Rome News-Tribune

DOWNWARD DAWG

Georgia QB Jake Fromm suddenly finds himself in a slump.

- By Paul Newberry

ATHENS — Jake Fromm is in a slump.

The throws that were so accurate through most of his Georgia career are suddenly missing the mark.

Overthrown. Underthrow­n. Wide left and wide right.

The junior quarterbac­k needs to snap out of it if the No. 4 Bulldogs are going to make another run at the College Football Playoff.

“We’ve got to do a better job helping him out,” coach Kirby Smart said Monday, “and he’s got to do a better job hitting the ones when they’re open.”

If there’s one thing Georgia has been able to count on the last three seasons, it’s their rocksolid quarterbac­k.

Fromm got a shot in his very first college game when Jacob Eason was injured, made his first start the next week in a memorable victory at Notre Dame, and has gone on to post a 33-6 record as the Bulldogs’ No. 1 signal-caller, including a trip to the national championsh­ip game as a freshman.

Over his first 37 college games, Fromm failed to complete half his throws just three times. Two of those performanc­es came in blowout losses to Auburn in 2017 and LSU last season.

Now, he’s gone three straight games below 50%, though the Bulldogs managed to win them all.

Still, it’s been rather jarring for a Georgia team that is 10-1 heading into the regular-season finale against woeful Georgia Tech (3-8) but has struggled to its niche offensivel­y.

“You can tell it bothers him a little bit here and there,” tight end Charlie Woerner said. “We’re all competitiv­e athletes. We want to do the best that we can.”

Smart said it’s “hard to put a

 ?? Ap-john Bazemore ?? Georgia quarterbac­k Jake Fromm (11) is sacked by Texas A&M linebacker Aaron Hansford (33) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday in Athens. Georgia won 19-13.
Ap-john Bazemore Georgia quarterbac­k Jake Fromm (11) is sacked by Texas A&M linebacker Aaron Hansford (33) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday in Athens. Georgia won 19-13.
 ?? Ap-john Bazemore ?? Georgia quarterbac­k Jake Fromm (11) looks for a receiver as offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson (79) blocks Texas A&M defensive lineman Demarvin Leal (8) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday in Athens.
Ap-john Bazemore Georgia quarterbac­k Jake Fromm (11) looks for a receiver as offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson (79) blocks Texas A&M defensive lineman Demarvin Leal (8) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday in Athens.

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