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‘Being Gunner Stockton’ not enough to win Sugar Bowl, will it be enough to keep starting job?
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‘Being Gunner Stockton’ not enough to win Sugar Bowl, will it be enough to keep starting job?
Gunner Stockton stayed true to form, and true to himself after Georgia’s 23-10 loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday afternoon.
Comments
Agree Mike. Gunner played well enough for the Dawgs to win. However, the O line did not. Plus, the decision to “go two minute” with 39 seconds remaining in half, was not a good idea. Kirby defending that rings hollow. It costs us the game.
We need a new O line coach. We need smarter play calling on offense.
I like Gunner. He’s a competitor with guts. He’s a football player.
The end decisions that were made right before the end of the second half cost us. It looked just like the Alabama game. Just run the ball and get out of the quarter.
Gunner played well enough our o-line and our receivers did not.
We need to get In the portal and find some receivers
It's time for new blood in the Offensive coaching staff. There are proven OC and OL coaches available that would give their left one to work for Kirby. You know them, Kirby. Pull the trigger, Kirby.
Gunner Stockton was better last night than was Stetson Bennett IV at any point in the 2020 season. And the 2020 team had George Pickens, Jermaine Burton and Kearis Jackson at WR; James Cook, Zamir White, Kendall Washington and Daijuan Edwards at RB; Darnell Washington at TE plus a bunch of future NFL draft picks on the OL. And oh yeah, Todd Monken at OC.
So clearly, Gunner Stockton wasn't the problem.
With little time left in the half against Texas we decided to go for it and lost a quarterback. With little time left in the half against ND we decided to go for it and lost a game.
Nailed it. Lack of offensive talent.
The lack of pocket presence didn’t help, but why did Gunner turn into a statue? The game plan seemed to be doing exactly the same thing with Gunner as with Beck 🤷🏻♂️
Stockton played his heart out last night. Can’t say the same for his offensive supporting cast. The loss is definitely not on him. Pathetic coaching, play calling, execution on all 3 phases, and sideline discipline lost this game. And I’m sick of seeing posts on other sites that Georgia was dominated or blown out. Those “experts” obviously didn’t watch the same game.
Go Dawgs!
Stockton played a very good game. His blind side sack was unfortunate, but his pocket awareness will improve with more experience. You can blame the O-line for that. The guy has an arm and can really zing it. A couple of balls by Bell should have been caught (no surprise here), and his accuracy was pretty good.
Looking forward to another Spring practice and another round of QB competition.
I think media (and to some extent even Kirby) saying Gunner doesn't have the arm to make all the throws has been dispelled… he can sling it anywhere if given time. He no doubt can, and will, improve in accuracy, decision making, and "feel" for the pocket… but those things come from playing time and development. But I think we can put to bed any question of his natural throwing ability. Go Dawgs!
Too bad the season is over. Gunner needs the reps against other teams. He needs to build a rhythm like Carson did. I am sure he will work on his game during the off season. I am proud of Gunner. He is a player and baller. Can take a hit. Needs an Oline to protect him. Also needs speedier ball delivery…as he mentioned in the post-game presser. Kirby keeps his QB options always open but Gunner has his eye for now.
Why does everyone just assume that Gunner Stockton will be the starting QB next year? He did OK yesterday, but we've got to stop just anointing people and make them all compete — fairly — for starting jobs. As Kirby Smart said, Stockton did some "good things" yesterday. What he didn't say, but which is true, is that he also did some not-so-good things. Some of that is attributable to his lack of playing experience. But we don't know that if Puglisi or Rashada are given a full and fair opportunity, that they might play at an even higher level than Stockton. All the things people are saying about Stockton — he throws a great deep ball, he's tough, he's accurate, he's a nice guy —might also be true of the other quarterbacks. Stockton just has been around the longest, but that doesn't mean he's the best. We honestly don't know. But we need to find out.
You hit the nail on the head....IMO. Stockton didn't have the time he needed, to allow the play to develop. Leading to forced throws, fumbles and general chaos.
It wasn't the whole Offensive Line, either. I hate to call names, but he earned this critique. Freeling (LT/#57), got beat multiple times, on the edge, leading to at least 2 or 3 sacks.
Either, UGA was thinner on the offensive line, than we were led to believe....or, the Coaching Staff got it wrong with the "Starting 5". I suspect, the latter.
IMO....Searels [O-Line] and Coley [WR] have to be replaced. Both units took a step backward this year. They not only haven't improved. They may have become UGA's weakest link.
The offensive coaching staff, will probably look a little different, next year. And, I'm not talking about Bobo, ether. He was the guy that kept things from falling apart, earlier in the season.
Defense held ND to 9 points, if you take away the Turnover TD & Special Teams TD. The Dawgs lost this one, due, mainly, to a weak spot on the O-Line.
They had to outplay bad luck and questionable officiating…..again! This time, it didn't work out. They're still The Junkyard Dawgs. Nothing's changed there. They'll be back. I'm looking forward to "Revenge Tour II: This Time It's Personal". Lol
As far as the Coaching....Remember, when Luke ('20-'21 OL Coach) made a halftime lineup change, by installing Jones at LT and moving Salyer to RG in one of the '21 postseason games?. Something like that, should've happened here. Instead.…Freeling gave up another critical sack in the 4th quarter, that cost em almost as much as the halftime ****-sack.
Stockton never could get settled, with the unobstructed defensive heat coming at him. He did a GREAT job, considering the play around him.
I don’t think he’s been “anointed” to anything. He was listed as the number two QB most if not all of the season. Unfortunately Beck got injured and went out. Gunner having been at UGA the longest AND knowing the playbook better was the obvious choice to send in to the SECCG. In which he did a Very capable job having to come in under those circumstances.
If you will recall he helped score the first TD of the SECCG.
In this Playoff game making his first Ever start again in a Playoff game the O Line allowed him to be Ate Alive, it was a sickening performance by them !! Them being Terribly beat on the edge was the worse most obvious plays where they failed. But there were also some plays where ND defenders charged right through the middle of the O Line to get after Gunner. As Kirby said he probably avoided several sacks with his mobility.
ALSO he had Very little to no Run support. Our run game was nearly non existent. And not quite as bad but still happening the Drop Passes Monster showed up. Still with All of that Gunner did a very solid job. Was he perfect ?? NO. But very solid for the comedy show of an O Line he had to work with. I think he merits more than a simple OK rating that you assigned under those circumstances.
ALL these things said there WILL be a very robust and competitive QB challenge among Dawgs QBs under Kirby Smart. That is a given. No one will be “anointed”. And IF one of the other QBs are Significantly better, Stand Out better than Gunner, Yes put Em in there. But if not then it Should be Gunner as he has like Beck waited his time.
It should Always be Team First. But unless one of the other QBs are obviously better it should be the Gunner Show. Now please by all means correct me if I’m wrong no sarcasm at you, but I’m sensing a strong Anti-Gunner vibe from you and IF I’m right Why ??
Pugs seems to have great potential but he’s still very green. Rashada had a three game starting experience at AZ St. but is at this point still learning UGA’s system. Would you have put one of them in over Gunner in the SECCG ??
To repeat there Will be a highly competitive QB competition, Kirby wants to win more than ever now As All Dawgs Fans do, to wash this **** taste out. I’m confident that IF one of the other guys really stands out over Gunner in practices then that guy will get his shot.
One last thing I think we can ALL agree on I wish in garbage time games when the game is obviously won, Kirby would give as many backup QBs an opportunity to Throw the ball, not just hand it off. AND get them in the second the game is well in hand.
Gunner had very few opportunities like that over his time at UGA. Last years bowl game vs FSU was the most time and he did a very solid game. No not perfect but solid. Gunner imo has Huge potential but he has to have Experience and That began as a starter in this loss. It was a bitter pill to swallow but I’m sure he Learned from it, as he stated as much. We’ll see how it pans out……….
Navy, I didn't pick up an "anti Gunner vibe" from Dallas. What I picked up is what many on this blog are coming to realize, that the Georgia culture tends to prioritize longevity in the program, yet the younger/newer studs in the program might be fast learners and skilled enough to replace longer-tenured dudes. I think even Kirby is beginning to realize that, against his own instincts giving freshman more playing time, and seeing them rise to the occasion. As for 2025 starting QB, Gunner seems to have the edge and appears plenty capable… but out of the end of the shoot of Full competition should be our starters across the board. So yeah, I think we're all in agreement— Georgia is loaded with talent, so let's get the best of the best out on the field, no matter who they are. And if that's Gunner, he's beat out some solid QBs and must be a big-time baller himself. Go Dawgs!