with polls: Grade Devin Gardner's debut at starting QB and the rest of Wolverines' performances

By Pete Cunningham Sports Director

Posted on Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.

Devin Gardner got his first start at quarterback in his Michigan career on Saturday and led the Wolverines to a 35-13 win over Minnesota.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Devin Gardner was the top-rated dual threat quarterback in the country the year he came out of high school and chose the University of Michigan. With a coaching change last year and the fact that he's been behind Denard Robinson, Gardner hasn't seen much time under center for the Wolverines, and has actually looked better at wide receiver than he ever has at quarterback.

But with Robinson out due to injury, Gardner had his number called on Saturday and he answered the bell.

Michigan football writer Kyle Meinke passed out his grades for the game, now it's your chance to grade Gardner and the rest of the Wolverines in our interactive polls.

Devin Gardner

The first few drives he looked like a guy who'd been playing wide receiver for six months, but the junior shined from there. His final line: Garnder completed 12-of-18 passes for 234 yards and 2 TDs and had 10 rushes for 21 yards and a touchdown.

Offense

Michigan moved the chains with consistency once Gardner's initial butterflies went away.

Defense

Brady Hoke has been preaching all week "If they can't score, they can't win." Well Minnesota did score, but Michigan still won and the defense looked impressive in doing so, holding strong in the red zone, particularly.

Special Teams

Not much of a factor in the game, what was up with Brendan Gibbons' missed PAT, though? Michigan didn't punt particularly well, but Jeremy Gallon did well on punt return duty. Has anyone seen the Dennis Norfleet lately?

Coaching

Devin Gardner looked well prepared to step in in Robinson's absence, and credit should go to the coaches for that. But it begs the question, why wasn't this the case against Nebraska?

Overall

Put it all together, and what do you get?

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