Can an at-ease Jacob Eason make the jump in Year 2 as Georgia’s starting QB?
By Ryan Black
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Jacob Eason is at ease.
Eason, a sophomore, enters this fall as Georgia’s unquestioned starter at quarterback. It’s a different role than he had last season, when he was fighting Greyson Lambert for the job. Lambert, then a fifth-year senior, won the right to start the opener against North Carolina, though it was Eason who came on in relief and helped the Bulldogs rally for a 33-24 victory in Kirby Smart’s first game as head coach.
Now, as Georgia prepares for its opener against Appalachian State on Saturday at Sanford Stadium, Eason says he is worlds away from the player he was 12 months ago.
“Last year I was preparing because I didn’t know when I would get into the game,” Eason said. “This year I know I’m going to get the game plan. I know the first play, the (first) drive, I’m going to have the ball. So it’s a little bit different, but you’re still preparing the same for every game.”
Eason told reporters Wednesday that no opening script for the game had been finalized. At some point prior to Saturday’s 6:15 p.m. ET kickoff, Eason will sit down with offensive coordinator Jim Chaney to discuss a plan of action. Even so, it’s a script that is subject to change. And it might not mean anything at all.
That’s because unlike last season, Eason now has the option — and comfort level — to audible into plays he views as more favorable based upon the defense’s alignment.
“Last year was more about understanding the offense versus reading the defense and checking and making a better play,” he said. “So a big, big focus this offseason was getting my mind right and being able to see something or check into something. That’s one of the big things we’ve been working on and (I) feel a little more comfortable doing that.”
Taking a more hands-on approach with the offense is a responsibility he relishes.
“Being a quarterback, you should be able to do those things, and Coach Chaney has allowed me to do some of those things, and I appreciate that,” Eason said. “I’m going to take it and do what I can with it and hopefully try to make some better plays and get us out of some tough situations. I think that all goes into being a quarterback. Everybody at the next level does that, so why not start now?”
His teammates attest to Eason’s newfound assertiveness.
“You can tell he’s controlling the offense more,” said John Atkins, a fifth-year senior nose tackle. “It’s not really what he’s doing different; I think it’s that he’s more mature now. He’s growing up, and he can go out there and take control of any situation.”
Fellow defender Lorenzo Carter agreed.
“He’s the leader of the offense, and I feel like he’s just becoming more comfortable,” said Carter, a senior outside linebacker. “Last year was his first time being back there in the SEC and (now) it’s his second year, and that can make a big difference. The game slows down a lot.”
Yet for all the talk of Eason’s command of the offense and improvement since the end of last season, he’ll be judged solely by numbers this fall. Namely, the Bulldogs’ win-loss record — and his individual statistics.
It’s not as if either was terrible last season.
Georgia went 8-5, winning four of its last five games, including triumphs over a then-top-10 Auburn squad at home and an always-tough TCU team in the Liberty Bowl. Eason himself threw for 2,430 yards — fourth-most by a freshman in Georgia history — and 16 touchdowns. He also led game-winning drives on the road versus Missouri and Kentucky, respectively.
But no number has been repeated more often than 55.1.
That was Eason’s completion percentage in 2016. And it’s the area Smart has repeatedly noted Eason must refine the most going forward. For means of comparison, Eason’s completion percentage was better than Matthew Stafford’s 52.7 percent during his freshman campaign in 2006. Still, it was worse than the freshman showings of former Bulldogs signal-callers David Greene (59.3) in 2001 and Aaron Murray (61.1) in 2010.
The one factor that binds Greene, Stafford and Murray together? Each helped the Bulldogs improve their win total in Year 2 as the starter.
Eason aims to do the same, starting Saturday.
“I’ve got a great relationship with all the guys on the team, a lot of chemistry,” Eason said. “The receivers trust me, I trust them. I trust the O-line. I don’t see (anywhere) there’s not the trust, so I’m excited to see where we go with this team and have a great year.”
Ryan Black covers Georgia football for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow him on Twitter @RyanABlack.
