Georgia Football: Five offensive takeaways from the Austin Peay game

3: Justin Fields should play in every game

I know it was just Austin Peay but Justin Fields really impressed me in his debut performance for UGA. The Dawgs clearly used a restricted playbook as both quarterbacks threw very basic short routes. We certainly didn’t see the Dawgs utilize either QB’s strong arms with any vertical routes. However, it was clear from his first snap that Fields had great command of the offense and was going through his progressions. His scrambling ability also brought a completely different look to how this offense could look.

I wasn’t expecting to see Fields look so comfortable running the offense. I was really impressed with the accuracy of his passes and his ability to put the ball in places where only his receivers could make the catch. Anyone who thinks Fields is just a runner was proved wrong yesterday.

Fields actually didn’t end up scrambling too much, only having 3 carries for 33 yards. Kirby Smart said that the coaches instructed him to not run very much in game one. When he did, he looked special and showed an ability to extend plays and drive defenses crazy when he slips out of the pocket. The 17-yard run that he made when he clearly had no receiver to throw to was a glimpse of how easily he can move the chains.

All in all, Fields showed that he’s not only ready to be the backup QB should something happen to Jake Fromm. He proved that his coaches need to find ways to get him on the field every single game. It was encouraging to see him in early yesterday and given the chance to play with starters. He’s ready to have a major role in the offense this season.