Mr. Bennett is having a fine year. How fine? This fine.
… Bennett currently leads the SEC in passing efficiency at 193.85 — or, at least he would if he’d thrown enough passes to qualify.
Bennett has completed 66.3% of his passes for 11.5 yards per attempt with 12 touchdowns and only four interceptions, two of which came against Florida on Saturday. However, he’s throwing only 14.4 passes per game, which is short of the 15 per game he needs to qualify for rate stats. If Bennett had thrown four more passes, he’d not only lead the SEC in passing efficiency, but he’d be third overall in the country behind only Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe and Oklahoma’s Caleb Williams, who has made up for lost time quickly. Bennett’s 11.5 yards per attempt would also lead the SEC and rank second nationally behind Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall.
This is what I meant when I referred to the luxury of Stetson Bennett a couple of weeks ago. Or, as his head coach put it,
“I think the feeling in the outside world is that you can’t win it all [the national championship] without JT,” Smart said. “I don’t know or can’t say that’s accurate or not. I know there’s nothing that he’s shown that Stetson hasn’t shown us that leads us to believe that’s the case.”
Kirby’s not worried about winning a natty right now, because that question won’t be a real issue for another month. What he is worried about is having sufficiently capable quarterback play to stay on the road to that question becoming relevant. Or, I should say, would be worried about if Bennett wasn’t playing at such a high level. Given what’s left on the table for the remainder of the regular season, Bennett gives Smart all sorts of options on how to best get the most from the quarterback position. To me, that’s the opposite of a quarterback controversy, but what do I know?
Get The Picture 
Stetson has been better this year, no doubt. But turnovers like he had on Saturday will get us beat eventually. Both were really bad decisions and really bad throws.
I think his rope is shorter than it was a week ago.
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One was a really bad decision (and throw). I still can’t really tell what he was seeing on the first pick,
The other was just a really bad throw. Receiver had three yards on the DB, Stetson just under threw him and put the ball inside instead of towards the sideline.
The physical mistakes we can live with, no one is 100% accurate 100% of the time.
Forcing the first throw is what makes me nervous about Stetson; although, he’s light years ahead of what he was doing last year.
his mobility is elite, and There in lies the rub. With our inconsistent OL play, how valuable is Stetsons scrambling ability?
I
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He does make stuff happen with his legs. There is probably 1 sack a game that Daniels would take that Bennett is able to run out of for a first down. That’s not nothing. That is important. I hope they tell him in film study when when he goes to run to tuck that ball in though. That one handed hold of the ball when he takes off makes me a bit nervous!
What do you do about the boneheaded throws though? He makes a minimum of one bad underthrow per game from my count. They don’t all get picked which is lucky for us. But averages caught back up Saturday and two were picked.
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Come on, Big. There have been a lot more than one sack a game that JT wouldn’t have escaped. Go back and watch the WLOCP. Bennett escaped pressure a LOT of times and he also had a great gain on a broken play and had a few designed runs that went well.
There’s a reason JT didn’t play and I don’t think it’s 100 percent health related. For now, Stet’s mobility and quickness trump JT’s assets.
When JT goes back in, it will mean the coaches think it’s an upgrade. I’ll take an upgrade. This QB situation is going along on an unplanned schedule that is actually giving CKS some options and secret sauces that he will use to further the cause.
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Yup. Well put!
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I do wonder if Burton ran the wrong route one the first one. It was still an awful throw, but I do wonder if he was supposed to stay towards the middle.
It seemed like he brought the other defender over with him.
Could be way off, haven’t seen a great overhead shot.
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Aaron Murray’s breakdown of Stetson’s first INT (Instagram link). My take from watching this is that the decision wasn’t as bad as first thought. The coverage scheme can trick a QB easily.
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Throw was poor and Stetson missed seeing White emerge from the backfield open.
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The problem I have with the Stetson gets out of sacks thanks to his mobility is Daniels makes decisions quicker. If you’re making decisions quicker and likely better presnap reads, you’re going to get sacked less.
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Yep.
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Re-watching the game last night makes me think a lot of Stetson’s scrambling runs wouldn’t be made by JT because he wouldn’t have to make them. I think Stetson takes too long to decide, and has to scramble. So far, so good, but…..
The intentional grounding penalty was also a curious thing. Maybe the ref was being picky about the rule, based on how they ruled some of Bo Nix’s ‘throws under pressure’, but that would have been a good spot for him to run out of the box and then throw it. Easy for me to say in my armchair, I know.
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Some of y’all act like no other QB ever makes a bad throw. They almost all make a couple of bad throws every game. Some get picked off, some don’t.
For some of you, one oh- shit cancels a thousand atta-boys for SB4.
He’s not perfect. I haven’t seen a perfect QB..but he’s very good.
And this isn’t an argument that he should continue to start once JT is ready. I’m happy we bloggers don’t get to make that decision . We saw what happened when Mullen let the fans decide which QB to play.
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It’s not that at all. Stetson has exceeded my expectations this year, and off course he’s entitled to bad throws. That pick JT threw against SC was equally terrible.
But if you can’t see his obvious limitations, then I can’t help you. Maybe it doesn’t matter and we can win anyway.
But at some point, we will be down 14-0. And I am very dubious that with that type of game pressure that Stetson won’t force a bad pick.
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Who’s gonna get 14 quick ones on UGA? One of the Bay NFL teams, maybe.
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“If you can’t see his obvious limitations…”
Which apparently Kirby and Todd don’t seem to think are the death knell of this season like so many Sunday savants seem to think they are.
“Turnovers like he had will get us beat eventually…”
Jimminy Christmas is that “eventually” having a solid workout. Deep-pass picks are probably the lowest-pain turnover in the entire game of football. In a situation where we’re down a score and racing the clock to try to catch up to someone, sure, that could beat us. So now, go ahead and script the other 55 minutes of poorly played football so you can hang that hypothetical loss around the neck of Stetson Bennett.
“At some-point, we will be down 14-0.”
This is a possibility. It’s right up there with “at some point, Dan Mullen’s gonna win a Natty.” It COULD happen, but the forces of probability will have to be held in check by a power akin to that’s of Odin himself. Yes, we could give up an opening-drive TD, and then have a turnover score immediately, and be down 14-0. Or, we could play a tough defense and simply not be able to put the ball the end zone like Clemson (Checks notes on QB that day… oh damn).
I’ll tell you what what needs to happen at some point eventually… At some point, people are going to have to simply trust that Kirby’s sample size of information for the capabilities (whether that be pure ability, or lack thereof due to injury) of these quarterbacks is a hell of a lot higher than ours, and he’s making the best decision to put his team in the right position to win… otherwise, the people who are hemming and hawing about how stupid he is are going to look rather foolish, eventually.
Stetson “can’t beat Florida”… but he did,
I have zero vested interest in either of these guys playing over the other one save this – I want whoever it is, to win. If he’s on the field, I believe that Kirby and Todd believe, he’s the guy. At some point, I have to admit they’re far superior to me on the football knowledge front.
Eventually.
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Ok. We’ll see.
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Also, if this defense is truly “2011 Alabama” level, I invite everyone to take a look at that season and show me where the wheels fell off to the degree they seem to think is going to happen at Georgia.
It’s not even so much that people believe it COULD happen…(of course it could, this game is nuts)… but rather the relative certainty so many seem to have that it WILL.
The playoff offenses UGA will face may be very very good.. but they aren’t, after 9 weeks, “all-time” good.
Georgia’s Defense IS.
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I’ve been a big supporter of Bennett since he came back to be a DGD. In no world did I see his ceiling so high. I blame Monken for making into the QB he is today.
Given Florida’s pass rush ability why toss JT into a possible meat grinder if not needed. I totally trust Kirby and will continue to say he is the right man at the right time for Georgia. Watching his joy after beating FU was a lot of fun it seemed better than the Rose Bowl on a personal level..
Nobody wants to bring that NC trophy back to Athens more than Kirby. After all what’s better for recruiting than a new NC.
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Yeah, that’s where I am/was on Saturday. Stetson was all we needed to beat Florida, and no need to risk re-injuring JT against Florida. Given the stretch run, work JT back into the game and see who takes the job. Monken obviously has plans for either QB to take advantage of their relative strengths. I’m glad we have two QBs of this level, and I’m convinced we can win it all with either one.
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I appreciate all SBIV has done for the Dawgs. I’m thankful he came back as I’m not certain the Dawgs would be #1 without him. This team would be unstoppable with a true 5 Star QB with no durability issues. It appears Kirby has addressed that issue for the future through recruiting and undoubtedly will have no problem filling that slot through the portal if Vandagriff or Stockton don’t work out.
It will be interesting to see how the Dawgs coaching staff balances QB rotation in the next six or seven games. It’s a good problem to have but it’s still a problem.
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This. I don’t take one Advil to get rid of a headache. The box says you can take one or two. I don’t want to experiment with the minimum amount it takes to work. I want to overwhelm it. I want to overwhelm on defense AND offense if at all possible. Leave nothing to chance. Nothing. I assume JT isn’t 100% and a setback with this injury would restart the timeline to get back to 100%. SBiv has been a great story, but at some point you probably need a QB that throws enough for his stats to “count”. If JT never does get back then we’ll see if one Advil is enough to do the job.
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Maybe it’s better described as an opportunity.
It gives Kirbs a hell of a lot of leeway in how to get where he wants to go..and it gives opposing teams DC’s a lot to work on.
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OUD with the glass-half-full perspective. I can dig it.
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UGA football “D” gets the opposition behind the sticks, when the UGA “O” strikes on that short field, it’s gives the UGA QB the advantage, so to speak, there exists some drives the UGA “O” have not cashed on, due to those on field reads that #13 goes through and it does hurt, (an opponent that loads the box with depth/talent and says pass if you can) doesn’t show up on the scoreboard maybe a made FG or a missed FG, maybe a three and out is the byproduct, knowing full well this UGA football team is treated daily to CKS and the process of the next opponent, our QB play is good, being 8-0 is a great thing for those that play the game at UGA, CKS and staff have the insight as to what the next game plan is and can #13 execute that plan, #18 will return as practice reps dictate…the one thing you do like is what the staff expects and that QB room is getting the education like no other…
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We beat Florida (with him) and that’s the most important game for me so I’m not going to question it anymore. If we win it all great, if we don’t, it’ll be a helluva fun season anyway.
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Do you get the feeling that Kirby just loves Stetson’s swag? Go back and look at the start of the Clemson game when it showed JT warming up on the sidelines. He looked very nervous/borderline scared, and then played that way. And JT had those interviews where he talks about mental health. Perhaps it’s a confidence thing he is working on and that’s giving Kirby reason to pause. Confidence is no issue with Stetson.
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Any of the “we’re better (as well) off with Stetson as JT” crowd want to propose a theory as to why Monken has thrown 14.4 times a game with Stet in 2021 while JT has thrown it over 27 times per appearance for the dawgs?
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Because he hasn’t needed to.
My post isn’t about who should be starting. It’s that Bennett’s performed well above expectations so far.
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13 has done great. Better than the other two would have done for sure. I’m extremely grateful that we have the luxury Stet represents: we can win games we might otherwise lose when the starter is down.
I suppose I thought one of your “Stet’s stats are great” posts should include a discussion about who should be manning the qb position once JT is ready to go or whether it mattered who among them took snaps. Just to change it up a bit. Sorry I got out of line.
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Oh, I think Daniels starts once the coaches think he’s fully ready to go. Too much of an advantage on third down not to.
But it’s their call and one they’ll make when they deem it appropriate. And that’s the point here — Bennett’s performance has been good enough that they can make that decision when they choose to, rather than because they have to. How many other programs in the country have that luxury?
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Few. I think the coaches are concerned he’ll needlessly aggravate the injury and be set back a few weeks.
Truth is that if JT is sharp in practice and mentally engaged, why let him take fire if we can win without him?
Two huge advantages:
1) teams have to prep for two qbs of completely different styles
2) we have to have a more physical mindset in the trenches every time Stet takes a snap. That can pay off in the postseason big time.
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I suspect one other factor that might be in the background is hoping for more consistent play from the offensive line.
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That’s what I was getting at with the second point. We’re pretty good at pass pro. Not as great at moving people around. When you’ve got JT, well you just pass more. When Stet is out there you can’t do that, and everyone knows you can’t do that, so it forces the OL to get a little saltier as it were.
Worked for us in 2017. It worked for alabama way back in 1992. Getting a little meaner and nastier along the OL never hurt a football team.
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When you pass the ball three things can happen and two of them are bad. I’m fine with fewer passes if we don’t need to pass.
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That adds perspective to Kirby’s comments regarding Stetson’s mobility. There is no question that Stetson has a better chance to avoid pressure and less chance of taking a big hit.
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Count the number of healthy receivers available these last several weeks and combine that with the fact that the run game is better when Bennett is in there and you will have your answer.
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Were we healthy at wr/te when JT threw it 31 times vs. USC?
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Were we healthy when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor??????
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The GD Germans got nothing to do with it.
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“Fuck the gotdam japs!”
-Pai Mei
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See what you did there, Otto
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If UGA finds themselves down in the 2nd half against Bama, Smart can always out JT in at that point.
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*put instead of out.
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I will say that if SBIV is who they plan to ride with, at least let him wing it enough so that he CAN be considered for the national rankings. Hook the DGD up!
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Thing is..if you move the ball ten yards down the field, who cares if it was with a pass or a run? Not me.
If you add the first downs that SB has run for to his passing total he’s looking pretty good.
Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to seeing what JT can do!
I’d say CKS is sittin’ pretty with this situation.
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From the top to the bottom, this team seems to not give a wrinkled hairy bean bag about personal rankings,
And I love that.
This ain’t EASports.
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Such language on a family site!
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One consideration that occurs to me is the lack of tape this season on JT. Could that be an asset, and could it be on purpose heading into the SECCG? They could be adding plays for JT, getting him ready to reemerge when it matters most. If we ride Stetson in, whoever we play in the SECCG will spend the most time prepping for him. As we saw in our games with Hurts->Tua, then Tua->Hurts, switching to a QB with a different skill-set in-game can really throw a defense off.
Sure, it’s 3-deimensional chess, doubt it’s the case (or that simple), but it is plausible. JT is going against the best defense in college football every day in practice, he’ll be ready to go when his number is called. At this point, I’m starting to think Kirby & Monken might be playing out a QB plan beyond the next 4 Saturdays…
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Great post! I agree. This whole situation has played right into Kirby and Monken’s hands. And what a great thought that they are secretly building a whole ‘nother offensive scheme based on JT’s skill set. Cagey as hell!!
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Not completely because obviously as we’ve had 2 out all year. But better. Plus all our backs were healthy then which isn’t the case now.
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It seems to me that this QB situation is a windfall for Kirby and Monken.
And they run a hell of a tight ship…it seems that nobody really knows the whole situation (no one that will talk) and as Kirby controls the unfolding of it he has everyone outside the program guessing.
I’m guessing… (maybe) Kirby already knows that JT and possibly SB are coming back next year. He is playing SB all the time to build and sharpen him. JT is being held out until just the right time. This would explain the lack of playing time for the younger kids in the QB room. Or maybe JT has told Kirby this is it for him..yet Stet’s coming back . That would explain a lot too.
Anyway, it would seem that CKS is in the catbird’s seat.
I think we’re just beginning to see what an amazing roster manager CKS is.
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Stet starts Saturday, but JT gets reps if not the whole second half.
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Something of that order, I’ll agree.
Maybe JT gets a lot more than a half.
I’ll post it as soon as Kirby lets me know (don’t hold your breath).
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Hope this is true but we said that last week.
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Yes— I’ll believe Daniels plays when it happens.
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When we need to score 35+ and aren’t able to make sure y’all come back.
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Yeah buddy. That shutdown D has an offensive quality of its own.
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This is my concern. At some point we may need to put our foot ON the gas. Forcing the D to do all the heavy lifting leaves too much to chance. In today’s game you need an offense that can rack up a lot of points.
Monken can scheme WRs long, but he knows there’s not enough arm to fling it. That’s a big handicap.
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Our defense was never threatened even as Florida held our offense in check during the first half. So then you get 3 TDs largely as a result of your world class defense / Florida’s colossal fuckups ? What do you do as a coach and playcaller then, in a game against your arch-rival to lock up the division ? You just went up 24-0 in heartbeat, during a game that was fairly stalemated for most of the first half ? I don’t think I’m going bombs-away with a guy who hasn’t played in 5-6 weeks and risking them getting back in it. That’s the exact kind of shit that got Florida sideways and lost the game for them in 120 seconds. If Florida drives the field twice and cuts it to 24-14, then maybe we reevaluate.
I think we would have seen JT last Saturday but-for the 2 minute explosion we saw to end the first half. Hell, we may have needed him. Once Florida shit their pants, the smart play was probably to merrily let them continue on their way of playing stalemate, while we play error-free football and the clock runs. The statistical likelihood of anybody, maybe even Alabama, consistently going the length of the field on this defense is small. I know in the past we’ve been horned by playing conservative offense, but you’d be almost insane to not play to the statistical advantages of your generational defense.
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I will say, we were 29th in the country in plays of 10+ yards for games through september. In October games alone, we were 97th in plays from scrimmage of 10+ yards. Sure, the competition got stiffer, but it’s probably fair to say it got stiffer for every other Power 5 team as well.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2021/leader/national/team/offense/split16/category30/sort01.html
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In the month of October, Alabama had 78 plays of 10+ yards to our 51 (same number of games). That’s not good.
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Fuck the gotdam Gumps!
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In October, Bama played:
Ole Miss, a zero defense team.
aTm, not a defensive powerhouse
Miss St, no real defense
Tennessee, not exactly a steel curtain defense.
In October, Georgia played:
Arkansas, a pretty highly ranked defense.
Auburn, a very talented defense.
Kentucky, a team built on a stout front 7 on defense
Florida, not a defensive slouch
The “plays of 10+ yards” might be one of the most useless statistics when not taken in context of who a team is facing. In the month of October, Georgia averaged 33.75 points a game, all in games where Georgia was leading by multiple scores for most of the games. Monken is not really pushing for explosive, fast strike play calling in those game situations. Long, clock eating drives that are getting 3-5 yards per play and keeping the ball away from the opponent are what Monken and Kirby want in those type games.
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