Looks like a QB storm is brewing. No one knows for sure who the starter will be against UGA yet and the rumors of Garcia are running wild like Corkey into a fence… It all started when Garica was mentioned two weeks ago after Beecher was hurt in the opener. Because of the injured Beecher, Garcia moved to #2 on the depth chart. We have all heard a number of times from Spurrier that he is “just not ready yet.” This was echoed again as early as Tuesday of this week.
“We’ll wait and see as the season progresses,” Spurrier said when asked whether Garcia was in the quarterback mix. “Tommy Beecher and Chris Smelley were here all summer, working out with the guys. I really believe they deserve every opportunity to be our quarterbacks right now.”
Only two days later there is either a smoke screen or a new Era on the horizon. Seems like things are starting to turn more rapidly on the QB carousal. Both Beecher and Smelley had interesting comments toward the QB position. Beecher basically told reporters that Garcia and Smelley were taking the 1st team snaps (he didn’t say if that was because he was still injured though, which very well might be the case). Then Smelley’s comment, the most intriguing, was reported today…
“Umm, uh, I don’t know really how to answer that. That’s kind of a practice thing,” Smelley said. “I think there’s a reason why y’all aren’t out here on the field. So that’s all I’m going to say.”
Could this be the start of the Garcia Era? Fans are talking and it makes sense frankly. We know what we have in Smelley, we can rely on him as a solid game manager (aka back up, he plays better coming off the bench anyway ala LSU & NC state; i think he has a confidence issue?). Is he going to lead us to the SEC title, maybe but he has to show signs of improvement that we just aren’t seeing. Beecher has been here a while and 4 ints against NC State, come on after 3 years in the system? Really no TDS and one pass longer than 10 yards?
So the question is why not Garcia, i mean seriously can he do any worse? I doubt he will throw 4 ints, but if he does so what? So did Beecher? If not now then why not let him finish out the season? I mean if we lose there is no reason to not let the kid play. We are kidding ourselves if he is not the QB of the future, so why not hand him the reins ala UGA and Stafford. Get him some big game experience this year and who knows what could happen next year?
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