Should Devin start against Purdue?

I think that gardner will be a stud when its his time but i still do not think he is ready. He missed hopkins wide open for a touchdown and fumbled a snap. Denard did not look any better but he has that big play ability that devin does not bring to the table YET. 

The one thing that absolutely irks me about Denard is the fact that he trys to force a pass when he should run, and tries to run when the defense has loaded the box.

He is still a better passer than Taylor Martinez...

Cmon DG can throw but he can't score every time he touches the ball. Fact is they both missed wide open receivers for TD's. DG had Hopkins fucking wide open in the middle with no defender in sight for 20 yards. Facts are facts we just fucking sucked on offense today. If we go 11-1 nobody is going to complain, we all knew that this fairytale had to end it just sucks that it's at MSU expense. Let's focus on the rest of the season

Pull it down and RUN

strengths then we might as well start Devin.  It's pretty clear that Denard simply cannot adapt to what Borges wants to do so either they need to adapt the offense to what Denard does well or move to Devin.

That suggested he was a superior player to Denard.



Honetly OP your critical thinking skills have been seriously messed with by despair beer or some combination of the two

After reading all the different blogs since the loss there are plenty of mixed reviews about DR. The bottom-line is "What is best for this TEAM". I trust Hoke knows this and I believe you are starting to see Hoke wean DR from QB and give the job to Devin Gardner. Hoke is slow paced about this because he doesn't want to upset the apple cart with a drastic move. Hoke knows you can't win Big Ten Championships with a QB who can't throw. Be honest with your opinions, how many times has DR missed a WR by more than 10-15 yards. I mean, it isn't even close. DR just throws the ball without purpose. He is too short to see over huge lineman and doesn't read progressions, thus WR's get lax and don't run routes. Right now DR's passing ability is like a virus and everyone is going to get sick. Players, coaches, fans, etc. Do what is best for this TEAM. Even if the change comes next year, I believe the change will be made. I can't believe Hoke and DR haven't watched film and discussed this. DR is a great kid, he has provided us with some great highlights but not against top tier opponents. Comebacks, yes. Great competitor, yes, fast, blazing. A decent passer. Not close.

I love Denard... He's a great kid and shows us what all hard work can do for you. However as a fan of this TEAM, we need to do what's best for this team. That is place Devin under center or in shotgun and have Denard in the backfield. This provides you with the option attack or putting him into motion have a dump off pattern to him. Now not only is that your option but teams are going to fear that providing you with possible wideouts wide open. This is the TEAM we are talking about and we all know Denard as one hell of a kid and a better character, but to win ball games we need a passing offense.

But almost all quarterbacks have one or two a year.  Thankfully MSU's defense is the best we'll see all year and we're not likely to play another game in 40mph winds.  

We're still an 8+ win team, something we haven't been since 2007, when we had a 4-year starter at QB.  He also had a few bad games that year.  

(I also didn't feel Devin was all that great either in this one.)  

Watching the game in East Lansing amongst a bunch of Spartans, every single one of them thought we would run Denard for an easy first down. They'd basically conceded the tie and were hoping to avoid a meltdown. That call handed them the game on everyone's favorite silver platter.

Edit: this was just a comment on someones comment on the 4th and 1. User error.

You really can't make much of a judgment about Gardner. He only ran a handful of plays and never had an opportunity to establish a rhythm.

With a bye week and Purdue...Denard will be fine...relax.

I do think Devin is going to give Denard a run for his money NEXT year. However, right now, no...it's Denard's team. Once Devin starts preparing like the starter and getting a good number of reps in practice, he shouldn't be starting.

To me, this game clearly showed who was the better passer. IMO it's clear, Devin is the best quarterback on the team. Denard is the best athlete. However, I think you get more by playing your best athlete at Quarterback right now.

Devin isn't the best quarterback because he's that good, it's because Denard simply isn't a quarterback. He has to be able to hit a wide open Hopkins. He has to be able to command more out of the offense. Devin has to control himself that he doesn't go fucking nuts after one 6 yards first down run. IMO he needs one more offseason.

However, it'll be Denard's senior year...can you really move him to a Percy Harvin role in his senior year? It'll be interesting.

To answer the question, Devin is still a year away. Denard is the starter and hope we don't have to pass 30-40 times.

The answer is no as long as Denard is healthy. I think there is a chance, however, that there will be a battle for the to spot next season. Hoke seems to be trying to get Devin some serious reps.

denard might be the best/worst thing to ever happen to us. great guy...humble...electrifying....but...

greatness is measured by big game wins. outside of nd...he has 0. if we go 9-3 and lose to msu nebraska and ohio...i say its time for the future and devin gardner as our starter.

howeva...IF denard beats ohio...then my opinion changes.

the lack of a running game isnt all on the rb's and oline. msu was blitzing 5 or 6 on every play. the defense was committed to forcing denard to throw the ball, and in doing so they outnumbered or blockers and clogged up the running lanes. and we didnt make them pay for it. we can only establish a running game if defenses respect the pass. part of it is denard was missing open receivers (both with his throws and his reads). part of it is also that the playcalling really didn't adjust to the consistent blitz.

denard is an awesome athlete, no question. but blaming denard's struggles on the lack of running game is way off in my opinion. if anything, its denards passing deficiencies that are the cause of our running problems.

As long as Denard is under center (or in the shotgun), opposing teams will stack the box and play the run first. Until we can pass the ball donw field effectively, as we did against MN, more handoffs to the backs is not a vaible solution to our problem. Waiting to make a change at QB will likely result in 8-4 this year and 7-5 or 8-4 next. Any team with a good athletes on defense (MSU, NEB, OSU and possibly ILL) will shut us down.

Denard Robinson is most dangerous when he gets space...let's line him up where we can get him in space every play. He is a carbon copy of Percy Harvin

delete double post

I was an advocate for Denard since his freshman year, but I'm a little baffled at the seemingly blind support of him this year. Look at his numbers, and most importantly, look at him play, and he has taken a step back since last year - very disheartening. I've seen nothing from him this year that would make him an absolute favorite over Gardner. Sure, he's a playmaker and can rip off a big run here and there, but many of his big pass plays are bailouts from the WRs, or they're canceled out by his lack of accuracy and interceptions. Denard made a huge jump in QB ability last year, but it seems as if he's plateaued. I'm not buying the argument anymore that he'll get better this year because it just hasn't beenx happening - what evidence have you seen?

Purdue is a great opportunity to get Gardner some real quality PT and actually run the offense rather than just coming in for a few plays. Gardner looks like he could be the better QB now, and I was really frustrated that we wasn't given a chance earlier in the game. He's the future of this team and I see him taking over next year, and possibly towards the end of this season.

A quarterback that can't throw accurately mixed with very sub par offensive line just isn't going to work out against good defenses. Everyone who is saying run the ball more, what the hell is that going to do? They had 8 in the box blitzing mercifully almost every play. No way we'd block them and gain anything running, not with that O line. Hell, we gave up a sack when they rushed three people, let alone almost the whole team. Plus were not helping the line with a QB who can't throw. They're asked to block 7 or 8 people every play because the defense doesn't have to play pass coverage and can just bring the house every play.

Sure some more quick slants and screens would of been nice, but we missed a lot of open receivers down field that were wide open. If we had a QB that they had to respect as a passer, it'd of been different. They knew we couldn't throw, and were able to blitz every play without any repercussions. Not exactly what you want, especially with a weak O line. It's quite frustrating to watch how inept we are against any decent team. Neg away, but I want a QUARTERBACK! Denard is awesome and very talented. We can still use him for many things and can still change games for us out in space. A QB though, that he is not.

I think it's the opposite, you let Denard throw the majority of the time to get more in game experience, he just never looks comfortable in the pocket

I normally just read posts, not reply; but whoever started this must be smoking some good shit.  You got to be out of your mind to think Devin is a better passer right now.  The best player in college football, Denard, and hometown kid Devin have both been in this system the same amount of time.  They are both in the first year under Coach Borges and who has the better numbers.  Let me check, Denard does in all aspects of the passing game.  Yes, the INTs are higher then last year through as many games; but remeber that the Spread uses a whole hell of a lot more quick screens and such to get WR in space.  Denard's numbers including completion % are higher then Devin's are. 

We are still a zone blocking O-line and manball does not work as well on the bigger Defenses. 

Whoever tried to question Denard's leadership ability needs to be taken behind the wood shed and be beaten.  Denard is this team, Denard bleeds this team and Denard puts leaves everything out on that field.  If that is not leadership on a football team, then what the hell is?  Being a loud mouth, cry when I lose, little bitch, who needs anti-depressants because of extreme ups and downs, is not the only way to lead.

Attitude reflect leadership....is one way, not the only way.

Lead by example...that is how you're a TEAM player.   The team, the team, the team.  Denard is a Bo QB.

Oh, so the last 30 seconds of the ND game, there were only jump balls that the WR bailed Shoelace out on.  As I recall, the only jump ball was to Roundtree at the end.  The other two were strikes to KG and JG. 

One on one coverage with only 3 defenders back and 8 in the box means you throw a jump ball, because odds are you will have less then 3 seconds to throw.

You want a Chad Henne behind center/ shotgun.  I will take Denard's legs and 58% cmp. over just an arm, any day.

the team, the team, the TEAM