Georgia Football: Will A Quarterback Show Up?
Tempus fugit. Georgia football fans and coaches wait patiently for a starting qaurterback to emerge. It appears there is no other choice. But Tempus fugit.
Related: Georgia Football: The Five Two-Quarterback Seasons
The Bulldog Kingdom is growing impatient waiting for the crowning of a starting quarterback.
It is not alone.
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“I’d like to know and have peace,” Richt told Charlotte Hall of the Red and Black.
Peace would be nice. A quarterback would be better. But no one can pull the sword from the stone.
Bulldogs fans rose to their feet with the news that Greyson Lambert was the first quarterback out on some drills Monday. Georgia fans then quickly took their seats the same day on news that Lambert missed badly on a few passing drill reps.
“There’s a lot of things to start making some judgments by,” Richt is quoted by Gabrielle McMillan of the Sportingnews.com.
So, what’s the problem? Do the Bulldogs not have a quarterback that can lead this team?
It’s a scary question, but perhaps a question that can now be pondered.
“There’s been a lot of really great things that have happened for all of them, and there’s been some things that will get us beaten,” Richt told Hall. “It’s just been enough of both that I haven’t seen a clear frontrunner yet.”
There are too many red flags in the Georgia quarterback story for any Bulldog to sleep easy.
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Why has Brice Ramsey not grabbed the number one quarterback spot? Despite enrolling early in 2014 and spending a red shirt year prepping and learning the Georgia play book, the highly touted Ramsey never challenged Hutson Mason for the top quarterback spot after Aaron Murray’s departure to the NFL.
Why is Greyson Lambert, after not arriving on campus until just before pre-season practice began, able to hold his own against Ramsey? Lambert lost one starting quarterback spot already during the spring at Virginia. While Virginia is clearly changing its offensive tactics, moving away from the pro style and I formation offense, Lambert could be that rare person who loses two starting spots at two schools in less than a year.
But, Lambert is right in the thick of the competition despite Ramsey’s talent and two and a half years on campus.
Then there is the case of Faton Bauta. Bauta arrived in January of 2012. A three star quarterback, he fought his way off the scout team, receiving an Outstanding Scout Team Award in 2012, to play in three games in 2013. A hard worker with a sharp mind, named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2013 and 2014, he barely kept his quarterback career off life support with three appearances in 2014.
I’ve got a feeling it’s going to play out on the field
Bauta disappeared in 2015 as Mason guided the Bulldogs and Ramsey sat in waiting. But now, despite the elite talent of Ramsey and the extensive game experience of Lambert, Bauta is back, taking the Georgia quarterback competition to within two weeks of the opening kickoff.
Bauta has one varsity letter on his resume after four years in the Georgia program. He is leveraging his football knowledge and smarts with a big, athletic body and excellent running skills to fight for his moment in the Sanford Stadium sunshine. Could he be the winner the Dawgs ride to the Promised Land? It appears possible.
Even if game performance settles the issue, getting the ball first is important to each competitor.
“I’ve got a feeling it’s going to play out on the field in games,” Richt told McMillan. “It might be the first guy that goes in plays his tail off and we have peace then. If that doesn’t happen, then maybe we’ll let another guy have a chance.”
The team continues to appear unconcerned.
“Whoever’s gonna be back there Week 1 we’re gonna go win with it,” senior tackle Kolton Houston said. “I mean it’s football. I could care less which quarterback it’s gonna be. Same with the other 10 guys on offense. We’re gonna win with whoever they put back there.”
And that’s fine – but, just win.