Tag: uga quarterbacks

Kirby Smart details what he values the most from quarterbacks

Kirby Smart provided some insight on the quarterback position battle between Carson Beck, Gunner Stockton, and Brock Vandagriff.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is a defensive coach at heart. He hates when his defense gets put in a bad position and knows that when you win the turnover battle you are much more likely to win the game.

Smart wants his quarterbacks to put the offense in good situations with sound decisions. Quarterbacks have to make more decisions than any other player on the field.

I can get the stats, but a true quarterback is a decision-maker. In our system, because some systems take all the pressure of the quarterback and they just go really fast, we don’t do that. We’re a quarterback driven offense. So, can you process the information?

Georgia’s previous starting quarterback, Stetson Bennett, threw only seven interceptions in each of his last two seasons. Bennett’s decision-making, durability, and mobility were big reasons why he prevailed over JT Daniels in Georgia’s last quarterback position battle.

Quarterback Carson Beck may have a leg up, in terms of decision-making, on Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton thanks to his experience. However, Beck is not as mobile as Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton.

Carson Beck has attempted only 58 career passing attempts in 10 games, so he does not have a ton of game experience, but that is the most of Georgia’s trio of quarterbacks. Vandagriff has only three career pass attempts and Gunner Stockton, who has been mostly practicing with the third-team offense, has not attempted a pass in college.

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck is considered the favorite to win the starting role, but he has stiff competition. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It sounds like avoiding mistakes is something Kirby Smart really values. He makes it clear that sometimes an incomplete pass, or even a sack, is not a bad play compared to an interception.

Which of these three choices Coach Bobo’s given me am I going to utilize on this play? And then the play happens, and there might be a mistake or a breakdown, and you do not go full metal jacket and have catastrophe mode and put us in a bad situation.

Ultimately, Kirby Smart is looking at good decision-making as the most important thing he hopes to find at the quarterback position this spring. The best decision-maker will probably win the starting job for the Bulldogs.

Decision-making is the number one thing I want to see at the quarterback position.

For now, Brock Vandagriff and Carson Beck have an edge over Gunner Stockton as they are getting more reps with the starters. Perhaps it is because they are making more consistent decisions.

Brock and Carson are both getting reps with the ones.

Overall, Kirby Smart made it clear that scrimmages don’t tell the full story. Quarterbacks react differently when they get hit in live action. Some quarterbacks are able to dodge sacks that are automatic in scrimmages.

Georgia fans will get a chance to watch the Bulldogs on G-Day, which is scheduled for April 15.

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Kirby Smart updates backup quarterback situation ahead of 2022 season

‘They’re going to be really good quarterbacks’ – KS

For the first time in two seasons, Georgia has a sure-fire starting quarterback. Kirby Smart has tabbed Stetson Bennett as UGA’s signal caller headed into the 2022 season.

As the kickoff versus No, 11 Oregon looms, Smart gives his take on the backup quarterback race, consisting of junior Carson Beck and sophomore Brock Vandagriff after Georgia’s second scrimmage of camp on Saturday.

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The Bulldogs have had plenty of drama at quarterback ever since heralded Jake Fromm departed to the NFL after the 2019 season.

Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman was the guy for about two weeks in 2020 before opting out citing COVID-19 concerns. Then a battle ensued between D’Wan Mathis, now a starter at Temple, and Stetson Bennett before J.T Daniels stepped in for the rest of the year.

In 2021 the legend of ‘The Mailman’ was born as Bennett resurged after Daniels’ injury and led the Bulldogs to the promise land.

Entering 2022 the Bulldogs have one of the strongest quarterback rooms in the country due, in part, to Beck and Vandagriff.

“I think both of those guys have done an incredible job. They’re going to be really good quarterbacks,” Smart said. “They understand our system at a high level, they’ve been through springs, they’re both playing winning football and I’m pleased with both of their growths. We continue to get them more opportunities because we’re trying to evaluate them as a one, more than you are as a two or three because sometimes the offensive line changes when you do that.”

Even true freshman Gunner Stockton, a former four-star prospect, has made strides in his own right.

“I thought Gunner made some really good plays today,” Smart said. “You don’t get to see as much of Gunner because we do fours in our practice. He gets reps, which is good, but he gets primary reps in the scrimmage when he gets to go out there with the threes and things. And I thought he did a good job. I have a lot of confidence in all of our quarterbacks.”

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Early look at Georgia football’s quarterback room

Stetson Bennett should be expected to win the starting job thanks to his chemistry with Georgia’s receiving core, experience, and mobility

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett is returning for one final season in Athens. Bennett elected to return to school over entering the 2022 NFL draft or transferring.
Bennett, who was excellent in the College Football Playoff, will be favored to win the job as starting quarterback at Georgia. Bennett will face competition from Carson Beck, Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton.
For the second consecutive season, Georgia’s prior season-opening starter at quarterback is transferring.
In 2020, Georgia opened the season with D’Wan Mathis, but Stetson Bennett quickly took over. Mathis transferred to Temple following the season.
In 2021, J.T. Daniels helped Georgia knock off Clemson to open the season. The Dawgs later turned to Bennett after Daniels suffered an oblique injury. Daniels is in the NCAA transfer portal.
Brock Vandagriff may prove to be Georgia’s stoutest competition for Bennett. The redshirt freshman quarterback is mobile and now has more familiarity with Todd Monken’s system. Last season, Georgia showed how important it is to have a mobile quarterback. Vandagriff attempted only one pass in 2021.
Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff throws a pass during the Georgia G-Day spring football game in 2021. Photo/Joshua L. Jones, Athens Banner-Herald
Carson Beck likely enters spring as the No. 2 quarterback. Beck played before Vandagriff last season and has one more year of experience. Beck threw for 176 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions last season.
Bennett has been doubted before and has not started either of the past two seasons as the starter. Bennett should be expected to win the job thanks to his chemistry with Georgia’s receiving core, experience and mobility. Bennett’s excellence in 2021 should not be overlooked. He finished with the 40th-most efficient passing season of all-time.
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Georgia’s top-5 offensive players for 2021: No. 1 QB JT Daniels

Ranking Georgia’s top-5 offensive players for 2021: No. 1 QB JT Daniels

We are currently ranking Georgia’s top-five offensive players for the 2021 college football season.

5. WR George Pickens

4. OL Jamaree Salyer

3. WR Arik Gilbert

2. RB Zamir White

And at No. 1, we have quarterback JT Daniels.

Daniels looks ready to lead the Bulldogs in 2021 and he should be one of the nation’s top quarterbacks at the end of the season.

He had a phenomenal first year with Georgia, throwing for 1,231 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions in four games.

Everything seemed to click when Daniels lined up under center, and years of built-up frustration with the Georgia offense began to slip away.

Daniels transferred to UGA after spending the first two seasons of his career at USC. Daniels transferred from the Trojans following an ACL injury he suffered during the 2019 season opener. Daniels was still rehabbing the injury when he arrived in Athens and was not cleared to play until later in the 2020 college football season.

In three seasons at the prestigious Mater Dei High School, JT Daniels averaged more than 50 touchdown passes and 4,000 passing yards per season. Daniels was rated as the third ranked quarterback in his recruiting class behind Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields.

Daniels has solid experience from his days at USC. In 2018, Daniels threw for 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for the Trojans. The former five-star recruit has the talent to put it all together this season.

Georgia football player card: QB Jackson Muschamp

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jackson Muschamp is the son of Georgia defensive analyst and former South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp

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Jackson Muschamp, Quarterback (No. 14):

Class: Redshirt freshman

Height: 6-2

Weight: 190 pounds

Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina

High School: Hammond School

Georgia Bulldogs redshirt freshman quarterback Jackson Muschamp originally committed to Colorado State, but decided to commit to the University of Georgia as a preferred walk-on.

He did not play as a freshman and took a redshirt in 2020.

Jackson Muschamp is the son of Georgia defensive analyst and former South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp. Jackson is a big part of the reason why Will Muschamp decided to come to Athens following his dismissal at South Carolina.

Jackson Muschamp is following in the footsteps of his dad, who walked on to the team in Athens. Will Muschamp played at Georgia from 1991-1994. Much like Kirby Smart, Will Muschamp played safety for UGA. The two coach barely missed playing in Athens together as Kirby Smart played with Georgia from 1995-1998.

Georgia’s quarterback room has a lot of depth this season and beyond. JT Daniels is projected to start at quarterback for the Dawgs. Carson Beck, Stetson Bennett, and Brock Vandagriff are considered the top competitors at back-up quarterback.

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Georgia defensive analyst Will Muschamp on the sideline during the Georgia G-Day Spring football game in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, April 17, 2021. (Photo/Joshua L. Jones, Athens Banner-Herald)

Georgia football player card: QB Jackson Muschamp

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jackson Muschamp is the son of Georgia defensive analyst and former South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp

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Jackson Muschamp, Quarterback (No. 14):

Class: Redshirt freshman

Height: 6-2

Weight: 190 pounds

Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina

High School: Hammond School

Georgia Bulldogs redshirt freshman quarterback Jackson Muschamp originally committed to Colorado State, but decided to commit to the University of Georgia as a preferred walk-on.

He did not play as a freshman and took a redshirt in 2020.

Jackson Muschamp is the son of Georgia defensive analyst and former South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp. Jackson is a big part of the reason why Will Muschamp decided to come to Athens following his dismissal at South Carolina.

Jackson Muschamp is following in the footsteps of his dad, who walked on to the team in Athens. Will Muschamp played at Georgia from 1991-1994. Much like Kirby Smart, Will Muschamp played safety for UGA. The two coach barely missed playing in Athens together as Kirby Smart played with Georgia from 1995-1998.

Georgia’s quarterback room has a lot of depth this season and beyond. JT Daniels is projected to start at quarterback for the Dawgs. Carson Beck, Stetson Bennett, and Brock Vandagriff are considered the top competitors at back-up quarterback.

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Georgia defensive analyst Will Muschamp on the sideline during the Georgia G-Day Spring football game in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, April 17, 2021. (Photo/Joshua L. Jones, Athens Banner-Herald)

Two Georgia Bulldogs named SEC Players of the Week

Two Georgia Bulldogs were named SEC Players of the Week following a win over Mississippi State: QB JT Daniels and WR Jermaine Burton.

The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 31-24 thanks to several key performances. Quarterback JT Daniels had a career day in the victory. Daniels was money on third down and showed incredible accuracy on deep passes.

The SEC named JT Daniels as the SEC Offensive Player of the Week. He’s sharing the award with Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who set a conference record for receiving touchdowns in a career against Kentucky.

JT Daniels threw for 401 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Mississippi State. It was an impressive debut performance and he’ll start again this week against South Carolina.

Daniels completed almost half of his passing yardage to wide receiver Jermaine Burton, who hauled in two touchdown passes. Burton’s 197 receiving yards helped him win the SEC Freshman of the Week award.

Burton consistently found openings in the secondary and had the best game of his young career. Burton has been open much of the season, but the ball hasn’t found him often enough. JT Daniels and Burton have nice chemistry and all of a sudden Georgia’s passing offense looks quite formidable.

Now, Georgia must work to put together a more complete game this weekend against a South Carolina team without fired head coach Will Muschamp and several key players.

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What UGA football, Kirby Smart must do moving forward

The Georgia Bulldogs suffered their second loss of the season and needs to improve and evaluate talent for the reminder of the year.

The Georgia Bulldogs suffered their second loss of the season on Saturday at the hands of the hated Florida Gators. Florida’s offense overpowered Georgia’s defense and won 44-28.

Now, Georgia must evaluate itself as the Bulldogs no longer have realistic College Football Playoff hopes. This is the first time since 2016 that Georgia hasn’t been in contention for a National Championship until the SEC Championship Game.

Firstly, the Dawgs must get healthier. Georgia is without numerous starters on the defensive side of the ball. Additionally, Stetson Bennett, George Pickens, Kendall Milton, and more are ailing on offense. There’s no reason to rush back players considering there’s no longer a National Championship run to play for.

Kirby Smart must find a way to gain more consistent quarterback play throughout the rest of the season. The Bulldogs must learn what they’ve got presently on the roster. Quarterbacks are the most important position in football and Georgia’s quarterbacks haven’t gotten the job done this season.

The Bulldogs must answer some burning questions: Is D’Wan Mathis or Stetson Bennett better? Is USC Trojans transfer J.T. Daniels healthy? Can Carson Beck be effective? Georgia has to do better with the quarterback position moving forward if it wants to win a championship.

The Dawgs had tough luck with Jamie Newman’s opt out before the season, but they shouldn’t have to count on transfer quarterbacks.

Georgia has a commitment in a five-star quarterback recruit in Brock Vandagriff, who will likely be favored to start the 2021 season. Georgia needs to have a good back-up quarterback next season who can efficiently run the offense should Vandagriff get hurt.

The Bulldogs must have a more effective passing attack to be a serious National Championship contender. Georgia must showcase a more dynamic passing game in the final four games of the season. The Dawgs need to work on their largest weakness.

The Georgia Bulldogs will be favored in all four of their remaining games: at Missouri, Mississippi State, at South Carolina, and a home finale against Vanderbilt.

Kirby Smart and Georgia must send seniors out the right way. Winning out is what these seniors and NFL Draft eligible players deserve. That being said, the staff will want to evaluate some young talent. Additionally, roster management heading into the offseason will be unique this season since seniors can return (they won’t lose a season of eligibility this year, per NCAA rules for this season only).

Georgia’s got to do some serious self evaluation. As for the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs need to be able to stop wheel routes and pass-catching running backs. Florida humiliated UGA with this combination. Alabama additionally used wheel routes to burn Georgia several times.

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Georgia vs Auburn: Halftime stats and thoughts

Georgia leads Auburn 24-3 at halftime. Here are the key players and team stats so far.

No. 4 Georgia leads No. 7 Auburn 24-3 at halftime after dominant first half by the Bulldogs.

Georgia’s most valuable players of the first half were junior quarterback Stetson Bennet, who is making his first career start for the Bulldogs, and redshirt sophomore running back Zamir White and sophomore receiver Kearis Jackson.

Player stats:

  • Bennett – 12/22, 155 yards with one touchdown
  • White – 17 carries for 76 yards and two touchdowns
  • Jackson – 7 receptions for 104 yards

Team Stats:

  • 1st downs: UGA 15, Auburn 5
  • Total yards: UGA 288, Auburn 81
  • Passing yards : UGA 158, Auburn 54
  • Rushing yards : UGA 130, Auburn 27
  • Time of possession: UGA 18:04, Auburn 11:56
  • Penalties : UGA 6 for 49 yards, Auburn 4 for 30 yards

Georgia’s offensive line is doing whatever they want with Auburn right now, and the Bulldogs running backs are taking advantage.

Bennett has been sharp and decisive with the football, especially on third downs.

All good news for Georgia so far, tune-in for the second half coming up on ESPN.

 

 

Interview: Aaron Murray says what Georgia should do at quarterback ahead of Auburn

We sat down with former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray to get his thoughts on Georgia’s unique quarterback situation. Details here

No 4. Georgia is still looking for its starting quarterback ahead of Saturday night’s matchup with No. 7 Auburn.

Redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis started the game last week versus Arkansas, but was abruptly pulled for junior Stetson Bennett after just five offensive drives.

Mathis, who was cleared for football activities in May after surgery to remove a brain cyst kept him out in 2019, didn’t get much help from his teammates in the short time he was under center versus the Razorbacks.

Preseason second-team All-SEC center Trey Hill surprised with multiple bad snaps, plus the Bulldogs totaled 11 penalties for 98 yards in the first half.

Former Georgia quarterback, now CBS Sports college football analyst Aaron Murray believes Mathis was fighting from behind even before the first snap.

“To be able to master a playbook, and then to get the timing down with your receivers and running backs and the communication with your offensive line. It takes a lot of time. I don’t think he has had a lot of time to do that. So, I think expectations were high, but obviously it comes with the position here be a starting quarterback and Georgia. People expect a certain level of play. I just think those expectations were unrealistic.”

Georgia was forced to scramble to find a signal-caller just a few weeks before the season after Wake Forest transfer quarterback Jamie Newman, the projected starter and Heisman Trophy hopeful, decided to opt-out of the 2020 football season because of Covid-19 related concerns.

The Bulldogs’ decision then was between Mathis, Bennett and redshirt sophomore, USC transfer J.T. Daniels, the only current Georgia quarterback with Power 5 experience.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart expected Daniels to be cleared by gametime last week, but after traveling with the team to Fayetteville, Daniels was still not cleared for gameplay, throwing Mathis into the starting role at-least for week-one.

“The cards were stacked against him (Mathis). He hasn’t played football in a while, didn’t have spring, wasn’t a starter and really had limited reps in the offense or in fall camp. So to me, hen is someone that I wish they would have given at least the first half, get through the first quarter, you know, make a couple of mistakes, and then see how he rebounds, especially mentally and how he can handle it and then go from there.”

Smart announced on Monday that Daniels is now cleared for gameplay and Murray believes his experience at USC in 2018 can set him apart from Mathis and Bennett moving forward.

“He (Daniels) was an 18 year old kid playing college football at USC, and I thought he did pretty good for being a young pup playing out there. Start the season off strong through the first half of last season in that first game. And then obviously, the ACL injury happened. He is a big kid, he has a good arm, he’s played football.”

Bennett, a former JUCO star at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi, came in for Mathis and showed promise, throwing for 211 yards on 20/29 passing with two touchdowns and a two point conversion run.

“I do think Stetson came in and played really well. I mean, it’s another guy who probably had absolutely no opportunity with the ones at all during fall camp to get the reps and get the timing with those guys. So, the fact that he was able to go 20/29, get a couple touchdowns take care of the football was was really darn impressive to watch. And I think he’s someone that’s going to take care of the football, he’s going to be accurate, he’s played, he just looked like he was more comfortable out there”

The defense’s three interceptions, one for a pick-six, and safety were a large part of the Bulldogs’ resurgence from a abismal first half, but Bennett’s poise helped Georgia find at least some identity in its season opener.

This weeks matchup with No. 7 Auburn will be much more difficult for the Bulldogs. The Tigers come to Athens off of a 29-13 win versus Kentucky where sophomore quarterback Bo Nix threw for 233 yards on 16/27 passing with three touchdowns and led team in rushing with five carries for 34 yards.

Auburn’s defense is as talented as always. The Tigers defensive front is led by defensive end Big Kat Bryant and at linebacker, senior K.J. Britt, who had 11 tackles versus Kentucky and is always around the ball. And in the secondary, the Tigers are lead by junior cornerback Roger McCreary, one of the best lock-down corners in the SEC.

The question remaining is,  how does Georgia come away with a win versus a top-10 Auburn team without a solidified starter at quarterback?

“Just lean on the defense, that’s all I got to say. People just want points, points, points. We want 4,050 points a game. Screw that man, just win. I just think that’s the issue right now – everyone wants these these explosive offenses. Everyone wants to go be entertained with high scoring games, just just be grateful that you’re winning ballgames. Be grateful that we won a road game against an SEC opponent, and we covered the spread.”

Listen to our full interview, including an Auburn preview, with the SEC’s all-time leading passer here: