Kirby Smart Talks Carson Beck, Spring Game Expectations
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ATHENS - After leading the Georgia Bulldogs to their first national championship in over 40 years, it makes sense to assume that Stetson Bennett would be leading the Bulldogs once again after deciding to return to Athens for a final season.
But don’t tell that to backup quarterback, Carson Beck.
Dawg Post has reported that the third-year gunslinger from Jacksonville has impressed in practice and has received some first-team reps at quarterback. Sources say the former four-star prospect has one of the most gifted arms on campus, and now that he’s entering his third year in the program, it’s go time for Beck.
It’s never easy to wait your turn on the bench, especially at quarterback, but head coach Kirby Smart said he’s seen a calm and collected Carson Beck this spring.
“I think he (Beck) has really good composure”, Smart told reporters. “Carson is never up, never down. I think that’s a great quality in every quarterback I’ve seen. Guys that are emotional and up and down like a roller coaster, he’s pretty even killed. He does a good job being very even killed, and I think he understands the system. He’s got another year in the system, so it comes naturally to him. He’s not nervous about what the call is, what’s my read, what’s the motion, what’s the shift. He’s very cool, calm and collected and does a good job of managing those things with the offense. So, he has earned some confidence and earned some confidence with the players.”
Confidence is key, especially for quarterbacks, and it appears Beck is doing everything he can to take control of his opportunities this spring. He’ll have a chance to shine in Georgia’s G-Day scrimmage this month, as Georgia’s head coach will have a close eye on the QB group as the spring comes to a close.
“It never changes with the quarterbacks” Smart said. “You could come back in 10 years from now and it’s going to be the same thing as it was last year—decision-making, accuracy, leadership, intangibles—great quarterbacks are accurate and they make good decisions. If you can make good decisions and be accurate, and you have good football players around them, then you’re going to be a pretty good football player. I want to see them execute the offense, lead the offense, make plays with their feet when things break down—things that are difference-makers for them.”
Can Carson Beck end the spring on a strong note and make this a true QB battle? Can he do enough to pass a national championship quarterback on the depth chart?
Carson Beck could have transferred somewhere else by now. I think most quarterbacks would give it a serious thought. Instead, he’s stayed in Athens and wants to compete for the starting job. It won’t be easy, but it should be fun to keep an eye on over the next several months.
