Devin Gardner in Borges's offense
I have seen plenty of posts about Devin Gardner's redshirt, but little discussion of how he might stack up in Borge's offense. Did I miss such a discussion? Unless I am crazy, only one or two of the current QB prospects hold a candle to the guy we've got in house who--presumably--could see the field next year.
Is there any chance, for example, that Gardner outplays Denard for the starting job? In theory, he could be better suited for the Gulf Coast etcetera than Denard, no? Everyone was so high on Gardner for so long and I'm curious about why the relative silence lately. . .
February 15th, 2011 at 6:46 PM ^
Borges and Hoke have named Denard the starter by name. Devin will be his back up.
Plus, you're still neg on sight in my mind for your comments about the womens water polo team.
February 15th, 2011 at 6:50 PM ^
......that's pretty much the depth chart at QB. Robinson starts, and Gardner is the backup. That should work just fine in the offense, I think. Awesome, actually, with the right schemes and players on offense.
Also, someone made fun of Water Polo? Why is this? We're here to support ALL of the Wolverines......
February 15th, 2011 at 6:54 PM ^
Yea, we have Bellomy coming in as well, though he's not some ridiculous 5* expected to beat Denard or Devin or anything, he'll take a redshirt if the season goes normally.
Said he wouldn't support them until they had a naked match and made a comment about there being too many "white haunches".
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/water-polo-update#comment-974696
February 15th, 2011 at 7:07 PM ^
men's waterpolo, lamely (and a bit drunkenly) cracked wise. People were right to get annoyed.
February 15th, 2011 at 7:19 PM ^
Are you saying that white mens' haunches don't look good in maize and blue speedos? I'm even more offended then before!
February 15th, 2011 at 7:21 PM ^
I will refrain from further comment.
February 15th, 2011 at 10:27 PM ^
In the subject line, you really meant "men"? You must be fun at parties...
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<br>Or you're just not willing to own your comments. Either way, doesn't look so good for you.
February 15th, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^
anyone who is doing it because the idea of Denard being replaced offends them is an idiot. I love me some Denard too but. . . stoopit.
This just was a far more interesting place a few years ago. Get too many people anywhere and the collective IQ begins to sink, I guess.
February 15th, 2011 at 9:35 PM ^
You know, uh, the negs don't mean anything?
February 15th, 2011 at 8:07 PM ^
the morons are negging you. Means less than zero, but. . .
February 15th, 2011 at 6:43 PM ^
dont see devin out playing the B1G offensive POTY but anything is possible with a new system
February 15th, 2011 at 6:45 PM ^
I think that since Gardner really did virtually nothing after the first couple of games and was replaced by Forcier, and Denard did so well for a young QB, there is precious little to talk about. Let's hope Devin comes on like gangbusters just in case he is needed, but right now, the job would seem to be Denard's to lose.
February 15th, 2011 at 6:51 PM ^
did he do nothing? because we needed to red-shirt him.The only reason we didn't red-shirt him from the start was because of tate forcier not being all in.We all know Devin is going to be special.We have two extremely talented QBS.go blue!!!
February 15th, 2011 at 9:56 PM ^
I didn't think he did "nothing," he threw some deep balls with great touch and showed some Pryor-esque scrambles. He just looked raw, which is understandable remembering Denard as a Frosh.
February 15th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^
Per ESPN, he played in two games. He didn't throw a pass in the CT game, and had -4 yards rushing on his one attempt. He was 7-10 in the Bowling Green Game. In the BG game, he ran six times for 25 yards. If you can draw any conclusions from that game....well, I can't. It was Bowling Green and we had what, 700+ yards of offense with Denard missing most of the game. That was his season. He was raw, which was understandable.
If the last three years have taught me anything it is that it is easy to be a star on blogs, another thing to be star in conference games.
The one positive that I have gotten about Devin is that I went early to all seven home games and spent a lot of time watching QB's warm up. Between Devin, Denard and Tate, I always thought Devin threw the best ball of the three, but that's me.
February 15th, 2011 at 6:49 PM ^
C'mon.......at least wait a couple months before asking this open-ended bullshit question.
If Devin looks better in the Spring Game than Denard, then this seems like a valid topic for debate. Otherwise, there's no info we currently have to tell us that the reigning B10 POY is going to lose his QB job.
February 15th, 2011 at 7:11 PM ^
It IS legitimate to ask how a player of his skills and training fits into Borges' O, though. If you can speculate about Denard, why can't you speculate about a guy that's much taller and may be better suited? If I comb back through your posts, I assure you I will find you weighing in on far less weighty--or worthy--subjects.
February 15th, 2011 at 7:23 PM ^
What I said about Denard isn't speculation. As of today, he is the starting QB.
Because we haven't seen how much Devin has progressed as a QB, we have no idea how he fits into the Al Borges offense. Did he fix his throwing motion? Has he put on enough weight to take hits? He is probably better suited than Denard for the pro style offense, but that doesn't mean he will get the starting nod.
We'll know more after the Spring Game.
February 15th, 2011 at 7:28 PM ^
Denard, only saying that it is as legit to consider how Gardner might fit as to do the same with Denard.
February 15th, 2011 at 6:48 PM ^
Yeah Devin's pretty good, and we're all very excited to see what he can do, but we have this guy who's supposed to contend for the Heisman.. He's pretty good as well.. Devin will have his time to shine when Denard's gone
February 15th, 2011 at 6:54 PM ^
Two QBs that, in their starting time, are in the Heisman discussion. That would be nice, especially since we've already got one.....
February 15th, 2011 at 6:51 PM ^
He isn't going to outperform a guy who broke multiple individual offensive records, including his own records, as a sophomore. Quarterback is the one position where it's safe to say who the starter is going to be.
February 16th, 2011 at 3:23 PM ^
Molk - Center ; Lewan - left takle; Omameh - Guard; Roundtree/Stonum - WR; Koger - TE; McColgan - FB; along with DRob at QB
Go Blue countdown to A2 and spring game!
February 15th, 2011 at 6:51 PM ^
While Devin isn't going to jump over Denard, it will be very interesting to see his progress in spring practice. When Devin played last year, to me he looked like he just wasn't quite ready. However, he definitely showed flashes: he can make some of the throws that Denard can't. Hopefully a year with the team and a year in the weight room has paid off for Devin. I think we'll see a big step up in his ability at spring practice.
February 15th, 2011 at 6:58 PM ^
My hope is that DG does not see the field except for clean up for the next 2 years.
February 15th, 2011 at 7:06 PM ^
Just sayin.
February 15th, 2011 at 7:13 PM ^
Some prefer Borges's. I have noticed that these days Borges's is more widely used in technical, historical, and literary fields than is Borges'.
February 15th, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^
fixed. I let my wife--who has been an editor at several places--settle the tie.
February 15th, 2011 at 7:54 PM ^
......it isn't Borge's offense, or the whole team would first need to learn to play the last movement of William Tell with the music turned upside down.
February 15th, 2011 at 7:17 PM ^
I bet Devin will play more than expected this year. Not because he fits in the offense better than Denard, but because Denard, his posse, and the defense will be so stellar that we'll have a truckload of blow outs.
February 15th, 2011 at 7:53 PM ^
take it down! what is it with this denard may not be our quarterback meme? the guy was the B1G offensive player of the year, set NCAA records and was generally amazing. why on earth wouldn't he be our QB next year?
February 15th, 2011 at 8:05 PM ^
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out most importantly if Borges can tailor the offense to fit Denard's style of play. I hope it isnt the case that Hoke just starts Denard at QB because he is the Big 10 offensive player of the year and was contemplating leaving. I hope that Borges can tailor it to fit Denard because he is so exciting to watch. However, if not I wouldnt mind seeing Denard at a slot position and Devin taking the snaps because I think Devin would be a great west coast QB. We will see what the spring practices bring.
Go Blue
February 15th, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
February 15th, 2011 at 8:49 PM ^
Denard gets moved to DT to help with depth there.
February 15th, 2011 at 9:42 PM ^
try some practice at corner/OLB if denard at qb is still solid after the spring game. Primary role should as QB next season but Devin seems like he is stout enough to bring the wood and make plays as a situation player on D.
February 15th, 2011 at 9:56 PM ^
tell me there's an implied /s at the end of this.
February 15th, 2011 at 8:47 PM ^
Even in the spring game of last year, we saw some things that Devin can do because of his physical talent that the other guys (tate & denard) couldn't do as well.
There's no doubt that Denard is going to be the first guy on the field. Borges' and Hoke are going to do their best to mold their comfort zone of an offense to his talents. He'll get the nod by solely being the reigning BTPOY.
In regards to Devin Gardner, they have to be drooling at the prospect of getting him a sturdy pocket from which to survey the field. In his limited PT, I saw some great throws from Devin that should give us something to look forward to when he works his way onto the field.
In short, I can't imagine Borges & co would ask Denard and Devin to run the same offense. They have very different skill-sets and body types. I think taking a look at what Borges did with Jason Campbell would be a better predictor of what they could do with Gardner.
February 15th, 2011 at 8:52 PM ^
Just when I'd begun to give up on the possibility. It's pretty clear to me that Devin is better suited to Borges's O than Denard, wonderful a player as Denard is. I think he may prove a real ace in the hole for Hoke as he turns the team in another direction, once again.
February 15th, 2011 at 9:18 PM ^
Or arm strength? Come on, there has to be some reason why a redshirt freshman is better suited to run whatever offense Borges is planning on running.
Borges himself said Denard would probably run for 1000 yards this next season in the system he plans on implementing. You can't seriously tell me you'd rather have Gardner take over.
February 15th, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^
Denard WILL be the starting QB. He's the most talented player on the roster, hands down. Everything will fall into place around him. Borges isn't an idiot. He knows where Denard's strengths lie, and he will mold the offense to his talent. This is going to happen.
What Devin appears to bring to the table will take an entirely different playbook to maximize that potential. Yes, DG may be more similar to what Borges and co are used to in terms of physical talent, but there's nothing to go on to say that DG is their chosen QB. When his time comes, the staff will tailor their offense to his skills. Right now, I'm betting a dollar that they are working towards building a scheme that meets somewhere between Denard's comfort zone and the coaches' comfort zone.
Look at it this way: had Ryan Mallett stuck around in 2008, maybe with Arrington or Manningham, I think we would have seen a pretty pass-heavy version of Rich Rod's spread, because they would have had bonafide talent to work with, rather than Threet/Sheridan. It would still be, theoretically, a spread offense, but there might have been more effort made to maximize existing talent. I think you will, for sure, see the staff make the most of the talent left for them to work with.
Spring ball should be interesting to keep tabs on, though.
February 15th, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^
how my response is clearly directed at MGlobules, who apparently wants to see Gardner take the helm come fall.
I'm not missing the point at all, and neither is jmblue. Unlike the OP, we both know Denard will be the starter and this thread is a tad premature.
February 15th, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^
that's a truly creative reading of my post. To ask if it's possible that he's better-suited and could therefore win out is hardly stating preference. If I had my druthers, Coach Rod would still be here and Denard would be taking home two Heismans next year.
February 15th, 2011 at 10:37 PM ^
still, I don't think it matters whether the staff is more comfortable with Gardner's assets (which they shouldn't be, given his lack of experience). Denard is a unique talent that they KNOW they have to build around.
THe thing you are overlooking here is that I don't think the new staff has a set-in-stone offense that they are going to impose on this team, hell or highwater.. They clearly are used to pro-style concepts, and I'm sure that will be part of it, but I'm not sure there's even a system yet which fits one player or the other better. This will be more clear when spring practice rolls around. But to say Devin Gardner is a better fit for their offense is totally premature. The point that he has the physical tools to be akin to a guy like Jason Campbell from Auburn under Borges, however, IS an interesting point. When it becomes Devin Gardner's time to shine, he could very well thrive under this regime.
February 15th, 2011 at 9:29 PM ^
Gardner might well be better-suited to the offense SDSU ran last year than RR's offense. I watched him in the HS championship game and he definitely seemed like a pass-first QB. I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say he's a better fit than Denard, though. A guy who averaged 300 total yards per game and has 13 starts under his belt is a very, very big asset. Denard is worth tailoring the offense around.
February 16th, 2011 at 8:10 AM ^
Existence for posting this in a different context a few days ago. It was a stupid post (Denard used in other ways as he will be in the NFL ) but the point is that KG could get some time and DRob could make us a better team, even as a decoy, in another role because you don't put him on the bench unless he's hurt. Hoke/Borges will do what's best for the team.
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<br> DRob was OPOTY and is a quarterback. He was not voted the top QB in the conference. There is a difference.
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<br>Dare I say it. Go blue!
February 15th, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^
I don't know why you're getting all of the negs. That's a totally legit question.
I'm very interested to see what happens during Spring ball (and into the fall). To me, it seems like Gardner is a better fit for what Hoke and Borges want to do (based on who they are recruiting). Denard had such great numbers last year that it will be hard to keep him down. Remember that Gardner was pushing Denard last year before the season started....and he had very limited experience at that point.
I don't think that we've heard the last of your question....especially with two years to go.
February 15th, 2011 at 11:57 PM ^
Part of me wants to say that if this happens, DG is not just similar to Vince Young, but in fact Vince Young, Jr. Or Jesus, Jr.
The other part of me thinks if this happens, that means Borges incessantly attempted to jam the proverbial square peg into the round hole, with predictable lack of success.
Other other part of me thinks "are you kidding me?!" Denard Robinson is and IMO, will be the starter until he graduates. He is not Tate '09; he's one of the most electrifying players in the country.
I think other other me is most correct.
February 16th, 2011 at 6:24 AM ^
type of posts occurring... this should be fun this year. Hope the competition makes both of them better. Good problem to have - except for those that will suggest that having multiple quality qbs on your roster is bad.
Go Blue!