ANN ARBOR -- Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner has heard plenty of opinions about why he's struggled to stop throwing interceptions this season.

On Wednesday, Minnesota safety Cedric Thompson offered his take to Marcus Fuller of the Pioneer Press in Minneapolis.

"I think he kind of, just, panics a lot," Thompson said in a video interview. "I think when he scrambles, he kind of just throws the ball, that's where a lot of his picks come. But then some of his picks come from tipped balls. It's tough for a quarterback to get unlucky with tipped balls."

Minnesota (3-1) visits No. 19 Michigan (4-0) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ABC).

Gardner's eight interceptions this season are second-most among all Football Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks.

On Wednesday, the Michigan junior signal caller admitted he lost focus during a narrow win at UConn two weeks ago, and because of that, his footwork went adrift.

And Gardner's coming out party as a quarterback last season came at the expense of Minnesota -- in Minneapolis -- when he went 12 of 18 for 231 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-13 Wolverine win.

Thompson remembered plenty about that, too.

"I remember him being just really shifty," he said. "And he'll stay back there until someone's open, that's the real scary thing about him. A lot of quarterbacks will just start running, but he's not afraid to stay back there and pass the ball. I think that's one of his best qualities as a quarterback."

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