What to Expect from JT Daniels on Saturday?
News broke overnight that JT Daniels is the expected starting quarterback on Saturday for Georgia. The Bulldogs’ Battle will start at 7:30 PM on the SEC Network, as Georgia plays host to Mississippi State.
The “news” of JT becoming the starting quarterback for Saturday was expected by many after the struggling performances at the quarterback position in the recent weeks. The injury to Stetson Bennett’s right shoulder (AC Sprain) further solidified the chances of seeing JT Daniels this weekend.
Daniels is going to become the third quarterback to start a game for the Dawgs this season. Daniels is coming off an ACL injury, where he received two operations, one to fix the initial tear and a follow-up clean-up operation in December of 2019.
Saturday will be Daniels’ first appearance as a Bulldog and his first organized football game in over 14 months. Daniels last played against Fresno State in the first game of the 2019 season for the USC Trojans.
Expectations are riding high among fans on social media as the former five-star quarterback in the 2018 recruiting class will take the field.
JT goes into Saturday with the deck stacked against him. Without football for 14 months due to an ACL injury makes it even more difficult for the redshirt sophomore to fulfill the expectations stacked against him.
In the 12 games of the film we’ve seen on the former five-star, his arm talent jumps out at you. When looking at arm talent in a college quarterback, it looks at making accurate throws in an unorthodox position (i.e., throwing off the back foot). JT brings serious arm strength and arm talent to the table for Georgia.
Daniels opens up the playbook in the passing game for Georgia. A lack of consistency in the passing game has hurt the Dawgs this season. Georgia has not been able to make accurate throws outside the hashes with consistency. While Daniels will not make those problems go away, in fact, JT struggled in his freshman season connecting on those throws outside the hashes.
The misfires in the vertical passing game can be attributed to lousy footwork. The confidence JT boasts in his arm is clear on film as you notice many of the deep ball throws were relying on the back foot. Daniels needs to improve planting his foot into the ground, taking the weight off his back foot, the same leg that is coming off a torn ACL.
Whatever consistency he lacks in the vertical passing game, Daniels makes up for it in the quick game. JT excelled in the short game his freshman season; a rapid-fire release helps him get the ball out quickly. Anything in-between 5-10 yards, Daniels excels in those short, quick throws where he gets the ball to his playmakers and doesn’t have to rely on his reads and decisions.
Decision making is the biggest flaw in the game of JT Daniels through just one whole season of tape. The difference in the college game’s speed compared to high school is always a learning curve for many young, yet those learning curves are more severe at the quarterback position. That same learning curve is evident on tape as Daniels can be seen at times, making poor decisions. He was putting balls into tight man to man or double coverages, which were often intercepted.
Kirby Smart is known for getting frustrated with a young quarterback when it comes to decision making. Smart often asks the quarterbacks to profit instead of risk it all downfield for a big play. The taking a profit approach will a learning curve for the redshirt sophomore on Saturday as he gets acclimated to the SEC and playing football again.
While Georgia is at the disadvantage of starting a new quarterback who’s not played in 14 months, they benefit from the experience and expertise of offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Monken made a name for himself, adapting to the situation at quarterback and focusing on what the quarterback does best instead of forcing him to fit the scheme. Monken will once again adapt to the card dealt this week on offense.