Offseason Fluff: BTN ranks QB/WR duos
BTN ranks the B1G's best QB/QR duos. Miller/Smith come in first, whatevs.
But Devin/Devin come in second.
2. Devin Gardner and Devin Funchess, Michigan. The Devin-to-Devin connection put up some huge numbers last season and should only improve. Gone is Jeremy Gallon, which means that Funchess’ role in the offense will continue to grow. Gardner threw 10 interceptions in the Wolverines’ first six games of the 2013 season, and then had just one pick in the final six games. If he can continue that trend, and get the ball in Funchess’ hands, this combo could be one of the better QB-WR duos in college football.
http://btn.com/2014/07/14/ranking-the-big-tens-top-10-qb-wr-duos/
Indiana's guys are third, and Sparty's are fifth. An increasingly respectable-looking Maryland checks in fourth, primarily due to Diggs.
to not remember much of last football season. I do think part of the reduction in INTs was Gardner post MSU going "Oh my god, body hurts so much, why even ball throw? Just sleep."
Not necessarily fewer poor decisions/bad reads. The NW game in particular was one in which we lucked out that defenders just couldn't hang onto balls DG threw to their chests. OSU game was beautiful, up until the last (and I suppose except for his fumble on a scramble).
that was a "fumble"
I find it really interesting that we haven't discussed this play more. We're talking about a game in which neither team could really stop the other and we lost a pivotal possession and opportunity at points because of this? He was unquestionably down. I try not to talk about the 2013 season very much at all but I can't help but think an extra possession may have changed our fate in that one.
Let's hope Devin-to-Devin can be that of Benny-to-Bennie.
OK, who's the asshole who disagrees with this idea?
or his trophy or something....
somebody emotionally invested with Michigan losing. And it doesn't necessarily follow that they are a fan of any of the opposition teams.
The derps who sneered at the very notion of Devin/Devin = Benny/Bennie don't have the balls to come out and explain their reasoning, if "reason" is even part of the equation.
Cluck, cluck, cluck.
Somebody has been reading the HTTV 2014 mag....
I actually haven't even picked one up yet. I'm going to next weekend at UGP. I've asked about it a couple times on here. Coincidental if that is mentioned in HTTV, but that's something I've always kept in the back of my mind since I heard someone call both of them "the Devins" last year.
Bad things have happened every year I've bought The Wolverine football preview. The first year I bought that magazine? 2007.
I'm sticking to HTTV only from now on.
Are they in stores now?
I would tend to agree with them. It will be interesting to see what the Devin-to-Devin connection looks like this year with this scheme now being installed, I would say. I know we saw flashes of the offense working on all cylinders last year and when it was all there, the Devin-to-Devin performed at a very high level. Even more of that this year really could be a very pretty thing to watch game-to-game.
Devin passes to Devin on a screen, Devin follows Devin, Devin pitches to Devin, Devin runs up field but fumbles, Devin picks up the fumbe for the score. Touchdown Michigan
I've picked up lots of Fumbes in my day. Hopefully the Devins can continue this glorious trend.
LOL @ Braxton being first
No mention of Minnesota or Purdue - makes sense and kind of funny.
despite that nationally, not just on the BIG stat sheets, BM has steadily increased his numbers that he, rightfully so imo, has earned him the status of preseason Heisman hype. Granted, any qb has to be surrounded with the talent to experience such dramatic increases in efficiency. And he has that whereas DR's high completion percentage was based solely on his unprecedented ability to take it to the house whenever he chose to keep the ball, thererby giving him an inflated completion percentage because his receivers were simply able to run down the field 15 yards, wave their arms because there wasn't a defender within 15 yards and Denard was then able to simply lob the ball in their direction for a completion.
Braxton threw for over 2000 yds, 24 TDs and ran for another 1,050 plus with 12 TDs. He threw for 24 TDs vs. 7 picks and had an efficiency rating of nearly 160.00. As you said, it does speak volumes about the Big Ten QBs. He is one of the best in the nation, but your post seems like it would have been much closer to the truth if what actually is written was based solely on his freshman season, a year all of us UM fans wish he would have replicated repeatedly. Truth is he has grown. As stated, it helps immensely when you are surrounded with talent and he had two RBs, both capable of being 1,000 yard rushers in their own right whereas DR experienced one season where he had another 1,000 rusher in the backfield with him. Actually in RR's first season, his top two running threats didn't combine for 1,000 yds between them, but a lot of that has to do with having a walk-on qb pulling the trigger for a number of games and neither of the two he used being suited to run his offense.
The BIG has a number of great qbs, some capable of throwing and running or some like Seimian who is is a pure pocket passer, replacing one of the most exciting qbs in the conference last season in Colter, but as a passer he has proven to be very good. Connor really came on as his duties increased last season and whereas in the beginning of the year he was asked to limit his throws to simply keep the chains moving, it was not unusual for him in the second half to throw downfield for the homerun ball, many times being successful doing so. We all saw, first hand what PSU's soph to be is capable of and why he was recruited by a who's who of cfb's elite.
Based on GA's recent success at qb, along with some other fine ones in the SEC, I still think overall the BIG has better qb play but nowhere near the balance between passing and running that separate the two. I think, and a lot of it has to do with geopgraphy, that the PAC 12 is going to feature more qbs that will move onto the NFL at the same position, but I totally disagree with your assessment of where the BIG lies in terms of solid, if not exceptional qb play. I might disagree with who is no. 2 because he has a lot of proving to do whereas I think those listed below him have already answered many of the most important questions. But I too think DG may equal or surpass BM as the no 1 qb in the league this season if he is capable of playing within himself and accept the inevitable throw aways that allow for another shot on the very next play, or at worst a punt. This D will help prove how important those second chances are if he allows them to help him out.
The list isn't saying he's the best QB or that Smith is the best WR, whether they are or not. But they make a strong case for the best combination.
Devin needs to spread the ball around...but i'm ok with Funchess as his safety valve. The problem with Devin G the second half--excluding the ohio game--was that he seemed too timid or was too concerned with making a mistake. I was, unfortunately, at the Iowa game. Devin failed to pass for 100 yards. Yes, it was BITCHIN cold...my long handles needed handles!...but Iowa's qb threw for over 230 yards in same conditions. Devin completed less than 49% of his passes and took some horrible backward turning sacks. At the time, the word "rookie" kept going thru my mind. And guess what, HE WAS a rookie, more or less, in his first full season as starting qb. I am optimistic that the experiences he went thru--good and bad--as well as the addition of Nuss on the sidelines will help Devin keep his confidence and his composure. I believe Devin will not only pass for a ton of yards this year, but will also avoid the big loss, big turnover and big confusion that was sooooo hurtful at Iowa and in other games last season.
His skillset is so similar to Denard's, that many times you are just happy as a defense when he does throw, and doesn't pull the ball down to escape the rush or sneak out of the pocket. He is one of the most dynamically explosive runners in the college game, qb or not
But until now, he hasn't proven himself as a passer -- mostly because he hasn't needed to. MSU was so certain about how it wanted to contain him, that it's defense never seemed threatend by his short or intermediate passing game, because rarely does he throw to move the chains. He runs for more first downs than passes for them. And in the conference championship, Sparty made him one dimensional.
I rate him an average passer at best. The fact is he does throw the deep ball well and has repeatedly proven that with late game clutch throws to pull out wins against Wisconsin, California and others. The fact that he is such a great runner, makes him a more serious deep passing threat. And I believe he feels more comfortable and confident throwing that ball than any other.
At this point, Miller is the most dynamic offensive player in the conference because of his dual threat production. I don't think that Devin Smith is a prolific pass catcher. Deep threats ususally aren't. This pair will have many great Saturdays this fall. But whether they are the best passing duo is just preseason debate fodder.
I think Devin Gardner has the potential to be the best quarterback in the Big Ten. But that's saying a lot. I just think he has the size, speed and ability to make all the throws and can exploit any defense if he has enough time and plays with poise. But again, that's saying a lot, because the most important ability of a maturing quarterback is understanding when and when not to take certain risks running or throwing, which Gardner stubbornly refused to acknowledge because of his physical ability. Until Gardner proves capable of playing within himself consistently, he will always be judged on potential.
I do believe, however, that Gardner has the makings of one of the best group of pass receivers Michigan has had in quite awhile. Again, everything with this team's offensive performance witll start with the Oline and rest in Gardner's ability to make plays, and not errors, so winning on the road becomes a greater possibility.