Should Devin Gardner Have Played QB for Michigan this Whole Time?



Denard Robinson has been a great player for the University of Michigan. Although passing was never his strongest asset, he was amazing to watch simply because with any play, in any situation, he could end up making magic happen. Whether throwing a long touchdown, or breaking a long touchdown run (which happened a lot more than throwing many touchdowns).
During Michigan's game vs Nebraska earlier this season, Robinson went down with an elbow injury. Michigan coach Brady Hoke then brought in freshman quarterback Russell Bellomy. Why didn't then bring in junior Devin Gardner, who came to the University of Michigan as a QB, but was transitioning to a wide receiver? There have been many explanations. But I don't think anyone knows the absolute truth.

Bellomy proceeded to have an absolutely terrible game. Throwing the ball 16 times but only completing three. For a grand total of 38 yards, and three interceptions. Michigan ended up losing 23-9. Earlier in the year they got beat by the Alabama Crimson Tide 41-14, and and week 4, Michigan got beat by Notre Dame 13-6. So the Nebraska loss was only the Wolverines' third of the year.

Many fans and analysts wondered why Devin Gardner wasn't brought in to be the quarterback for the Nebraska game. After all, he had experience as a quarterback. And not just in college.

The next week Michigan took on Minnesota. Denard couldn't play, but this time, Coach Hoke played Devin Gardner as quarterback. Devin played amazing. And Michigan won. Then the next week, Michigan played Northwestern. Again, Denard couldn't play, Devin took the role as QB, and the Wolverines won. And yesterday, Michigan played their final home game of the season against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Denard however did play, but played majority of the game as a running back, while Devin Gardner played QB. How could you not have Devin in as QB? He played so well, and so consistently in each of his games he played quarterback, you couldn't just bench him, or throw him back into the wide receiver position.

Devin and Denard being on the field at the same time seemed to be what Michigan has needed all season. Devin can throw the ball very accurately. He's not as fast as Denard, but still a fast quarterback, and he's tall. At 6'4", Devin Gardner towers over the 6' Denard Robinson.

Denard however, whenever he's on the field, like I said, magic can happen. He proved it during Michigan's win over Iowa when Michigan faced a 3rd and one, and Denard ran the ball for 40 yards.

So after seeing Devin Gardner perform so well as quarterback for three straight weeks, I wonder, should he have played quarterback for Michigan all along. Or at least, this whole season. We all have seen Denard Robinson struggle as quarterback. I love watching the guy, don't get me wrong. He's an amazing player. But he never could get into the groove of throwing accurate passes day in and day out.

Looking through the stats this season, Denard Robinson went 89/166 as quarterback. He threw for 1,319 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions. And he ran the ball 144 times for 1,044 yards and six touchdowns. That was starting in seven games (not counting the Nebraska game).

Devin Gardner however, has went 46/70, 834 passing yards, he has thrown for seven touchdowns, and only three interceptions. He also has rushed the ball 28 times for 105 yards, and six touchdowns (the same amount of rushing touchdowns as Denard). And that was with Devin only starting in three games.

If you look at it statistically, Devin Gardner seems to obviously be the hands on favorite for quarterback. He is more accurate with his throwing, almost equalling Denard's total touchdown throws with less interceptions, and Devin has punched the ball into the endzone just as many times. Although Gardner has significantly less rushing yards than Robinson.

I'm sure many Michigan fans will feel I am dogging Denard Robinson. That however is not the case. I just feel like if Michigan coach Brady Hoke, and offensive coordinator Al Borges made the decision to play Devin Gardner as starting quarterback instead of wide receiver, and let Denard Robinson play a running back/wide receiver type of role, Michigan very well could have won the three games they lost, and they might possibly could be in the hunt to play in the National Championship Game.

Michigan plays Ohio State this upcoming Saturday, in Columbus. In what could be the greatest rivalry in college football history, I'm sure Michigan will be looking to have Denard and Devin back on the field at the same time, to open up all kinds of different threats against Urban Meyer's Buckeyes. It should be a really good game.

- Matt Lytle

@mattlytle