Georgia football is stockpiled with talent, but with new coordinators and championship aspirations, there’s plenty of work to be done.
The Bulldogs quarterback position figures to get a great deal of attention in spring drills, if only because third-year starter Jake Fromm has already been listed among the top 10 Heisman Trophy favorites in 2019.
But there’s a lot more to the story at quarterback.
Georgia remains relatively thin at the position after 2018 freshman Justin Fields opted to transfer to Ohio State.
Fields' move prompted former Buckeyes' commit Dwan Mathis to flip from Ohio State to Georgia on the early signing day.
UGA coach Kirby Smart added depth at the position by signing Stetson Bennett IV after the former Bulldogs walk-on spent a season at Jones County (Miss.) Junior College.
Here are three offseason questions about the Georgia QB situation:
Fromm’s comfort in modified offense
Fromm recently indicated offensive coordinator James Coley will add to the UGA offense, and that could mean more of an uptempo approach.
Fromm was sharp in the 2-minute drill last season, and the Bulldogs have several speedy targets to utilize in 2019 at receiver and out of the backfield.
Whatever works best for Fromm is what will work best for Georgia. It only makes sense for Coley to take advantage of Fromm’s ability to read defenses, get through progressions and deliver the ball with accuracy.
Coley was Fromm’s quarterback coach last season, along with handling co-offensive coordinator with the departed Jim Chaney.
The battle for backup duties
Bennett’s experience with UGA concepts is an advantage, even while the 6-foot-6, 210-pound Mathis has the stronger arm and more athleticism of the two.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Bennett said before transferring away from UGA that "just being there and being on the team, that's not good enough for me."
Bennett, now on scholarship, has three years to play three seasons.
Mathis’ family, meanwhile, stressed after his signing they understood the role their son is competing to play.
Mathis’ January enrollment gives the Detroit product an opportunity to pick up the offense in spring drills and add weight to his frame.
Wildcat and RPO packages
Former Georgia offensive coordinator Chaney was unable to maximize Fields’ abilities to contribute in short-yardage situations.
As good as the UGA offensive line was, the Bulldogs struggled to convert in short-yardage situations at times last season
Coley could work in an RPO package with Mathis and Bennett, both of whom have relatively good speed.
Certainly, it would add an element Georgia was oddly missing last season, while also making the most use of the program’s talent.
