Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was asked one of the most ridiculous questions of the season in a press conference in the week preceding the Tennessee game: would he consider a change at quarterback over Carson Beck?
His response was simple.
“Absolutely not (have we considered a change),” Smart said. “We’ve got the quarterback we’ve got, who’s completely competent, capable and understanding of our system that gives us the best chance to win.”
That question asked sounds even more laughable Saturday after Georgia’s dominant 31-17 win over No. 6 Tennessee. There was some back and forth at first, but there was no need for the “Cardiac Dawgs” to get a last-minute victory.
The outcome the Bulldogs were after was on ice for more than just a small while.
It was also Beck’s best game of the season as he rose to the occasion in an essential must-win game to stay in the College Football Playoff race. He took it upon himself to give an emotional speech to the team ahead on Monday ahead of the game.
“I stood up in front of the team on Monday and just kind of talked to them about how I felt about how our season’s gone,” Beck said. “Whatever has happened has happened. And that all we can control is what he can control moving forward.”
Beck backed up his talk by finishing out a complete game 25-for-40 passing for 347 yards with two passing touchdowns and one rushing score.
It marked his first touchdown on the ground of the season, with his last one coming against the Alabama Crimson Tide in last year’s SEC title game.
Allowing Beck to use his mobility and improvisation ability more — two things he brings to the table that are slightly hidden away in his toolbox at times — was in the game plan and incredibly important in the absence of star running back Trevor Etienne.
“We had a couple plays where it was a designed quarterback run, which I don’t know if we’ve ever done for me ever,” Beck said. “So, I was kind of excited coming into the week because when I was in high school, I was a dual-threat, and so I would just like to let everyone know that.”
Being able to let loose on the ground is something Beck has been pushing Smart on for some time now. And the head coach finally let him go with the wheels on Saturday.
It paid dividends.
“I kept telling coach that I’m a dual-threat and that I can run if he needs me to and he doesn’t ever let me run. But he did let me run tonight a little bit so that’s fun.”
All jokes aside, despite the way Beck has fallen among media analysts in terms of draft stock, it’s clear he’s still got the interest and respect of the coaching staff around him, his teammates and NFL scouts.
That’s all that matters at the end of the day.
“Carson carries himself well,” Smart said after the game. “I’ve been very consistent, even with some of the dumbest questions in the world about out our quarterback, because we see him every day. He gets judged on outcomes and stats, but we don’t judge based on that.”
Smart is confident Beck gives the Bulldogs the strongest shot at going all the way.
“I’m never going to falter on what I see with my eyes. What I see with eyes is a guy that is really good on the pocket. He’s got poise, he’s got composure. He puts us in the right play over and over again and makes good decisions.”
Beck and the Bulldogs will continue their run in the race to the College Football Playoff with just two regular-season matchups left against UMass and Georgia Tech.