DG the Number 1 Breakout Candidate Per ESPN ($)
ESPN has DG as the number of 1 candidate for a breakout year. I believe he is going to have an outstanding year and that our WR will surprise to the upside
Link
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/travis-haney/post/_/id/305/top-50-breakout-players-for-2013
Edit:
There is video on the first page that is not behind the paywall
August 6th, 2013 at 11:15 AM ^
August 6th, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
August 6th, 2013 at 11:44 AM ^
Agreed. You really need to think of a better phrase than "blow up".
August 6th, 2013 at 11:16 AM ^
Beat me to it by a minute.... He's the biggest reason I am... well, more than just hopeful but less than expecting a 10-11 win season.
August 6th, 2013 at 11:17 AM ^
Just some feedback...indicate with a "$" in the title somewhere.
August 6th, 2013 at 11:25 AM ^
For everything except the part about DG. At least I didn't feel robbed in this article by not being an insider.
There is a video on the first page about this article and is free.
August 6th, 2013 at 11:20 AM ^
DG = Heisman
August 6th, 2013 at 11:21 AM ^
"In an effort to keep him from the second-fiddle feeling, and in an effort to use his athleticism, the coaching staff moved Gardner to receiver."
Pretty sure we just needed another receiver.
August 6th, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^
I think Gardner playing WR could be the biggest development for him as a passer. He understands that role and also knows what to look for from a different point of view. Got to love the athleticism that he has.
August 6th, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
Frank Clark coming in at #35 on the list
August 6th, 2013 at 11:25 AM ^
August 6th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
I was thinking the same thing when I first clicked on the article.
August 6th, 2013 at 11:33 AM ^
August 6th, 2013 at 11:47 AM ^
August 6th, 2013 at 12:03 PM ^
I felt inclined to say DG squared 5 times fast...but I did.
August 6th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
By 2012 Gardner should've been the starter, and DRob should have been practicing at a skill position.
August 6th, 2013 at 11:29 AM ^
August 6th, 2013 at 11:30 AM ^
It's an unpopular opinion, hindsight is 20/20, etc
But Al Borges used Denard as effectively as a chimp would use an iPod
August 6th, 2013 at 11:37 AM ^
I apologize to all discredited chimps. I stand corrected.
August 6th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
August 6th, 2013 at 12:48 PM ^
You know, other than the whole maligning chimps' good name thing, I think you're right.
But I also can't blame Borges and Hoke too much for not making the change. I mean, you've got a guy with 2500/1500 stats, Sugar Bowl win, national recognition as your QB - kind of a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" type of thing.
But still. If they had fixed it, I think we would have beaten Nebraska last year, and I'm almost as certain that we would have taken at least one of ND and OSU.
August 6th, 2013 at 11:32 AM ^
August 6th, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^
Granted that 5 games last year is not a ton of data, but in those five games, it was hard to not be wowed by Gardner's ability to step right into the role of starting QB and simply run with it. In the videos posted earlier today, his mechanics look quite improved and that should make everyone feel even better about how he will do in the offense Al is planning to put out there, the one that was in the long-term plan anyway.
After all, 75 completions in 126 attempts, 11 TDs, 5 INTs and 1,219 yards would translate to a 161.7 rating if I did the math right, as well as 9.7 yards per attempt and 16.3 yards per completion. Even if you took the average (again, limited data here) as a one-game performance - 15-for-25, 2 TDs or so and a smidge over 240 passing yards as a baseline performance for the passing game this year would be good times for this offense, I would think. I think Gardner is poised to have an excellent year.
August 6th, 2013 at 11:55 AM ^
August 6th, 2013 at 11:57 AM ^
Laquon Treadwell at #30
Riley Bullough at #43
I'd say having Bullough in there is interesting. Not sure he's going to be able to do much of anything this year
Ethan Pocic (the OL we turned away because we were "full"...and then later took a commit from a generic 3*) at #44 and Les Miles says he might play as a true frosh for LSU.
What was the story behind Pocic's recruitment? I vaguely remembering that that was the situation, but without the sarcastic scare quotes. That the class didn't actually have room for him, but then something changed and they ended up taking another lineman later on.
And did Pocic ever actually try to commit? Or did his recruitment just end while he was still interested in Michigan?
My recollection, which may admittedly be flawed, is that UM was considered the leader for Pocic and then stopped recruiting OL because they initially only planned to take five in 2013, so Pocic was basically told that there was no longer a spot for him. He committed to LSU and then the coaches, for whatever reason, later decided that they wanted a sixth lineman in the class and had to "settle" for Samuelson because most of the higher ranked guys that we were in good shape with (including Pocic) had committed elsewhere by that point.
August 6th, 2013 at 12:42 PM ^
The awesome thing is the fact that we have two DG's that are gonna be great
August 6th, 2013 at 12:44 PM ^
Devin Gardner is going to catch his own passes this year.
And what made me believe it was his games vs. Ohio and S. Carolina...not the 3 wins vs. relatively crap defenses.
He moved the ball vs. those defenses with little experience and made some big plays. With a full offseason, his demeanor, the talent around him, a better OL and running game...the sky is the limit.
Braxton Miller will have all the hype, and rightfully so...but I truly think DG will be right there with him by year's end. In fact, I think he out plays Miller by year's end.
I see shows major confidence and that is the biggest reason why I think he will do very well this year.