CFB columnist's tweet about Jake Fromm, Justin Fields reignites debate
Ohio State QB Justin Fields had another big night in a dismantling of Nebraska on Saturday night, throwing for 212 yards and 3 touchdowns and adding 72 yards and a score as a runner.
Naturally, every time Fields puts up numbers like that, some people are going to wonder if Georgia made a mistake choosing Jake Fromm over Fields.
On Saturday night, it was USA TODAY columnist Dan Wolken who reignited that debate with the below tweet:
I’m kind of surprised we aren’t talking more about the fact that Ohio State has a better quarterback than Georgia, given that Ohio State’s quarterback was at Georgia last year.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) September 29, 2019
Naturally, that tweet from Wolken stirred up quite a bit of controversy in his mentions. Here are some of the replies he got to that tweet:
If he was better he would have gotten the start while at Georgia. Ohio state is good bit they haven't played anyone with a pulse yet. Let's see what happens against an elite defense.
— The DropOuts Podcast (@PodcastDropouts) September 29, 2019
Why is he better? Because he runs and does the stuff you find obvious? Fromm does so many things at the LOS of scrimmage that gets UGA into the best play possible and makes them deadly on offense
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) September 29, 2019
Based on what? Don’t get me wrong, Fields has looked great, but think it’s a little premature. Let’s see how Fields does when he’s under pressure all game. He may do great, but he is untested. From is a proven winner. That we know.
— Matt Benson (@jasperdawgfan) September 29, 2019
And he couldn't beat out UGAs qb…. That should say something
— Greg Detweiler (@greg_det11) September 29, 2019
This is a clown take. UGA runs a different system than OSU and it's my opinion that the spread that OSU runs was always going to be a better fit for fields. UGA needs more of a pro-style pocket passer.
— Resurgens (@ResYrgens) September 29, 2019
It’s tough to judge Fromm and Fields side-by-side because they’re very different quarterbacks. We could just be happy for both players that they’re in systems that seem to utilize their talents very well.
The problem with Fields last year, and it continues this year, is if his first read isn’t there he looks to run. So far, his first read has been wide open. That generally doesn’t happen in the SEC. Fields is running the same offense he did in high school, Georgia runs a pro-style. Tua looked great last year until Georgia beat him up and Clemson finished him. Fields will be great when he can actually sit in the pocket against an elite defense, not get happy feet, go through his progressions, and make the throw consistently
Last year? Fields didn’t even get a real opportunity to show what he can do last year. UGA is going to have to become more flexible/adaptable in their approach on offense. Bama has done this to accommodate certain QBs and it’s helped them evolve. Kirby is running the team the way Saban did in 2012 and that’s just not gonna cut it in all situations today (which is why Bama has evolved). And it’ll make the program unattractive to future stud QBs. Fromm is a very capable QB but Kirby is keeping the reigns tight on him unnecessarily.
I beg to differ he got more playing time than any backup i can remember watching and still huffed and puffed back to the bench and complained to teammates… which is on video btw.
The way they used him last year was ridiculous. He would come in on second down, run the ball up the gut, then Fromm would trot back out. Just uncreative and odd.
Actually by definition it was creative but indeed odd. But any freshmam backup quarterback would be happy with the playing time he received unless he just expected to be the starter. Which he obviously did.
Literally every time Fields came in it was for one play and it was a run play every time.
Literally is a word you dont understand i think.
912Don, so you’re trying to claim that Fields has an almost 70% completion rate with 1092 yards and 16 TDs with 0 ints and a 194.4 Qb rating by hitting his first read every time? Interesting take. Kind’ve hard to claim happy feet with those passing numbers too. The fan making the claim that people think he’s better cause he runs is also ridiculous. The guy is ranked #41 in the country in passing, which happens to be 51 spots higher than pocket passer Fromm. I think the better thing for Dawg fans to do is just accept the fact the Fields is proving to be a better overall QB and accept the fact that most of Fromm’s game revolves around handing it off and occasionally making an accurate throw when needed. Fromm is a game manager and isn’t carrying his team with his arm plain and simple. Fields has accounted for a total of 1314 yards and 22 Tds with 0 Ints, Fromm has a total of 800 yards 6 Tds and 0 ints. It should be obvious to everyone who the better QB is no matter what color glasses you’re wearing.
Fromm is a better qb for UGA than Fields is right now.
That being said, sooner or later Kirby and his coordinators will need to build their offense around the skillset of their best players, and not force talent to comply with an old-school system that isn’t very innovative.
Also, I watched a few minutes of the OSU game, and Fields had a very bad series near the goal line where he was jittery in the pocket for all the plays, tucked the ball too soon, and took a bad sack on 3rd down.
He also had a beautiful throw earlier, but to a wide open man.
He’s not forcing talent to comply with an old school system. He is recruiting talent that fits his system, just like everyone else. Our offense is built around the skillet of our best players, offensive line, rb, and qb. There is not really much innovation in football anymore, it’s about taking concepts in different packages. Also, most teams are spread now, the defenses are not used to smack you in the mouth games like they used to be. Running the style is an asset not a liability.
As a fan watching it on TV, it feels like our offensive abilities are very limited if we can’t physically overwhelm the opponent, despite our having multiple playmakers. For instance, James Cook touched the ball twice in the Notre Dame game despite there being an obvious need for some explosive plays in space to get the Irish out of the box.
They’re very different QBs, but while Fromm has the obvious experience edge, I’d say they’re around the same talent level, and Fields probably has more upside. We all know UGA is built behind their RBs and D, so Fromm is excellent at making the right reads, avoiding mistakes, and making just enough big plays. However, I think Fields can put up similar numbers to Haskins for the Buckeyes, and I doubt Fromm could carry an offense like that. So for UGAs offense, maybe Fromm was the better pick, but that doesn’t make him the more talented QB. In other news, I’m surprised Eason’s name doesn’t show up in this debate more. He’s a step behind them rn, but he has legit talent and could be a great NFL qb if he puts it all together at Washington.
I agree Eason would have been more of a threat to Fromm in our system. No one is doubting Fields’s talent. It’s off the chart. But we run a pro style offense and Fromm just understands it and runs it more efficently. I honestly never understood why Fields comitted to UGA in the first place.
don’t forget the $10 you owe me
Fromm has started in many big ball games. Fields, none. Any comparison is unfair to both at this point.
@Kirby……there were dozens of times last year where Fields could have contributed. Coach Smart failed to utilize his talent. Even Richt found a way for Shockley to contribute even with David Greene as main guy. UGA blew it with him and it may cost us.
Fromm won the competitions. He beat them out fair and square. They left. They all wanted to be here. Jake won. Whatever they do is fine but Fromm beat them out.
The fact that you actually believe anyone was given a fair chance to start after Fromm, well actually I should say, Chubb and Michel and a great defense led them to the title game, is hilarious. Smart instantly became enamored with Fromm and had blinders on to everyone else.
LOL you’re just bitter bc Fromm ownes the Gators.
What’s “hilarious” is you thinking you know what goes on at UGA practices.
UGADAWG78 you know its funny that you think its hilarious that you say he thinks he knows whats going on at UGA practices when you literally just made the same statement. I am a huge UGA fan and dont think fields was given at chance especially at the LSU game.
How did I say the same thing? Kirby said practice decides who starts. Fromm started. It’s not difficult to understand.
You can’t really compare them as apples to apples. Fields looks better in that system. UGA wasn’t going to change their entire offensive philosophy for one player. I’m glad he’s doing well but Fromm runs our offense better. Fromm is never going to have the numbers that Tua, Fields or Hurts get because we don’t ask him to throw 40 times a game. Regardless of what the numbers Fromm is our guy. And I’m totally fine with it. Go Dawgs