First of all, Mark Richt said what we’re seeing at Georgia is not a quarterback “rotation.”
“I wouldn’t call it a rotation,” he said during the Bulldogs’ weekly news conference Tuesday. “… To me a QB-rotation is more of a series where, ‘you go two and you go two,’ or two-one, two-one, where you’re truly rotating throughout the game. This was just more of an opportunity for Brice to get his feet wet.”
Backup Brice Ramsey entered the game against Vanderbilt on Saturday to run the offense on the Bulldogs’ third offensive series. However, starter Hutson Mason went back in for the next series and played the rest of the game. Until, that is, Ramsey quarterbacked the final two possessions. At that point, the outcome of the 44-17 Georgia victory was determined.
Richt deferred to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo as to whether Ramsey will play the same amount, more, or less when No. 13 Georgia (4-1, 2-1 SEC) returns to action Saturday at No. 23 Missouri (4-1, 1-0).
Said Bobo: “Whether (Ramsey) plays a series or more in this game against Missouri is yet to be determined.”
Whatever Georgia decides, the rest of the team certainly will take notice. And that’s where this whole deal gets tricky. There is probably nothing more potentially unifying or divisive to a team or its fan base than a “quarterback controversy.”
Everyone in the Bulldogs’ camp emphatically states that there is no “controversy” afoot. For now, it’s still Mason’s team, with the talented redshirt freshman Ramsey getting in a little work here and there to gain experience.
But there is definitely a concerted effort to keep outside noise to a minimum, particularly among the principal parties.
“It’s only human nature for you to worry about how many reps this guy is getting or what the coaches are thinking here instead of worrying about what I can do and the product I can put on the field that can help our team win,” Mason said before Tuesday’s practice. “So I try to have zoom focus as far as what I need to do to prepare. You know, when Brice gets reps, he gets his reps. But, you know, I’m always thinking about what I need to do and what I need to fix during the game.”
Said Ramsey: “I honestly have no idea (what the plan is). I wish I knew.”
It’s a tough spot for Mason, a fifth-year senior who patiently awaited his turn to be the Bulldogs’ quarterback. He backed up SEC record-holder Aaron Murray for four seasons, including when he redshirted as a junior so he could be the main man in 2014.
Mason still is, to be sure. But Ramsey’s very presence on the weekly game plan can create doubt, not just in Mason’s mind, but in the minds of his teammates. It already has inflamed the UGA fanbase.
“It is what it is,” said senior receiver Michael Bennett, who’s one of Mason’s closest friends. “He knows Brice has kind of earned some playing time. I don’t think it bothers Hutson that much. His confidence is still there. He just has to tune out all the media that’s bashing him and stuff. Now he’s got to respond to the adversity that’s been put him in this place.”
Bobo is unconcerned with feelings or confidence. He is focused strictly on production, and he doesn’t care from which quarterback it comes.
“That’s part of playing that position,” Bobo said. “You have to be able to handle pressure situations. It might seem like we’re putting a little pressure on him putting Brice in there. But any guy who’s going to play quarterback at this level, you’ve got to be able to handle pressure. He’s just going to have to respond to it quite frankly.”
So far Mason has responded well. After Ramsey led the Bulldogs on a seven-play, 74-yard scoring drive in the first quarter, Mason re-entered the game and immediately threw a 44-yard strike to Chris Conley for a touchdown.
“Hutson responded well all week,” Bobo said. “He was told about this (Sept. 29) and practiced very well all week. I told him I was going to put pressure on him in practice, and he needed to be able to relax and handle that pressure. I thought he did a nice job, and he’s going to have to continue to do that as the season goes on.”
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