6 - Tuesday, September 23, 2014

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Decision day: Devin Gardner or Shane Morris?

Short-term risk
could result in long-
term reward
By ALEJANDRO ZUNIGA
ManagingSports Editor
Whether or not Devin
Gardner will remain the
Michigan football team's
quarterback in the upcoming
weeks will be decided Tuesday,
coach Brady Hoke said in
Monday's press conference.
The Wolverines are 0-2
against the Power 5 teams
they've faced, Notre Dame and
Utah. What's more, they didn't
enter the red zone - much less
score an offensive touchdown
- against either of those
opponents. And in those games,
Gardner has accounted for six
turnovers (five interceptions
and a fumble).
Meanwhile,sophomore Shane
Morris has no touchdowns
despite appearances in eight
games and a start in the 2013

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
Don't expect a two-
quarterback system like the
Wolverines employed. late in
2012 with Gardner and Denard
Robinson. Hoke said the coaches
haven't considered platooning
under center.
Who should be Michigan's
starter? The Daily breaks down
the pros and cons ofbothoptions.
Devin Gardner, Fifth-year
senior
Anyone who can displace one
of the most electrifying players
in program history midway
through his redshirt sophomore
year is set up for being labeled a
bust.
And that's what happened
with Gardner. After he started
the year as wide receiver, an
injury to Robinson forced
Gardner to move back under
center. Behind him, the
Wolverines went 3-2 in their
last five games, picking up wins
over Minnesota, Northwestern
and Iowa, but falling in close

games to Ohio State and South
Carolina.
Gardner finished 2012 with
11 touchdowns and just five
interceptions, but that didn't
translate into a breakout
2013 season. Behind a porous
offensive line, Gardner tossed
11 picks, but the quarterback
rarely had

made some inexplicable
mistakes. Against Utah, he
missed receiver Devin Funchess
on an easy slant route, and he
was benched after throwing
a pass straight to a baiting'
linebacker.
That game was emblematic of
Gardner's entire 2014 campaign,
which has

enough time been replete
in the pocket If M a with errant or
to throw. If ichigan underthrown
For instance, makes the switch balls,
against i telegraphed
Michigan expect some passes and
State, Gardner incorrect
was sacked growing pains. reads.
seven times as And
the Wolverines Gardner's
accounted threat as a
for minus-48 runner has
rushing yards. been all but eliminated. The
Michigan released former quarterback's longest run this
offensive coordinator Al year is for just 18 yards.,
Borges after 2013, and some Quite simply, he just doesn't
of Gardner's struggles this seem to be improving.
year almost certainly can be In Nussmeier's system,
attributed to the transition to Gardner is failing as a passer,
Doug Nussmeier's schemes. and his ability to create is also
But this fall, Gardner has being largely impaired.

Shane Morris, Sophomore
Anyone who argues that
a transition to Morris this
weekend would be seamless is
either lying or sorely mistaken.
Morris has seen meaningful
action just twice while at
Michigan. In last year's Buffalo
Wild Wings Bowl, he went
24-of-38 for 196 yards, but
many of his completions came
on passes behind the line of
scrimmage.
And upon relieving Gardner
on Saturday with about 10
minutes to play, Morris promptly
accounted for two turnovers
of his own, throwing an
interception and then fumbling.
So if Michigan does make
the switch to Morris, expect
some growing pains. Despite
Gardner's struggles, he has four
weeks of game experience under
Nussmeier and practiced as the
No. 1 quarterback throughout
the offseason. Morris has never
proven himself as a better game
manager than Gardner.

If there's one area in which
Morris holds a definitive edge
over Gardner, it's in his arm.
Saturday, the sophomore
uncorked a 60-yard rocket
while under pressure in his own
end zone. Meanwhile, Gardner
underthrew several wide-open
receivers all afternoon.
And Morris is no slouch on
his feet, either. He dashed for
40 yards against Kansas State
in December, the longest run
by any Wolverine last year. And
he has demonstrated similar
mobility in his action this fall.
Of course, many may prefer
Morris simply because he has
been touted as the future of the
program.
This is Gardner's last year,
and Michigan's coaches must
weigh the risk of starting an
unseasoned quarterback to the
reward of developing him into a
better player before next season.

4

RUBY WALLAU/Daily JAMES COLLER/Daily
Fifth-year senior Devin Gardner moved from his temporary position at wide receiver back to quarterback in 2012. Sophomore Shane Morris has a strong arm, but he's also turnover-prone and hasn't yet thrown a touchdown pass.

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Email: dailydisplay@gmail.com
Hoke presser

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By ALEJANDRO ZUN1IGA Against Notre Dame and
ManagingSportsEditor Utah, the Wolverines' two
Power 5 opponents so far,
Brady Hoke's regular Monday Gardner has combined for six
press conference was televised turnovers (five interceptions
nationally this afternoon by and a fumble).
ESPN. But Woke
The said he's
Michigan "He'll handle impressed
football coach with
addressed it like a leader Gardner's
his team's leadership
quarterback daeven as his
situation, does, hI ateve status as the
whether he happens " team'sstarter
believes the remains in
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more.
On who will start at
quarterback Saturday:
Sophomore Shane Morris
saw extensive playing time for
the first time all year against
Utah, replacing a turnover-
prone Devin Gardner in the
fourth quarter. After the game,
Hoke said the quarterback
position is up for grabs, and he
said in the press conference
that Saturday's starter will be
named tomorrow.
Hoke said he'll look at
efficiency when making
the decision, but that both
quarterbacks have been
"competing and challenging"
since fall camp began in August.
Michigan hasn't considered
platooning the two
quarterbacks, Hoke said.

handle it
like a leader does, whatever
happens," Hoke said.
Onthestateoftheprogram:
Hoke said he won't allow
criticism about his team's
2-2 start affect his coaching,
explaining the players
and coaches share similar
frustrations to the public.
He said he doesn't believe the
program is in a state of crisis, and
that they're building "a program
with a great foundation."
On improvements:
Hoke believes the Wolverines
will be a good football team.
When?
"Saturday," he said. "I think
we need to be a good football
team, don't you?"

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