Michigan Tuesday: Who Is Going To Step Up This Year? QB Edition

There are a number of positions on the football field where you have to be above average to win football games.   If your going to win a championship, you better be great at most of those positions.  

Today, I start to look at one of those positions for the season and we will start at the top - QB.

The Michigan Football program has struggled at this position since Chad Henne left the Wolverines.  There as been plenty of talent but not a true QB in the sense of the word.   I'm a huge Denard Robinson fan but he is playing RB in the NFL, he wasn't a true QB that could throw and run.   Chad of course wasn't going to beat anyone in a 40 yard dash but he could throw the ball. 

The funny thing is, Michigan does have a QB that can do both in Devin Gardner.  He has the arm to make most throws and won games last year with his legs.   So what's the problem? 

Last year was full of:  bad play calling, no running game, poor offensive line play and poor throwing decisions.   He won games with his legs and moving the sticks and lost a few with some bad reads.   The question also remains how healthy he was all year.   He was getting hit hard every game and didn't tap out until the bowl game. 

So now what? 

Let's be clear, this is Devin's year to become an NFL quality QB or look at being a WR at the next level.   His upside is still huge as he has the frame to be a 1st round draft pick, but does he understand the game well enough?   I would argue he probably wasn't reading too many defensives when he was a WR for a year.  

DG now has a full year under his belt as the QB of Michigan.  He is fully healthy (knock on wood) and has a new OC/QB Coach to help him with the up and downs of the season.   In DG's 5 years at Michigan, he has had 2 head coaches and 3 OC's.   I believe that is the #1 reason for his lack of his development as a QB then any other factor.

This year is Devin's year to shine, if he has a great year, Michigan will have a great year.   If it's similar to 2013 then the Wolverines could be a .500 team in the Big Ten.

Depth:

Doesn't seem to be an issue this year.  

Shane is the clear #2.  I wish he was a red shirt freshman but he isn't.   It would be great if he could redshirt this year but I think that has a very small percentage of happening.  It will be interesting to see if Michigan is blowing someone out if they go to Shane or Russell.   I really like Shane but he isn't ready to start for this program yet.  

I have Russell Bellomy the #3, who is coming off an ACL injury.  I believe the Michigan coaches  will 100% redshirt Wilton Speight and would only play him in an emergency.   The early reports from camp is that Wilton is playing well and probably the #3 QB on the depth chart.   The Big Ten Network even called out Wilton as playing well in their practice visit this week.

Again, what will the Michigan coaches do during a blow out?  I think the coaches are set that Shane will not have a redshirt year. 

The bottom line is that this is a make or break year for Devin Gardner.  He could be the next Ryan Tannehill who went from WR to QB at Texas AM to NFL First rounder.  Or he could be looking to catch on with an NFL team as a WR.   His ability to take a leap in his QB development will equal Michigan's success on the football field.   Michigan's defense will be much better if Michigan's offense can put up points and stay on the field.

I have another piece of advice.  I know that wearing #98 is an honor but I think he should go back to #12.  After the ND game where he came out in 98, not much went right for him or the Wolverines.    He has worn #7, #12 and #98 as a Wolverine.  He seemed to play much better as #12.   I know the number doesn't make the QB but something doesn't seem right with wearing 98.