First and 10: Georgia can't win the SEC with Stetson Bennett. What now?
1. I don’t want to get on a soapbox, but …
He was a fun, walk-on-to-riches quarterback story while wading around the kiddie pool. Then he was thrown in the deep end, and reality arrived.
Georgia can’t win the SEC with Stetson Bennett.
“My goodness, that was ugly,” an SEC defensive coordinator told me Sunday. “There’s only so much he can do. Once Alabama figured it out, the game got out of hand.”
Now Georgia is staring at wasting a rare, championship defense because it can’t get consistent production from the most important position on the field.
“He’s a work in progress, just like our team is,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said of Bennett, his former walk-on quarterback who inherited the starting job after a convergence of events left the Bulldogs with no choice.
Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman opted out in the middle of fall camp. USC transfer JT Daniels still is recovering from knee surgery in September 2019, and had a setback a few months later. Redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis began the season as the starter, but the moment was too big for him. That left Stetson Bennett, the guy who began fall camp 4th on the depth chart.
By the end of the Alabama game, it was clear why he had no hope of playing time had a series of unforeseen events led to it.
If every game were against Arkansas or dysfunctional Auburn or one-dimensional Tennessee, Bennett is your quarterback and the objective is game management. Just don’t screw up.
But the heavy lifting still to come on the Georgia schedule looks more formidable after Alabama exposed Bennett for his (take your pick) inability to drive intermediate and deep throws, short stature (balls knocked down at the line of scrimmage) and penchant to freelance and take chances when he should play for another down.
Alabama sat on short routes and forced Bennett to make difficult, accurate intermediate and deep throws with average arm strength. The Tide defensive line jumped and raised arms to block passing lanes. They got enough of a push up front that Bennett left the pocket to extend plays, and wasn’t nearly as accurate on the run.
Prior to the Alabama game, Bennett completed 63% of his passes, with 5 TDs and 0 INT. Against Alabama, he completed 45% with 2 TDs and 3 INTs.
“He was reckless out there in the second half,” one NFL scout told me. “If I’m a coach, I can deal with a lot of things from my quarterback. Last on that list is reckless with the ball.”
So after a week off, here comes Kentucky and its underrated defense. Florida and its point a minute offense are on the horizon, too. Even South Carolina, which beat Georgia last season, is a tough out when your quarterback is playing recklessly with the ball.
And we haven’t even mentioned another potential date with Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. The Tide – which doesn’t exactly have the most intimidating defense (see: Ole Miss) – gave the rest of the SEC the game plan to Bennett and the Georgia offense.
The big question: How does Georgia adjust?
It begins with giving Mathis another opportunity. If Mathis was good enough to win the job in fall camp, he’s certainly worthy of another chance to lead the offense after getting benched because of one poor half in the season opener against Arkansas (which clearly has a much better defense than anyone expected).
Mathis gives the offense the size (6-6, 205) and arm strength to do things in the passing game that Bennett cannot (stretch the defense with intermediate and deep throws), and forces defenses to account for his ability to run the ball. While he won’t get throws knocked down at the line of scrimmage, the tradeoff for all of those positives is the one glaring negative: next to no experience as a starter.
Then there’s USC transfer JT Daniels, the former 5-star recruit who still isn’t completely healthy from an ACL injury in September 2019. Although he has been medically cleared to play and is the most physically gifted of all the quarterbacks, he has missed significant practice repetitions and his knowledge of new offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s offense isn’t at the same level as Bennett and Mathis.
After the 17-point loss last weekend to Alabama, Smart made it clear Georgia was moving forward with Bennett, saying, “When the level of competition changes, you don’t change your evaluation. You have to grow and get better.”
That comment shocked one SEC coach I spoke to Sunday: “We’ve always believed that all things being equal, we have to do a better job coaching our guys. But watching that game, all things were not equal. You change your evaluation when you can’t compete to the level of competition change.”
When asked why Smart would make such a statement, the SEC coach said, “My guess is the guys behind (Bennett) haven’t shown anything in practice to make a change. In that case, you want to make sure (Bennett) knows he has your full confidence.”
That leaves Georgia back where it was at the end of the Alabama game, a team with an elite defense and running game trying to figure out a way to be proficient in the passing game. The Bulldogs have 3 weeks before a game with rival Florida, which has the skill on offense to press the Georgia defense.
Georgia held on defensively as long as it could against Alabama, before Bennett’s mistakes (again, against what looks like an average Alabama defense) gave the Tide offense short fields to score. Give Florida short fields to score, and the results will be similar.
And Georgia won’t get a second chance at Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
2. The definition of bad
Georgia isn’t the only SEC team with seasons of hope suddenly stalled by unexpected problems at quarterback.
At one point during Saturday’s noon games, Bo Nix and Jarrett Guarantano were battling to see who could make worse decisions at Auburn and Tennessee, respectively. It was a horrific draw.
And by draw, I mean heaven help Auburn and Tennessee moving forward. Nix was fighting with teammates on the sideline, and Guarantano was benched for a series while his backup (J.T. Shrout) threw an interception on his only throw – after Guarantano threw back-to-back pick-6s.
How did we get here, you ask? Player management (and development) is always at the head of the line, but there are numerous reasons two of the SEC’s most promising teams can’t get out of their own way.
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn made the decision last year to start Nix, a true freshman, over Joey Gatewood, a redshirt freshman who seemingly fit his system better and had more experience in the offense. Gatewood left late in the season (he’s now at Kentucky), giving Auburn with no realistic threat behind Nix.
If senior Grant Loy, a transfer from Bowling Green and Nix’s backup, is playing SEC minutes, the Tigers are in deep trouble.
“Progressed? He has regressed from last year,” an NFL scout told me. “It looks like he has the weight of a program on his shoulders, and he’s trying to win the game every play. His mechanics are terrible. I’ve never seen a guy throw across his body more than (Nix). Everything is ‘make a play’ and off schedule. He’s constantly escaping and not finishing progressions. The protection is spotty, and he’s jumpy and he doesn’t trust anything.”
Meanwhile, there is the curious case of Guarantano: 6 turnovers (3 INTs, 3 fumbles) in the past 2 games, and Tennessee now has begun an SEC losing streak (2 games) after winning 6 straight in league play dating to 2019.
Guarantano was never an elite quarterback in the league, but he had become a solid game manager through Tennessee’s 8-game winning streak. His issues are similar to Nix’s: Tennessee doesn’t have anything behind him (yet) to push him to get better.
Brian Maurer, who played well in spots last season, missed extended time in fall camp dealing with an injury and COVID and hasn’t played a snap. That left Shrout, whose only throw this season was intercepted, and 4-star freshman Harrison Bailey, the future at the position.
Because of the offseason restrictions, Bailey’s development isn’t what it should be. He threw his first 4 passes of the season in mop-up during the Kentucky loss.
Translation: Auburn and Tennessee are sticking with Nix and Guarantano – at least for the immediate future.
3. The most important position, The Epilogue
It could be worse for Georgia, Auburn and Tennessee. It could be what Mike Leach is dealing with at Mississippi State.
After KJ Costello set SEC records in his first game as a starter for MSU, he has 1 TD and 8 INTs in his last 3 games. He threw for 99 yards in last weekend’s loss to Texas A&M, before getting pulled for Will Rogers after his fumble was returned for a defensive touchdown.
Rogers signed with MSU last December when Joe Moorhead was still coach and stayed after Moorhead’s firing and Leach’s hiring. He was smart and wasn’t careless with the ball against the Aggies, and will compete with Costello moving forward.
A month into this strangest of seasons, this is where we are in the SEC at the quarterback position:
- The Heisman Trophy contenders (Mac Jones, Kyle Trask)
- Big numbers on losing teams (Matt Corral, Myles Brennan)
- Everyone else.
4. Fear of the unknown
By the end of the season, Florida will look back at game week for Texas A&M as the moment everything changed for a team with huge expectations in 2020.
The team that coach Dan Mullen believed could win every game this season will either get mentally stronger after the SEC’s first significant case of COVID spread or buckle under the weight of it.
Florida officials said a few players felt symptomatic the Friday before the Texas A&M game in College Station but failed to notify team officials. Within 2 days, the spread was moving and eventually led to more than 20 positive tests for players and team personnel – including Mullen.
“This is the biggest issue we all face – the human condition,” says South Carolina coach Will Muschamp. “Guys have to take care of themselves, follow protocols, stay away from potential problems and then report if you have symptoms. You’re dealing with young guys in the best shape of their lives, and they’re not thinking anything of a fever or a runny nose.”
Or as another SEC coach told me: “You think that was bad at Florida? Wait and see what happens to a team that is out of the conference race and suddenly doesn’t have anything to play for. All of those protocols designed to keep everyone safe don’t mean a thing to a player who figures it can’t hurt to go to one party because we’re not in the (championship) race anymore. But that affects more than just his team. That affects multiple teams’ schedules if a team can’t play because of the infection.”
5. The Weekly Five
Five picks against the spread (4 SEC available games, one bonus).
- Auburn at Ole Miss (+4.5)
- Alabama (-20) at Tennessee
- Kentucky (-6) at Missouri
- South Carolina (+7) at LSU
- Florida State (+6) at Louisville
Last week: 2-2 (one postponement)
Season: 12-7.
6. Your tape is your résumé
An NFL scout breaks down a draft-eligible SEC player. This week: South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn:
“Everyone is beginning to notice him, right? Shoot, we’ve been on him since he was a freshman. He has played a lot of ball there. Started, what, 25 or so games? I haven’t seen a bad one. Seriously, I haven’t. He’s a long, physical guy who knows the position inside and out. He doesn’t freelance out there. He’s very serious about how he plays, has a tremendous football IQ and you can tell he has been coached well.
“Got good genes, too — his dad (former NFL receiver Joe Horn) was a tough, tough football player. He’s the same type of player. (Jaycee) can run, and he’s so fluid out there. Nothing is mechanical. He’s one of those rare corners who really enjoys run support. He does everything well – at the jam, mirroring, recognition, high-pointing – and he works at it. He’s playing his best ball right now, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him first off the board (at cornerback).”
7. Powered Up
This week’s SEC Power Poll – and one big thing.
1. Alabama: In the early Saban years, there was one, maybe two, No. 1 receivers on the field at the same time. In the last 3 years, there have been 3 on the field at any time, including DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle and John Metchie this season. That puts a tremendous amount of stress on defenses.
2. Georgia: Please, Dawg fans, stop pining for Jamie Newman. Watch his tape at Wake Forest. He’s not your savior. Your championship quarterback is playing at Ohio State because the UGA offensive staff couldn’t develop him.
3. Florida: The human condition is unbeaten: a handful of players feel COVID symptomatic, don’t tell staff, play in Texas A&M game. Days later, more than 20 players and staff (including coach Dan Mullen) test positive. Long story short: 2 games are postponed and a season of championship hopes is teetering.
4. Texas A&M: The Aggies shouldn’t lose another game this season. Which, of course, means they’ll lose in 2 weeks on Halloween night at home against Arkansas.
5. Kentucky: This is the COVID world: Teams struggle early, find themselves and get hot. After 2 games of ugly to begin the season (35.5 ppg.), the defense (4.5 ppg. in the last 2 games) is again becoming this team’s identity.
6. South Carolina: Can the Gamecocks find that same desperate intensity on the road against another desperate team (LSU) that has had 2 weeks to prepare and get straight?
7. Tennessee: Jeremy Pruitt is falling into the same trap of Will Muschamp: good coaches who can recruit as well as anyone in the SEC – but can’t seem to develop a quarterback.
8. Arkansas: Without a terrible call (that the SEC admitted; the dreaded early whistle), the Hogs would have 3 SEC wins in 4 weeks. Early leader for SEC coach of the year: Sam Pittman.
9. Auburn: These are the moments during a season where the lunacy typically begins at Auburn. And by lunacy, I mean talk of firing coaches (Auburn would owe Gus Malzahn $21.45 million if he is fired after the season). Beat Ole Miss, and stave it off for another week. Lose, and it gets white-hot.
10. Missouri: This is why Mizzou hired Eliah Drinkwitz: He knows quarterbacks/offense. He got QB Connor Bazelak ready to play, and the Tigers are a different offense. The problem: Mizzou can’t stop anyone, and faces a UK offense that can control the tempo and keep the Tigers’ offense off the field.
11. LSU: How’s this for a simplified defensive game plan vs. South Carolina: CB Derek Stingley Jr. on WR Shi Smith, and load up to stop RB Kevin Harris. Can’t be much worse than what we’ve seen for 3 weeks from LSU.
12. Ole Miss: Rebels can’t afford an off game from QB Matt Corral, much less 6 interceptions. Teams will play more and more zone and matchup zone against Corral. He has to figure it out.
13. Mississippi State: The defense has been the one constant in a month of instability. Now it gets 2 weeks to find a way to slow down Alabama’s elite offense.
14. Vanderbilt: Two weeks to prepare for what could be the only potential win (Ole Miss) on the schedule.
8. Ask and you shall receive
Matt: Why has Mark Stoops not left Kentucky? I’ve always wondered why a coach with that much success at a place that doesn’t have a big history of success hasn’t moved on to a better job. Surely he could get a bigger job, maybe even in the SEC?
Frank Simmons
Atlanta
Frank: I’m going to show you some numbers you may not believe:
— Stoops is in the top 15 of the highest-paid coaches in college football, at $5 million per year. His buyout, should UK desire a coaching change without cause, is nearly $24 million. That’s stability in an unstable profession.
— Stoops is top 15 in all of college football, but 7th in his own conference behind Nick Saban, Ed Orgeron, Jimbo Fisher, Kirby Smart, Gus Malzahn and Dan Mullen. Those are the only SEC jobs that are significantly better than UK. The difference between his job and the remaining 7 is negligible (that’s right, Tennessee).
— Stoops is in his 8th season at UK, and as of last week, just got back to .500 (46-46 record). If the Wildcats beat Georgia this week, he’ll be over. 500 for the first time in his career at UK.
And he makes $5 million a year.
Starting to see why Stoops hangs around the Commonwealth? If he’s coaching any of those aforementioned 6 SEC programs, a missed extra point in a home loss to an inferior team (Ole Miss) is a dagger – a crushing loss that won’t be forgotten in hard(er) times. At UK, a loss like that isn’t healthy, but you’re not running a coach who clearly has proven his worth for a kicker, of all things.
Stoops, with the right job and support, could win big at a bigger school in or out of the SEC. But in such a volatile profession, why not stay where you’re appreciated, paid well and can avoid a pink slip easier than most in a profession where you’re hired to be fired?
9. Numbers: 200
The Ole Miss offense made life miserable for 2 of the 3 elite programs in the SEC, combining for 760 yards passing with 5 TD and 1 INT against Alabama and Florida.
Against Arkansas and defensive coordinator Barry Odom – who clamped down Mississippi State a week earlier — the Rebels threw for 200 yards with 1 TD and 6 INT (2 pick-6s). I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: Barry Odom, the former Missouri coach, will be a head coach in the SEC again.
10. Quote to note
“I’ve been coaching a long time, 20-something years. I’ve seen more defensive touchdowns against our offense, or the other team’s starting on our 10-yard line, our 8-yard line, 15-yard line, 25-yard line, in the last three years than in all my years of coaching.” – Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt.
Probably never talked to an NFL or SEC Coach in your life.
Wowza. JTF wakes up swinging. Nice!
There is a reason this site is free.
Lol, you got that right
JTF:
Author: ‘talks negatively about Bennett’
“Stop Patrick your scaring him”
JTF, so you think Bennet is the answer?
Where did I say that?
Lol don’t you just love Millennials? “If you don’t think this then you must think…” and they throw out some absurd extreme that in no way was close to being suggested.
Bennett is very good against average to slightly above average teams. But the number of passes that got swatted down at the line shows his height disadvantage that no one can fix. We may have to stay with him this year since there doesn’t seem to be anyone else. Not a very good situation.
In case you hadn’t heard there are multiple quarterbacks in the NFL who are sub 6’0. I’m not saying Bennett is the long term answer at QB but I can’t rule him out either. He had the team leading Bama at half time in the 3rd start of his college career. The kid is smart and competetive. He will learn and grow from this game if given a chance.
Ready to firethe QB after one game struggle against tough team – what happen to Bennett being the “steadying” factor on offense” ?
That can be true against lesser teams and you can let your defense take over, but when he was needed to push the envelope and make plays, his limitations shone through.
It was the third start of his college career and no I’m not counting JC games. He led UGA to a 24-20 half time lead against Bama and Saban in his 3rd college start. UGA got out coached a half time by Bama yet again. The majority of the blame needs to go on the offensive coaching side.
I don’t know what the deal is with Daniels but he must not be looking that good in practice or we would have seen him by now. I’m not writing off Mathis but he was a disaster against Arkansas. I’m sure Kirby will use the off week to get some reps with those guys to see if they’re up to the task now.
As an Auburn fan I know exactly how it feels to have a stellar D and a mediocre offense. The 2019 version of the Tigers was just that.
Unfortunately for Georgia I don’t see an easy fix. The D will keep them in every game. However, this offense likely can’t get it done.
As far as which is the “better job”, ky or tn, it depends on how you qualify what makes it a better job. I am biased but I dont think many rational people think ky is the better job. The better team so far this season yes, the better HC? apparently, the higher salary? ok but Ut would pay that much and more for results. You dont pay a guy $5m a year for struggling. Better recruiting platform – UT, better facilities – UT, better history – UT. Nothing against Ky but they arent there yet. They are heading in that direction but there is still a long way to go to be the better job.
Just look at Stoops contract. It’s the best job in football. Do you think the next coach at Bama, or Texas, or Ohio State is going to get automatic raises AND an automatic extension for winning 7 games? Not a chance.
UT is the better job in every area except for pressure for results. UK much more willing to give a pass on bad seasons than UT. Hope Stoops never forgets that. Go CATS!!!
Facilities are a wash, UK’s are top 20 in the nation since upgrades, renovations, and new buildings.
Well, the author didn’t say UK is a better job than UT; he said UT is not a “significantly better” job than UK. Considering that UT’s hires over the last couple decades have been Lane Kiffin, Derek Dooley, Butch Jones, and Jeremy Pruitt, I think the author has a legit point.
I think you may have missed the point. Yes, other schools can provide better facilities, better recruiting platforms, etc, but it comes at a cost. UK appreciates the job Stoops is doing. He’s loved by fans, players, and the admin. He’s paid well, is surrounded by support, and gets to continue to break records while forever coaching the “underdog”. He has a ton of freedom, and is very secure in a position where schools will fire you after 1.5 years on the job. That’s a job you hold onto for life.
Others have touched on good points, but I’d like to expand. UK is catching up on football facilities, support, etc. Stoops’ contract is really nice. He’d be foolish to go elsewhere, though, for this point. At what other school can he become a legend? If he goes to an “elite” SEC school or another power 5 conference, he’ll be another in a long line of great coaches. But, if he stays at UK and builds and builds as he’s done…. and manages to take UK to an SEC championship, he will be legendary! LEGENDARY!! And he will have built that legend on his own, not on the shoulders of great coaches before him, or by benefit of a “name brand” (like Bama, or Georgia, or Florida). He can do all of this in the comfort of an excellent contract structure, and without the pressure of “win or die” mentality (like at Tennessee or Auburn). I think Stoops is one of the smarter coaches in the country for realizing that UK had all of this potential, and he has taken full advantage of this win-win situation for himself and the Univeristy of Kentucky.
Once UK decided it was not all basketball, things started to change in Lexington. When I was assigned to the UK Army ROTC department from 91-93, football was an afterthought. That seems to have finally changed permanently now.
It’s cause they saw we could be solid under Brooks, then he retired because they wouldn’t financially make the investment, then cratered under Joker.
The difference between living in Knoxville or Lexington alone makes UK job better. Tennessee is a has been, a wanna be, nothing more.
The overreactions on this site are ridiculous
Hi Diesel, and I see what you did there. Lol brilliant!
I honestly have zero clue what your’re talking about lol
oops YOU’RE
“overreactions on this site are ridiculous”… could be read as an overreaction itself. Not that I’m saying it is, it just struck me as a great way to put it.
Oh lol that’s pretty good
100%
The hindsight of the Fields transfer is ridiculous. If you had any kind of memory you would recall that Fromm nearly led his team to an NC as a true freshman and played just as well as a sophomore. Smart mishandled the Fields situation, but to say he didn’t develop him is just wrong. He should have given him more meaningful snaps and allowed him to run more of the offense, IE throw the ball. But Fields was delusional to think he could take Fromm’s job as a freshman.
I remember Georgia fans on this site at the time reporting supposed leaks out of Georgia practices that Fields just couldn’t pick up the “complex offense.” Obviously, Fields’ first season at Ohio State blew that idea out of the water.
The reality is that Fromm was the perfect quarterback for the style of offense Kirby wanted to play and a true dual threat quarterback was not.
That’s exactly what happened, and only an idiot who knows nothing about football would think otherwise. Ohio State’s offense is nothing like Chaney’s offense, which actually IS complex, because it’s a pro-style offense.
Justin Fields has no pre-snap reads to make, no audibles to call, and no protections to call in Ryan Day’s offense, and then when the ball is snapped only 2, maybe 3, out of 5 routes are live and the rest are decoys. If his 2-3 reads are covered up, the plays are designed for him to take off and run.
In Chaney’s offense, the QB does all the work pre and post snap. It’s why it’s a “pro” style offense. Pro style doesn’t mean spread vs phone booth running offenses, it means the QB does all the work on the field. You can be a pro-style spread offense. That’s what Mike Leach runs.
In Ryan Day’s offense, and most other of these type of spread offenses, the coaches do all that work for the QB. In college, this works so well because there’s so much turnover and you can just allow the QB to come in and succeed right away.
“Only an idiot who knows nothing about football.” LOL and then you go on to spew that wanna be college insider jargon about Ohio States offense. This guy really knows his stuff. The irony is killing me.
It’s not “insider jargon.”
This is all known information. How different types of offenses operate isn’t a trade secret, dummy.
LOL “Dummy.”
Corch, you are so wrong about the OSU and MSU offenses that it’s comical.
Justin Fields looked pretty ordinary against Clemson last January.
rock, Kirby failed to develop Fromm from 17 onward. A slow regression for Fromm by an inability by the coaching staff to from a more dynamic passing scheme on offense. Where has been the desire for UGA (Kirby) to develop a more dynamic offense the last 3 years? Only when you flat out blasted by LSU did a lightbulb just come on???If so, that’s trouble. Fromm is slinging it in practice in Buffalo better than he ever has. Can’t forget about Eason and the wasted opportunity there either while he was at UGA.Even while Fields was a freshman, he wasn’t given many chances at development because Fromm wasn’t even as the starter.
You’re wrong. Pay attention to what’s going on. You’re completely off base. Fromm was a game manager for most of his freshman year. He was asked to do and did much more in sophomore season. The first 4 or so games of his junior season looked good in spite of having a mostly rookie receiving corp. Then the Cager got hurt and the SC loss happened and he lost trust in his receivers. They were not getting open to say the least. It was a matter of lack of experienced receiving talent after we lost our top 5 receivers from 2018. Wake up man.
On the contrary, Fromm’s success went down each year he played at UGA, from his spectacular freshman season to his average junior season. It was gradual and less painful that way but it did happen.
Not so sure I’d call his freshman season spectacular. He had 8 games where he didn’t throw the ball more than 16 times. That running game was so ridiculous that the few times he did throw it, they were easy throws cause every defense was stacking 9 guys in the box. Everyone just quickly jumped on the idea that he was the reason that team went as far as it did and he was a phenom, when he really wasn’t. That led to a stranglehold on the starting spot leading to more talented players transferring and UGA being where they are today with the QB position.
UGA should hire you as AD since you have it all figured out. Maybe you should tell me how the QB whisperer started last year with Franks over Trask. Franks had already shown how erratic he played. You guys would probably would have won the NC last year if you started the season with Trask and given him that extra game experience to get ready for UGA, LSU and Clemson.
They. Quit. Running. The. Ball.
Amen
The hurry up offense was a shock too in a game where they needed to use every second on offense to keep Bama off the field.
Isn’t that on Kirby for not doing it?
The best 2020 strategy for Georgia is to return to run heavy game plans, shortening games and taking play action shots on first down. Basically 2019 with more creative play calling. It won’t beat Alabama if they get to Atlanta but it could beat Florida if the defense doesn’t get its act together. SB4 is not remotely close to the quarterback Jake Fromm is, but he does know the offense and he can play smart as long as Georgia doesn’t fall behind.
It’s hard to believe Bo Nix learned football from his former quarterback dad and has such bad mechanics. His weight is usually too far back on his back foot as he throws, even when he’s set in the pocket. And the scout (or whoever) is right; he never squares up his shoulders to throw when he scrambles.
Matt Corral saw a completely different defense from Arkansas on Saturday and wasn’t prepared for it. But then he just played really badly on top of that. Why Lane didn’t stick John Rhys Plumlee in after the third interception is a mystery. Corral will bounce back.
All your takes are totally spot on
Yes, they are.
Except for… Let me count the ways:
As far as the run heavy offense, we had a much better line last year and couldn’t make the run heavy offense work when we needed to. I don’t think that’s the answer. Better play calling, better QB coaching and more experience will help this quarterback. Hopefully better competition from the more talented QBs will push him to be better or lose his job.
Bringing in Plumlee starts to create a QB controvery. That is not a good thing for any team. The team needs to feel that the QB is solid with the coaches. Put in the backup after a few picks and you’re asking for a controversy. A team starts to feel a loss of confidence in the guy who needs to lead the team.
The Bo Nix take is right on. He is not a good quarterback. Don’t understand where his hype came from based on last year. He was bad a lot of the time last year. Rinse and repeat for this year.
I kept asking that: why is Lane Kiffin staying with Corral????
Agreed. Every team Arkansas plays is going to see a completely different defense than they’ve seen. And yeah, “Where’s John Rhys Plumlee?” should be one of the biggest offensive questions in the entire SEC thus far.
Nix has got really happy feet. It is causing for a lot of mechanical issues.
Georgia does not have an elite running game right now.
The running game was getting it done Saturday. After the PI in the end zone they got away from it. Panicked. Put too much on Bennett.
UGA punted their first two series of the second half prior to the Touchdown… Bennet actually completed a pass for 36 yards after Bama scored the TD followed by a big run before the interception…
Bama scored TDs on 3 of their 4 second half possession… Your defense was done after the 90 yard TD..
That to me was the turning point of the game, then the ensuing interception shut the door.
Idk if I would switch QBs if I was Georgia. The guy had the lead at halftime on the road. He had a bad second half, but not many QBs have not had a bad spurt. Bama capitalized and out UGA behind and then they were out of their element. For the O they run, he seems more than capable if he can limit the INT. He was moving them good till that first one in the second half near the goal line. If he can learn from mistakes and know what he can and can’t do, he can get them back to the SEC championship game. Now, he probably can’t win it is the problem. So do you stay with the steady guy who can get you there but you know barring some weirdness won’t win, or do you start the back up with ability but no experience and try and get him that experience before the SEC championship, knowing he could lose a game for you, but he may give you a better shot at the crown? I would just stick with Bennet and take my chances with what you know and try and come up with a game plan just for him.
I don’t know that anyone can’t answer that question. Bama is probably just too good a team.
My thoughts would be stay with Bennett, hopefully win out, be competitive in the SECCG, and enjoy a good bowl game.
Kirby is back to criticize a team he does not support or know anything about.
What’s funny is your homer take on anything UGA.. You called a comment before the game about Bennet turning the ball over three times foolish.. How many times did he turn it over?
People can have an objective opinion about the time the pull for..
And you are not a homer for anything Bama?
You haven’t managed a single objective post since you been a part of SDS… You just called out a UGA fan for what? The guy actually tries to have a discussion without being completely bias…
You should try it sometime instead of calling out people for not being like you…
Barry Odom for DC at Florida!
Unfortunately, I think Covid will keep Grantham around for at least another year. Mullen seems to be blaming the bad defense on the lack of an offseason and missing players more so than coaching.
Most likely true but one can dream. Problem with Grantham as UGA fans have pointed out is his defense is to complicated causing the players to think to much. It seems Odom is different especially vs Ole Miss. Arkansas played a ton of zone but the players didn’t have to think to much which allowed them to make plays. This is the DC UF needs. Hopefully we can make that change
Believe me, I’d love for them to make a change for the reason you listed and then some. I’ve never seen a DC make his corners play 10 yards off the receiver when its anything less than 3rd and 10. Blows my mind every time I see it.
Worse than that is our corners are actually better at press man then zone anyways
Decades ago I read that Bear Bryant brought small fast linemen to SEC and beat everyone so SEC teams all got small fast linemen whereupon Bear got big linemen and beat everyone.
Bama (and I hate Bama) has the right idea. Remember a few years Saban said he’d never give up the run game? He changed his mind.
GA and Vols need to change their minds about run game. You can’t outrun a pass.
It’s hard to outscore a skillful passing attack with a running game. But Alabama can play however they need to play to win. I feel pretty sure that tackling Najee Harris is not fun.
He’s an automatic bruising and 2 yards even if he’s wrapped up at the line of scrimmage. He’ll be a monster in the NFL. Great backstory as a kid, too.
Absolutely. However, they keep thinking a dual threat is the answer to improve the run game. This is idiocy. Let’s say it two years from now and Salter is our QB. Does anyone really believe he would have made a difference against UGA’s D? Nope. You’ll always be SEC#2 or 3 SEC east with a dual and a run game win or bust mentality. Whats beating good D’s is prolific passing and the forcing of teams with elite D’s desperate to throw in 4th string walk ons to try (SB4) with disastrous results.(UGA Bama game). TN tried in the second half to take a dual like JG and heave the ball up the last six quarters of football and the results have spoken.
In 1989, I saw Spurrier bring Duke to Neyland Stadium and throw the ball a hundred times (or so it seemed). Never saw that before in a football game, but knew then the game had changed. JG’s 1st interception was exactly the long sideline throw that GA nearly intercepted early in its game. Vols cannot defend slant pass. That’s all coaching. Grew up with a guy who’s on Bd of Trustees at UT. He said IF Pruitt is right guy, it will take Vols 5 years to get back to top of East and IF he’s not, it’ll take 10 years. Dump Weinke. Let Chief come back to coach D line this year.
If Nix and Guarantano are still starting for their teams when Auburn and TN play, get ready to see an all time record game for number of scores the D’s will make. Record game for pick sixes. A game in which the D’s will outscore each offense and it won’t be close. NFL D scouts of every kind and others from other leagues will be at this game. It will be billed as the greatest D back game in the history of college football.
guarantano should not be the QB for the Vols. I didnt like him when he put on his little production in times square. How on earth was he the #1 ranked dual threat QB? He’s slower than molasses in December. He should be benched for the rest of the year. Let one of the other qb’s have a host, cant do any worse.
“4. Texas A&M: The Aggies shouldn’t lose another game this season. Which, of course, means they’ll lose in 2 weeks on Halloween night at home against Arkansas.” – just, wow.
This is not Sumlin’s Aggies. Arkansas is moving in the right direction, but they have not defeated a good team yet (even with the moral victory against Auburn).
I picked Arkansas over A&M this year and now I’m locking it in after 4 weeks
I agree about Bennett. He’s stepped up and played well, but he isn’t good enough to lead us past teams like Alabama, Clemson, and possibly some others. I respect him. I really do. But, he can’t/doesn’t make throws that we need to make the most of our tools. He’s a competitor and fighter, and that gets us pretty far, but not where we want to be.
Don’t forget about Florida!
It appears to me that Kirby Smart still feels that the old Bama style of great d and taking the air out of the football is what will win him a championship.
It won at Bama when he was there.
Problem is that Clemson, Bama and Ohio State just have way too much offense to hold them down for long.
Likely can win the East in the SEC but won’t get it done against any of those three.
The game has changed and Kirby likely needs to follow Nicks lead and change too.
Better get on that wagon soon or the fans will likely start an uprising.
Is Conner gearing up to take back what he took back, or is he holding off for now?
Is Auburn close to an uprising on the Gus Bus?
Maybe so.
If you’re replacing Stetson Bennett because he can’t get GA a NC that’s one thing. But replacing him for Mathis, who has less than one half of a college game under his belt because he’s tall is not the answer.
With two weeks to get ready, It’s time to give Daniels plenty of reps and get him ready. I would give Bennett the start against Kentucky and give Daniels plenty of series. Put them both against the same defense and see who has more production.
Two games from now is the Florida game, you don’t want a QB with almost no experience in that game. Daniels has starting experience.
It seems at this point that if J.T. Daniels hasn’t played a single snap yet, it’s because he can’t. He certainly could have played a series or two in the second half against Tennessee.
NashvilleGator, That could well be the case.
I think he’s just not physically ready yet. Maybe, hopefully he will be two weeks from now, and is close enough to get quality practice reps. We will see.
I disagree about the perception of UK administration and their fans…First of all, UK football fans are far more passionate about wins than people give them credit for…Extremely knowledgeable and passionate fan base…2nd, while 6 or 7 wins was once considered a success, it’s now a disappointment…UK fans go into most every game now, not just hoping to win, but expecting them to win…Its a great football fanbase folks, so let’s stop stereotyping them as only football fans until time for basketball season to start.
Agreed. The UK fan base now believes 9-10 win seasons are achievable on a consistent basis.
I’m old enough to remember when auburn crushed Jane Fromm and den…
Lol. Nice Freudian. I meant Jake but I’ll take that.
The line on the Tennessee/Bama game could be +40 and Tennessee STILL won’t cover.
Crazy days
Malzahn isn’t getting it done at Auburn. It’s a shame Auburn is stuck with him or has to pay an exorbitant buyout.
“But but but, who will Auburn get??”
A better question is: where would Malzahn go after Auburn. Who would hire him? Not the NFL. Not a big name P5 school. Auburn is his peak. After Auburn, he’ll likely be coaching at a low-tier P5 school or some G5 program.
Gus’s next stop will be retirement most likely. He doesn’t have the fire anymore. There are a lot of options for Auburn, but no sure things. The wish list I’m seeing the most is Cristobal, Fleck, UK Stoops, and Aranda (all not likely). Then you have the realistic options like Campbell, Heupel, Steele, Clark, Fickell among others. They could also go the Arkansas route and pick a purely unproven assistant like T-rob, T-will, or Garner. Which is highly unlikely.
I guess Georgia should have benched Jake Fromm after Auburn crushed Georgia. Bennett has a ceiling, yes but he played 3 games very poised. If UGA makes it to the SECC, the defense will have to play better and Bennett will have a lot more experience. This isn’t a time to blow up the team. It’s a time to evaluate and get better. That includes the coaching.