After the game, Kirby was asked about his winning quarterback and had this to say in part:
… That’s what Stetson is able to do. He’s not as elusive as Bo but he’s a really good athlete. He makes plays with his legs. He’s able to pull the ball on zone reads. He makes you defend the whole 53 yards. We’ve always felt like Stetson is a really good player. It’s not like anybody didn’t think he was good. He was playing well last year. [Emphasis added.]
Sure, that’s why he was fourth-string in the preseason. Hell, I can’t blame Kirby here. It seems like everybody else in America used hindsight to rag his ass about his quarterbacks. He’s entitled to engage in a little revisionist thinking of his own when things are going right.
Speaking of going right, Stetson is currently the owner of a 206.56 passer rating. That would be good enough to lead the conference and be second nationally, except he doesn’t average 15 attempts per game. That is some ruthless efficiency there.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but compare Fromm’s regression under Coley to Stetson’s growth with Monken.
Get The Picture 
great point(s)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Please don’t mention Coley again. Ruins my good vibes.
LikeLiked by 7 people
Senator, it’s Foley as in “F-Coley”
LikeLike
If Stet has to take us to the promised land, I’m certain Monken can give him a plan to do it. The guy is a baller for sure.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Kirby is telling the truth, just maybe not the whole truth. Stetson’s been on scholarship for a couple of years now and I don’t think Kirby would waste a scholarship on someone who doesn’t add something to the team. Before that, he was a preferred walk-on, whatever that means. Saying Stetson is a “really good player” isn’t the same as saying he expected him to be the starter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think walkons are tackling dummies. Preferred walkons are scout team players that are good enough to make scholarship players better every practice
LikeLike
I think there’s something to this. If the season had gone sideways and JT was hurt, Stetson may not be playing and we’d be in development mode. But JT is dinged up, and Stetson is capable and has meaningful reps under his belt.
Beck and Vandagriff may both be more athletically talented and capable, but that doesn’t mean they need to get reps during a run when we have the talent to win a title.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hindsight, but if Kirby hadn’t put Stetson 4th string in August, we easily could have lost Beck and/or Vandegriff. Will probably lose one of them next pre-season. That’s what quarterbacks do these days.
LikeLiked by 4 people
We may lose Beck, but I don’t think we lose Vandagriff.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I’m alright with that. Beck displayed some prima-donna behavior during his pick six that I simply can’t get past. I never could abide a quitter and would beat the shit out of him if he did that working for me.
LikeLiked by 9 people
I don’t know the kid and don’t want to make judgments about his character or abilities, but I have noticed that we haven’t seen a lot of Beck since that play.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I don’t believe in coincidences but rather more cause and effect. For what ever reason he’s had VERY LIMITED playing time since that moment. There has been ample opportunity get Beck in the game if Kirby really wanted him on the field. The fact that he has not gotten that time speaks volumes IMHO.
LikeLiked by 3 people
…and if JT comes back, yhen who else do we lose??? Anyone thought about that? Jt wasn’t a world beater vs Clemson…..
LikeLike
I fully expect Beck to be gone after this year. IF Daniels and/or Bennett (extra COVID year??) are back I’m sure he’s gone. Vandergriff appears to be the horse we will hitch our future wagon to and then Stockton. Both are much better runners than Beck (or so we have been lead to believe). Nothing is set in stone but if it plays out this way it would not surprise me. As OU has shown this year you never know where the season will take you. The presumed preseason Heisman winner in Rattler may very well be riding the pines for non injury reasons. He has just been outplayed. The point being, you can never have too much talent and depth waiting in the wings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“….he’s not as elusive as Bo….”
Nix: 10 rushes, -16 yards ( -1.6 yds/carry)
Bennett: 6 rushes, 41 yards (6.8 yards per carry)
CKS ABC- Always Be Coachin’ . love it.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Nix is just elusive enough to make the first one or two pursuing linemen/LBs miss and get thumped by the second or third 30 yds. behind the LOS.
LikeLike
I’m a Stetson fan until he proves me wrong – the young man balls out.
LikeLiked by 11 people
I am not a Stetson fan, but he continues to prove me wrong. Hope he continues to prove me wrong each opportunity he is given.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t want to start a fight, but I just don’t understand the “not a fan of Stetson” crowd. I get it if someone doesn’t think he’s the most talented quarterback out there, but the kid doesn’t do anything but represent UGA with class and maturity. He was beat out on the field last year and could have left for more playing time somewhere else because no one, fan or coach, expected him to start any games this year. He chose to stay, finish what he started and work hard to learn everything he can from the UGA coaching staff. Whether he starts another game for the Dawgs or not, he’s earned my respect and admiration.
LikeLiked by 14 people
It’s almost like some fans would rather lose if we have to win with Stetson at QB. They’re the same goons that would be bitching and complaining that Kirby didn’t do enough to keep Stetson if we were losing with one of the young guys back there right now (which we almost certainly would be.)
They’d rather look good losing with a 5 star than win with an accomplished over-achiever who is a growing legend to reasonable and real fans.
And you know who you are, a-holes. You’re the UGA fan equivalent to the Bama fan that wants Saban fired because he lost one game in years.
And I don’t GAS who is playing..I’m wishing them the best if they’re wearing that red helmet with a G on it.
LikeLiked by 5 people
I am a Georgia fan and alum and I am a fan of every QB we have in the game. If Nathan Priestley is in the game then I am a Nathan Priestley fan.
If you know Bennett and he and you have issues then I would understand not being a fan of the guy leading your team. Otherwise I don’t understand.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What is not to like about a player he leaves it all on the field. He has markedly improved in his mechanics and decision making since last year. That probably has to do with having a full year Monken’s system with all the practices that entailed. I would be very nervous about our chances with the 2020 version of Stetson on the field, but the 2021 version makes me a little hesitant about sitting him in lieu of Daniels when he’s healthy. His ability to make plays with his legs is something that Daniels can’t do. All said, this is the type of problems that you don’t mind. Which winner do I put in? I hate to think where we would be without Stetson (this year or last). I’m pretty damn sure we would not be talking about a realistic shot at the NC without him.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I’d bet Notre Dame, TAMU, and several other teams in the Top 25 would take SBIV right now.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Isn’t that the truth.
LikeLike
The gang on WSLS was discussing in the preseason that Fromm opted not to endear himself as a DGD by bailing on his senior year; leaving us in a lurch; and not taking time under Monken.
It’s incredible what we’re getting out of him, and I’m happy for him to hang around as long as he wants.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Did you see/hear the shitty things that were said about Fromm by certain members of our entitled fan base including some on this blog? The Dawgs almost won the national championship in 2017 and Georgia was 35-7 with him at QB. I don’t blame Fromm for leaving early. Ingrates.
LikeLike
It’s possible that JT and Stetson could return next year (I think).
And Pickens!
That would suit the hell out of me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So…. I see you’re still censoring my posts Bluto. Can’t stand the truth, eh?
LikeLike
LikeLike
What is WSLS?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree Coley was a problem.
LikeLike
Coley was the single worse decision that Kirby has made during his tenure. Not Fromm over Fields – Coley. The SOB goes to A&M, where they begin to raid some of our best staffers – no love lost for Coley – none.
LikeLiked by 6 people
“Sure, that’s why he was fourth-string in the preseason.”
Kirby also addressed the lack of reps by saying that they knew what he could do. I don’t think he was ever really 4th string; just getting all the reps you might expect from a true back up.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I think if JT doesn’t come back in the next 2 or 3 games and Stet keeps up his current play, JT won’t start again. Stet is proving he can run this offense and he is going to be pretty hard to pull from the starting lineup. AU is not a great defense but it is a legit SEC defense with plenty of blue chip talent. Look what Stet did to it. I know it’s not the conventional wisdom but I think Bennett CAN lead us to a NC.
LikeLiked by 5 people
What a luxury, eh?
LikeLiked by 2 people
College football 1st world problems. Which winning QB do I play?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed, Gurkha. Now that Monken has had time to tailor a game plan to Stetson’s abilities the offense has been fine. And I don’t see any offenses out there like last year that could blitz this defense like what happened at Bama and Florida. Stetson very well could lead us to the NC.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Would absolutely LOVE to see Stetson get a shot at #FTMF for what they did to him last year with that cheap shot. If he gets the shot (or even if Daniels starts) I would have him in to run the score up on those assholes just as high as the scoreboard could register.
LikeLiked by 5 people
…and if JT comes back, then who else do we lose? Fyi Stetson is really strong rolling out/boot legging. In the pocket, not his best place.
LikeLike
Monken deserves HUGE credit. I like to think what could have been if somehow Monken could have come with Kirby in 2016. We would have had a couple of NC’s by now. Every year we have had as much if not more talent on offense as this year. Like the Senator has said numerous times, guys are running wide open on almost every play.
LikeLiked by 7 people
Coley is one of the darkest chapters in DAWG history.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hogbody Spradlin nailed it, IMO. Kirby knew he could list Stet as this season’s 4th-string QB and Stet would remain a good player and teammate. Put Beck as 4th-string and he’s in the portal. Monken once told Stet he didn’t deserve reps and wouldn’t get any. Now look where we are. Hope JT’s back soon but Stet is one of the all-time DGDs.
LikeLiked by 5 people
I think Bennett will be remembered like Shockley. A talented player who could have left but decided to stay. A DGD that will be fondly remembered for decades.
LikeLiked by 8 people
That last comment was cold! 🥶
LikeLike
Stet is good enough to get to the SECCG. JTD can win it and the playoffs.
LikeLike
If Stetson gets us to the SECCG, we DO NOT change horses mid stream. We ride that horse all the way to the finish line (barring injury) in Indianapolis. Eason did not come in to replace Fromm. If Stetson continues like this with the hot hand (and given he can run), why replace him? The 2021 model Stetson Bennett is much improved over the 2020 model Stetson Bennett.
LikeLiked by 1 person