I find this juxtaposition of comments about how the coaching staff went about its decision making at the starting quarterback spot revealing. Here’s what Jim Chaney had to say about the thinking going into the season:
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said he wouldn’t classify the separation between Eason (the starter) and Fromm (the backup) as “significant” at the conclusion of fall camp, but “it was such that we didn’t feel comfortable in the other direction (Fromm) at the beginning of the Appalachian State game.”
Obviously, Plan A had to be crumpled into a tiny ball and tossed into the nearest trash can after Eason’s injury in the opener, but what about after the preseason choice to start returned to full health?
“I don’t think there was ever a premeditated moment,” Chaney said, speaking to the media for the first time since August at the L.A. Hotel Downtown. “We went out, Jacob wasn’t healthy yet, and we beat Notre Dame. We came back home and won another ball game (against Samford). You could see us starting to click and the ball starting to move down the field with relative ease. It was a good formula at that time. We never predetermined anything but you couldn’t make that change at the time, when Jacob got healthy. It wouldn’t have been the right thing at the time.”
It’s conservative, and I don’t mean that in a negative sense. Clearly, they had some clue that the offense was going to get more traction out of the offensive line and running game than it did in 2016, and that meant looking for the quarterback who would do the least harm to the orientation of the game plan. Experience won out, but then Fromm showed he could handle the game plan at least as well as what they’d expected from Eason… plus, there was all that winning. You just don’t screw with what’s working.
Get The Picture 
Buata’s of the world cringe at the fact they can no longer get the random start.
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I have no problem with how it worked out. I do feel awful for Jacob Eason that he lost his job due to an injury sustained due to a cheap shot. He stuck to his commitment when it may have been easier to reopen his recruitment after the coaching change. He was pretty much forced to play behind that offensive line last year. No matter what he decides to do in January, he’s a DGD in my book.
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Word.
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And he was the reason there was a 93k Day.
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Yeah, I feel bad for him. I wish him the best whatever he decides to do after this year.
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Perfectly stated.
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^This.
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I hope Jacob Eason understands that we all regret what happened to him. Surely he will have a great future somewhere..I can’t imagine him staying in Athens. Maybe we’ll see him in red and black again..he’d look good in an Atlanta Falcon’s uniform.
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I don’t wordpress, can someone post Crash Davis’ rant to Annie Savoy; “Don’t fuck with the streak!”
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Here ya go:
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Pretty much what most of us here at GTP figured happened. It’s really too bad for Eason. Good luck to him wherever he ends up.
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I have a feeling he’ll stick around for spring practice and see what happens. If he doesn’t beat Jake out he’s gone. Only question is what transfer restrictions Kirby puts on him.
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Kirby should tell him, “Go play where you want to play. You gave me a chance. You were willing to play behind that offensive line and didn’t complain at all. Good luck, Jacob.”
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No, don’t let him play in the SEC, or anyone we play in the next couple of years, especially ND. But that leaves a ton of good P5 teams he could play for. I think he’d understand us not wanting to face him.
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We’ll have to agree to disagree. He has to sit next year regardless. I think the right thing to do is to let him leave to go to the school of his choice. The expedient thing to do is to put restrictions on him (it’s within the rules but doesn’t make it right). If he has to sit next year, why shouldn’t he be able to go to LSU if he wants? The only chance we would have to face him would be in an SECCG in 2019 or 2020.
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I feel hypocritical for saying this especially because Jacob is a damn good dawg but I sure as hell do not want to play him especially as a volunteer, gator, gamecock, or any form of sec tiger.
That being said I wish him the best and hope he turns into a first round if not no. 1 overall pick.
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I don’t want to see him in the SEC. I don’t think he’ll stay in the league. My opinion is that he goes either to South Florida with CMR or to one of the Washington schools.
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Since LSU is my second love, I would love to see him there. The QB position has been an issue for them since Mett left or before.
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I feel Chaney’s comment was truthful. they didn’t have a premeditated plan for what would occur when Eason recovered, or when that would happen. But I feel that wasn’t the whole truth. If Fromm had closed the gap so much by opening day on a veteran QB after being on campus for just a few months, it says Eason had not made as much progress as so many felt. It also meant Fromm had flashed some ability that we saw in his his opening few drives.
I thought Eason still looked stiff in the Spring game, and in the very limited few plays we saw against Appy. Doesn’t mean that Eason won’t develop and become a star later in his career, he clearly has some gifts most young QBs don’t have, but you cannot teach accuracy, or having that ability to make quick decisions as things unfold in front of you. I don’t feel we would be in the position we are if Fromm hadn’t gotten that early chance, and I don’t think the coaches would have made that change without the decision being forced. Hate that for Eason, but both he and UGA may be better off in the long run. Wish him well, whatever he decides to do, he gave it all he had. Not sure Hollyweird would have written this script, destiny and preparation was responsible.
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Good post but I disagree about one thing Mac. You CAN improve a QB’s accuracy through good coaching and the game slows down the more experience the QB gets so his decision making and speed of same improves–again with good coaching. I’m betting Eason goes to Washington or Wazzou, or another PAC 12 school and I wish him well.
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I agree the game slows down and you make better decisions, but accuracy is not coaching, it is on the athlete. And some never have it.
Baseball pitchers can have great stuff but the one with location will win out, and you rarely see a guy who doesn’t have it change, despite working with the very best teachers. Frankly, it was accuracy, touch, and a discomfort in the pocket that he struggled with. I really hopes he overcomes it all, but not sure he had in September.
Would think he might go the Cam route and go to JUCO to play himself back into shape rather than sit out another year.
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Eason needs to do what he thinks is best for himself. There are not many around like #’s 27 and 1.
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Would think that joining the one who knows you, who recruited you and brung you here and whose credentials as a QB coach are great; down in south Fl; down to the U.
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I think the U is just as good a candidate for the services of Eason as any of the Washington schools.
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What would be the most amazing irony of all …..JE being on the UGA team that won a NC…and then moving on to Miami to play for Richt and winning a NC there. No, it’s not likely, but wouldn’t it be something? Or facing UGA in the playoffs next year.
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As I read through this post and the comments, one thought came to mind (and I’m sure it’s in the back of many of your minds): What if during the playoffs, Fromm is injured and cannot play, and Eason returns with a performance like the Mizzou game in 2016 (or the ’16 Tenn game before the Hell Mary). I would be interested to hear what others have to say on how this would affect the Dawgs QB situation going forward.
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We never got to see Eason play behind a competent O line with a healthy stable of running backs.. I suspect he would do just fine. I wish there was some way we could look into an alternate future/past with him as our QB to see how things would have turned out.
I for one (since I am walking down memory lane today) am thrilled to see the QB situation as it is, especially with Fields committing. I would love to see Eason stay because of the warm fuzzy feeling having that much talent on the sidelines gives my backside. But I don’t think he came here to play career backup, so I wish him the best as a DGD wherever he goes and will pull for him as long as he ain’t playing us.
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