No true freshman quarterback has won the SEC championship since the conference adopted divisions in 1992.
That’s changing this year.
At least it should — based on what we saw in Week 1.
Jalen Hurts erased Alabama’s questionable quarterback situation with an exclamation point Saturday, combining for four touchdowns in relief.
What a relief, too.
Sometimes the answers are so obvious the questions don’t even need to be asked. But we’re not wearing the headsets, cashing the big checks, which is why we’ll keep asking.
Here are this week’s pressing quarterback questions (and answers) entering Week 2.
Has the Jalen Hurts era officially begun at Alabama?
Answer: It was obvious in the spring game Hurts was Alabama’s most dynamic option. But Nick Saban is going to do it the way Nick Saban wants it done. It’s impossible to argue with his results, but it’s more than OK to question the route.
The quickest path to Atlanta is with Hurts behind the wheel, where he’ll be for the next three seasons.
The expectation is Hurts will start Saturday against Western Kentucky. Not only did he do enough to win the job, but the Tide also plays Ole Miss the following week. And did you see what a similarly-skilled dual-threat Deondre Francois did to Ole Miss on Monday night?
Has the Jacob Eason era officially begun at Georgia?
Answer: Kirby Smart will decide, but, unofficially, yes.
Eason threw a beautiful 51-yard strike to Isaiah McKenzie, the Bulldogs’ longest completion since 2013. That clearly was the highlight of his college debut. He also took a sack immediately after hitting McKenzie, missed on two other deep balls, twice threw questionable balls into double coverage and forced his coach to burn a timeout when he lost track of the play clock. Ah, kids. If you have them, you understand.
The numbers looked good — screens and jet-sweep pitches helped his totals — and he’s certainly the only deep passing threat Georgia has, but he made enough gradable mistakes that Smart could let this play out another week.
He shouldn’t, even though Greyson Lambert didn’t do anything to lose the job, other than not being Jacob Eason. Lambert was his reliable, predictable, safe self against North Carolina.
There are numerous benefits to starting Eason in the home opener Saturday against Nicholls State. First, the energy he provides will ensure there’s zero chance the Bulldogs get caught looking ahead.
Second, if Eason doesn’t start Saturday, Georgia’s next two games are on the road, at Missouri and at Ole Miss. Neither is an ideal setting for a first start.
Third, Lambert has been around the block. He didn’t pout Saturday and he’ll continue to be there if and when the Dawgs need him. Because Eason doesn’t move particularly well, he’s going to get hit. At some point, the Dawgs might need him.
Are you feeling better or worse about the quality of young SEC quarterbacks this season?
Answer: Much better. We’re seeing something special unfold. Hurts and Eason are NFL prospects. Drew Barker and Kentucky’s offense looked light years better than last year’s version. Drew Lock and Missouri moved the ball, just not quite far enough. Brandon McIlwain showed his athleticism — even though he’ll learn quickly to bring that baseball slide to the football field.
The young kids can play.
Are you feeling better or worse about the quality of veteran SEC quarterbacks this season?
Answer: Chad Kelly is in his own category, even though he can’t keep trying to make every play, every time. But you have to wonder whether Josh Dobbs and Brandon Harris can make a play even some of the time.
I still think both can, but I’m not feeling any better about either.
Dobbs threw a 67-yard TD strike to Josh Malone on a rare deep ball. One-on-one go routes are easier to throw and catch than timing routes, especially with the athletic advantages UT and LSU have on the outside.
Last night in Orlando, Ole Miss bottled up Dalvin Cook. What did Jimbo Fisher do? He turned Cook into Christian Kirk. Screens and short passes, out in space, against linebackers.
Cook had 101 receiving yards and never took a big hit on any of his seven catches.
It’s beyond comprehension why LSU refuses to do the same thing with Leonard Fournette.
You predicted last week that six SEC teams would throw for fewer than 227.2 yards — a mark just five teams averaged in 2015 …
Answer: Five of the six did. Missouri went over, and that was a pleasant surprise. I predicted Tennessee and LSU would top the relatively modest figure, but clearly I misunderstood Tennessee and LSU’s definition of “tweak” and “stretch the field.”
How many top 227.2 this week?
Answer: You don’t give up, do you. Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama will safely clear the bar. Arkansas will have every opportunity to, considering TCU is likely to score 50.
Care to discuss Auburn’s quarterback situation?
Answer: No.
Vander…?
Answer: No.
Chris Wright is Executive Editor at SaturdayDownSouth.com. Email him at cwright@saturdaydownsouth.com.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
