Devin Gardner, Cade Hater

The question I ask is, why was Baldwin getting more reps than Andrel until late?…At least he had more targets after getting virtually none over the last several games of the season. Baldwin, from his face on the sidelines and the reaction of Cade’s face on the throw shows that Baldwin did something wrong on the route.

I said this earlier in the year on the board (possibly under my old username, Joeismyname) that Devin has a deep inferiority complex due to his lack of success here which he blames on everyone but himself, as if he would have been a perfect QB in a better system (some of that warranted, but not to the lengths and unprofessionalism he displays on radio). I appreciated what he did when he was here, but his commentary and “hype boy” schtick on the radio got old after about 2 listens…I’d rather listen to Jim Harbaugh, Matt Weiss, or someone with more coaching acumen break down QB play. 

I think I can like both at the same time just fine.

It may have something to do with cade's comments after the Nebraska game where he said that previous Michigan teams wouldn't have won that game

This might be a tinfoil hat take, but I wonder if Devin's somewhat obvious grudge against Cade is due to him replacing Milton 

Even if DG is correct, so what?  DG’s best play at Michigan was a TD reception against Alabama.   2 pick sixes on screen passes are burned in my memory.  

I didn’t watch the whole game but I saw plenty of players give up on plays.  I guess that’s what going down early by two quick scores will do to you. 

That type of game screams for a guy like JJ because the offensive line didn’t have a prayer against that front. 

Cade is a smart guy with average physical skills. JJ has superior physical skills but we haven’t seen enough of him to evaluate the cerebral side of his game. I think he’s the guy you want when improvisation and/or decisiveness is necessary. 

All that being said, let’s be honest…. neither guy was winning us that game last night. Georgia is just on a different level this year. 

Devin is now an armchair qb, and should stay quiet. Without Cade we don't go 12-2.  Cades leadership has had far more more effect on wins than even Hutchinson this year.  

I liked Devin the player, and he seems like a good guy, but I’m not a fan of his appearances on WTKA.  His style is not entertaining to me; just a personal preference.  I think he does OK calling games, but I started skipping over his segments on the WTKA podcast.

I don’t think it’s personal.  I think there’s a few things:

1. Like much of the Michigan fanbase, I think he feels like the team has a much higher ceiling with JJ.  For this season, I think that opinion is incorrect.  Even last night, chances are JJ was going to make mistakes (though worth noting he didn’t take any sacks, and threw no picks, while Cade took four and threw two).  
Unfortunately, that leads the fan base (and Devin) to pick on Cade, often unfairly.  This kinda happened to a lesser extent with Jordan Morgan and Mitch McGary.  

Cade has his limitations, but after watching Joe Milton lol I’m able to appreciate what he brings.  To a lesser extent that applies to Shea Patterson.  A guy who gets rid of the ball, can hit deep shots, and makes few mistakes is very valuable.  Call him a game manager all you want, but remember you got your wish with the rocket armed guy with speed last year and it was a disaster (of course JJ is already way more accurate than Milton ever was and a better decision maker, just saying there is value to the solid play Mcnamara brought most of this year).  
 

2. Early in the season, Josh Gattis took a lot of heat (including from this blog).  A big part of what Gardner has done is show the opportunities Gattis was creating even early in the season and show how Cade’s inconsistency held it back.  And I think he was vindicated.  As Cade played with more consistency the offense hit an elite level before running into a brick wall last night.  I am really rooting for Gattis.  Now, I wish Gardner would have phrased it more like “Cade has a lot of strengths and does a lot for the offense but there are areas he holds the offense back in, and it’s not Gattis’ fault”.  Cade is more like Zavier Simpson (a physically limited player with important strengths who is a plus, giving the offense both a higher floor but a lower ceiling) than CJ Lee or David Merritt (a warm body who doesn’t do much).  Then again, it’s DG’s show and he’s gonna be as expressive as he likes.

Its unfortunate that the state of online discourse cannot allow you to simultaneously hold the opinions “Cade is Michigan’s best QB since Rudock, but his limitations cap how great this offense can be, especially compared to a guy who appears built for stardom in JJ McCarthy, and that’s not on Josh Gattis”

Devin Gardner searches his name on Twitter and then blocks you if you mention him negatively(while not following him) he is mentally a soft dude

Look at the end of the clip. Baldwin hits himself in the helmet with both hands, like he knows he screwed up one way or another.

That Stutter Go was obviously the primary route, and the default is to assume the defender bites on the first move, and head to the pylon, unless there is a clear read that the defender is deeper. Yes, on that play Cade should have thrown to the back shoulder . Cade had two defenders in his face with hands up, so his vision was impaired.  But even if it is a back shoulder throw, Baldwin has to keep pushing the defender deeper until the ball is thrown and break back at the last moment for it. He just slowed down and didn't run a good back shoulder route either.

None of us (including Gardner) are in the practice facility and meeting rooms every day, so we don't know what the coaches and other players know: how each QB has rapport with other players and coaches, displays leadership, has command of the entire playbook, decision making and mistakes, etc. 

There are reasons that Cade started and played as much as he did this season, and they obviously trumped mere running ability, elusiveness, and arm strength. JJ obviously has more physical talent, but whether he can match or exceed Cade in those other intangibles remains to be seen. With the way the defense was playing, the OL was blocking, the receivers were dropping passes, and inability to match Georgia's speed and intensity, neither QB - or just about any other QB you could name - was going to win that particular game.

None of us (including Gardner) are in the practice facility and meeting rooms every day, so we don't know what the coaches and other players know: how each QB has rapport with other players and coaches, displays leadership, has command of the entire playbook, decision making and mistakes, etc. 

There are reasons that Cade started and played as much as he did this season, and they obviously trumped mere running ability, elusiveness, and arm strength. JJ obviously has more physical talent, but whether he can match or exceed Cade in those other intangibles remains to be seen. With the way the defense was playing, the OL was blocking, the receivers were dropping passes, and inability to match Georgia's speed and intensity, neither QB - or just about any other QB you could name - was going to win that particular game.

OP, I don’t know your football background, but I’d trust DG’s analysis > your’s (or almost anybody on this blog), because you know…

I don’t know what game Devin was watching, but the rest of us saw our team run headfirst into a 200mph bulldozer all night last night.

Devin Gardner is a bum. Baldwin lost the ball in the lights and stopped running, per Harbaugh. Devin has been ass to cade all year. Funny coming from the guy who was not so good here... how many BIG titles you got Devin?