Maybe that quarterback race is even tighter than we’ve thought.
Richt has had quarterback competitions before. There was 2006, it was Matthew Stafford, the true freshman and early enrollee, competing with Joe Cox, Joe Tereshinski III and Blake Barnes. In 2010, it was Aaron Murray, Zach Mettenburger and Logan Gray. But this, Richt said, is “by far” the closest competition.
So he suspects it will last into August preseason practice.
“With the amount of transition, learning going on, I’m not certain we’ll be able to make that determination at that point. I’m not sitting here saying we’re going to have to name a number one at the end of spring,” Richt said. “I’m not think that’s going to be the case or that’s a big goal of ours. The big thing is to give these guys opportunities and see how they handle it and evaluate and try to make that determination when we get there.”
Maybe it’s due in part to the strangeness of having an open quarterback competition for the first time in several seasons, but it’s strange to hear Richt talk like that. Not bad, necessarily, but definitely different. And maybe it’s due in part to having a new set of eyes to share in the evaluation of the position. The general consensus was that had Mike Bobo stayed, Ramsey would have been the likely starter, but that’s not where they’re at anymore.
In any case, that’s the hand that’s been dealt. Along with finding a replacement for David Andrews, you’ve got a situation that’s going to call for giving a lot of opportunities, that’s for sure.
Surprising that the race is closer than 2006, given that the eventual starter didn’t even win the job.
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I wonder what percent of this “open QB battle” is intended to discourage transfers. If a winner is named in the spring, 2nd string is gone. But if CMR dangles the carrot long enough, maybe they become “pot committed” (that’s the poker term, not the reefer) and hang around Athens for their careers. With Eason coming in next year, Park seems especially primed to transfer.
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Park might be so good that Eason goes elsewhere
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The same people that claim it’s stupid to place any credence in what goes through the minds of 16-18 year old kids seem to think it’s set in stone that Eason has already signed to UGA in blood. I’ll believe it when he actually signs an LOI. I hope he sticks but lots of UGA fans thought Tunsil was going to be our OT for years to come until he was offered the Ole Cheater compensation package. So frankly I’m not gonna worry about the kid until he’s on campus.
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This^^.
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If he (Park) is that good I could see the scenario where Eason redshirts, then Park goes pro early and Eason then starts. Sounds good anyway….
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Faton Bauta…driving, driving….TOUCHDOWN….MY God he’s only a…ah?
I hope the subtext is that these three guys are very good and very close, not “we got three guys…wait till you see Eason”
And…what about that walk-on kid since we are apparently more into starting over with a new guy mode than has been suggested previously?
Wonder if this is more a change in the eyes of the beholder than of the names of the plays?
Two bald guys and three quarterbacks (or four) anyone?
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Scorp, his name is Sam Vaughn. Remember his name. Nobody will out work him, and he is very talented.
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Yep, Sam Vaughn, thanks. Gonna be hard for him to get meaningful work during the spring, he’ll have to knock somebody out of their comfortable rotation, I’d guess.
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He may play. He has received some praise here at GTP. Remember we had a riches of qb’s when Quicey arrived. And then there was walk on Cory Phillips against the Pilsbury Throw Boy and the game was on. Gutsy qb that slung in well enough to get into the Georgia record books. In Texas in the insurance field now or Atlanta. Wonder what it is about insurance and qb’s . Nice story though.
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Sam Vaughn….looking deep in the conah….TOUCHDOWN. My God he’s only a walk on.
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Now we are gettin’ somewhere, Scorp!!
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If he can take us Jerusalem next year I’m his biggest fan…I need to go to the promised land at least one more time. C’mon you guys hunker it down.
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I would think if a kid knows he was legitimately beaten out for the starting job, he wouldn’t be as likely to transfer. Donnan handed the job to Quincy and Hybl left because he felt cheated and like he didn’t get a real chance to win the job. As long as everyone has a legit shot at the starting job and there are no politics or special treatment, I don’t see these guys poking their lips out and transferring.
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As competitive as these kids are its pretty tough to take getting beat out, no matter how fair it may seem to other folks. It takes a very mature intellect to accept a sit and wait role.
If the position were not so complicated, having a new starter ever other week or so seems ideal to me, although Lou Holtz and Mark May would certainly find fault with it.
But the position IS complicated.
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Indeed it is. That may be Vaughn’s advantage. His brain. A straight A student in high school, and has been on the Deans List and the Athletic Director Honor Roll since being at UGA since this past June.
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It will be Ramsey, despit ehis lackluster 2014 performances.
This is Mark Richt, he rarely if ever changes his mind on his Qb starter in the off season.
But, you don’t want to say it, because Bauta and Park would likely transfer.
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If last season proved anything, it’s that when Murray was the starter, he was the best we had, and when Mason was the starter, he was the best we had. If Ramsey starts, it will be because he’s the best we’ve got, not because Richt doesn’t change his mind.
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Sure, and Joe Terishinski too, should have mentioned that one, or Joe Cox, and whomever Richt chose to start. can you name all of the time where Richt has changed his mind when it comes to Qb’s in the off-season, so we can see if Bauta and Parks are really competing for starter or backup?
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Joe Cox was the best we had at the time. Terishinski, maybe you have a point there, but his dad was on the staff so I suspect he got some benefit from that. CMR picks the best players to play QB.
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Everyone knows it’s going to be Park. He will get more ground yards than Chubb and there are reports he can throw and catch his own pass. He can throw the ball 120.6 yds on a sunny day, runs the 40 in 3.9, and jumps 6ft straight up. Just don’t know where yall get all these reports of other QBs, but it can’t match what Bluto said we can type after Spring Game.
I’m pretty sure there are a lot of people here who would like everyone of those “cats” to play. I certainly would.
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I just want to point out that Park seems to have easily and quickly gained the confidence of his teammates, at least through last fall. All reports were that he really helped the team with his scout team preparation, and that the team always knew he’d do his best. As far as arm strength goes, reports were that he had a ‘great arm’ from other players, and Richt did say that the kid always throws a beautiful ball.
And, Amarlo Herrera, 4 year vet, who saw Brice lead the scout team in 2013, said Park was the best scout team QB he’d faced.
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Confidence of teammates? So did DJ, but Greene kept starting, so did Mettenberger, but Murray kept starting, so did Mason, but Murray kept starting. Not reason enough to change Richt’s stubborn mind.
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Pass the Kool Aide till G Day.
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