On JT Daniels’ injury…
“I don’t know about finessing it. My first question with Ron (Courson) is he going to aggravate it and hurt worse, right by not doing anything, and he said basically it’s a muscle injury. So anything that bothers it you don’t want to do, but anything that doesn’t bother it, you want to continue to do he’s able today to go out and do some soft toss, it didn’t bother it and that’s the same protocol he did with that. It was not a complete shutdown, there’s exercises he can do in our training room that are bands, and throwing motions, and things that don’t hurt him. That don’t bother him. As long as it doesn’t bother him then we feel like we’re getting improvement, gradual improvement. And that’s the key because the last thing I want to do is push the envelope, reinjure, go back, then the constant cycle of that. So we’re not trying to finesse it to the point that ‘hey we throw him out there,’ we’re trying to get him to do what he can without getting injured and I’m not the expert of that, I can assure you. I do listen to what Ron says and he also consults with other people.”
My header is a quasi-rhetorical question. I mean, we’re in the midst of maybe the best-managed season of Georgia football I can remember — despite a bunch of injuries on offense and some weeks facing subpar opponents, Smart has kept this team on an even, focused keel, gotten production on both sides of the ball and avoided any serious in-game brain farts — and yet there is plenty of Internet chatter about (1) why Beck isn’t getting more playing time and (2) whether the team really afford to let Daniels miss a few more games to recover fully from his lat strain.
Left unsaid by those questions is an underlying assumption that Stetson Bennett isn’t good enough for the task ahead, at least in the short run. I said this a couple of weeks ago, but nobody on this coaching staff is expecting Bennett to take this team to a national title. The thing is, nobody on this coaching staff is asking him to do that. Here’s something Seth Emerson wrote ($$) about Bennett that resonates with me:
He may be the best backup quarterback in the country, a known quantity the team could turn to if Daniels were knocked out against Florida or in the SEC championship or some game like that. Carson Beck and Brock Vandagriff may have more long-term potential but this isn’t the time to be developing for the future, at least if you risk blowing the present.
Bennett’s started two games this season. Georgia’s won both. Even more importantly, he’s proven he knows how to operate Todd Monken’s gameplan at a high level. UAB sold out to stop the run and Bennett torched them to the tune of an insane 431.53 passer rating. Arkansas played its patented 3-2-6 defense and Bennett happily handed off the ball 57 times in route to a 37-point win. I’m not seeing a problem here.
If rest is beneficial to JT Daniels future this season and it can be provided without much risk, it makes sense to allow him to recover fully. How risky is Auburn, then?
Well, against P5 competition, Auburn’s offensive ypp is 5.26, good for 11th in the conference, and its defensive ypp is 5.43, 7th in the SEC. If you do the math quickly, you’ll note that works out to a negative net ypp. Somehow, the Tigers have to get untracked this week against a defense that’s done this in their last two games:
For perspective, yes, Vanderbilt is bad, but even after last week’s shellacking, Arkansas is still the SEC’s fifth best in offensive ypp and fourth best in defensive ypp against P5 opposition. In other words, even if you want to give Auburn something of the benefit of the doubt because Georgia will be on the road in a hostile environment this week, it’s still hard to see how they’re a more formidable challenge than Arkansas was.
The risk seems manageable, in other words. It seems weird to say this, but I think the coaches have earned the benefit of the doubt here. If your mileage varies, tell us why in the comments.
Get The Picture 
Thank you! And Dawg fans please leave your Munson at the door!
Go Dawgs!! GATA!!
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Senator,
If we’re not expecting Bennett to lead us to a Natty, what are we expecting his ceiling to be? Say he has to get us through the next 3 game stretch, do we feel good about that?
If so, couldn’t you argue that getting us through that stretch is basically leading us to a Natty, via SECCG?
I would think we’re only saying he cannot beat alabama and whomever ends up in the CFP.
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As a fan, I’ve decided to just assume that Stetson will be the starter indefinitely. I just can’t be sure JT will ever be 100% this year, but I don’t think he needs to be. I think Stetson is plenty when combined with the rest of the team, especially defense. I hope that JT comes back at some point though, even if it’s just for some specific packages in the SECCG. Would love to beat Saban with 2 QBs.
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Wonder if JT or Stetson will be back next year
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JT is looking more and more probable
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I hope not, that might cause some issues with the young 5-stars we are stacking.
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If Daniels comes back its hard to see how Beck sticks around. Bennett still could also come back as well. That would give us 4 QBs on scholarship with Stockton coming in if Beck leaves. Not really crowded especially considering one will always have an injury of sorts. The assumption is BVG or Stockton would assume the QB1 role in 2023.
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Beck is gone methinks
He doesn’t seem to have ever fully embraced Bulldawg
culture
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Why do you say that about Beck? I’m not asking because I disagree with you necessarily. I’m just wasn’t aware of anything out there about him like that and am hoping you can share the scuttlebutt.
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I wonder how much that pick six affected his playing time? Not the INT itself, but the lack of any effort to go after the ball once he threw the INT. The mentality of this team seems to be 100% effort 100% of the time. That certainly didn’t show that.
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Historically, 5 stars don’t like to sit on the bench and wait their turn. If they get beat out, they tend to leave. That could create an issue (especially if we somehow land Arch Manning too).
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I’ve been thinking that JT sticking around and starting in 2022 makes it MORE likely that we land Arch Manning. BVG (rs soph), Gunnar (rs frosh), Manning would all be competing for the job in 2023. JT Daniels staying pushes the competition start date back until Manning would have time to get here and be on relatively even footing. Or as even as he could with a 3yr guy.
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A few folks thought JT’s injuries were worse than initially thought at the start of game 2. I trust in the staff to bring him back when the time is appropriate. Respectfully, the mailman has done everything that we as fans could expect. SB is a DGD and is fearless, you have to admire his drive. I wouldn’t put undue pressure on SB, but so far he has performed far better this season than last and has worked his ass off for playing time…he has earned it.
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I agree. SBIV has been much better this year than last. It’s obvious to me that a full off season with Monken has improved his performance. He still has those “oh shit” moments but many QBs do that. Monken also seems to use Bennett’s mobility as another part of his game. Tailoring the plan to the QB’s strengths isn’t something we’ve done well in the past with previous OCs so I’m glad to see it.
Overall, I think Bennett can get us where we want to be, but I think JT would get us there with less stress.
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Pretty sure I argued back in the Spring with someone on here (someone with a proclivity for arguing on here) that Bennett was our #2 until proven otherwise. Bennett has confirmed all the reasons I gave back then. He still has his flaws, maybe they are too large for him to win the biggest ones, but he is a solid #2 that brings a different tool set that teams will have to account for.
I am loving this season almost as much as 2017 (’17 set a very high bar), and Stetson’s contributions are no small part of that love.
Viva El Mailman!!!
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It’s foolish to argue with anything they have done managing the QB’s. The success and stats are proof.
SBIV was rolling till hurt at Jacksonville last year. This defense if not burdened by turn overs can keep the team in any regular season game. Still believe a healthy JT is needed at attain an SEC and NC.
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Yup. I have stopped second guessing the coaches when it comes to playing Bennett vs Beck. They see the practices every day and they know what they have in both. Does Bennett win of a National Championship? Probably not. But we aren’t asking him to either. He is just a stopgap until Daniels is back healthy. If Daniels never gets fully healthy in the next few weeks then we may have a real problem on our hands.
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Buck Belue was 1 for 11 in the 80 championship game.
Of course he had Herschel, but still…..
But I still would like to know why we don’t see a third QB when we have insurmountable leads in the fourth quarter. (I posted this same question the other day). Does it have something to do with recruiting the Manning kid?
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No. SBIV still needs game reps to make sure that he has the best chance of improving. Even if JT comes back in a couple of weeks, he could get knocked out of a game at a critical point. If JT isn’t in there, we need SBIV getting every possible rep.
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I definitely like Bennett as a number 2 guy and I have been curious about why Beck hasn’t gotten more reps. I’d prefer Daniels playing, but I understand the risk mitigation. I do hope he’s back by Florida week and we hang half-a-hundred (or more) on them.
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I like the “or more” option – much more!
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Kirby wants the national title worse than we do. I trust him to get us there. Shoulder injuries are stubborn. Ron Courson knows what he is doing. I trust the process.
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I don’t think anything is being mismanaged here at all.
I am concerned that the passing game isn’t repping its #1s. Reps matter. Timing matters. Experience matters.
It makes no difference against any regular season opponent left on the schedule. But it will be an opportunity cost when Georgia hits an opponent who can compete on both sides of the ball.
That said, you’d prefer a 100% JT minus some reps in that game versus a 90% JT with a few dozen extra game reps. He’s going to have to nail some deep shots in that game.
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I think Bennett can win out all the way to the SECCG. My biggest concern is ensuring JT has had enough games and game situations to be ready to play Alabama.
Of course if the defense doesn’t step up, then we go no where. 😉
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Well, if JT can’t go due to injuries it means SBIV is our starter and Beck is our backup. To me, that means we need to get Beck some reps when we’re kicking opponents asses. And we need Beck to run the offense that a starter would be expected to run (I.e. quality reps) rather than be treated as a walk-on getting mop up playing time.
So yes, I think we could coach our QBs more effectively. Gotta admit it’s a lingering area of concern during Kirby’s otherwise outstanding reign.
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I agree with this. JT is hurt which makes Beck the #2. I would feel better if he was getting some quality reps. Bennett could go down at any second, just as he did in JAX last year.
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At that point, I would expect to see JT if the game was still on the line..he has been dressed put.
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And with the dirty Auburn defense up next, who knows? Dirty as in they will hit Bennett every opportunity they get.
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There you go man, keep as cool as you can.
Face piles
And piles
Of trials
With smiles.
It riles them to believe
that you perceive
the web they weave
And keep on thinking free.
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Moody Blues for the win
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Gotdam hippies.
What? Oh, riiiiight.
Carry on. I’ll be in the area all day.
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If we can get to near 100% at receiver and get a better push for the running backs, Bennett can take us all the way, with some good bounces. Otherwise I don’t see how we make it past Atlanta and two more games against very good teams (one of whom is like 99% guaranteed to be Bama again) without our best player at the most important position. We ARE due for a regression towards the mean if we stay right where we are, as far as injuries.
We’ve looked awesome, and it’s possible like this, but if this team can limp to a title then there’s an even bigger parity problem with the sport than I thought.
This isn’t Sabans best Bama team but they’ve got the defensive talent to get a push on our line and match up with our B squad receivers; I don’t know if Bennett can put the team on his shoulders and carry us to a win (or two) in that situation.
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12-1 gets UGA past Atlanta, same with Bama..
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Why worry this week? Well, it’s odd-year Auburn, for one. Last week they reverted to their crazy bullshit Auburn ways of winning. So, we’re sort of entering into the Twilight Zone in a lot of ways where reason and expectations can sort of just go out the window. Plus, all their people are going to be buck-wild and loud and we’ve not played a real honest-to-God road game since I don’t know when. Throw on Stet’s willingness to force a pass or two and it’s not out of nowhere that you might think Auburn could get a score off a TO with a pick six or short field which could get things a little bit puckery if you know what I mean. There are reasons (unreasonable and superstitious they may be) to be a bit wary this week.
I’ll be happy with a win by 1 or 30.
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There have been some strange things in this rivalry over the years. I’m comfortable when the clock’s at 00:00 (and we’re up).
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Like they say, It’s not superstitious if it works!
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From a fan perspective we are damn lucky to have Stetson. If he was 6’3″ he would have an NFL future. One bad throw a game doesn’t keep you from getting drafted.
I think Kirby has realized the same thing. He has shitted on Stetson this whole time, but Stetson hangs in there, bides his time, and then wins some games. Kirby deserved to be stuck with Mathis last year. This year? All summer we heard how Beck was #2 and Stetson was with practice squad, and then JT got injured. Do you think Kirby was excited to see what Beck could do against Venables and that Clemson DL? Yeah, that’s why Kirby is done disrespecting Stetson. Kirby knows he will likely need Stetson to win some big games this year, and he’s done acting like Stetson’s job is to jump in there until they can develop a young guy.
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The mailman is a luxury that most teams don’t have. Getting JT available for the playoffs I believe is the priority. Maybe Daniels could play in the next 2 or 3 games if he really had to; does he need to? Maybe against the Gators, but after watching that KY game, I’m starting to doubt that. JTD is a heady guy who actually could improve while sidelined. Given the injuries on offense and lots of new guys playing; you need experience at QB and both SB and JTD give you that. Long way to go to say I like how GA is handling their QBs.
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Help me out here…Assuming all talent is back and healthy (except Daniels) for SECCG, why couldn’t SB win that game? He’ll never be a Heisman candidate but he seems to just have enough?
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Did you watch last year’s Alabama game?
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Different years. Different teams.
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That’s what Ole Miss just said…..same result
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I did. Saw him put us up at Bama until the defense folded like a cheap suit late in the 3rd quarter. It’s true he couldn’t bring us back, though I think this year both he and Monken could scheme something to keep us in the game.
Would I be more comfortable with JT against Bama? Sure, but I don’t think we’re doomed with Stetson.
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Since I can’t edit, I’ll just add on. Since that Bama game last year, SBIV is playing better, our receivers are much better (and getting better still as players return from injury), our OL is getting better, and our RBs are better. All of that (to me) is borne out by the manner in which our offense has performed so far, “air raid” one game, “ground and pound” the next. Monken is comfortable with all the tools in his toolbox, and if Stetson has to go, I’m comfortable that Monken can use him to secure the win.
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I like SB, but he sometimes loses his game manager profile and tries to be a gunslinger. He also doesn’t see open guys when they aren’t his first look. I thought no that matters if the shit ever hits the fan and we are pressing to score.
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I did watch that (sitting around a campfire). But ( I think you might agree) this is a different team and so is Bama. They do have an excellent QB but they don’t seem to be otherworldly. Our defense (I know, I know — we ain’t played nobody yet) seems to be suffocating which really can mess with another teams head (Ark on the first series is an example). Our offense (as you’ve stated) just takes what the defense is giving. This year just “feels” different.!?
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Unfortunately, Stetson still shows a tendency to force throws he shouldn’t.
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And Beck hasn’t shown that same tendency? That’s been his rep since he got on campus. And it’s not a deal breaker for a QB – as long as they learn to manage that mentality. I’m guessing most QB coaches would rather work on settling down a gunslinger than try to rev up a check-down Charlie.
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He’s good for at least one of those a game. Arkansas dropped what should have been an easy pick. This is really the only thing that racks my nerves a bit about Saturday.
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I don’t get the people worried about Beck playing in garbage time. The risk/reward ratio isn’t there for Beck, the team, or the coaches. If he continues to struggle and/or turn the ball over his confidence worsens, the offense struggles, the defense’s great work is diminished, and the coaches get questioned even more. Even if he performs decently, those are timing reps that are robbed from our young receivers still trying to get on the same page with our actual go-to QBs.
In my book, Beck’s practice reps are enough until/unless we actually need him. I am sure he gets a ton. During games, developing the rest of our offense and protecting our ELITE defense means a whole lot more to the team overall and where they want to go.
SBIV is better than he was last year, and I am expecting JTD to come back stronger than ever.
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I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.
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As long as Bennett brings his A game, avoid turnovers & keeps snap count sync with the Oline for noise issues we should be fine.
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Snap count in a loud, hostile environment will be key. One more reason to have Stetson back there instead of Beck. He and the OL have history and should be easier to remain in sync.
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It would help if the D or the O or both do something the first drive or two – if you smack Auburn down the crowd will be much less raucous. If we let Auburn get rolling the crowd will be hell.
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Yes we have to pour it on early. I would like a strip sack, scoop score.
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We also don’t want to start the game close to their student section.
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I’m really worried about SBIV’s health. We were on our way to a Florida beatdown when he got hit on the shoulder. If that happens and JT is really not ready to go we are toast. Beck is not ready for Prime Time and Van must not be since he is the scout QB. At least he can show the scramble drill to get us ready for Bo.
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Florida probably won the game on that dirty hit and they will try it again. It looks like their best shot. OL and TEs will need to step it up.
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No way the Barn is better than Arkansas. Dawgs win big. Nix hurts the Barn more than he does the Dawgs.
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