Patriots Try to Strike Lightning Twice, Devin Gardner Making The Switch To WR

Patriots Try to Strike Lightning Twice, Devin Gardner Making The Switch To WR

Steve Balestrieri

Devin Gardner has the tools to be a successful, big WR in the NFL making the transition from QB like fellow Patriots teammate Julian Edelman.

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Brady-Garoppolo-Edelman-Derby-Gardner, time to unveil the 5 QB spread offense.

brownj12 said:

Brady-Garoppolo-Edelman-Derby-Gardner, time to unveil the 5 QB spread offense.

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I see no reason why this wouldn't work. As a QB, he knows where the WR is supposed to be on any route, and should be able to act accordingly. He's also a good size for it.

Just another wrinkle in New England's scheme that Coach Belichick has tossed out to the league. Anytime both Gardner and Edelman are in the formation, defenses are gonna have to think "now what......." Fine by me. The league took away the ineligible receiver play, so here's something else to take it's place.

Deal with it, league.

Danger Zone said:

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Hi this is John Harbaugh. This formation is deceptive. I'll have to notify the league about this.

Gwedd said:

I see no reason why this wouldn't work. As a QB, he knows where the WR is supposed to be on any route, and should be able to act accordingly. He's also a good size for it.

Just another wrinkle in New England's scheme that Coach Belichick has tossed out to the league. Anytime both Gardner and Edelman are in the formation, defenses are gonna have to think "now what......." Fine by me. The league took away the ineligible receiver play, so here's something else to take it's place.

Deal with it, league.

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If it was that easy, Edelman would have been a stud right away. How far is he going to stretch for the ball when he can hear the footsteps of a safety coming down on him? He's not used to taking those kinds of shots. But the kid DOES have athletic tools.

KontradictioN said:

If it was that easy, Edelman would have been a stud right away. How far is he going to stretch for the ball when he can hear the footsteps of a safety coming down on him? He's not used to taking those kinds of shots. But the kid DOES have athletic tools.

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Didn't Gardner play a bit of WR when Denard Robinson was still at Michigan?

Big-T said:

Didn't Gardner play a bit of WR when Denard Robinson was still at Michigan?

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For half of the 2012 season.

For as many times BB has failed to convert a WR into a WR (Price, Tate, Jackson, Boyce, et al) I suppose he's got to try something.

What's the record for the number of QB sneaks in a game?

I like to imagine that the most scheming, smartest coach with 45 years of experience who has already donated a football library, matched with a pretty smart 16 year veteran QB with six superbowl appearances that they would be able to craft some pretty complex football. Hence requiring a QB-type brain at every position.

(pure conjecture)

KontradictioN said:

If it was that easy, Edelman would have been a stud right away. How far is he going to stretch for the ball when he can hear the footsteps of a safety coming down on him? He's not used to taking those kinds of shots. But the kid DOES have athletic tools.

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Yeah. He is used to standing in the pocket and delivering the throw just before getting hit by a big defensive linemen. A hit from a weak little safety should be a welcome change

2 of BB's 3 most* successful drafted WRs have been conversion projects.

*or only

At 6'4" and 215, if over a 2 year period on a practice squad he can muscle up to 235 or so, he could be a move TE.

He lacks WR speed, but from the 3-cone (6.96), he does have pretty good quickness.

Maybe the UM QB connection will also get him a chance to work out with the GOAT and establish some sort of rapport.

We must have the best QB depth of any team ever.

Danger Zone said:

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John Harbaugh is already lobbying to outlaw this.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

At 6'4" and 215, if over a 2 year period on a practice squad he can muscle up to 235 or so, he could be a move TE.

He lacks WR speed, but from the 3-cone (6.96), he does have pretty good quickness.

Maybe the UM QB connection will also get him a chance to work out with the GOAT and establish some sort of rapport.

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He has an identical 40 time to Wes Welker (4.65) and slightly better cone drill. A big slot receiver or possession TE if he can mix in some blocking. Well spoken and likeable kid. I'm sure Brady will invest in him.

robertweathers said:

Hi this is John Harbaugh. This formation is deceptive. I'll have to notify the league about this.

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I(John Harbaugh) have notified the Colts, who are going to try to set a trap for the Pats.. and then notify the league office.. gotcha!!!

Ted Wells has been put on notice, he is ready to investigate on a moment's notice.. but do not expect an answer for a while.. mo money, mo money, mo money...

guys, I'm a die hard wolverine. here is my quick 2 cents about gardner without any sugar coating

1. he is deceptively fast. he looks slower than his actual speed for sure
2. he isn't agile. i never thought he was a fluid athlete.
3. footwork was a major issue as a QB. dude, just didn't get it.
4. inconsistent as hell. either it was QB or WR, you never knew what player you were getting.
5. he had many 'wow' moments. while he was inconsistent as hell, he did have a signature moment.
6. he is physically strong - he took some serious beating, but always got up.
7. as a WR, he was raw as hell. it felt like a random basketball player trying to play WR. it was not particularly memorable. but i did see some potential. i remember a play where he pushed off a smaller WR like a veteran and jumped up and got the ball at the highest point.
8. on off field, he sounds like a smart kid. we had another QB - denard robinson, and denard didn't 'sound' bright.
9. IMO, gardner is flat footed. it always bothered me when he never moved his feet in the pocket. brady and many pro QBs jumps up and down, gardner? he always stood still without much feet movement.


i do not have high hopes for gardner to make our team. i would pleasantly surprised if BB can tranform gardner to a legit NFL WR. it's a long shot.