Richt mum on quarterback specifics
“I THINK ALL OF THEM HAD BRIGHT MOMENTS. WE PROBABLY THREW THE DEEP BALL TODAY BETTER THAN WE HAVE ALL CAMP. I THINK THEY ALL HAD A DEEP BALL THROWN ON THE MONEY, BUT THE SHORT AND INTERMEDIATE PASSING AND CATCHING HAS NOT BEEN TO THE STANDARD THAT IT NEEDS TO BE FOR US TO MOVE THE BALL ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.”
Georgia football coach Mark Richt has taken a page from Alabama counterpart Nick Saban’s policy of not providing statistics when there is a quarterback battle.
The Bulldogs held a two- hour scrimmage Friday afternoon inside Sanford Stadium, but Richt did not reveal any of the numbers from redshirt junior Faton Bauta, redshirt sophomore Brice Ramsey or Virginia transfer Greyson Lambert. In fact, Richt did not disclose any statistics for any of his players.
“There is a method to the madness here,” Richt said in a news conference afterward. “We’re the ones that watch the film. We’re the ones who are going to decide who the guy is. We don’t need anyone in the media telling us who should be the starter and that kind of thing.”
Saban last provided quarterback statistics from an Alabama scrimmage when AJ McCarron was his starter.
Ramsey is believed to be the favorite after playing in eight games last season, including the Belk Bowl victory over Louisville after starter Hutson Mason left the game with concussion- like symptoms. Bauta played in three games last season, while Lambert was a nine- game starter for the Cavaliers before losing the starting role this past spring.
Richt did not recall any of the three throwing an interception Friday.
“I think all of them had bright moments,” he said. “We probably threw the deep ball today better than we have all camp. I think they all had a deep ball thrown on the money, but the short and intermediate passing and catching has not been to the standard that it needs to be for us to move the ball on a consistent basis.”
Georgia’s second scrimmage is scheduled for next Saturday, and Richt doubted that the quarterback competition would be whittled from three to two by then.
The Bulldogs ran 50 to 60 plays Friday with the first and second units and, according to Richt, got in 32 plays for the third team. He did not believe there were any significant injuries.
When asked about the biggest gap right now between starters and backups, Richt selected the offensive line.
“Our number two unit is not ready, in my opinion, to play winning football right now,” Richt said. “I’m not trying to dog them out. They’re just developing.”
Richt said that redshirt senior Hunter Long is the backup lineman closest to joining the top five.
Lorenzo Carter and Jordan Jenkins were singled out by Richt for their pass- rushing talents, as were kicker Marshall Morgan and punter Collin Barber for their special- teams performances. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel worked as the first- team running backs, but that’s about all the specifics the coach had to offer.
“I’m not saying much about the quarterback thing, so I’m not saying much about anything as far as who is doing this or that,” Richt said. “It really doesn’t matter until we start playing the games.”
The Bulldogs have Picture Day festivities this afternoon and do not practice again until Monday afternoon, when the fall semester begins.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.
– MARK RICHT