Paul Finebaum explains why Kirby Smart is stuck in a quarterback quandary
The Georgia quarterback situation is one of the most difficult positions to explain in the SEC. It also doesn’t help coach Kirby Smart that Ohio State QB Justin Fields is having a sensational season so far.
Coming off a loss to Florida where the Bulldogs played Stetson Bennett and D’Wan Mathis, the Bulldogs are looking for answers, but Southern Cal transfer JT Daniels is not evidently in the mix.
During his regular appearance on “The Roundtable” on WJOX in Birmingham, Alabama, SEC Network host Paul Finebaum tried to offer some insight.
“Can we go back to that day in August when Jamie Newman opted out, can we all just line up the Georgia beat guys from our two shows had on, and they all sang from the same hymnal, he just got beat out,” Finebaum said. “By whom is the question I have.”
Unfortunately for Georgia, Finebaum agreed with the characterization that this season is over since the Bulldogs likely can’t win the SEC East now.
“It is and I agree with you. I’ve always been a huge fan of his, but there’s some justification for it,” Finebaum said. “He’s going to have a difficult time with the headwind of Justin Fields going against him. Sometimes it doesn’t matter what really happened, all that matters is where we are today, and where we are today is Justin Fields is possibly the best quarterback in the country and seemingly leading Ohio State to the playoffs. Kirby Smart is waiting for another New Year’s Day bowl invitation that his fans and his team will not care about and it’s a really tough spot to be in. He doesn’t really have an answer for Justin Fields because he opted for Jake Fromm, who was a really good quarterback and a three-year starter, and probably regrets that he wasn’t a four-year starter.”
No one including Finebaum needs to explain anything to us. A ten year old can see whats going on at Georgia, playing offense like its 1999. What we need info on is…what’s the deal with JT Daniels. Is he is or is he ain’t. If he is, why is he not playing. If he ain’t, then just fess up about his talent level.
If I’m not mistaken, Daniels had a limp walking on the sidelines Saturday. I think he’s medically not there yet.
Yeah, I think he’s just not recovered from his injury, and I’m not completely sure why Kirby doesn’t just say this out loud and not have him dress for games. After seeing Mathis I refuse to believe that guy has beat out anybody for any depth chart position.
JT Daniels(if he fully recovers) will be the starting QB in 2021…no point in risking an injury this year.
I really don’t think Daniels is the guy next year. Kirby needs to bet the farm and hold on to Vandagriff in the 2021 class and start the kid right outta the box. Pull a Dabo and put all the chips in on a blue chip. We CANNOT afford to have him leave too.
Rumor is that he was Medically Cleared by team but Personal Doctor has not. Don’t know what the future holds for him as its not well over a year since the injury. Knee injuries are weird. Hoping the best for him but I do not see him playing this year.
Now well over a year*
In 1999 UGA had Quincy Carter at QB and scored plenty. It was the defense – or rather the defensive coaching as the talent was there – that was the problem. Remember UGA losing to Georgia Tech 51-48? Yeah, combining that team’s offense with this team’s defense makes the playoff easily.
If Finebaum feels GA’s season is over then I hope GA feels like their season is over and plays like it next Saturday. A win over Geor “the season is over” gia would still be fun and set up the second half of the schedule for Mizzou quite nicely.
As long as it doesn’t end up being one of the 9-6 games again. I can’t handle that.
Off the current subject, but how is the receiver that looked as though he broke his ankle on the TD catch?
The University of Georgia – where 5-stars turn into 2-stars or go to jail…
That 5 star QB of yours definitely looked like a 2 star against UGA. Even if you think UGA is sending players to jail, it’s Auburn making the conjugal visits, begging for them to come be war tigers.
The OL looked like 2 stars against UGA* fixed it for you.
We give them second chances and turn them into athletes. That’s a bad thing?
Nice logo aubie. Whos it for?
After watching this game I am beyond frustrated with where we are at QB. Frankly I am over the Justin Fields talk, yes he is great and glad he is doing well and we can dream all day about how he would be at UGA, but during that 2018 Season, Jake Fromm did nothing to lose the job. Had Fields stayed I definitely think he would have taken the job from Fromm in 2019 but that is neither here nor there. What frustrates me the most is the fanbase hating on Jake so much and Kirby not “recruiting” him to stay for his senior season, both of which I believe to be contributing factors to his decision to leave. Jake is not a world beater QB and isn’t going to have godly numbers, but he is going to complete more than 5 passes in a game, he is smarter with his decisions and is more accurate short range than Bennett and Mathis. We saw what could have been a 4th year of Fromm in the Sugar Bowl. That to me is the biggest downfall because now it forced Kirby to play the transfer market in a year where there wasn’t any serious talent there. The result was no QB on the roster with any SEC experience and the only QB on roster with any solid chemistry with the team was Bennett.
Bennett’s ceiling has been hit and now I feel as though his confidence is fading, Mathis looks confused and clearly has no connection with his receivers as his throws were sometimes 10-15 yards away from them. JT is not going to play this year. His leg is not ready. So what to do from here, I don’t know what Kirby will do but I would like to see Beck. I am not sure if the redshirt rules are still the same but there are 4 games left. Lets see what he can do, get him some live reps because if we do not, there might not be a QB on the roster leading into next season with SEC experience. I think Vandergriff will end up winning the starting job but I would like there to be a competent QB on roster with experience that either could be the starter next year to let Vandergriff develop or serve as a backup that can come in and not crap the bed.
Also hats off the Florida. They played a great game. Offense was firing on all cylinders. Defense made stops when they needed it. I suspected this would happen given our offensive play but I give credit where it is due.
Agree. For 2020, put Beck in and see what happens. Heck, that’s what we’ve done with Stetson and Mathis. I do feel bad for Mathis after all he’s been through, but the kid just doesn’t have it. I really think all chips need to be in to finish out ’20 and bet on Vandagriff for ’21.
100%. We have seen what Setson can do. Its enough to beat the average SEC team. Mathis is lost and just seems to be showing off how far and fast he can throw it. Daniels is still hurt IMO. Beck needs to be given a shot because if not, he will transfer and who knows Mathis might too. That would leave us with Gimpy and a True Freshman.
Don’t understand why Beck seems to be an afterthought for Kirby. He can’t be any worse than Mathis
@TheRealcojones if I had to speculate it probably had to do with COVID canceling spring ball and him being behind schematically. I think he has the physical talent but might not have a strong enough grasp of the playbook or scheme. It’s one thing to miss throws because you have slight inaccuracies it’s another to miss throws or reads because you don’t know the scheme or playbook. I’m hoping that heading into game 7 he has enough under his belt to be given a shot.
D’Eriq King was in the portal and is playing very well at Miami. Newman and Daniels got way more hype and praise than King for whatever it’s worth
Very true but I was more just commenting on the fact it wasn’t like years past when the transfer market included the likes of: Justin Fields, Jalen Hurts, Kelly Bryant, etc.
keep in mind that JT is at uga because he was going to be a backup at USC this year. He’s not the guy.