge factor. He still gives us the best chance to win. 6-1 at this point in Hoke's first season is about as good as we could have hoped for before the season started. Borges straight screwed this up. Putting Devin in every few series does him a disservice. How can a qb get in a rhythm playing and trying to throw the ball like that?
October 15th, 2011 at 7:16 PM ^
"the wind was a huge factor".
Knowing how iffy our pass game has been and knowing the weather forecast I was stunned that we seemed to abandon the run game and depend on Denard passing. Toussaint only got a few carries. Hopkins nothing and Shaw did not play. Baffling.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:41 PM ^
like this should be automatically banished from the site.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:59 PM ^
People who post stuff like this should be automatically banished from this site.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:42 PM ^
Devin would start for 7 if not 8 or 9 Big Ten Teams: Minnesota, Iowa, OSU, Purdue, Indiana, Penn State, Iowa, maybe Northwestern and Nebraska.
I hate to say it, but his passing is much better than his running is worse than Denard's running. I'm watching Washington, and watching the ball get thrown around the field by a QB who can move is pretty furstrating. Denard's one of my favortites ever at Michigan and it's furstrating that I'm going to say this, but Devin at QB and Denard as Reggie Bush would be an upgrade for the team I think,
October 15th, 2011 at 5:43 PM ^
Dude, you know you're creating multiple universes by asking this question, right?
October 15th, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
where the 20-sided die comes up with a 16. Wonder what happens in the other timeline?
October 15th, 2011 at 6:18 PM ^
I hope this is a Community reference...
October 15th, 2011 at 5:43 PM ^
Look...and again, I am a big Denard guy...I think he's reached his ceiling. He doesn't read defenses well, now in his jr year, he doesn't have good touch on the ball, again he's in his jr. year, he makes very poor decisions at times -very!-. I don't think he's going to get much better.
I'm not saying he shouldn't play at all, but with the new coaching regime, and Devin full of potential on the sidelines, is it going to hold the team back to play to Denard's strengths when he isn't able to flex them?
I appreciate the candor fellas, I think the criticism has been doled out in a very Michigan mannish manner, however I was wondering if possibly we could cease from negging me? I just got over 1700 and I was liking the look.
I hate to hijack my own thread, but what's everybody drinking? I'm finishing off the last of my Bell's Pale Ale...
October 15th, 2011 at 5:51 PM ^
and I'm drinking Karbach Lager the Tigers,it's some new Houston brewery (I, unfortunately, live in Houston.
October 15th, 2011 at 11:20 PM ^
I got ur back bro, no need to neg the guy. Very legit question.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:52 PM ^
Yes… Absolutely Devin should get a look. It amazes me how people can watch the same BAD QB play week after week, and then come on here and blame the coach’s. Denard is sailing passes 10, 15, even 20 yards over WIDE OPEN receivers heads. I Love the kid but right now his lack of passing is hurting us more than his running ability is helping. I don’t care what kind of offense you run, if you’re QB can’t manage a game, facilitate a game, and not make turnovers (No matter if he runs it 20 times or 2), you will lose against the better teams. We weren’t out schemed today; we were made one dimensional by our signal caller. As always I hope for the best but if we don’t do something different I’m afraid this season will not end well.
I hope I am wrong GoBlue!
October 15th, 2011 at 5:54 PM ^
he is still only a 2nd year starter, and he has had two different coaching staffs in two years. And I could not disagree more, when you say he has reached his ceiling. At the very least his footwork will get better, which has accounted for just as many of his bad throws as poor decisions. And like said I am not sure what people expect out of the Denard when he has a blitzer in his face almost every play, which was the case today. The bottom line is you can't ask Denard to rack up 350+ yards every week, that is too much of a load for one player.
And I am not sure what game people were watching if they think Devin looked any better than Denard today.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:38 PM ^
doesn't require the same coaching staff or an 'age' status. Assuming he's been a QB since he was a FR in HS, he's thrown all kinds of balls, under all types of circumstances...for a long time now. As a passer, he has regressed. He was under pressure; apparently there was no thought by the staff to actually have the WR's cut routes off to give help or to move the pocket and get Drob out in space.
I still contend he is a slot playing QB. But that, and a quarter will get you a quarter.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:52 PM ^
Put down the alcohol. It's only the first loss.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:57 PM ^
Denard is the returning B1G player of the year. We start our best player.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^
He could start as a RB or receiver alongside Gardner. Talent doubled.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:01 PM ^
Look I love Denard like all of you, but I don't see why people won't at least consider it. We've heard "Denard will improve" all season, but I haven't seen any improvements. If Denard gets better at throwing, then obviously he's the best choice. But if Denard won't improve, are you guys really sure Gardner wouldn't give us a better chance to win? Gardner needs work too, but his arm is much better.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:51 PM ^
We scored twice. Denard was qb both times.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:02 PM ^
No. Denard should start. I even agree with the ESPN announcers on the point that bringing Gardner in to pass when Robinson was NOT injured was a mistake. MSU does have a good defense, likely the best we will face all season and in a hostile environment. No reason to panic...yet. We will likely lose another game or two before December, but unless we want to bail on this season and just start preparing for next year, we do not make a quarterback change right now.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
Devin has the same problem Denard had last year: locking in on his primary reciever. That was obvious when he missed a wide open Hopkins earlier in the game. Denard has improved on that this year and still ultimately gives us the best chance to win this year.
The bigger question is who do we go with next year as Devin gets better and can check down onto other recievers. Ultimately Devin will be the better passer, but Denard is still the better overall athlete at this time.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:23 PM ^
Denard has not improved at all with that, Last week he had receivers running open and threw into coverage at least 4 times. Every announcer says Denard decides where he is throwing before the ball is snapped.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^
October 15th, 2011 at 6:13 PM ^
I honestly wouldn't have a huge problem with it. We're not going to have a shot to beat Alabama next year if they stack the box like today without a quarterback who can find and hit open receivers. No matter what the play calling is. Maybe that guy could be Denard, but I wonder. Based on the year to date (remember Brian's whole "this is unsustainable" thing after Notre Dame?), I have my doubts.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:13 PM ^
about this time in 2009 and 2010..."put down the alcohol...it's only the first loss"
Thinking 8 wins will be the ceiling, but I don't know how we will get the 8th one.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
two legitimate questions:
1.) Will it benefit Michigan more in the long run to switch to Devin now or continue with Denard?
I believe the answer is yes. Denard is a great talent. But he is more akin to Percy Harvin than Tim Tebow. He was last year's silver lining. He has an amazing skill set but I believe he has reached the peak of his potential as a Quarterback. We have a true Quarterback with lots of eligibility left. We aren't going to win the MNC this year and we probably won't win our division, let alone the B1G. Develop the QB that matches the Coaches direction for the team and work Denard into a Harvin type role. If Devin is struggling, pull him to be sure, but we have to stop thinking of Michigan as one guy.
2.) If you're totally opposed to the thought of benching Denard, did you think it was wise to play Denard over Tate last year? If so, recognize that Denard is playing worse than Tate did last year and we have another Quarterback in the same position Denard was in in 2010.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:25 PM ^
You're moving him. There's no reason he can't still play 12 plays at QB. There's also no reaosn that he can't win the Heisman not playing QB. The field opens up with Devn at QB for Denard runs and bubble screens. There's no reason he wou/dn't be a great Reggie Bush/Percy Harvin player, which is what he what he's going to be in the NFL. I actually wonder if we're not doing him a disservice by allowing him to be QB, if he moves he's a first rounder, if he doesn't he's proabably a third rounder..
October 15th, 2011 at 7:09 PM ^
I think this a loser's mentality: that we have nothing left to play for so we should develop for the future. Obviously that isn't the case, so unless you think Devin is better than Denard right now, at this minute, then it makes no sense to insert an inferior player when we still have games to win. Losing games now for some nebulous concept of development is counterproductive - you need to win in order to recruit, after all.
And no, I can't imagine anyone looked at today and said, yep, Devin is ready for the job.
October 15th, 2011 at 7:17 PM ^
Exactly. This isn't like OSU where they are trying out new QBs because the season is counted up as a loss. Denard remains the best chance we have to win games, end of story.
(congrats on the win over GT btw)
October 15th, 2011 at 8:28 PM ^
Thanks. Takes a little of the sting out. Not all. A little, though.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:18 PM ^
to not play Denard at qb, but I think the coaches arent going to have a choice but to eventually move Denard. He is not a good passer and our O-line can't protect him from the way defenses play him.
Devin is tall enough to see the field..makes good throws(though he needs to be taught to go though progressions) and defenses can't rush 9 when he is in there so the ground game becomes an option again. When you play decent defenses you have to take what they give you..every team is begging Denard to beat them with his arm but he just can't do it.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:21 PM ^
There was nothing fancy about the MSU scheme. They loaded the box and blitzed. We didn't block well, make reads quick enough or make them pay at all and so they didn't change it. I am not happy with the quarterback play or the O-line play. Mostly I am unhappy with the play calling on offense. How do you attack an overly aggressive team? Did we even call a screen?
October 15th, 2011 at 6:21 PM ^
Obviously, Denard needs to be out there as well. But I think it's clear Devin is a much better passer and deserves a chance to see if he can improve past his rookie decision making errors. The bye and Purdue game would be a great opportunity for this.
I love Denard and he must be on the field... But at this point he's not a true "dual-threat" with the shape of his passing game. I think Devin needs to be on the field as well.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:22 PM ^
No. Hell no. Come on.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:24 PM ^
No.
That is all.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:25 PM ^
No. He should play less.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^
"What do you guys think?"
Unless Denard cannot start for some reason, then no, Denard is still the QB.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:29 PM ^
The people who say absolutely no are the ones who said the same about firing RR.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:37 PM ^
What did you see out of DG that says he should start.
October 15th, 2011 at 6:56 PM ^
I'll probably get negged for this, but starting Denard is analogous to the following proposition:
5/6 times I give you $1 billion dollars
1/6 times I shoot you in the head.
Any takers?
October 15th, 2011 at 7:10 PM ^
If I'm dead I wouldn't need the billion dollars anyway.
October 15th, 2011 at 7:13 PM ^
If by "give you $1 billion dollars" you mean win football games and "shoot you in the head" you mean keep us in the game until the end then yes, i will take that. The fact remains, we were in position to tie with 6 minutes left. Did Denard play well? No. Was he the reason we lost today? I don't think so. I don't know why people are so high on replacing Denard with Gardner, Gardner played just as poorly and has no proven track record thus far. This isn't a season to start trying out new quarterbacks (OSU), with Denard we have a chance to win every game we have. Maybe i'm missing something but i really don't understand the calling for Garnder at this point.
October 15th, 2011 at 7:33 PM ^
So you're saying if we keep Denard we're going 10-2 every year? Yeah, I'll take that.
October 15th, 2011 at 7:46 PM ^
Yeah, I think you don't understand. If you really want to keep Denard then remember this: When we lose to MSU next year and you feel the same way you do now, just realize that you asked for it.