Geaux_Blue

November 10th, 2012 at 10:36 AM ^

This has been known for the better part of the week and confirmed late Thurs. Denard is likely available in the event of injury but still does not have full feeling in his hand, making him the less desirable option.

Newbs

November 10th, 2012 at 10:42 AM ^

I love Denard's playmaking ability and he's a great kid but as a QB I think Devin is a much better option and I think he allows Borges to open up the play book and keep the defense off balance.

BlueHills

November 10th, 2012 at 10:48 AM ^

I understand why you feel that way, and I also think Devin's a great kid with a lot of upside as a quarterback, but Denard has not only set records with his feet. He has moved up the charts in his total yards past some pretty good UM traditional quarterbacks, and except for a few bad games, is a clutch player.

MGoBlue96

November 10th, 2012 at 11:55 AM ^

against Minnesota does not make Gardner a better option than Denard. The only games Denard has struggled in were against 3 of the best defenses in the country, not remotely similar to facing to Minnesota's defense for Devin last week. I would wager that Devin would of had rough afternoons against those three defenses as well.

Make no mistake about it, Denard is still the best QB on this team, and I honestly I think some people have undervalued him to an extent. I think he is one of those players that willl be appreciated more after he leaves. Is he a great passer, absolutely not, but he does bring the element of being able  to break a big play at anytime, and that is a big loss when he doesn't play. Whatever possible gains UM gets in the passing department is not greaterr than the loss of that big play ability and the pressure that Denard's legs put of the defense.

This isn't a knock of Devin, I was impressed with what he did last week, and it made me excited to possibly see what he can do at QB next year, but to suggest that Devin is the better option after one game against a subpar defense is pretty much assanine.

MGoBlue96

November 10th, 2012 at 1:18 PM ^

leader in total yards in Michigan history is still the better option over a guy who has made 2 total starts against non-elite defenses is somehow flamebait? That is pretty funny. People do realize that in all likelyhood Denard would be having his way with both Minnesota and Northwestern defenses right? These are not the kind of the defenses that have given Denard trouble in his career.  

Like I said it really isn't a fair comparison for Denard when he has faced MSU's, Alabama's and ND's defenses and Devin has done well against Minnesota and Northwester so far. Not the same level of competition by any stretch.  Denard has had big games against the non-elite defenses on the schedule.

Like I said I am excited about Devin for next year. He has a chance to be a very good QB next year, and has raised the level of optimism for next year. Clearly he is showing some of that ability that made him a 5 star QB out of HS.

Edit: How exactly is this off-topic? Oh well delusional people, will be delusional I guess. I guess that is what I get for defending the all time yards leader in Michigan history.

MGoBlue96

November 10th, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^

was to elaborate more of my initial point. Like I said I just can't believe defending the all time yards in the history of Michigan football is somehow labeled a negative post, specifically when I said I was excited to see Devin at QB next year.

I really don't know what is hard to understand, most of Denard's struggles this year have come against those three elite defenses, otherwise he has been  rather dominant. Devin has not seen that caliber of defense, which is why I feel it is way off to be saying that Devin is somehow the better option based on a sample size of 2 games against a different caliber of competition. Like I said for an apples to apples comparison we would have to see how Devin performs against a elite defense until than it is not a fair comparison.

I will concede that Devin seems like a better pure passer, and has better instincts when it comes to scrambling passing plays, but in the big picture the loss of Denard's ability to make a big play any moment and his ability to make up for poor blocking on run plays is a huge loss.

People can think whatever they want, and completing ignore the perfectly valid points I  and some others in the thread are making, without making any attempt to try and disprove those points. If your going to label a post as negative when it's not, at least have the guts to try and make a counterpoint. I couldn't care less about points, but come out and make some counterpoints if you disagree with a post.

MGoBlue96

November 10th, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^

this thread saying that Devin is the better option, funny how that works.  In fact that is the original post I was replying to.

Also just to note I haven't been on MGoBlog most of the week, so I have no idea what has been beaten to death. I apogilize for actually focusing on work, while at work, instead of reading MGoBlog.

Amutnal

November 10th, 2012 at 10:48 AM ^

Time to see if Gardner is the better option when combined with Borges. He may be the QB that Borges is more comfortable with running his scheme. Borges and Denard just don't seem to mesh well. Plus it is so nice not having to yell "RUNNNN!" as Brian nicely pointed out. How Denard at this point cannot grasp such a simple concept as scrambling baffles me. He would be unstoppable otherwise.

ander2ta

November 10th, 2012 at 10:48 AM ^

I want to watch Denard play in Blue as many times as I can. He's a great kid and a special athlete.

Don't want to take anything away from Gardner, I just want to enjoy as much Denard as I can.

qbyrd

November 10th, 2012 at 10:56 AM ^

No DOUBT!!  Denard is very very special.  10 years from now he will be celebrated the way Woodson, Hart, Desmond, & Henne are now.  People will who are saying he stinks now or that Devin should play will look back and say he was one HECK OF A PLAYER & LEADER!!! We only have a few more games to watch a player on our team that is going to the college football hall of fame someday.

GO BLUE!!

DefenseWins

November 10th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^

Us Michigan fans are always anxious no matter what the circumstances.
NW has a more dangerous offense than Minn. DG is going to have to put some points on the board. My anxiety is at its usual level: the maximum.

MichiganStudent

November 10th, 2012 at 10:55 AM ^

I don't want to start a shit storm but I want to know if anyone has heard this rumor. 

Denards mother does not want him to play the rest of the season because of his injury and how it may affect his NFL draft status. 

I heard this from a guy I consider close to the program, but couldn't believe it. Just wanted to throw it out there. 

MichiganStudent

November 10th, 2012 at 11:07 AM ^

Those were my thoughts exactly, which is why it bothered me. Thats the only reason why I posted that on here to see if anyone else has heard the same thing. 

SF Wolverine

November 10th, 2012 at 10:56 AM ^

Is not going to be a huge help to the team.  N'Western is pretty good against the run, so we'll have to be able to pass today to get things opened up.  Also, with admittedly little knowledge of this type of injury, ne shouldn't be put in a position where he might do long-term damage.  That said, if he is able to go, but just can't throw, would not be end of the world to see him line up in the backfield with Garnder once or twice. 

WingsNWolverines

November 10th, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^

Sit Denard till he's good to go for the OSU game in two weeks. Devin has proven himself and is ready to start. Had a phenomenal game last week vs Minnesota. GO GET EM #12!

Perkis-Size Me

November 10th, 2012 at 11:31 AM ^

I have full confidence in Devin, but this like a cruel joke for Denard. It will be a horrible feeling if he's not ready to go for Senior Day next week. Sitting on the sidelines for your last home game is not a proper send off.



But with the silver lining here, it gives Devin a lot more preparation for next year, especially if he has to go against OSU. So it sucks right now, but I think it's beneficial for the long term.



Still, I'd give anything for Denard to be out there.

MGlobules

November 10th, 2012 at 11:49 AM ^

in this morning's DetNews. I hope we get him back next week so that the team is comfortable with him--or with some new combinations of him and Devin--before OSU.