ATHENS – Theories abound as to why JT Daniels has been unable to make it back to the field for Georgia. Never mind the junior quarterback’s lingering back-muscle strain.
One is that Stetson Bennett’s superior mobility is a factor behind an offensive line that struggles in pass protection and in the run game.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart acknowledged Monday that Bennett’s ability to run with the football is a “separator” in the quarterback discussion.
“It’s a separator but, I mean, there’s things that JT is better at than Stetson,” Smart said at his weekly press conference at the Butts-Mehre Football Complex on Monday. “But it’s one of the things that’s a factor. Mobility in a quarterback is critical. It’s not that JT’s immobile; it’s just that Stetson is very mobile. Stetson is able to make some plays with his feet.”
That was certainly on display against Florida this past Saturday in Jacksonville. Bennett often found himself under heavy pressure against the Gators, but he was sacked only once. Part of that was due to Bennett’s “escapability.” The Bulldogs also went in with a game plan for Bennett to roll out on many pass plays with a run-pass option.
robert.andres@ajc.com
robert.andres@ajc.com
Georgia’s first score in what was a 34-7 win was set up by Bennett’s scramble for 20 yards after escaping the pressure from Florida’s Brenton Cox. The Bulldogs were also able to generate some decent runs off the zone-read concept.
Bennett finished with 35 yards on six carries, which included a nine-yard sack. Zamir White recorded Georgia’s first 100-yard game of the season with 105 on 14 carries and the Bulldogs totaled 193 yards on the ground.
“I thought there were five or six plays in the game where his mobility was a factor,” Smart said. “We had breakdowns -- and you’re going to have some on offense -- and when you have those, you’ve got to have somebody who can get you out of a bad play. And I don’t mean by way of a check. I mean during the play and (Bennett) does a good job of doing that.”
Of course, there is also the argument that Daniels is the better passer of the two. That can be validated to some degree statistically, but to a greater degree anecdotally. In extremely limited work this season, Daniels has completed 76 percent of his passes for an average of 189 yards a game. That’s better than Bennett’s 66.3 percent and 165.3 yards per game, and lends itself to the narrative that Georgia’s offense is more explosive with Daniels in the game.
But a closer look reveals Bennett’s yards per attempt in games he has started actually is significantly better – 12.5 to 8.9. Bennett’s overall quarterback efficiency rating, which includes backup work in the South Carolina and Vanderbilt game, also is significantly higher, 193.8 to 161.0.
Bennett’s 14.4 pass attempts per game doesn’t meet the NCAA’s minimum to be included in the national rankings. But if he had four more pass attempts, he would lead the SEC and he’d be ranked No. 3 nationally.
Stephen B. Morton for The Atlanta Journal Constitution
Stephen B. Morton for The Atlanta Journal Constitution
As it is, the Bulldogs’ offense has been decently “explosive” with Bennett running the show. Against, Florida this past Saturday, Georgia recorded five plays considered explosive by the team’s internal criteria. That included a 36-yard touchdown pass to Kearis Jackson and completions of 38 and 32 yards to tight ends Brock Bowers and Darnell Washington, respectively.
That said, Bennett still shows some deep-ball deficiencies. He threw two interceptions on Saturday. Both came on deep sideline passes that hung in the air too long and came up short of the intended targets.
“Being able to be explosive is really important and we work really hard on it,” Smart said. “We haven’t really been as explosive as we want to be in the run game. But the run game we have had is set up as play-action and a lot of those explosive plays have come off play-action. So, we’re very pleased with where that is.”
More difficult is quantifying aspect how Georgia’s quarterback situation is viewed inside the Bulldogs’ locker room. Without solicitation, outside linebacker Nolan Smith endorsed Bennett in his postgame interview after the Florida game.
“When you talk about trusting a guy, I trust him,” said Smith, who referred to Bennett as “my quarterback.” “Because he goes out and works and always puts his best foot forward every day. Even though it may not look pretty to y’all, he gets the job done.”
As flattering as that is toward Bennett, it’s only a guess how it might be received by Daniels. Daniels, who was posted as a Heisman Trophy favorite by Las Vegas sports books, hasn’t played since Sept. 25 due to a strain of the latissimus dorsi muscle in his back.
Smart didn’t think of Smith’s comments as divisive.
“That’s just Nolan’s personality. Nolan is very prideful. His personality is a very strong personality,” Smart said. “…I don’t know that it’s just because it’s Stetson. He would feel that way whoever was out there. He believes in whoever is out there, just like the rest of the team does.”
Whether contrived or authentic, that’s the certainly the sentiment expressed by every Georgia player polled in the last few weeks.
“I love both Stetson and JT,” sophomore receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint said. “I feel like both QBs are great. “We have trust in both of them that they’ll be able to go out every week, no matter who’s starting, and be able to execute that plan that we’ve got to execute. So, it doesn’t matter who’s in, who’s out, who’s starting, we feel like both of them can get the job done.”
Bennett said there definitely isn’t a problem between him and Daniels.
“We’re two guys who love this team,” Bennett said. “We have complete faith in both of us to go out there and play. ... Everything about this team is about the team and not about the individual. It’s pretty cool.”
Smart has offered conflicting statements about Daniels’ health. Georgia’s coach insisted all last week that Daniels had recovered well enough to practice at full speed and alternate first-team snaps with Bennett. But then Smart said after the Florida game that he chose the “continuity” of Bennett because he’d been able to practice the whole time, while Daniels “hasn’t practiced much.”
If ever there was a time to ease Daniels into competitive play, it would seem to be this Saturday. Missouri (4-4, 1-3 SEC) comes to Sanford Stadium with a defense that ranks 124th nationally in yards allowed (475.6 pg) and points allowed (36 pg). No. 1 Georgia (8-0, 6-0) was posted as a 37.5-point favorite on Monday.
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