Kirk Herbstreit defends Kirby Smart
Kirk Herbstreit came to the defense of Kirby Smart yesterday on Twitter. Recently, analysts have been harkening back to the Georgia head coach’s decision to start quarterback Jake Fromm over Justin Fields in 2018.
“SO RIDICULOUS this keeps being brought up!” tweeted Herbstreit. “NO CHANCE of ANY QB dethroning the QB, the year before, led the Dawgs to the Natty as a FR!
“Obviously Justin is a special player-but this argument is TIRED! Please stop this!”
At the time, many believed Smart made the correct decision sticking with Fromm. The season prior, he was one legendary Alabama comeback away from winning the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship.
The following season, Fields came to Athens as a celebrated five-star recruit. While he saw action in as many as 12 games, Fromm remained the unquestioned starter of the Bulldogs.
While Smart’s Bulldogs still won 11 games and won the SEC East, many believe they could’ve done even more if Fields was given the keys to the car. Herbstreit wants that narrative to stop.
Alas, Fields would transfer to Ohio State following his lone season with Georgia. On the other hand, Fromm played one more season with the Bulldogs, ending his career with a victory in the 2020 Sugar Bowl.
Following the success of Fields since transferring from Georgia, it’s hard not to think about what could’ve been. Still, as Herbstreit argues, Smart made the right decision at the time.
Justin Fields vs. Jake Fromm
While Kirk Herbstreit defends Kirby Smart and his decision, the two former Georgia Bulldogs were opponents on Saturday. In their second preseason game, Justin Fields’ Chicago Bears traveled to Buffalo to take on Jake Fromm’s Bills.
In the game, Fields received much more playing time than Fromm. As the former Ohio State quarterback battles Andy Dalton for the starting gig, he completed 9 of 19 passes for 80 yards.
On the other hand, Fromm only threw seven passes, completing three of them for 20 yards. The former Georgia quarterback projects to be the Bills’ third-string quarterback, behind Josh Allen and Mitchell Trubisky.
Surprisingly, Trubisky was the star of the game. The former Bears quarterback completed 20 of 28 passes, accumulating 221 yards and one passing touchdown. The Bills defeated the Bears, 41-15.
Analyst upset at Bears not starting Justin Fields
As Herbstreit remembers the quarterback battle Smart dealt with, ESPN’s Marcus Spears is upset at the battle Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy is dealing with.
Following a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter via Twitter that Dalton will start week one for the Bears, Spears replied with a very simple message articulating his frustration.
“Cool,” read Spears’ cold-hearted reply.
After taking some time, Spears elaborated on his simple statement.
“Aight let me get this out right now! Holding off on starting @justnfields week one because they playing the Rams and @AaronDonald97 is not at all a good reason! This football dammit! You better play the dude that gives you a chance to win each week period! That’s #Fields.”
Evidently, Fields is no stranger to quarterback controversy. However, Herbstreit wants everyone to relax over the one he was involved in with Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs.