MSU Red Cedar Message Board

Maxwell has the physical talent and brains to excel. If he doesn't develop a habit of panicking under pressure he'll start out fine and progress to very good.

Most of them can name one guy from our defense...Tom Gholston.

Thank you! I always try to talk to my walverine friends from high school. I can name so many more UM players than they can it's disgusting. Granted, I'm a college football slappy, but still. I try to debate them on players they will be losing/gaining, and I'm pretty sure they just think UM will be better just because.

He actually performed fairly well (considering) too.

BTW:
Maxwell's career numbers (2 years as active):
Games: 9
Attempts: 51
Completions: 29
Yards: 294
Long: 34
TD: 1
INT: 0
Rushing Attempts: 9 (Sacks count)
Rushing Yards: -3.9 (Sack yardages counts)
Rushing Long: 4
Rushing TD's: 0

Devin Gardiner's career numbers (2 years as active):
Games: 10
Attempts: 33
Completions: 16
Yards: 261
Long: 32
TD: 2
INT: 1
Rushing Attempts: 32 (Sacks count)
Rushing Yards: 74 (Sack yardages counts)
Rushing Long: 15
Rushing TD's: 2

Who is the more experienced "QB" ? (Take in consideration the fact that I asked "QB" and the fact that while both have been active college QB's for 2 years, Maxwell has an additional year in MSU systems as a red shirt.)

I showed this to a Michigan fan last month after the one point basketball loss....when he was mouthing off about how we should get used to losing to Michigan in Football too because now that we have to replace a QB (Cousin's beat Michigan his first year too...and he had less herald/experience than Maxwell coming in - but that doesn't count...Rich Rod)! He never answered.

But has Andrew Maxwell ever done THIS....

Cousins had leadership and other intangibles on his side, but Maxwell will put up better numbers than Cousins. He is simply the better passer--better accuracy and he throws a "more catchable ball."

Now...better numbers don't always mean more wins. Cousins ability to perform well under pressure was a powerful intangible in his favor. But I've heard more than one MSU player echo these same sentiments (about Maxwell).

Then there's the fact that Yakety Sax Gardner throws like a girl.

Good post, I agree with pretty much everything.

The only exception is that I think I think Maxwell playing in Ann Arbor is going to be a bigger factor. You just never know how a kid is going to react playing on the road and how he'll feel the pressure. My hope is that the defense comes out and gets a couple 3 and outs to start the game until Maxwell settles in.

A lot of people complained about playing the CMU game in Mt. Pleasant, but it could work out really well. It'll give Maxwell and the young receivers a road game in an environment that shouldn't be too hostile before they have to go to UM.

THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS.

I got into a big argument with one of my buddies (scUM fan) the other day about this. I'd take Maxwell in a heartbeat, and I'd take him every time. And he's never even started.

Denard will be a senior!! Oooooooooooooooooooh!! Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

And he'll throw 18 picks. So shut the fuck up.

Bring on Maxwell's Siver Hammer...

True, but to say he absolutely lacks experience (as many Michigan fans are banking on) is pretty naive.

I definitely agree with you, he's gotten some valuable game experience. I think the bowl game against Alabama was especially beneficial even if it wasn't a road game because I think it exposed him to the speed of a top notch defense playing at its best.

I think most Michigan fans also fail to realize that he's been the heir apparent for two years. With Boisture getting hurt, there was no doubt that Maxwell was going to be the guy after Cousins, which I think has added some comfort and stability to the program.

Me too. Yup, still funny

Last year at this time and right on through spring practice many UM posters repeated the corporate mantra that Denard Robinson was not a shotgun QB in high school, but an under center, dropback, pocket passer with an excellent arm. I can't remember how many times I heard how Borges was going to refine shoelace into an accomplished passer. After their spring game where Robinson shredded their defense they used that as proof to back up their statements. What they failed to realize or should I say chose to ignore was that in the spring game Robinson ran around like a chicken with his head cut off, and the throws he did make were due to his scrambling. More often times than not when Robinson just stood in the pocket he exhibited the same poor judgement that he displayed in his first two seasons.

I expect more of the same this year leading right up to preseason camp. It won't be until Robinson leaves will they make a realistic appraisal of his passing ability.

The reason why Maxwell is such an unknown to UM fans is that he hasn't had much opportunity to play with Cousins being the starter, and the fact that he didn't come to MSU with the over-hypedness of the last several UM QB's. Remember they've had Mallet, Forcier, Robinson, Gardiner and now Morris, all coming in with high rankings and huge expectations. What they fail to grasp in comparison to MSU is that almost every year for the last four or five seasons there has been some uncertainty as to who their quarterback would be.

They have routinely gone into a season with some measure of controversy since 2008. In 2007, Henne's senior year they brought in Mallet who was going to assume the reins of the offense. Then Carr left, Rodriguez arrived in 2008 and before the ink on his contract was dry, Mallet was asking to be released and allowed to transfer. Threat, another transfer, QB'd Rodriguez's first UM squad because he literally had no one. In 2009 RR brought in Forcier and Denard even though he had a returning starter in Threat. Threat takes a seat while Tate and Denard share duty. Forcier winning the first of UM's three consecutive September Heisman's edge's out Robinson by a hair but his hold on the position was tenuous at best. Robinson has a strong spring and by the start of 2010 is named the third starter in as many years. Even having secured his role as the starter, Forcier is often called upon to replace the struggling Robinson. Last year Robinson managed to hold onto his starting role, but there were whispers about Gardiner possibly unseating him because of possibly being the better passer. Heading into 2012 it is likely Robinson will retain his starting assignment, but it will be to the detriment of Gardiner in the end. UM's offense still revolves around Denard running and not implementing the west coast offense Borges is known for and desires to run.

In 2013 the UM offense will go through a major transformation because it will no longer revolve around the running ability of its quarterback. I see 2013 as being a huge adjustment for the UM OL as it will be forced to change its blocking scheme to accommodate for a less mobile QB. The receivers will have to get used to having defenders play them differently than what they have become accustomed with Robinson at QB. The UM running game will return to a more traditional style.

In contrast, since 2007 MSU has had two starting QB's, Hoyer and Cousins. The transition from Brian to Kirk was almost transparent except for some inexperience issues early with Cousins. 2012 will see the transition to Andrew Maxwell, who though not having a great deal of experience, does have a few thing going for him in his favor. He will have been in the program a full three years learning the offense. He has developed a rapport with many of the receivers he will be throwing to because of them having been playing on the second team offense. The atmosphere since Hoyer in 2007 has been one of mentoring backups. Hoyer mentored Cousins. Cousins has mentored Maxwell. Maxwell will mentor the next starting QB. The emphasis has been on film study and having the starter and backup continually being instructed on the positives and negatives of plays during the game.

My prediction for MSU in 2012 is that defenses are going to concentrate heavily on stopping MSU's running game and test Maxwell. They are going to force Maxwell to beat them with his arm. This is a sound plan when you consider Maxwell has limited game experience and he will be throwing to a group of receivers who are equally as inexperienced. Until the QB and receivers show the ability to make plays defenses will not respect the MSU passing game.

I believe MSU's running game will not struggle to the degree it did this past season. Those struggles were mainly attributed to the offensive line and adjusting to new personnel and not Baker, Bell and Caper losing their edge. Bell and Caper should have a more productive year rushing along with the smattering of Hill and Tompkins. If the passing game can produce satisfactory results similar to Cousins first year as a starter in 2009 the team should have a very productive season.