What to make of Georgia quarterback situation entering College Football Playoffs

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia’s quarterback situation entering the College Football Playoffs isn’t ideal. Anytime a team if forced away from its starter at the most important time of the year it’s far from perfect. With the Bulldogs forced to backup Gunner Stockton in place of an injured Carson Beck, they’ll be looking for some of the same magic Ohio State had in 2014 when the Buckeyes won it all with backup Cardale Jones at the helm. Nationally though, there are doubters the Dawgs can do it.

NFL Draft expert Todd McShay of The Ringer shared his ranking of quarterback situations entering the College Football Playoff. He had Georgia at No. 9, ahead of only Boise State, Arizona State and Indiana.

“People are going to lose their minds in Athens, but put (Georgia) at No. 9. I’m scared about this quarterback situation,” McShay said. “… If Carson Beck were healthy coming into this and coming off of even an average to slightly above average game against Texas, I would have them at No. 2. Despite all of his faults, despite all of his ups and downs, as great of a list of quarterbacks as this is, I would say Carson Beck I trust … What I saw from Gunner Stockton, yeah, he lit a spark and it was exciting and he did more in two drives than Carson Beck did in the first half, but then you saw Texas get adjusted, they now know who Gunner Stockton is, they realized the mobility is more important and that Georgia’s got to run the ball to be successful and Gunner looked really human.”

It’s an understandable take from McShay given Stockton’s inexperience. Prior to the SEC Championship Game, he had not been in a contest without a Georgia lead of at least 21 points. He had played in just three games previously this season and seven in total, combining for 283 yards and just 25 career completions on 35 attempts.

McShay isn’t the only one with skepticism about the situation. His co-host Steve Muench shared similar concerns.

“He looked like a young quarterback trying to figure it out. And I know Georgia fans are going to be like, ‘Well we just beat Texas with Stockton,’ and I get it, you should be excited about his future, but I see the same thing you did of once you adjust, you can limit what he does,” Muench said. “To me, Georgia is either 2/3 or they’re 11/12 because I just haven’t seen enough from Stockton to have enough faith. And this is a confidence thing. It’s not about where I think Gunner Stockton is going to be in two years. It’s not about whether or not I think he throws it well or he’s talented. It’s about whether or not he can manage that offense and lead Georgia to a National Championship and I haven’t seen enough to make me think he deserves to be any higher than 11 or 12.”

“There isn’t a bigger question mark going into the College Football Playoff than Carson Beck’s health. Period. Georgia’s fate, Georgia’s ability to make a run at a National Championship lies solely on the elbow of Carson Beck. Not the shoulders, but the elbow of Caron Beck,” McShay added. “They’ve played great in big moments, their defense was awesome against Texas again … But my goodness, there’s a lot of weight on this decision and how his recovery goes.”

Last official word on Beck came from Georgia a week ago saying that he had suffered an elbow enjoy and was “exploring treatment options.” On3’s Pete Nakos reported that the injury to Beck was to his UCL and that determinations were still being made as to the extent of the damage and whether he could play. Georgia takes on the winner of Friday night’s Notre Dame/Indiana first round matchup in the Allstate Sugar Bowl January 1st in New Orleans with head coach Kirby Smart expected to speak to reporters next on December 23rd.

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