Georgia football's success this season depends on Gunner Stockton more than people realize. Any team could say that about their quarterback, but it is especially true for Stockton who is a starter for the first time in his career and learning how his style of play fits into Georgia's offense.
Stockton is a run first quarterback, that's at least what it seemed like at the start of this season. But he has put a lot of effort into trusting his arm and working through his progressions each play, which Kirby Smart noticed vast improvements on during their win over Kentucky on Saturday.
"Well, I would say he had the most growth today in terms of downfield throws, layered throws, stepping up in the pocket," Smart shared via 247sports.com. "Still has some work to do, and he had his first pick. I mean, it's like it's going to happen. It didn't faze him. He knows he wishes he had that one back, but you can't throw a pick unless you take some risk. You can't make plays unless you take some risk. He's growing out of the risk aversion and moving towards, can I make calculated decisions through the right ones and use the skill set of the players we have?"
Kirby Smart sees Gunner Stockton is improving fast
One of the things that makes Stockton such a great quarterback is his effectiveness on the ground. But it’s important for him to still trust his arm, the blocking from his offensive line in front of him, and the play calls his coaches make.
There have been many times this season where Stockton gives up on a play too soon and scrambles for a short gain. While he is able to make some big plays with his legs, there could be opportunities for even bigger plays down the field. So that’s why it’s important for him to trust his process and go through his progressions before tucking the ball and running.
This is something Smart noticed that he is improving on recently, especially against Kentucky on Saturday. And if he’s able to continue to improve on these things, Georgia’s offense will likely find another gear in the coming weeks.