Good for Tate/Denard, Bad for Gardner?
I know it's early to start speculating about next year, but does a good year from Tate and/or Denard affect Gardner's recruiting? He'd be coming in for most likely a red-shirt, then sit for another year or two before finally getting to the field. Does he start to look around for a place to start as a freshman (Big 12 will have lots of openings, FLA, etc.), or go and try to beat out an established QB at Michigan?
September 8th, 2009 at 11:38 AM ^
than hoping to snag a ***** every four years. And if they don't work out or transfer or leave to play baseball......
September 8th, 2009 at 11:47 AM ^
Starting for four years as a QB is NOT THE NORM. Not every 5* QB is sniffing around for a place where they can start immediately.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^
If Gardner redshirts, that gives him two Forcier-free (and Denard-free) years to start. And who knows? Forcier could get hurt or he could plateau.
September 8th, 2009 at 9:56 PM ^
The injury part is the key here. We need depth depth depth especially when we run our QB's around alot.
September 8th, 2009 at 2:45 PM ^
want to start as true freshman. It does not provide them the best chance for success.
I also think that looking around for somewhere to start as a freshman would mean they are possibly compromising on other factors, such as scheme, receiving core, exposure, chemistry with coaches, distance, etc. These were all part of the original decision and are not that easy to just go out and find. Given that DG was an early commit, I think that these were all likely important aspects of his decision.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:42 PM ^
But there will be a number of potential openings at big name schools this off-season. The #1 QB in the country will probably hear some offers for exactly that: come in and start right now. So the question was "What are the chances Gardner goes looking?" and from the responses and the recruiting profile, it sounds like "Not very high."
I'll keep my virtual fingers crossed until he's on campus.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^
on going." It was pretty evident from game one that Coach Rod means what he says. If a guy is confident in his ability and wants to work hard to get on the field then Michigan is the program for him. Don't doubt that this message is being communicated regularly to all recruits. Ultimately even the Freep article will add to the reasons why guys want to come to Michigan.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:22 PM ^
is almost always a good thing: in sports, in politics and in the workplace.
I predict that Forcier and Robinson are going to kick Sheridan to the curb by next weekend, and Rodriguez will not be pleased. Both will better and better competing against each other for playing time. Adding Gardner into the mix next year will create some questions about playing time, but few will question whether the "right guy" won the starting job because we will know that guy ran the gauntlet and survived.
Rodriguez has got it right in my view. Nepotism and seniority must be pushed to the wayside in favor of increased competition at every position.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:25 PM ^
...that "it's too early to start speculating about next year"
September 8th, 2009 at 12:46 PM ^
I think that it's way too early to come to any conclusions about the QB race for next year. Forcier looked great. The real deal. Robinson had a great run (after he fumbled the snap), but he didn't look that sharp passing. He never looked off a single receiver while he was in the game. He stared them all down before throwing the ball. Obviously, that's something that he'll be able to work on but "it is what it is" for now.
Personally, I think that the whole QB rotation is a bad idea. It looks like Forcier has pretty clearly won the job. Let him play. Michigan won't be able to afford to take any series "off" against ND.
In the end, I think that Forcier will be the QB this season and the leader coming into next season. Gardner will compete for the job. Robinson will find his niche (sort of like what we expected from Antonio Bass) but his QB time will be limited to a few specifically designed plays to utilize his skills. Just my guess....
September 8th, 2009 at 1:08 PM ^
Without singling anyone out, the concept of worrying about a decommitment because Michigan's true freshmen are so badass smells ridiculous. I'm not thinking about Gardner's decision because I keep watching Michigan's first-half touchdown explosion.
September 8th, 2009 at 7:14 PM ^
Denard is the best player on the team which is why everyone wants to play him everywhere. He has the potential to be the best QB, Slot, WR, CB, Safety on the team. His teamates rave about, Coaches rave about him, former players rave about him, scouts rave about him.
Denard is on a different level. I only needed to see one play to understand why his HS Coach said Denard will play on Sundays.
Nobody else on Michigan or prit near any other team in the country scores on that play.
I have a hunch Denard is going to blow by a ND corner on Saturday and catch his first TD pass from Tate. When he is on the field he makes everyone else better.
September 8th, 2009 at 10:23 PM ^
"Denard is the best player on the team."
I beg to differ. He had one electric play followed by 10 (just a random number) mediocre ones. He's going to be good, and he's already shown to be explosive. But let's hold off on the "best player on the team" comments until he's actually, I dunno, good enough to start.
September 8th, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^
Poster who should lose his job for excessive hyperbole: GordieBell
Poster who should keep his job for never, ever being slightly excitable: Magnus.
September 8th, 2009 at 10:34 PM ^
I can't tell if this is a compliment or not. I'm going to pretend it is and treat myself to a cup of green tea.
September 8th, 2009 at 10:36 PM ^
It was kind of a minor(HAH) critique on you both for being extreme in opposite ways.
September 10th, 2009 at 8:50 PM ^
That may be the most absurd post I have ever witnessed
September 11th, 2009 at 1:03 AM ^
I was referring to this.
September 9th, 2009 at 5:05 PM ^
Sorry, DP.
September 9th, 2009 at 5:04 PM ^
Sarcasm?
September 9th, 2009 at 1:55 PM ^
If I was him I wouldnt want to go to a school where there are currently two very promising true freshman. That would mean he wouldn't play significantly until most likely his junior year, which may or may not be something he could live with.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:15 PM ^
There are very few good programs who don't have a stud QB already in place or waiting in the wings.
You can either go to a good program and fight for playing time or you can go to a bad program and play immediately.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:33 PM ^
It falls on Tate and DRob to bring Michigan back to elite status, so DG can come in and keep us there. By that time, we'll be contending for Big 10 titles pretty much every year.