tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post4082766354492514351..comments2024-03-28T17:24:59.031-04:00Comments on Touch the Banner: Michigan 35, Minnesota 13Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-47117345487055573872012-11-05T11:12:04.009-05:002012-11-05T11:12:04.009-05:00Gardner is like Charlie Villanueva in this analogy...Gardner is like Charlie Villanueva in this analogy. The tools are there, but the skill is not.Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-2257290364531798112012-11-05T11:11:16.283-05:002012-11-05T11:11:16.283-05:00Yep, Gallon's leaping ability helps - but what...Yep, Gallon's leaping ability helps - but what it does is it equalizes him to a player who is 6'1 in terms of reach. More important is his timing, his strength, his positioning and his hands. Leaping ability is not why Gallon is a good receiver.<br /><br />Ditto for Hemingway, who was not a great leaper but WAS a great receiver when it came to jump balls.<br /><br />I've made the comparison to rebounding before. Yes, it helps to be 7'2 or jump out of the building but the best rebounders are those guys who anticipate well, position themselves well, and are strong and determined enough to fend of their opponent. Gallon is like Jason Kidd - a great rebounder for his size. Hemingway was Dennis Rodman.Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-50665298609512146832012-11-05T10:29:15.146-05:002012-11-05T10:29:15.146-05:00Gallon's TD catch wouldn't have been possi...Gallon's TD catch wouldn't have been possible without his leaping ability. Hemmingway relied on his leaping quite a bit last year, if you remember. The ability to high point the ball and bring it down seems to be big for this coaching staff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-83566527715018335852012-11-05T09:22:29.815-05:002012-11-05T09:22:29.815-05:00Different coaches, different schemes, different po...Different coaches, different schemes, different positions. Gardner hasn't had consistent coaching. I'm hoping that changes over the next year.Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-24288436403050329242012-11-05T09:19:09.566-05:002012-11-05T09:19:09.566-05:00@Thunder
This is true. But when you hear it from...@Thunder<br /><br />This is true. But when you hear it from two different coaching staffs, with very different philosophies and values, AND you hear it from a bunch of players, the evidence is more convincing.<br /><br />But yeah - Jerald Robinson is a good example of how hype doesn't always translate...though he still has time to emerge, I suppose.Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-53691758780024634842012-11-05T09:16:37.031-05:002012-11-05T09:16:37.031-05:00@Anon
It's pretty low on the list of things t...@Anon<br /><br />It's pretty low on the list of things that matter. You've got to be able to get open, catch the ball, anticipate/time your body, judge the ball in the air, take a hit, run after the catch, block, etc. Being able to 'leap' isn't a big part of the job description, it's just a nice bonus.<br /><br />I can't think of a single play where Gardner's leaping ability translated into a catch. Can you?Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-4017102874820580882012-11-05T08:09:20.579-05:002012-11-05T08:09:20.579-05:00Yes, I was hoping for Gardner to be the starting Q...Yes, I was hoping for Gardner to be the starting QB for another two years (2013 and 2014). I see no reason to burn Morris's redshirt unless he's excellent, and I'm not convinced that he'll be ready as a true freshman. And he COULD be a five-year player. You never know.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-69721261063463915012012-11-05T08:06:05.806-05:002012-11-05T08:06:05.806-05:00Lots of praise in the offseason turns into so much...Lots of praise in the offseason turns into so much hot air.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-61355909083274035152012-11-05T03:41:50.356-05:002012-11-05T03:41:50.356-05:00the ball on the Gallon TD only got knocked around/...the ball on the Gallon TD only got knocked around/came loose after he had been down for more than a second when DB Derrick Well's foot kicked the ball out of Gallon's hands. that is why the TD was confirmed. Gallon caught the ball, had possession, had two feet in the endzone. by the time Well's foot (accidentally) kicked the ball out of Gallon's hand's it was already a touchdown.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-20084889645406146782012-11-05T01:14:26.464-05:002012-11-05T01:14:26.464-05:00Leaping ability doesn't matter for a wr? once ...Leaping ability doesn't matter for a wr? once again lankownia's idiocy shines through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-50385112287742437452012-11-05T01:12:00.210-05:002012-11-05T01:12:00.210-05:00He's a rs junior. He'll have his degree af...He's a rs junior. He'll have his degree after this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-51678196675555165722012-11-04T20:24:08.547-05:002012-11-04T20:24:08.547-05:00Are you on drugs? Toussaint going to the NFL after...Are you on drugs? Toussaint going to the NFL after this season? That's insane and never going to happen. The best way to take care of his daughter given where he's at right now is to get his degree. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-75059277276986654842012-11-04T20:12:52.023-05:002012-11-04T20:12:52.023-05:00Whether Morris starts in 2014 or not, RichRod was ...Whether Morris starts in 2014 or not, RichRod was still a fool to burn Gardner's redshirt year for a few plays in garbage time. He later realized his mistake and came up with the medical redshirt angle which probably won't work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-83578877591661616152012-11-04T20:01:17.772-05:002012-11-04T20:01:17.772-05:00Get his mechanics fixed? He's had three years...Get his mechanics fixed? He's had three years to do that, so I doubt we're going to see any major changes in his mechanics before he's in the NFL draft. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-79624652912775053442012-11-04T19:52:06.067-05:002012-11-04T19:52:06.067-05:00@Thunder
Leaping ability doesn't really matte...@Thunder<br /><br />Leaping ability doesn't really matter much for WR. Hemingway was a jump-ball expert and it wasn't because he was tall or athletic it was because he was strong and got himself in position well. He had WR skills that translate to coming down with the ball. Gardner does not. Whatever track or basketball skills or attributes he has are largely beside the point.<br /><br />I don't think Gardner has good speed relative to NFL WRs. He's not even getting that much separation at the college level. He's fairly fast, but he's not exceptionally fast.<br /><br />There was a Michigan basketball player a few years back that some people might remember named Brandun Hughes. He was tall and super athletic, but it just didn't translate to basketball very well. He didn't have the skills or the know-how to play the game. He never had a real position or anything he did that gave him an edge, but his athleticism and jumping ability was very evident. I'm concerned Gardner is going to end up a similar case, though he's already had more success as a college athlete than Huges did and far more recruiting accolades.<br /><br />As for NFL - I think teams are more likely to invest in a QB than in a WR. If Gardner gets his mechanics fixed and starts passing more consistently there's a place for him in a league where Cleo Lemon can start games and Tarvarius Jackson is a multi-year starter. I wouldn't bet on it - but I think his NFL future will come at QB well before it comes at WR. Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-22362665995009120622012-11-04T19:41:31.195-05:002012-11-04T19:41:31.195-05:00I thought he was hurt in 2010 as well...but yeah, ...I thought he was hurt in 2010 as well...but yeah, he never proved it - but the praise from insiders and coaches has always been there. It's hard to believe he's just a terrible player after all that background praise, but it happens...Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-76500041343934400112012-11-04T19:31:34.643-05:002012-11-04T19:31:34.643-05:00Miller is 6'4", 288 right now.Miller is 6'4", 288 right now.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-60474565218866640572012-11-04T19:30:20.618-05:002012-11-04T19:30:20.618-05:00How undersized is Miller? According to his rivals ...How undersized is Miller? According to his rivals profile, he was 6'4 268. If he bulks up to 300lbs isnt that big enough?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-4414640787368863652012-11-04T19:21:51.880-05:002012-11-04T19:21:51.880-05:00I've heard it from insider-y sources.I've heard it from insider-y sources.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-12982794356088373712012-11-04T19:21:16.472-05:002012-11-04T19:21:16.472-05:00We never really saw Barnum play in the spread. Hi...We never really saw Barnum play in the spread. His first year of starting was in 2011, when Michigan was already a pro-style-ish team. Other than that, he was a garbage time backup.Thunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708792562446136381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-17030874421038344602012-11-04T19:06:54.459-05:002012-11-04T19:06:54.459-05:00Barnum had earned starting jobs ahead of people li...Barnum had earned starting jobs ahead of people like Schofield (who was supposedly neck-and-neck with Huyge). They play different positions, but Barnum was a quality player in the spread. Not sure what all the issues are now, but I don't think it's about him being a bad player. Mealer might be a different story since he's a career backup until a dearth of talent left a void he could step into.Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-90764560347263184132012-11-04T19:03:15.856-05:002012-11-04T19:03:15.856-05:00Well, obviously the backup isn't going to be a...Well, obviously the backup isn't going to be as good as the starter so we're not going to win games we lost with Denard. That doesn't make the quality of the backup irrelevant, which was the gist of that line of thinking. The games that matter are the games on the margin. With Bellomy those games include Minnesota. With Gardner, it might have made the difference for Nebraska, and therefore potentially the conference title.Lankonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-10974473616499002702012-11-04T17:15:37.453-05:002012-11-04T17:15:37.453-05:00TE we'll have Funchess, stud, Williams - block...TE we'll have Funchess, stud, Williams - blocking, and then freshmen. The starter has great talent, but the depth is iffy.<br /><br />As long as our RS freshmen are all future first round picks, (Baas was 1st pick 2nd round) yes I agree we'll be fine. However, the probability of that happening isn't very good. I really wish we held onto Jake Fisher. I really wish Rich Rod had some quality depth for us. There was a point we had more slot receivers than DL. <br /><br />If we have a great QB, yeah it would make the line look a little better, but we don't have a great QB and we don't have stud receivers. Gallon is a proven playmaker. Calling Dileo a proven playmaker is a bit of a stretch though. He had a quality game against MSU, and he's a reliable target, but proven playmaker? That title doesn't suit him.<br /><br />Gardner wont be able to get anyone the ball if he doesn't have any time to throw, he's not that experienced yet. The one thing I really like about Gardner is I think he'll be a smarter QB than Denard. Denard tries to fit deep throws even when he has 15 easy yards in front of him to run, and he's very inaccurate. Gardner seemed to go through his reads vs. Minn, and when he couldn't fit anything in, he'd take off.<br /><br />I don't know of Toussaint is going to stick around. He's really hurt his draft stock this year, but he also has a daughter to take care of. A practice squad might be too tempting for him to stay.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-18130229452409512012012-11-04T16:50:19.402-05:002012-11-04T16:50:19.402-05:00Good grief, those were both catches and they were ...Good grief, those were both catches and they were called rightfully so. We're getting to the point where those catch deniers are going to ask for a 5 sec "hold it & secure" time before a catch can be called a catch. Absolutely ridiculous!Sgt.Rockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049086285878651147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440694009017367434.post-12974198335689003752012-11-04T16:45:07.548-05:002012-11-04T16:45:07.548-05:00Magnus, as usual I find myself in substantial, but...Magnus, as usual I find myself in substantial, but qualified, agreement with you.<br /><br />Devin Gardner position play in 2012: <br />The team was not prepared for the loss of Denard Robinson in the Nebraska game. You move Devin to WR if, and only if, we have a good Plan B for Denard. We didn't. It cost us the game. You know as well as anybody that the Michigan coaches say that the expectations are always for the position, not the player. The Michigan staff let down the position of QB in the Nebraska game.<br /><br />Devin Gardner redshirt in 2010: <br />We only know in hindsight how desperate were the off-field disciplinary issues with Tate Forcier, in early 2010. We needed Forcier later that year; we probably could have used him last year too. It would have been a good thing, if the discipline of Forcier had worked. True, the discipline of Forcier may have come at a heavy price if it meant the loss of a redshirt year for Gardner. But let's look into the future. Will Gardner be the starting QB in 2013? Maybe. Were you hoping for Gardner to be Michigan's starting QB for another two years? Did you want a redshirt year for Shane Morris? Do you think that Morris might be a five-year player at Michigan? I take an optimist's view that while we will treasure Devin Gardner in 2013, we might not miss him in 2014.<br /><br />Recruiting a QB every year: <br />You are right. Absent really unusual circumstances, you need to recruit a very good QB every year. You've said it before. It's true.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com