The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Spotlight on quarterbacks
Both teams are a showcase for winning without a star at the game’s most important position.
That’s not to criticize Jalen Hurts or Georgia freshman Jake Fromm. They’re simply not the catalyst to either team’s success.
For Hurts, having a defense plush with NFL talent is a quality de-stresser; not to mention an explosive run game and massive offensive line. Hurts has come through when he’s needed to, and it’s helped to be put in optimal position.
The same can be said for the other sideline. Fromm has the best pair of running backs in the country. His defense hasn’t been half-bad either.
Unlike Hurts, Fromm was thrown into action unexpectedly. An injury to Jacob Eason in the season’s first game put Fromm in the spotlight.
Georgia’s win over Oklahoma brought out the best in Fromm, and while his running backs dominated as usual, he showed he can step up in pressure moments. With Georgia rarely playing close games in the regular season, it was an encouraging takeaway from the Rose Bowl.
Hurts likely won’t need to beat Georgia, but Fromm will be needed for a Georgia upset. More often than not, the teams to beat Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide have had a Deshaun Watson, Cam Newton or Johnny Manziel to make plays most normal signal-callers can’t.
It takes a quarterback’s best to defeat Alabama’s defense. Hurts can just play his role and win the trophy. Fromm
might have to go out and take it.