Georgia Quarterback Controversy

Submitted by Chi-Blue on December 6th, 2021 at 1:18 PM

If you are like me and know little about our next opponent then what better place to start than a QB controversy! Obviously we the fans have been through the discussion between Cade and JJ this year, but the nice part is that they have settled into their roles and we have played better as the year has gone on . . . arrow up!

Conversely, after the beatdown Georgia took at the hands of Alabama they have QB play directly in the line of fire, at least from the fan-o-sphere perspective. The difficult part for Georgia is that while there is plenty of time before they play us there are no more "cupcake schedule" games to build or restore confidence. This has been the argument against them all year in that they have played a very soft schedule - see Danny Kanell twitter. 

At any rate here's to hoping that their controversy continues and that Hutchinson,Ojabo and the defense make whomever they put out there look bad!

https://dawnofthedawg.com/2021/12/06/georgia-football-jt-daniels-situat…

stephenrjking

December 6th, 2021 at 1:26 PM ^

The programs have some bizarroworld reflections of each other. 

Here are two QB statlines:

Player 1: 148-231, 64.1%, 2325 yards, 10.1 y/a, 10.8 ay/a, 24 TDs, 7 Ints

Player 2: 199-308, 64.6%, 2470 yards, 8.0 y/a, 8.4 ay/a, 15 TDs, 4 Ints

Player one is Stetson Bennett. Player two is Cade McNamara. 

Game managers with hot 5-stars behind them. 

Georgia has a better defense. We have better RBs, but both teams average 5.3 yards per carry, Georgia rushing 36.6 times a game and Michigan 42.2 (Michigan runs more plays; Georgia has 26.9 passing attempts per game, Michigan has 27.6). 

Yet Georgia has the QB controversy. In fairness, Daniels has started for them and has been with the program longer, so it seems more fair to wonder if he could be ready to excel under center. JJ, on the other hand, is talented, but has a clear deficit to Cade with regard to understanding the whole offense. Cade's leadership is a non-statistical factor that seems very significant to the function of the team, and I have no idea what Stetson is like there. 

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kejamder

December 6th, 2021 at 1:41 PM ^

Good summary. I would add that Daniels was the starter at the beginning of the year and was only replaced due to injury, and I think there's a big difference between uber-talented true freshman backup and 4th-year former starter (and also more talented) backup. 

To your point, the starters are similar, and we might have a similar 'controversy' if OSU had been able to outscore us.

Unfortunately for us, Georgia losing now -- and having 4 weeks to prepare -- probably means that we get their best shot from QB, rather than them sticking with a successful game manager (if you're inclined to look at it that way).

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MH20

December 6th, 2021 at 1:48 PM ^

In fairness, Daniels has started for them and has been with the program longer, so it seems more fair to wonder if he could be ready to excel under center.

Daniels transferred in during spring of 2020 while Bennett has been there since the winter of 2019. Daniels was also the starter to begin the 2021 season before getting injured. Bennett began 2020 as the starter and looks like he lost his job to Daniels toward the end of that season, which carried over into 2021.

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oriental andrew

December 6th, 2021 at 4:44 PM ^

An additional clarification. 

Stetson Bennett is actually in his third season at UGA. He was a freshman in 2017 (same year as Jake Fromm), transferred to JuCo for 2018, and returned to UGA in 2019. This is actually his 5th year playing collegiate ball and 4th season at UGA. 

Daniels played 2 seasons (2018-2019) at USC before transferring to UGA in spring 2020. This is his 4th year overall and 2nd season at UGA. 

It has been a back-and-forth between the two, with Bennett starting in 2020 before Daniels Pipped him, then Daniels started 2021 before Bennett returned the favor. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

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TIMMMAAY

December 6th, 2021 at 1:58 PM ^

Their defense is better by the numbers, but we've played a tougher schedule than they have, by a decent margin. I wouldn't say without qualifying, that their defense is "better" than ours. Too many people are too confident in their own judgments, and speak in certain terms, ie; Michigan isn't beating OSU this year", or "We aren't winning the National Championship", or constantly criticizing Harbaugh (that has mostly stopped lately... strange), or other silly things. 

Go Blue. 

Win Everything. 

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nerv

December 6th, 2021 at 5:22 PM ^

Their strength is definitely in the front 7. I would say they unquestionably have a stronger linebacker core than we do but Id take our DL against anyone's in the country. The UG fanbase doesnt have a ton of confidence in their secondary and considers it more pedestrian and being boosted by their front 7.

Based on the creativity of our play calling and the overall strength of our recent game plans I think we will be able to use our strengths as well as scheme up some ways to move the ball and get some points. Feeling like chunk plays will be huge in this game as 15 play TD drives will probably be hard to pull off against these defenses.

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los barcos

December 6th, 2021 at 2:16 PM ^

Pete Thamel who, regardless of his Urban love, is as plugged in nationally as well as anyone - said today on his podcast that Stetson is the locker room favorite and that McDaniels is a bit of an "odd duck."  For whatever that's worth.  I wonder if the "locker room favorite" is partly the reason for Stetson being the starter, all things being equal. I do know that I would rather be M's Qb situation right now, rather than heading into a playoff game with a Qb controversy. 

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goblue76

December 6th, 2021 at 1:27 PM ^

Hopefully Kirby Smart will be Kirby Dumb on New Year's Eve and will play the crappier of the 2 QB's.  

A lot of what I am hearing is their competition was so weak that they didn't have that 2nd half challenge most of the year and they couldn't turn it on when they needed too.  Also hearing it will be tough to go to JT Daniels now with so little reps this year.  

Hoping Hutch, Ojabo, and the rest of the boys have a lot of meetings with the QB in the backfield come NYE.

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WFNY_DP

December 6th, 2021 at 1:27 PM ^

This entire "article" is basically an extrapolation of the "why was McCarthy in there for the fumble against MSU?" over a whole half of a season.

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Goggles Paisano

December 6th, 2021 at 1:27 PM ^

I would trust Smart knows best as to who (Bennett/Daniels) gives them the best chance to win.  Their team oozes talent just as OSU does.  Watching them get pounded by Bama oozed a lack of toughness, just as OSU did.  I think the blame for that game would go to their Defense and to their lack of toughness. 

We are as bad ass and physical a team as Bama.  I like our chances in this game no matter who they put under center.   

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Amaizing Blue

December 6th, 2021 at 1:44 PM ^

This speaks to the main reason I wanted to play Georgia over Bama, namely that I don't want Nick Saban to have 27 days to prepare and scheme for us.  Georgia is undoubtedly a very good team and Smart is a very good coach-but he's not as good as Saban, and that could make a difference in this game.  I think this probably should be closer to a pick 'em game, or maybe Georgia gets 3 based on SEC's past performance.

Saban will still have 10 days before the NC game if we get there, and since he already knows Georgia so well he'll be preparing somewhat for us during this run-up to Cincinnati...but that's still better than 27 days.

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Dablue1

December 6th, 2021 at 2:15 PM ^

Not taking anything away from Saban, but he had a month to prepare for us before the last time we played Alabama (2020 Citrus) and he didn’t come up with some magical plan to beat us in that time. We were leading at half and very well could’ve won that game despite the Mac Jones-Jerry Jeudy show exploiting the (well known) weakness in our defense if our QB could’ve hit open receivers. 

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Jonesy

December 6th, 2021 at 3:25 PM ^

Yes, I find comfort in the fact that we thoroughly out-coached Bama that year but just didnt have the team to execute it. Similarly to how we out-coached OSU offensively every year (and defensively half the years) but couldn't execute it due to shea and o'korn sucking and injuries all over the place.

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bluepdx

December 6th, 2021 at 1:47 PM ^

Of no consequence, but one takeaway from that piece is we are lucky to have so many good writers covering Michigan sports. That read like a middle school book report.

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Brhino

December 6th, 2021 at 2:05 PM ^

Okay but Michigan has a new QB Controversy.  Donovan Edwards has a Quarterback Rating of "YES!".  It's not even a number, it's just the word YES!. 

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greymarch

December 6th, 2021 at 2:30 PM ^

If Stetson is the best QB Georgia has, then I expect GA to have serious trouble throwing on UM.  Stetson doesnt look for his checkdowns, has very little feel for pressure coming at him while in the pocket, as is very inaccurate when he is under-pressure.  He's the perfect QB for Hutchinson and Ojabo to humiliate, if Hutchinson and Ojabo can get home.

 

But the real key is UM's run D.  If UM shuts-down GA's running attack, then mediocre walk-on Stetson will have to mostly throw, and UM's gonna hit him harder than he's ever been hit in his entire life.

 

GA must run the ball effectively in this game, otherwise UM's gonna have a field-day feeding on GA's passing game and UM will likely win the game by at least a TD.

 

#GoBlue

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