So, Dawgnation, your new starting quarterback is Greyson Lambert.
Georgia’s starting quarterback competition has a winner, and it’s an unexpected one: Greyson Lambert, the transfer from Virginia.
Lambert will start in Saturday’s season opener against Louisiana-Monroe, coach Mark Richt announced after Monday’s practice.
Brice Ramsey, who had been the presumed favorite since he finished last year as the No. 2 quarterback, will share second-team snaps with Faton Bauta this week in practice.
“There may be other or others who get in the game. But right now the thing that I know that he’ll start the game,” Richt said of Lambert. “Very, very close competition. Still being contested in my mind. But at this point we felt it would be wise to name a starter and get him ready to play in this ballgame. … We’ll start playing ball that way and see how it goes.”
The quarterbacks were notified prior to Monday’s practice. Richt said he and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer were “pretty sure” on Saturday, then gave it a couple days before finalizing it.
Am I a little surprised? Well, yeah. A quarterback with less than a month in the program as the man?
Am I a little nervous? Well, yeah. I watched Lambert play a good bit last season. And I definitely get where Mark Schlabach is coming from with this:
“Either Mark Richt knows something Mike London didn’t, or UGA might be in trouble at quarterback,” Schlabach said. “Lambert is a really bright kid and he’s UGA’s tallest QB in a while. But I can’t believe Ramsey didn’t win the job. Clearly, Richt & Schottenheimer went with the more experienced option.
“If he doesn’t make mistakes, UGA offense should be fine.”
That being said, when it comes to coaching quarterbacks, I don’t think it takes a big leap of faith to assume Richt knows more than London. So there’s that.
What I do appreciate about the decision is that Richt and Schottenheimer knew they had to get to a point with a starter this week. It’s time to get one kid focused on first team reps. Taking a chance with Lambert beats continuing to equivocate.
But, man, this sure is an interesting decision.
Get The Picture 
Called it.
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You have been saying it was Bauta all week you dipshit. Do I need to go and find all the “Trust me it will be Bauta” comments??
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Hah…. I got a chuckle from that.
Ok jc…man up.
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I’m pretty sure he was kidding.
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I like you. You make me laugh.
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+1 on the Gung Ho quote.
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See, that was EASY! He should have done that a month ago. Silly Richt.
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By morning there will be a million reasons why Richt made the wrong choice. It’s just our nature.
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Sure. First we Lambaste the team and then lead the Lambert to slaughter. Of course.
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Well how are we supposed to take the G-day game seriously now!?!?
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Well played, NM!
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I am very nervous about this. I trust Richt when it comes to QB play, but this is telling me we are 3 years away from possible playoff berth. If Shott and CMR can get Lambert not to throw INTs they will deserve coach of year honors.
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If Lambert was at Alabama you’d be lamenting the fact that Richt and Co. Either couldn’t lure in or just passed on a homegrown boy to transfer in who was good enough to waltz right into Tuscaloosa and snag the starting job. Get a grip people! We have serious weapons AND coaching Lambert didn’t get at UVA. At least give him a chance before you proclaim our doom!
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Excellent point.
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Not nervous at all…not my job to be…but will say this Richt>London.
Head and shoulders a better HC and QB coach.
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Not to mention the o-line and running game.
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And Malcolm Mitchell.
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I wanted to mention the receivers but just thinking about them made me nervous someone might get hurt.
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I hear that. Let’s just say Lamberts old situation and his new one are apples to oranges. We’ll see what happens!!
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I’m just excited it’s game week regardless of who the Dawgs play and who is starting at QB.
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Holy crap. As a Cville resident who has followed UVa closely over the past few years, I truly hope Lambert has improved 1000% since I last saw him. Otherwise I’ll be on pins and needles all season.
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Look at the UVA game film from last season. The UVa O-line was the worst in the ACC, maybe the whole nation. Lambert had defensive players all over him every play. That’s why he threw INTs. Give the guy some protection and I’ll bet he plays well. Also, it is pretty obvious in retrospect that CMR didn’t like what he saw with the existing QBs. That’s why he recruited (yes recruited) another experienced QB to play this season. Remember, before Lambert he looked at Everett Golson.
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Excellent points.
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Just wow. I really did not see this coming. It makes me nervous. Not because I do not trust Richt, but rather I am concerned this IS the best option.
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I’ve been thinking it would be Bauta. Wrong. I trust Richt. But that’s precisely what bothers me. If a second string ACC quarterback who has practiced with the team less than a month is truly our best option then I am seriously worried. I am channeling my inner Munson big time.
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This scares the Crap out of me.
Is it too early to miss Bobo?
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Hopefully he’ll be a stud. While some have been better than others, we’ve never had a dud QB during Richt’s tenure. Lambert seems to have the necessary tools. Just has to make the right decisions.
And if things don’t work out for Lambert the QB, he has excellent credentials to become a blogger.
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“…never had a dud QB during Richt’s tenure.” Did Joe Teresheski’s name ever come to mind?
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I don’t think you can do anything more with uva game film of lambert than what the coaches did: determine whether he has the physical attributes to play. Since he’s arrived they’ve determined he’s the best option while making it clear that they’ve all played well, it’s close, the competition is on going and at least two will play Saturday. It sounds to me like we have three good but not any great qbs. It could be worse right? Doesn’t sound like it’s over if any of these guys goes down. I get the feeling that this may be a week to week thing.
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It was the only logical conclusion one could draw. Why would Richt recruit a graduated player with a year of eligibility left? The other two choices must be truly dreadful.
But…
As the Senator said, with only a month of practice time it is still a surprising choice. Two cupcakes to lead the season off will help.
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Lambert has two years of eligibility left.
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You managed to work a hyperbolic statement into the same paragraph referencing logic. Well done sir.
No possible way all three have performed equally above average, just none standing out significantly over the others. Nope, no way. The other two CLEARLY suck. Logic, indeed.
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Wow. He must be able to hand off the hell out of that ball.
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Nice one Pros, lol!
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Audible laugh, Prosticutor. Well done!
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Well done sir.
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One thought I had on this decision is it takes a much bigger set of balls for Richt and Schotty to go with Lambert rather than Ramsey for many reasons including Richt’s history, so while time will tell how this plays out, I’ll applaud the coaches for this decision.
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I had the same thought. This was not the easy way out. This decision makes me think the contest wasn’t as close as Richt is saying it was.
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Come on bro! Anyone worth their salt knew Lambert would be the guy! I can not wait to see Chubb and Lambert in New York for the Heisman award ceremony this December! You heard it hear first…Chubbert! # it, tweet it, post it on Facebook, text it, email it, hell, plain ole mail it! Chubbert for 2015/2016!!!
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Has it occurred to you that this may be a way to light a fire under Ramsey’s ass? The game is a cupcake. Georgia will win regardless. Start Lambert. Let Ramsey play some. See if this move gets more out of Ramsey.
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The fire has been hot under Ramsey’s ass since Spring. If it was going to take serious competition to motivate him, it’s been there. What if he’s simply not the best quarterback?
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I have stated before that I like the Lambert situation for many reasons. That being said, I think all 3 QB’s win by having the competition last as long as it did. At the end of the day I just want the guy best suited to lead the team this year. Maybe I should have added the sarcastic emoji at the end of my post. And no, I don’t think Richt is playing games with Ramsey. Why would he start playing games now? Could be wrong, Lord knows it would not be the first time.
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Let’s give the kid and the coaches a break and not complain until his second…
…incompletion. RTDB Schottie!!!
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Theus:“He came into Georgia and busted his butt,” Theus said. “He got in the playbook, got a great understanding of Coach (Brian) Schottenheimer’s playbook. He put himself in the best position to be named the starter.”
I’ve heard busting their butt and preparation being mentioned about Bauta and now about Lambert. No one has said that about Ramsey. Not saying he is not a hard worker I just haven’t heard about his off field preparation other than he has come a long way preparing. From Schotty’s comments he thinks Ramsey is very talented physically. Seems like maturity is what he is looking for though
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The silence about Ramsey’s work ethic is deafening. It seems coaches have even used the media to praise the quality in others in an effort to motivate him. We can’t know for certain, but it appears to be the deciding factor here.
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I’d sure like to know Bobo’s 2 cents on this…It’d probably be a one word answer like “Fuck…”
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I’ll bet Bobo’s already on the phone to a certain HS coach in SC. Tell ya boy to transfer to Colorado State— weed is legal here.
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All we need is someone who will protect the ball and hand off to Chubb and Co, right? Right??
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Ramsey will still start against the Cocks and carry us from there.
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Man, was I wrong on this one. I just hope my insistence that we’ll be in the SECCG will still hold up.
Lock ‘n load, boys. Smoke ’em if you’ve got ’em. It’s just about time to take those hills.
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The new watchphrase is “Eat’em if you baked’em.”. Please update your pot lexicon.
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Haha
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JMHO but I don’t understand the argument/opinion that Lambert’s play/stats/narrative at UVA is cause for concern re: his UGA tenure. Two completely different situations. You place a talented kid in 10 different programs and you are likely to get a wide range of results depending on several variables. I don’t think any of us GTPers – well, maybe JC – are astute enough to say a kid’s play/stats/narrative will be the same or similar no matter where he lands.
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How long before Ramsey transfers, before or after Eason is on campus?
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No doubt Colorado State is right there in the corner.
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Well I don’t think there’s any doubt we’re starting a true freshman next year. If Lambert can snatch the job in less than a month neither Bauta nor Ramsey are nearly as good as we thought.
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Lambert has two years of eligibility left. He graduated from UVA in 3 years and one of them was a redshirt.
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I’ll stick with my prediction. The true freshman starts next year. Not that I was correct this year.
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There’s plenty of doubt each year as to who will start. If Lambert does well we would be silly to start Eason when we can red shirt him for a year. Eason will be coming in with the other recruits and will have to adjust to and command a team of veterans that Lambert may have already shown credentials to command. Eason has no problem competing where he will make his life for at least 3 yrs and is a gung-ho Dawg already. It’s all for the team.
Schotty is calling this one and I would bet money that he sees the guy who can hit his tight ends quickly and throw the long ball when required. Bet the WRs are happy with this call as well.
There is no reason to doubt the competence of Ramsey or Bauta so stop the knee-jerk remarks, please.
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I think the reliance upon the TEs and the consistent ability to get em the ball will be key this season. And having a TALL quarterback has to make that task all the easier.
Without JS-W the Dawgs have Mitchell & Davis as known WR quantities, and then we can throw in the lil squirt McKenzie here and there. But the TEs could be where the receiving bread will be buttered.
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I am all happy that Shotty and Richt finally arrived on the same bus after watching the films of the 3QB’s over the weekend.
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I wonder how short a leash CMR and CBS will have with Lambert. I’m sure they are going to give him some leeway early, but he’s going to have to show his ability to lead.
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So Golson can’t start at Notre Dame…Lambert can’t start at UVA…yet both are starting week 1 for top 10 teams?
Don’t underestimate a little motivation…I assume both of these guys can get their old coach canned with championship seasons.
Prop bet for Saturday…how long does it take a UGA QB to top Ramsey’s long throw from last season (48) and which QB is it?
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Doh! Mason’s!
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I thought Gurley had the longest throw of the season?
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Our players respect Greyson and he is getting much better coaching here.
He has a better line and playmakers around him so he shouldn’t feel the need to force things like last year.
With our schedule, our fans will get behind him too.
Let’s see what our offense can do.
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Are you also implying that the players don’t particularly respect Ramsey?
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Heard the very same thing today, all of these QBs are capable but two had more heart, made more effort, and had the respect of the other players. Ain’t over until it’s over, but if Lambert had a slight edge after 3+ weeks, he has to have the most upside going forward.
Forget UVA, different system, better coaching, more tools to work with, and more game experience. We wanted him as a 4 star out of HS, he wouldn’t be this far along sitting on our bench. This works out for everyone, and we have time to ease him in, or out, if things don’t go well. Play them all Saturday, let the second guessing begin.
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Way to go, Mac. That’s right as rain.
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FWIW I agree with you completely on this, Mac.
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” a quarterback is only as good as those players that surround him”…..”a good quarterback, makes sound judgement, doesn’t turn the ball over, and is coachable. He doesn’t have to be an all American.” I ain’t saying it was Lord Saban, but it was Lord Saban.
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I can hear the howls now after that first interception. Would hate to be in Lambert’s shoes. Ramsey & Bauta had better keep their heads in the game like they could be the #1 QB any given day.
Schotty was able to coach up Sanchez in NY all the way into the playoffs. Let’s hope he learned from that experience and can apply the best of it here.
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Lambert’s heard them before.
He can handle it.
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I’m getting a healthy respect for your leavening posts tonight.
Let’s Go, DAWGS!!
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“Leavening”, like that a lot. It is a good week to “get above our raisin’ ” don’t ya think?
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Yep; however, I expect Ho Lee to drop by soon.
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Wow. Not sure to make of this. We should have a great team this year, and two quarterbacks with three years in the system were passed over for Lambert. I just want a championship and don’t care about the details. Let’s hope he gets it done.
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If you believe the recruiting reports those same QBs with 3+ years in the system will be passed over for a frosh when Eason arrives.
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Given the complexities of our system, Eason would have to be a very bright young man to be proficient in year one. If Lambert can play another year, maybe he can help with the transition.
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Eason may only be around for 3 years. No redshirt for him.
Stafford eventually started as a freshman.
Lambert & Eason; that works for me.
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I just hope Lambert doesn’t have red hair.
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Hey, everybody, just thought I’d drop in and see what’s goin’ – wait, WHAT?!
Well, maybe my boy Bauta will be the #2.
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You were my best bet for a Ho Lee sighting and all you can say is “WHAT?!”.
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Not sure what to make of Lambert being the man. I do know that I would feel a lot better about this qb situation if Bobo was still in town. At least we finally know who it is now.
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Was driving from Indy to Chicago this afternoon listening to 084 College football on Satellite Radio and Rick Neuheisel was on. They asked him what program caught his attention (he had just visited 14 programs in 20 days). He didn’t hesitate – Georgia. He said Lambert impressed him and was making all the throws required of an SEC QB. He also stated that Keith Marshall looked really good. 30 minutes later, the station announced the press release. Good call Rick.
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Listening to Neuheisel the past two seasons on satellite radio has given me a different perspective on him. Very articulate, and balanced. He is mush more valuable to someone tha sitting behind a radio mike talking to morons much of the day. Excellent offensive mind. I didn’t hear the UGA report, guess it is still “on demand”, but glad to hear him say that about UGA and Lambert.
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And he KILLED my Illini in the 84 Rose Bowl!
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Thanks for the info jlord. I heard him interviewed the day before he went to Athens and I was wondering what he thought of the team.
I agree Mac, he seems balanced and articulate, but I’m afraid he may not have strong enough ‘takes’ that properly ignore reality as displayed by events on the field in order to keep talking through an entire football broadcast. That would be my ESPN executive decision making interpretation here and the primary reason why he won’t do color commentary 😉
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Neuheisel predicted today that Lambert will be SEC Player of The Year!
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I don’t know how Greyson Lambert will do on Saturday, but I will be pulling for him and the rest of the Dawgs. He has a couple of games to get comfortable before we hit the meat of the schedule. If he can’t get it done, hopefully one or both of the other two can. Looking forward to a great season!
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This is a really big opportunity for Greyson Lambert. He already has a bachelor’s degree from UVa and was a starter there. Now he has the chance to be a football hero for his home state flagship university and get a graduate degree from Georgia in the process. If he leads the team to an SEC Championship………..
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totally excited to watch this version of the dawgs between the hedges.
So many great opportunities in front of this team. Excited to see how the players respond.
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What do we do if Richt comes back tomorrow and says “Psych!!” ?
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Go bake some special cookies.
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We talk about how we knew it couldn’t have really been Lambert and how bad it would have sucked having to see him guide the offense. Lol.
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The bright side? Richt maybe saw he didn’t have good options with his existing QB’s. Instead of throwing in the towel and accepting a “Belk Bowl” type of year, he went out and aggressively searched for and coached up someone better. Maybe CMR is hungrier than ever to break through and win a championship. Push, push, push. Don’t accept second best. That’s my bright side and positive spin.
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It’s a trap! Bauta is number one, just waiting until after the Vanderbilt game to start him. Richt is going to mess with Spurrier in every game. Start Lambert this week, bring Ramsey in during the 3rd quarter and close with Bauta, then during the Vandy game start with Ramsey, put Bauta in before the half, and let Lambert have mop up duty. It will drive Spurrier up the wall. Evil Richt is back baby he might even start the game with an onside kick.
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this is why I quit betting on sports. Pollack called this almost from the start ,right? Should I demand Ramsey play after the first in complete pass or the first interception? Can we blame Bobo for this? Can we have another week of practice…o bother , we’re doomed …dammit Bobo.
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So did Stinchcomb. Looks like Schlabach wasn’t on the inside and is pissy because he was wrong on a call he shouldn’t have made anyway.
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Seems to me Stinch and Pollack may have better inside sources than Schlabach. He must be mad because he wasn’t in the arena.
Still, I’m pretty surprised David and Matt called it so early.
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Most of the people who say they have some ears on the inside have said it’s Lambert for some time now. Honestly, if you listened to what both Schotty and MR had to say about the competition, no one should be shocked. The only shock would’ve been Faton.
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I’m ok with the move, however I do want to see what Faton can do with the ones. Ramsey is a turnover machine, and I think he continues to disappoint the coaches. I watched the Louisville game last week and Ramsey was horrid. He only had 9 attempts during the game thanks to Chubb going bonkers, but still of those 9, he had 1 INT and 3 others should have been intercepted. I trust our coaches on this.
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“But he got the nod.” Leaving the other two, winking and blinking
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I see what you did there.
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I was pulling for Ramsey But I am on record in the comments that Ramsey
would come in third & Richt was trying to keep him from transferring by keeping the competition open. .Is It too late for him to transfer this year ?
Bobo would love to have him & his 3 years of eligibility left.
I think Bauta is number 2 but he may consider transferring also, Or changing positions (H-Back with run, pass, and receiving options?).
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It does not surprise me. I have said several times that CMR has never gone after a transfer QB (that I can recall) and that we were in trouble at QB. When he went after 2 this year, I knew something was up. Having said that, I do think Lambert will be a better QB with a good OL and great RB’s. Who knows, this whole thing might turn out great.
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Knew there was a reason we went after Golson. Jacob Park was an idiot to transfer.
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I don’t think Park would have beat out Ramsey this year. He was still a distant third at the time he transferred.
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True. I’m going to look at this as special dispensation for the team. Schotty is my objective ruler while Richt is my cannon-izer.
They both saw what they wanted for this team in Lambert, got him on board and he did the rest. It’s a success story for the team, Lambert, Richt and Schotty plus us, the fans and alums. I believe that the decision was tough, it will be vilified in some qtrs.by some who got their oracle egos crushed and is the best timing decision that was needed to get the show on the road. Time now for game installation.
Pollack, Stinchcomb and others (Neuheisel) saw this coming with their own eyes and they aren’t where they are because they are stupid or blind. Add to that the two coaches we entrust the Dawg Offense to; add the QB coaches to the ranks of the believers; add the team’s spirit and away we go. This is the final cog needed to take us as far as possible this year. Time for us to lay aside petty differences and push together for this team’s success.
Sic’em Dawgs!
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I just heard Neuheisel say about Lambert that when he watched practice the ball was “on the money” and that he wouldn’t be surprised if Lambert was the SEC player of the year.
Someone pass the kool aide
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