Steelers move Devin Gardner back to Quarterback
Pittsburgh Steelers move Devin Gardner back to QB http://t.co/Vtu97FgLdj
— Patrick Claybon (@PatrickClaybon) June 4, 2015
I don't know if this is a good or bad sign, but best of luck to him. I think he's got a shot at battling with Gradkowski for backup to Big Ben. I was picturing he could be pretty versatile at receiver for them and maybe make some magic like Randle El did ten years ago. Hopefully he can beat out Landry Jones and make the squad.
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coaching, Gardner would have been lights out. I hope he gets it in Pittsburgh, should be interesting to follow.
Agreed. I think the real Gardner is the guy we saw in 2012 and the second half of 2013. He got screwed over by no offensive line, no running game, and no consistent receiving targets in 2014. From a physical standpoint only, I think he's the best QB in Michigan history - size, speed, strength, arm strength, toughness, etc.
I will cry tears of joy and vindication for the guy.
I also agree, and I think Devin also got screwed over by an offense which was so predictable that the defense often knew where the receivers, backs and ball were going as soon as Michigan broke the huddle.
Remember also that he never complained, was a great citizen and was proud to attend the University of Michigan.
He had problems coming back from mistakes. In his first start against ND he lost in mentally after throwing the pick TD in the end zone. But some of that could be coaching as well. If he makes the steelers as a QB, that would be a huge condemnation of the former coaching staff at Michigan. If he doesn't make it, we will never know.
I do feel bad for athletes like Gardner. They chose our school and put their faith in Michigan, yet they did not get the top notch coaching they deserved. Luckily they still had the opportunity to get one of the best educations in the country.
I hope he does well and catches on at the next level - always thought he had potential just a litany of issues prevented him from really developing into a great M QB...The Denard factor forcing a position change to WR so he could see the field...a shaky O line...etc.
I do worry about the turnover thing though...even with proper coaching. No question he is a class act and reps Michigan well no matter what he does post football.
It also means he hasnt been coached properly since...ever?
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Good luck to him, hope he makes the squad
And at times showed the mental capability for the position, but I think the 2013 situation really killed his ability to see the field or have confidence from the position at all. This is likely a "he wasn't going to cut it at WR, but remember at one point in 2013 when he looked like a high upside option at QB? Let's give that a shot real quick"
At best he makes a practice squad, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for him.
Yep. I was hoping a fresh start with a new OC/QB coach this past season was going to help save his career, but you could tell he was still broken. Feel for the kid. He would've been a good-to-great Qb in the right situation IMO. And four years with Harbaugh would have been real interesting to watch with him. He's got his MSW and my girlfriend had classes with him and Cam Gordon and she was pretty impressed with them. so either way, I think he's gonna end up fine and making a positive impact somewhere.
This is sort of a cool story bro moment, but I actually met Cam Gordon once and chatted with him for about ten minutes or so. I was very impressed by him as an individual. Seems like he really has his head on straight.
I just shake my head and sigh ruefully at the thought of Devin being coached by Harbaugh.
if anybody knows how to harness his talent, it's this organization.
kind of played QB a lil at Georgia...
I have to work for a lil bit
They gave Dennis Dixon a shot as a back up as well. It's seems they like the athletic QB types in the Burgh.
Maybe he'll do ok behind a line that can give him more than .2 seconds before he gets hit.
He needs to pick a position and stick to it if he wants to remain in the NFL. Bouncing around between positions will get him bounced out of the NFL so fast
its not up to him. Teams make those calls.
He can say whether or not he wants to switch positions. I think he has the talent to be a decent NFL player at either WR or QB. But flipping back and forth will put him behind the curve. Especially given how different the training regimens are for those positions.
He can say what position he wants to play. The team can respond with "Cool, see ya"
He can clearly say he'd rather continue trying to make the squad as a WR. Landry Jones and Gradkowski have been in Pittsburgh for 2 going on 3 years so they know the offense. Plus the Steelers picked up Tajh Boyd as well. He has to beat out Tajh Boyd (who never took time off to train as a WR) plus one of either Jones or Gradkowski to make the team. If I was DG I'd have said no I'm a WR. This is the NFL players play for themselves. And if he thought he had a better chance to make a roster as a QB why did he switch to WR in the first place?
and he thought it would give him a better chance to play. He'd switched for the good of the team at Michigan (and yes, to get actual playing time), and then switched back to the position he'd trained for. He worked out as a WR, showed he was willing to switch and work at getting better, then P'burgh says, "Hey, let's see what you can do at QB." Apparently they think enough of him and what they've seen so far to give him a shot. And he's probably thrilled for the chance.
against Gardner making an NFL roster at this point. Refusing an opportunity to try out at the position he's played nearly his entire life would be insane.
If he gets cut, he can see what other offers are out there. Maybe he'll have an option about what position to play. Then he could consider your advice. If all the offers are to try out at WR, he's in no position to insist on playing QB or vice versa. .
Tebow is an interesting case because the experts said he would be a better TE. But he had never played TE before. DG switched to WR because he thought (or was told) he'd have a better chance making an NFL roster as a WR. If he wants to be a QB that is fine but he needs to decide what position to play and stick with it. Denard was the same way with the WR to RB switch. He dropped the "offensive weapon" label and went 100% into being a RB and until he was injured was having a pretty nice year.
blaming DG? I just said he needs to pick a position and stick to it. Bouncing between QB and WR will not get him the training he needs to make the roster at either position.
Honestly, this seems like a precursor to getting shown the door. Landry Jones has been awful, but many guys haven't beaten him out yet, and Gradkowski isn't going anywhere.
I don't think he'll battle Gradkowski for the backup spot. Gradkowski is a solid pro and tons of experience and knowledge. He's gonna be battling for that third spot. Best of luck to him, though I imagine he's behind the 8 ball because all offseason he's been working on his WR skills.
Gradkowski is a very solid backup.
"I imagine he's behind the 8 ball because all offseason he's been working on his WR skills."
Exactly. Unless they have a Seneca Wallace plan in mind for him this is a scary situation since teams sometimes only carry 2 QBs especially if one of your WR (ie. Gardner) could be an emergency 3rd stringer.
They carried 3 the last couple years so they will probably do it again. I think they take who has the most potential out of Gardner, Boyd, and Jones
yikes
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Devin finished his bachelors degree in 3 years (and walked with Denard) and now has a Masters in Social Work.