Final Spring Thoughts: Georgia's QB Room Entrenched with Talent
The dust has long settled since April 15th's G-Day Scrimmage for the Georgia Bulldogs. The roster has seen movements from a depth chart standpoint, but they've seen five players depart the roster via the Transfer Portal since its opening on the 15th as well, including starting defensive tackle Bear Alexander. After enough time to evaluate everything that happened on Saturday (and since) let's talk.
I spend an abnormal amount of time evaluating film for a football team I cannot directly impact, so there's only one place to unload all those thoughts via text. So, here you have it.
Quarterbacks
An integrated electronic circuit that performs the calculations that run a computer. That is the definition of both a computer processor and Carson Beck. Watching him click through his reads on Saturday with such efficiency and timing was phenomenal. What you likely won't see is flash or flair, it'll be check downs when needed, taking shots when provided, and efficient football. He's there to be an extension of the offense, not the focal point, and in a sense, it's beautiful and the way the position is intended to be played.
If you've ever heard Kirby Smart talk about the quarterback position, undoubtedly his most repeated statement is something regarding "giving us the best chance to win," Carson Beck does that down in and down out.
As for Vandagriff, I thought Bobo and his staff did a great job of providing an opportunity to highlight the physical traits that make No. 12 so tantalizing. It was the deep boots and throws on the run where his legs were an added threat. It was the rail shots up the seem where you can take advantage of a QB that can throw it 100 MPH it seems at times. It was the post-game press conferences for me from Vandagriff that stood out though.
I hadn't heard him speak since high school, we haven't heard him evaluate his own play since he was the No. 2 quarterback in the country, not the No. 2 quarterback on the roster. One quote in particular about his play stuck out to me...
"In high school, it was kind of like, 'Look over there, I think he's gonna be open, and if he's not open, just take off and run.' You can't do that in college, there's d-lineman that run as fast as me."
In the limited snaps of Vandagriff, we've seen over the last two spring games where he's played a good amount of snaps, that portion of his game — the ability to stand within the pocket and process through his reads without "happy feet" — that is the last thing from unlocking the fullest potentials of Brock Vandagriff. So, to hear him not only acknowledge it but seemingly have the plan to go about improving upon it, that's vital.
*Film editors note: For those of you looking for signs of Mike Bobo the coordinator's hands on the offense, or at least his capabilities as a coordinator, look at the differences in the offenses he called on Saturday. Becks' offense was spread air raid in the simplest of terms, called and designed to highlight a QB that's an elite pocket passer. Vandagriff's offense was built off sprint action, waggles, and boots. That's an offense built for a QB that has elite athleticism and an elite arm on the run. That's coordinating folks.*
Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge (69), Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15), Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff (12) after Georgia’s annual G-Day scrimmage on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, April 15, 2023. (Tony Walsh/UGAAA)
Then there's Gunner Stockton. Stockton is a football player that I've compared to Baker Mayfield in years past. It's the 6'1 frame, it's the 75-yard arm, and if you've watched him enough... it's the attitude. The attitude isn't gone from Stockton's game, but as a No. 3 quarterback in a glorified practice setting where you aren't a live football player, the attitude can get left at home. We likely won't see the best versions of Stockton until he's unleashed with full whistles, but we did get to see him extend with his legs on Saturday when he scored the only rushing TD for the QBs.
The most positive thing for Stockton coming out of his first calendar year on campus is that when he was allowed to unleash and play full speed in practice against the first-team defense... he earned the respect of his veteran teammates quickly according to sources. Players know players, and the players think Gunner Stockton has "it."
Other Georgia News:
- OPINION: Georgia is Primed For Another National Championship Run
- Quarterback Brock Vandagriff Will Remain With Bulldogs for 2023 Season
- ESPN Releases Pre-Season FPI Top-25 Rankings
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