SMART SQUELCHES ANY TALK ABOUT QB CONTROVERSY

ATHENS — The rest of the world may think otherwise, but there’s no quarterback controversy at Georgia.

Coach Kirby Smart was peppered with a host of quarterback-related queries Tues- day in the wake of the Bulldogs’ 36-16 loss Saturday at LSU in a game in which starting quarterback Jake Fromm didn’t have his most productive day, passing for 209 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and freshman backup Justin Fields didn’t see much in the way of playing time, rushing once for three yards and tossing no passes.

Smart said both Fromm and Fields must play better for No. 8 Georgia’s offense to get in gear and added there were points in Saturday’s game when he pondered expanding Fields’ role.

“We considered it a lot and talked about it a lot,” said Smart, whose team is off this weekend before facing No. 11 Florida on Oct. 27 in Jacksonville, Fla. “The point (in the fourth quarter) after Jake went down there and scored the one touchdown, we considered it once they came back and scored on us, but to be honest with you, the game was kind of out of hand at that point.

“Justin continues to work, and he’s doing a good job. He took good reps today, and he’s getting better. I think both of those kids under- stand they’ve got to play better for us to play better offensively.”

Fromm, who is 18-3 as a starter, ranks third in the in pass efficiency (behind Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa

and Jalen Hurts) with 77 completions, 1,124 yards and eight touchdowns. But against LSU, the sophomore wasn’t sharp and took several sacks, finishing the game with minus-19 rushing yards.

“There were some things he could have done better, most certainly,” Smart said of Fromm, who was not made available to the media Tuesday. “Some protection breakdowns a couple of times we had guys wide open, and he couldn’t get the ball out and ended up getting sacked. We had poor protection on two of them. A couple of them he missed.…He’s got toplay better. He did some good things, too. Good and bad.”

Fields, who has completed 18 of 25 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed 18 times for 136 yards and three touchdowns, primarily in low-pressure situations, always is in the quarterback picture, Smart said.

“Justin’s growing and getting better each and every day,” he said. “His maturity is getting better. In the meeting room, he’s picking things up and he’s developing. He’s certainly eager to get that opportunity, and if he continues to progress and do things in practice, his opportunity may present itself. We’re never closing that door completely at all because we’ve got to play the guy who gives us the best chance to win.”