Brian Wellmeier
It’s a popular (or unpopular) sentiment as of late – as another controversy surrounding the UGA quarterback situation has once again divided the Bulldawg nation. It’s also a situation I’ve grown weary of talking about over the years, since Kirby Smart is never able to make what seems to be the logical decision in selecting who takes the snaps on Saturday, and it blows our season every time.
It started with the decision to swap Jacob Eason for Jake Fromm after Eason was injured during a 2017 game against Appalachian State. In the following game, Fromm had an average performance against a Notre Dame team everyone (as usual) thought was a lot better than they actually were. Fromm, from that point on, was the starter despite Eason recovering from his injury just a few weeks later – without ever getting the chance to compete for the spot. Sounds familiar…
Supporters of that decision will often point to the fact that UGA went on to play in the national title game with Fromm at the helm, but they fail to mention that we had one of the most threatening, dynamic backfields in recent history that season, with Nick Chubb and Sony Michel taking handoffs. It’s also worth noting that Eason, a solid NFL-style QB, still holds his position in the NFL, while Fromm was cut by the Bills.
Fast forward to the following season, when an inconsistent Fromm struggled through several games, specifically against LSU – a game Georgia lost. But from that rose the opportunity for Kirby Smart to do what was right – to trash Fromm and start Justin Fields, who looked all around better than Fromm in what little opportunity he had to play and was later considered for Heisman while at Ohio State – the other team he nearly won a national championship with.
Now, here we are again, as Bennett, a walk-on, is now calling the shots for the No. 1 team in the country, instead of Daniels – who was recruited as the 16th best quarterback in the nation out of high school.
Sure, it’s viewed as a romantic underdog story that everybody loves – maybe a little too much. But those of us who’re ready to see Georgia’s football program to finally prove itself as the best team in the nation for the first time in our lives, it’s an unsettling feeling we get before every snap he takes. Already I can hear someone saying, “What about Tennessee – did you see how well he played?”
Yes, and my instant response to that is – it was Tennessee. Not Alabama.
That’s what it’s going to come down to, and the question is not just about whether Bennett can maintain against the top-tier players the Tide’s equipped with, but also whether he can withstand the wizardry of that elite coaching staff.
Bennett simply does not have the talent to lead the team to a victory against Alabama. At times, he lacks composure in the pocket. And he is too short, standing like a munchkin in the pocket compared to Daniels, who stands at 6-3.
Daniels also has a quicker release, better downfield vision, visibly more accurate passes and a greater ability to assess defenses before the snap. That’s why he was highly recruited out of high school; Bennett wasn’t. A five star program requires a five star player.
Sure, Bennett is all right. But he belongs at Middle Tennessee State – not UGA – and we need more than an average guy at quarterback to overcome the Alabama defense.
Watch it happen: If Bennett can manage to hold up until the big game against the Crimson Tide, Alabama’s defense is going to scramble his brains. By that point, Daniels will be cold and it’ll be too late for him to heat up in four quarters after being benched most of the season.
If I’m wrong, which can happen, I welcome anyone and everyone to throw it in my face in the event that Georgia takes the national title with Bennett in charge. If I am right, starting Bennett will be another one of the dumbest decisions in the Smart era.
Brain Wellmeier is a staff writer for The Northeast Georgian. Reach him at 706-778-4215 or bwellmeier@TheNortheastGeorgian.com.