After entering Saturday as a 25-point favorite for an unqualified and sold-out Mississippi state, Georgia narrowly won by 31-24, improving to 5-2 overall. It was not Stetson Bennett or D’Wan Mathis who saved Georgia from an inexplicable upset. It was second-year red shirt JT Daniels, who shot for 401 yards and four touchdowns on his first start wearing a Bulldog uniform.
Daniels played so well that coach Kirby Smart announced that he will debut against South Carolina during the post-game press conference last Saturday. He was also named SEC’s Week 9 Week Co-Offensive Player.
Everything looks good in Athens. No quarterback controversy to worry about on Saturday, right?
Not much. The South Carolina quarterback competition between transferred student Collin Hill and freshman Luke Doty serves as an almost weekly indulgence from Georgia with the caller’s concerns. It could be a major challenge for Georgia’s defense, which isn’t exactly trending in the right direction after allowing 28 points per game since Alabama’s October 17 clash.
“Some defenders have better attributes than other defenders and you really don’t know what to expect,” said junior linebacker Channing Tindall when asked about the difficulties in preparing an anonymous full-back. “You really don’t know what you’re going to get. A quarterback can really change your entire game plan, in my opinion. “
It may be an exaggeration to insist that Hill and Doty present one of the toughest challenges this season for Bulldogs. South Carolina ranks close to the SEC’s last place in 12th-place passing attacks. But Doty was inserted behind the center after a goalless first half left the Gamecocks 17 points behind Missouri. Gamecocks almost completed the comeback before losing 17-10.
Doty completed 14 of his 23 passes for 130 yards, in addition to 59 running yards in 11 attempts. All of this happened in just 30 minutes of play.
“It is quite obvious [that] young Luke is a great athlete, ”said Smart during Monday’s virtual press conference. “He extends the plays. He provided a spark for them in the racing game. … when they lost [receiver] Shai Smith, it was difficult because he was one of the best weapons in that game. So it was difficult to run the ball on a sled and I thought Luke brought a little more energy. “
If it weren’t for an interception in South Carolina’s final blow, Doty might have already taken the starting position on Saturday. His performance came as a surprise to South Carolina’s interim coach Mike Bobo. Doty played moderately in five previous games for the Gamecocks, in which he attempted a full pass.
Hill started all eight games for 2-6 Gamecocks, completing 59.1% of his passes for 1,411 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. And unlike Doty, Hill’s style is closer to the traditional pocket passer, as his -66-yard run for this season should already show.
Working for Hill, however, is his continuity with Bobo, as he was at Colorado State for the previous four years before moving to South Carolina, when Bobo was offered the position of offensive coordinator.
“Collin obviously knows everything Mike wants to do,” said Smart. “He knows his controls and understands the system. … He has a very good arm and is very precise. So [Hill and Doty] they are very different defenders and complement each other. “
It is difficult to say how Bobo will choose the South Carolina defender this week. Trusting a freshman quarterback to make his first career start against a defense led by Smart is probably not the most attractive decision.
However, Hill’s recent move should not inhibit much more confidence. In South Carolina’s first four games this season, he completed 62.2% of his passes for 210.5 yards per game and eight touchdowns in total. In South Carolina’s previous four games, Hill completed 53% of his passes for 142.3 yards per game with two touchdowns and four interceptions.
But Bobo knows, and he hinted during Sunday’s conference call. He’s just not ready to share.
“We have a plan,” said Bobo.