I'm not holding my breath on Kirby Smart making a QB switch ... unless a certain scenario plays out
Saturday felt like it could’ve been a fork-in-the-road game for Stetson Bennett IV.
How would the Georgia quarterback respond coming off the bye week that followed a 3-interception performance in a loss against Alabama? Soar and suddenly it’s “UGA is about to drop the hammer on Florida.” Sink and suddenly it’s “UGA is about to be in trouble against Florida.”
By day’s end, you could argue that it felt more like the latter. Bennett wasn’t particularly good Saturday against Kentucky. He finished 9-for-13 for 131 yards with 2 interceptions. You could argue that 1 of his interceptions was worth 2 with it coming in the red zone in a game in which 17 total points were scored. And in frustratingly familiar fashion, it came on a batted ball against the 5-11 quarterback.
It wasn’t a type of performance that inspired confidence ahead of the Florida game. One could argue that the game plan was vanilla ahead of the showdown in Jacksonville and that Bennett really wasn’t asked to do a whole lot. It was still a 14-point effort after having a week off.
But was it bad enough for Kirby Smart to call an audible? Not exactly.
There was no consideration of changing QBs today, per Kirby Smart, and judging by his tone and answers I’d be very surprised if there was consideration next week.
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) October 31, 2020
Those comments were after Smart spent the week maintaining that Bennett was the guy. And I get it. Making a quarterback switch now ahead of the biggest game of the year doesn’t seem like a move most coaches of a top-5 team would make. Let’s not hold our breath on Smart making that change.
Well, unless of course his team is facing a 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship situation.
I should clarify. I’m referring to Alabama, which of course made the move to bench Jalen Hurts in favor of Tua Tagovailoa at halftime after the Crimson Tide was held scoreless. Bennett isn’t Hurts and D’Wan Mathis/JT Daniels isn’t Tagovailoa. That much we know.
But if Georgia finds itself in a similar position against Florida — down multiple scores at halftime in an all-or-nothing game — then we have to see Smart finally pull the trigger. At least he better.
That’s coming from someone who did a 180 on Bennett being worthy of playing time. The Mailman was the best option for Georgia at quarterback. That was back when there wasn’t film on him. Things as simple as defensive linemen making sure to always have a hand up now seem to be part of every scouting report for Bennett. We’ve seen Bennett get confused with certain coverages, and he hasn’t always been on the same page as his receivers.
Speaking of that, yes, I know George Pickens’ absence shouldn’t be overlooked. While his 2020 has been a disappointment so far, he still changes the way teams defend the UGA offense. I’m not convinced his presence will suddenly open up the passing game. It probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference on a day when Todd Monken was clearly content to run the ball (UGA didn’t have a single pass on the opening drive).
Clearly, though, Smart isn’t enthused by the options behind Bennett. The quick yank of Mathis in the opener was telling. Perhaps Arkansas’ defense looking much better than expected should change how we view that performance.
As for Daniels, well, it remains a head-scratcher. He was dressed and warming up on Saturday, but Smart told the SEC Network crew that the USC transfer would remain 3rd string. The guy who was expected to compete with Jamie Newman (remember him?) for the starting job hasn’t been called upon yet. How healthy has he been? That depends who you ask.
Speaking of health, that’s another reason why Smart needs to be ready to make a shift against Florida. That lights out Georgia defense might not have allowed a touchdown on Saturday, but it didn’t get out of Lexington unscathed. Jordan Davis was in a sling and Julian Rochester went down, as did Tyrique Stevenson and Quay Walker. Oh, and DJ Daniel didn’t play while Monty Rice played through a nagging ankle injury.
This isn’t ideal heading into the biggest game of the season:
Lewis Cine
Jordan Davis
Julian Rochester
George Pickens
Ben Cleveland
Kenny McIntosh#UGA down six starters for this game. Monty Rice limited but playing.Will need all of them next week.
— Radi Nabulsi (@RadiNabulsi) October 31, 2020
In other words, Smart can’t bank on that defense pitching a shutout against that Florida defense. Next Saturday won’t be a game in which UGA will go up 14-3 and put it on cruise control offensively. Nope. Not against that Florida offense.
Here’s the other thing. What’s the best game plan to beat Florida, who has a secondary that was without 3 starting defensive backs on Saturday? Stretch the field.
What has Georgia struggled to do with Bennett at quarterback? Stretch the field. Georgia had 2 passing plays longer than 20 yards in the air on Saturday. One was to a wide open James Cook out of the backfield, and the other was a floater down the right sideline to freshman tight end Darnell Washington. Not a single UGA wide receiver had a catch of more than 11 yards. The previous game against Alabama, a 36-yard catch by Jermaine Burton was the only catch from a Georgia receiver that went for more than 20 yards.
If that trend continues, one would think Smart would have to turn to the big-armed Mathis, or the experienced Daniels. Forget about what it means for the quarterback situation moving forward. Who cares? Win a football game, and be willing to adjust based on the matchup.
It seems like a simple concept. Lord knows Smart hasn’t exactly mastered the whole “play the right quarterback” thing. Some would argue his continued confidence in Bennett is more proof of that.
A pivotal decision awaits Smart against Florida. It’s different than the one he made in 2018 when Jake Fromm’s emergence late in the first half against the Gators appeared to close the biggest opening in the Justin Fields window. That day, Smart’s confidence in Fromm paid off. How that decision impacted UGA in the games and season that followed, well, that’s a different story.
Smart has to keep an open mind against Florida. If not, it could be the thing that prevents Georgia from winning its 4th consecutive SEC East crown.
Now, the real fork in the road awaits.
I can’t believe we are still talking about Mathis. I have seen all I ever want to see of Mathis. Bennett was ok, 9 of 13 is good. Kentucky leads the nation in interceptions, and 2 is not real good. Receivers need to finish their routes, we need to win TOP, and somebody please fix these bad snaps.
You must not understand much about how a D1 QB should operate. His numbers and constant limitations are embarrassing if he played for any team playing this Saturday within the Big 5. That said, if JT is healthy he needs to get out of Georgia ASAP. Whispers from the past years are slowly becoming fact.
He ran for a TD, and a first down. He was 9 of 13. Take away the 2 INT’s and we aren’t even discussing this.
That’s funny.
Take away the 2 int’s? Can you arrange that Bill? What about the 3 he threw against Bama. That’s 5 in 2 games. It’s a good thing we have a good defense or we would have lost today. With all due respect to Stetson we’ve got to have a QB that can perform better than this. Geez.
Kirbyball has you thinking throwing 13 times is normal and good.
I agree Grad417. While we’re “taking away” the 2 INT’s, let’s just add 2 TD’s! The fact is that Stetson is simply limited by his abilities. You have other QB’s on the roster that have more “ability”, thus the higher recruiting rating. Kirby hasn’t given Mathis a fair shake at all so everyone here can’t be surprised when he and Beck leave in two months and then we’ll get to see him prosper somewhere else. I agree with the author, how does Daniels go from taking first team reps in the pre-season while competing for the starting job to buried on the depth chart? Eason transferred. Fields transferred. Newman opted out. One of the QB’s Mathis, Beck, or Daniels (or maybe all of them) will transfer here soon. See the pattern? I’m already sick of Kirby. Completely of sick of him. He has all of Sabans’ attitude and arrogance with NONE of his success and he’s wasted rosters full of blue chip athletes. That’s just my opinion and I’m entitled to it.
I see a QB that has won us 4 games. The way our defense played against Alabama it wouldn’t matter who was QB.You don’t give up 600 yards of offense and win. You people clamoring for Mathis are unreal. We have already seen both play, and Stetson is clearly much better!
RealUSC, are you out looking for college football?
Sorry, not sure what you mean? I’m devoting CFB daily. I just have some interest in JT and SEC now that he’s a Bulldog. Plus, they’re the only league I follow outside of USC football.
Not switching QBs is the most Mark Richt thing ever.
Mark Richt was 10-5 against the Orange Prisoners.
With all due respect, most teams are 10-5 or better against garbage men U.
With all due respect, one of the winningest teams in college football history.
Maybe Kirby Smart is Mark Richt II. *To be perfectly honest…that is not a bad thing. But in Power 5 programs today(with the mega salarie$) all fans want a National Championship NOW not later.
That’s the issue. Some teams come so close every year but it’s truly the small things that put them over. Saban is all about the details. Coach O is showing why USC had no interest in signing him– he’s a great guy but he loses the plot quickly. I wish him the best and glad he bottled up a historic season because it’s likely the only thing he’ll do.
Does anyone else think Jordan Rodgers sounds exactly like Greg McElroy? It’s really annoying to me for some reason.
He sounds like a poor man’s McElroy similar to their playing days. His voice is identical but his analysis is much more shallow.
Smart pulling the muschump, refusing to make a change at qb.
I agree 100% with with everything Island Dawg said. Ive been sick of Smart for awhile. He will never brind a national title to UGA. All the talent in the world but still but nothing to show for it. He is clueless when it comes to being a head coach. He is being extremely stubborn when it comes to replacing Bennett. I wish UGA would please do us a favor and cut ties with him. Another year without beating a good football team. Georgia will play 2 good teams this year and lose to both of them. And next year will be the same thing.
Smart’s clueless when it comes to being a headcoach? What?
It’s looking more and more like it, yes.
2017 is a long time ago, and Chubb and Michel aren’t walking through that door anymore to bail Kirby out.
2020 looks a lot like 2018…sticking with the clearly regressing veteran when there is a player with higher upside potential behind them simply because the vet has somehow earned it. Before anyone says hindsight is 20/20…. while everyone talks about Saban’s gutsy national championship call, Dabo did the same thing, kicking Kelly Bryant to the curb (a QB who led them to the playoffs the year prior) for Trevor Lawrence. That result led them to a championship the year after Saban benched Hurts for Tua. So it’s not exactly uncommon for championship caliber coaches to make these decisions.
Head Coaching is about hard choices, constant competition, not settling, having a vision. Other than ill advised fakes, Coach Smart has not shown the ability to make any hard decisions or shown a desire for deep introspection into the issues that plague his teams. Lack of imagination, poor play calling or design, and, not least, a QB who often compounds the issues with lack of ability to stretch the field have been hallmarks of the Kirby era.
I’m not calling for him to be fired yet, there is still time for him to improve, but Georgia leadership needs to make it clear the issues need to be remedied before UGA falls any further behind.
Need I remind anyone, SEC and ACC Rivals have won 18 of the 39 titles since 1980.
Florida 1996, 2006, 2008
Tennessee 1998
Alabama 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017
Auburn 2010
LSU 2003, 2007, 2019
Clemson 1981, 2016, 2018
Georgia Tech 1990
Yes, we should always question our coaching staff and their ability to take Georgia to the next level, because until we win a title more than once every 38 to 40 years, that is about all we can do.
Couldn’t have said it any better rxmaster. It’s bad enough I have to live with the Falcons, Hawks, and Braves constantly breaking my heart
Kirby is a good DC who can get kids to not leave their home state. That’s sort of it.
Is it really Kirby’s fault that the kid from Wake is a quitter and didn’t want to compete? Bennet might be their best option right now.
Waterless
I never understood the hype over Newman. Go back to last year and look at his stats game by game. He shredded the Elons and Rices of the world and disappeared against better teams. Newman would have been surrounded by better players at UGA but the competition would have been better as well.
Big guy, strong arm, can run. A lot of guys like that are holding clipboards on the sidelines.
I wasn’t sold – was taking more of a wait and see attitude. That being said, I’d take him over Bennett.
Daniels was only medically cleared after the Arkansas game. Are people not aware of this? And would the two UGA fans freaking out over poor QB play care to opine on exactly who they would realistically hire this off-season? Championship winning coaches grow on tree, right?
I’m not saying fire smart by any means and I think he can win a natty, but that logic is also why Richt stayed a little too long and why Gus malzahn sticks around at Auburn. Also the same logic that keeps Stetson Bennett at qb.
Championship coaches don’t grow on trees? Is Ed O a Championship coach? Heck no but…..Yes he is. He let his coordinators coach and he has one more ring than CKS! Look at the top five teams with the highest “Blue Chip ratio” over the last six years. Alabama (15,17), Clemson(16,18), LSU (19), and Ohio State (2014), and Georgia (0). Time to stop making excuses and admit what we are. Rick is right, every time we play one of these aforementioned teams (Alabama three times, and LSU twice) we got our a**es handed to is and it’s always by being completely out coached. Completely. There’s no one on this site that’s a bigger Dawg fan but you just have to be honest about it and stop making BS excuses. We are what we are.
“We are what we are”. Couldn’t have said it better myself….
Admittedly you both raise very good points. And Islands, most of what you said I agree with. This season was always essentially going to be a wash, though, due to covid, irregular schedule, new oc, and new qb. I personally think by either 2021 or 2022 we’ll know for sure about CKS. For the number of coaches who were allowed to stay too long at a program, there’s an equal number of programs driven into the ground by a series of poor coaching hires.
I appreciate your take on it but I respectfully disagree when it comes to excuses and accomplishing the “mission” despite the variables that this season brings. As they taught us in the military, Kirby is directly responsible for everything that does, or does not happen under your command. No excuses and Kirby hasn’t had to deal with anything that other coaches haven’t had to. I don’t want you to think I’m like some of these keyboard hotheads on here booster, but I’m just exhausted with 40 years of making excuses. Saban and Spurrier have both said in the past that the UGA job is the most conducive one in the SEC to winning Championships. They should know, they’ve actually won them.
Rx and Island, you two have gone full chicken little. Granted, rxmaster tends to only show up and post when he’s looking to make other Dog fans as negative as she is. But, IslandDawg I usually find your observations level headed. Relax. It’s frustrating that Kirby isn’t already one of a half dozen or so coaches to win a natty in your adult lives. Let us know when you line up Saban or Sweeney to replace Smart. Until then, enjoy winning football at UGA.
Next week will tell if defense can still win championships in the sec.
That’s a nice platitude, but next week is about our offense and not our defense.
We already know our defense when healthy can handle y’all 60 minutes* even with a somewhat imploding offense, see last year for example #1. (*not much more than that. If the game was 10 minutes longer, y’all would have won.)
But if we cannot move the ball at all, our defense cannot win the game themselves and the game will get out of hand, see SEC title game 2019, UGA vs Alabama 2020.
Defenses still win championships, but only if they have a pulse on offense to keep them off the field more than 3 downs and a punt.
No next week will likely be a beat down and Florida resume its place atop the sec east. And Georgia resume its likely spot of saying wait until next year. Except next year will be more of the same .
I’d hate to think Florida is the ultimate test of that theory. What I’m thinking is it would be best if the Gators decided to show up with their Mizzou effort on the defensive side of the ball. You know, just in case.
UGA sucks, that is all.
Not sure what that’s about but whatever. Don’t forget where bama was before Saban got there.
We had the most national titles in the nation and the most SEC titles in the conference. Try again.
They were plenty dusty. Teams didn’t look at early 2000s Bama and say, now there’s a great program. They said, wow Bama has fallen far. It’s certainly been turned around and I have no room to cast stones as a UGA fan, but let’s not pretend Bama was revered in that era pre-Saban.
Bama fans are just as arrogant as their head coach.
UGA is just as arrogant as Bama fans just with nothing to show for it
Bama fans have earned the right to be arrogant since, ya know, we’re the gold standard in the sport.
Ben7254 is absolutely correct. UGA fans might be more arrogant and they have literally nothing to back it up.
Correct at least Bama fans have a right to be arrogant. I mean how many NC has Bama won since 1980
There is no “right” to be arrogant. It just means you’re an a$$hole.
Like Saban. A complete d!ck.
Our whole team might as well have COVID because of all the dad burn injuries we sustained today!
You may be onto something. If there’s a “covid breakout” this week what are the odds that’s it’s fake to give time for the players to heal?
The time to pull the trigger was 2 weeks ago. After the Bama game it was time to look in the mirror and say, who has the highest ceiling, and give that guy 2 weeks to get ready. Time to be safe was done when being safe meant you lost by 3 scored to Bama. I’d rather lose being risky than lose playing to eek out a win. It’s too late now though. UGA will do its darndest to win by 3 points against Florida and nothing more. They will play to get 4 yards and not 40 yards. Teams will play 9 in the box like they did last year. With the defense in poor heath you can’t depend on wining games 14-10 anymore. UGA is gonna need 35 minimum and they had 2 weeks to prepare for that and today to put in into practice and work out kinks. They didn’t.
We’ve got a QB you can have… want Guarantano?
Nothing to worry about. I have it on good authority that Kirby is going to pull the surprise of the century and start Faton Bauta next week in Jacksonville
Bahahaha! That was funny…..in a sad but true way
Players come to Athens to win SEC East Division Championships…not National Championships.
This is the same Kirby Smart that let Justin Fields walk and kept Jake from State Farm.
Watching an underwhelming slugfest like the UK-UGA game yesterday was like being abandoned in the desert without a water bottle. I thristed for something to happen from the UGA coaching staff, yet no relief was in store. I am left with an ’emotional’ fear when watching Bennett perform. They say he is “confident,” yet his actions belie that. I think it is high time that they give JT Daniels a chance to make his mark. If they don’t and UGA loses to Florida it may be more than JT leaving the program at the end of the year. The fans may run Smart right out of town on a one-way ticket.
Can Georgia beat Alabama with this QB? No. End of story