Should Devin start against Purdue?

Play who the coaches think gives the team the best opportunity to win.  But play one. 

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?

Dude, you know you're creating multiple universes by asking this question, right?

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...

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Devin's skillset matches up more favorably with the current coaching staff's skillset.. Whether or not that gives us a better chance to win I can't say because I don't know what goes on behind the scenes. However, I suspect that Devin's abilities give us a slightly better chance vs elite defenses that can keep Denard's legs in check.

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.

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.

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.

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?  

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.

The people who say absolutely no are the ones who said the same about firing RR.

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?