Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm played the worst game of his collegiate career in Georgia’s 36-16 loss to LSU.
Fromm averaged a quarterback rating of 170.4 last year and 197.0 entering Georgia’s first matchup with a ranked opponent two weeks ago. He recorded the only QBR lower than 100 of his career (96.6) as he was 16-for-34 for 209 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against LSU.
In the first half, as the Bulldogs were shut out, Fromm was 5 of 16 for 47 yards and led three three-and-out drives and just one drive inside the red zone. The lack of success caused many Georgia fans to begin the cries for freshman backup Justin Fields to step in.
This is the Fromm who led the Bulldogs to their first SEC Championship win since 2005 and the national championship game as a freshman. And yet, his ability is being doubted by some.
There is often no one as popular on a football team than the backup quarterback, especially one who had productive drives late in Georgia’s wins over Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
After Georgia was dismantled by LSU, head coach Kirby Smart repeated the line he’s used all season. He recited it again Monday in preparation for Saturday’s rivalry showdown against Florida (3:30 p.m., CBS; News 95.5 and AM-750 WSB).
“We want to play the guy that gives us the best opportunity to be successful, and that comes from a lot of reps in practice, a lot of work in practice,” Smart said during his first press conference since Georgia’s only loss of the season. “They both got a tremendous amount of work last week, and we'll continue to make that decision based on what gives us the best opportunity to be successful.”
Much of Georgia’s struggles against LSU came from a failure to get the ball in the end zone in the first half. According to some teammates, the blame doesn’t rest solely on Fromm.
“The past game from an offensive standpoint, we all take the credit,” offensive lineman Andrew Thomas said. “It was a bad game by all of us. We didn’t drive the ball like we wanted to. We didn’t score like we wanted to so we all know we have to get better.”
The solution to the slow start against LSU, Thomas said, lies in all 11 offensive players better executing the game plan.
Smart has made a point of allocating snaps to Fields, the five-star recruit from Kennesaw, in conference games when Georgia holds a significant lead. The plan is to give the mobile quarterback experience.
Fields received significant snaps late against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, conference games Georgia won decidedly by 26 and 28 points, respectively. He finished the two-game stretch throwing completing 4 of 8 passes for 58 yards and nine carries for 63 yards and two touchdowns. Against LSU, Fields had a limited showing. He did not attempt a pass and had one carry for three yards as Georgia leaned on Fromm.
That may be the case again this week in the showdown in Jacksonville, Fla.
Florida has a statistically better defense than LSU. The Gators lead the SEC with 160.1 passing yards allowed and ranks sixth in the SEC in total defense at 323 yards per game.
Fields’ versatility and skill set could be used as a spark off the bench, a momentum changer, as Smart has also previously said.
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