Even with Jake Fromm, Aaron Murray thinks UGA has to find a way to get 5-star QB Justin Field into games
By Kevin Duffey
Published:
Former Georgia QB Aaron Murray knows a little something about what 5-star early enrollee QB Justin Fields will be facing in Athens.
The transition from high school to college is different for every athlete. Some adjust rather quickly on- and off-the-field, while it takes others a year or two to get in a groove and really breakout as a player. The college life and scheduling is completely different than anything Fields has experienced.
Fields is an elite talent, ranked as the nation’s No. 1 dual-threat QB, but even the elite personalities and on-field talents take a bit to adjust to college life. How soon will likely determine how much Fields plays in 2018.
247Sports did a Q&A with Murray dissecting the QB position for the Dawgs, and Murray likes the idea of getting both Jake Fromm and Fields involved together in games.
“That’s why you get paid the big bucks,” Murray said. “That’s why you’re the coordinator and a major SEC school. You figure it out and it’s a good problem to have. You have two very good quarterbacks; two guys with different skill sets and we still need to see what Fields is about. They still need to get him on the field in spring practice and see if he can compete at this level right away. I think the kid has the ability to be a very good quarterback but you just don’t know how long it takes. Some guys it may take a year or two years to get going and feel comfortable. But I think with his unique skill set, you have to find a way to get him in the game. Whether it’s 10 plays a game, 15 plays a game — just not even the fact that he’s a great athlete but the fact that, as a defensive coordinator heading into that game, now you have to spend 20 minutes, 30 minutes of practice every single day working on the Wild Dawg. When does Fields come in? When does Fromm? That’s 30, 40 minutes when you only get 20 hours per week. No you’re cutting into that game plan. I think just to stress defensive coordinators out, I think you have to find a way to continue to put him in, continue the Wild Dawg as well.”
Playing two QBs doesn’t usually work too well, but there have been instances where they certainly have. One that comes to mind is 2006 Florida with QBs Chris Leak and Tim Tebow. The QB duo knew their roles and executed them perfectly, which helped the team win the BCS National Championship. Urban Meyer certainly made the right call in that situation.
Although Jacob Eason is now gone from UGA, Fields could help push Fromm and make him even better. It will be left up to Kirby Smart and Jim Chaney as to whether the duo will both play in games this coming season.
Check out 247Sports full Q&A with Murray here.
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
