Folks out there are tiptoeing around the issue, but I’m going to just say it.
Hutson Mason no longer needs to be the quarterback of the Georgia Bulldogs.
Look, Mason seems to be a good kid. He is loyal. I hope he proves this Monday Morning armchair quarterback wrong.
But if he stays starting quarterback, then this team is going to lose another couple of games-at least.
He can’t make the throws needed to win SEC games. For as good as Todd Gurley is, at some point in the very near future, the quarterback is going to have to take a game over and win a game for you in this league. Even the great Alabama has needed it in the past. This quarterback can’t get it done.
It won’t make a damn if we get Justin Scott-Wesley or Malcolm Mitchell back. If you can’t get them the ball, what does it matter? Sure, their presence may give opposing teams something to think about, but Georgia has got to be the easiest team in America to game plan for. Our offensive strategy revolves around Todd Gurley breaking big runs and holding him back until the 4th quarter. This is risky, and it is not sustainable.
I’m a big believer in running the ball, especially when you have the horses that we have in the backfield. We should be a run first team for sure. But there are times when you need to throw, and there is no way we can throw the ball right now. Nothing I have seen makes me think we can improve in this area?
I posed the question before the season-Will Hutson Mason be the next Joe Cox? I said no, because he had more talent around him than Joe did.
I was wrong. Hutson Mason is not the next Joe Cox. He is worse. Joe’s problem wasn’t his ability. He was talented. He threw a bunch of touchdowns and a bunch of yards. He was even part of the Elite 11 QB camp the same time Stafford was. Cox’s problem was I think he tried to do too much and make too many big plays.
I don’t want to sit here and say I know more about quarterbacks than Coach Bobo and Coach Richt. But I also know that Coach Richt is loyal. Loyal to a fault. How long do we have to sacrifice the betterment of our program for loyalty? We did it with John Eason, Dave Van Hallanger, Willie Martinez, Joe T. III, etc.
I would love to be wrong. I hope Mason leads us to an 11-1 regular season. I would be tickled pink if that happens. I’ll eat my words. But I don’t think that will happen. I don’t know what is going on with Brice Ramsey or Faton Bauta in practice and behind the scenes. But I can clearly see what is going on with Hutson Mason. If we are going to be no better off with a Redshirt Freshman at quarterback, we might as well try.
We aren’t going to win the SEC East in our current situation. Forget about the quarterback situation. This defense that gives up 30+ points to SEC opponents is a liability. We knew that going into the season, so that shouldn’t be surprising. We can do something about the quarterback situation. How many more games are we going to lose before a change is made? If you are being honest with yourself, what kind of chance do we have against Missouri? Against Auburn? We might as well start preparing for next season and the future.
There is always next season. That is the motto of a Georgia fan.
Corbindawg
NOTE: I look at recruiting rankings not for the number of stars, but for who else has been recruiting that kid. Mason had offers from UGA, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, FSU, Indiana, Mississippi State, UAB, Virginia and Western Michigan. Brice Ramsey had offers from UGA, Alabama, Clemson, Florida, FSU, and Ohio State.
The Grit Tree 
Not only that, but our loaded backfield is now quite notably not-so-loaded, since Sony Michel and Keith Marshall are out for an undetermined amount of time as we head into the toughest part of the schedule. Nick Chubb also isn’t 100%, though he’s being a trooper and playing with a surgically-repaired thumb in a cast.
If, Herschel-forbid, Gurley were to go down, we’d be in for a world of hurt.
If Gurley goes down, we are a bottom tier SEC team. Better than Vandy and maybe, just maybe, better than Kentucky.
How did AM do without Gurley last year, sure it’s Qb or do they both stink?
You are really over the top. He’s got receivers who can’t get separation. He has a weak OL. If you think Bauta or Ramsey are gonna do better, you’re in la la land. Hells Bells! I thought I was too “knee jerk”. You make me out to be Polly Anna!
What I see is a QB that doesn’t throw the ball like he did last year against GT and Nebraska. He certainly doesn’t have Murray’s arm but something’s different? Surely BoBo knows this.
HM threw it 36-38x a game vs Nebraska/GT, hasn’t had more than 22-25 this year.
14 more passes x 7 yards each average = 98 more pass yards per game.
We ran it 53x vs Tenn, but only @39 last year vs Neb/GT. That’s a swing of 15 plays going to the run game.
Chubb’s 11 carries were a waste, should have been pass plays for Mason, Chubb only got 2.9 yards a carry vs Tenn.
Mason averaged 6 yards an attempt, Chubb 3, so it cost us 3 yards every time Chubb ran it.
bad mechanics and footwork are causing him to lob passes
Looks like he’s suffering from some tendintis or something. Agreed, though; he isn’t going to get it done. At least rotate the others…
Nope, Richt said he was fine. And nope, nothing was wrong with Murray when he did so poorly last year vs Vandy & Mizzou without his wr’s.
We are just having AM withdrawal. HM cannot do what AM did. In all honesty, the guy who is most capable of replicating AM type performances is not yet enrolled @ UGA. UGA does not have anyone who currently is capable of providing the kind of QB play we have been used to. Brice Ramsey surely has the big arm that rivals, perhaps exceeds, AM. BR very well may, @ some point, develop into a good QB. Fauton Bauta has some skills as well. Neither give UGA a better chance to win. There is a lot a QB has to know in UGA’s system. IMHO, neither back-up QB is ready to take the reigns from HM.
I for one have ZERO AM withdrawal. Kid lost nearly every big game he started, 5-15 record vs top 25 teams. And threw 40+ interceptions.
Hutson is 3-1 this year, and averaging 45 points per game leading this offense.
Yeah he really sucked.
UGA averages just 10 more yards of passing offense than Tech. Worse, we have not had one offensive pass play of 40+ yards this entire season. The picture is clear but Richt & Co. refuse to look. We’ll need to be eliminated from the SEC East race before another QB gets a shot. Mark it down.
UGA averages 45 pts per game, VT 30.
Do you honestly think CMR is not going to play the person he feels is the best chance to win? he is with those guys everyday he watches them he knows who is best. He may change QB’s soon, but you won’t like it because if he does it means he’s coaching for next year, just enjoy the win
Agree with your assessment to a point. When you watch the young man closely you see a person so uncertain of himself and one who (deep in his heart knows) he does not have the full confidence of his coaches. Thus the title ‘game manager’. Until his coaches’ confidence in Mason is real and imparted and Mason’s confidence in himself is at least stabilized we can expect more of the same…..just a logical, human observation of another human….quarterback or shop foreman.
“If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.” Marcus Garvey
Confidence comes from coaches trusting Mason, and calling 36 pass plays a game like they used to (Neb/GT 2013).
Until they do that, not much will change. So he throws some interceptions, AM threw 40+.
I agree, averaging 45 points a game is awful right Sir?
Hey guys, Did we win this game. Mason is not AM. I remember there were call for AM to be replaced by Mason. Listen, our defense is getting better. They are making open field tackles and they are around the ball. Good for them. this team slugged it out against Clemson and SC. we did the same against Tenn. these guys don’t Quit. So hey let them Play and let the coaches Coach. Will they be perfect? No, but then, they would be no fun to watch. Gata
If Mason had replaced AM, with all those healthy wr’s, we’d have won a Natty in 2012. AM’s offenses never put up the kind of points we have under Mason’s leadership, we are at 45 points a game this year, that’s not too good right?
We are all fans and love this team or you wouldn’t be reading this article. But if you can’t see Hutson’s flaws to this point… something is wrong with you. It has nothing to do with Murray either. To this point, he has looked worse than both Dylan Thompson and Justin Worley. Corbin, you might as well have taken these words right out of my mouth and put them on this page. Face the facts people. This team is not that good as we are right now. Sure, we can get better and I hope to God that we do and quick because right now a split on the upcoming Mizzou/Arky road trip looks like it may be tough to come by.
Come on Brandon, how did AM do last year w/o his top guns? Remember Vanderbilt or Miss, Murray played 10x worse than Mason. And he was a guy with 3 1/2 years of starting experience.
Who told Mason’s mom about this blog?
Without MM/JSW:
AM av 56% vs Vandy & Mizzou, 5 yards per pass, and threw 3 interceptions in 2 games, and lost both games.
HM 69%, 6.7 yards per attempt, 2 interceptions in 4 games
Hutson is better than AM.
Now BC, I would not say that. Murray, had no Gurley, no receivers, and not the greatest line. I don’t think you can attribute all these points this year to HM. He has Gurley! HM will never be a great QB, but hopefully a good QB. I think he can do that.
AM with Gurley in 2012 & 2013 averaged 36 points per game.
HM with Gurley in 2014 averages 45 pts per game.
HM is better than AM.
Corbin, did you and Lugnut do these two posts intentionally, as point-counterpoint?
Reminds me of Saturday Night Live: ‘Jane you ignorant slut.’
Not the intention but it worked out that way…posted nearly at the same time.
If Richt called 37 pass plays for Mason, like he did for Murray, Mason would have 254 yards passing per game right now based on his 6.7 yards per attempt.
Georgia ranks #112 in pass attempts per game in 2014.
Was #36 in 2013.
Here are Hutson’s pass yards per attempt in his 6 starts:
GT- 8.3
Neb- 8.2
SC- 8.8
Troy- 8.7
Clem- 5.0
Tenn- 6.0
Murray in 2013
LSU 8.8
TN 5.6
Mizz- 6.4
Vand- 4.1
Hutson Mason is better than Aaron Murray.
I guess Richt, should be fired. he did not bench AM and start HM. Go figure
Guess he should be fired for not starting Faton like SC Dog thinks. Go figure.
At least AM didn’t float every pass out of the backfield like he was scared to hurt someones hands. There have been commercial breaks that have taken less time to end than some of Mason’s passes to reach their target/the ground.
Aaron had a bad habit of throwing perfect passes with tight spirals, to the wrong team, about 41 times.
Wow, if responses were your goal, you succeeded. I tool believe Mason needs to be on a short leash, however I wouldn’t start a backup against Vandy. Mason deserves a chance to turn his own ship around. If he can’t generate a passing attack by mid-third Qtr. on Saturday I say put Bauta in. I’m not sold on Ramsey, too many INT’s. He should have had one picked off last week. Threw it right in the arms of a defender. Plus Bauta gives us the threat of a run, which keeps the defense off balance. Nothing wrong with Faton’s arm, either!
I just realized Mason could lead us to a 14-1 season if you count the SEC Champshp, 2 playoff games.
14-1 record
SEC Champshp
BCS Champshp
All very much on the table.
Some would argue Hutson was the best UGA Qb ever if that happened.
If we lose to Missouri and either Arkansas or Florida, I can assure you no way Hutson Mason will start another game. It will all be about 2014 if that happens.
The defense can’t stop anyone, so it’s keep scoring 45 points a game, like we have averaged, or we’re going to lose.
Defense has given up 38 to South Carolina and lost that game, 32 to Tennessee and almost lost that game.
Our defense is what worries me, and I’m sure 99% of fans, not the offense who is scoring 45 points a game. This blog is the only place I’ve seen that considers that poor.
I don’t think Mason should be replaced. He’s a senior who provides a lot of leadership and he knows the system. I would like to see a few specialty plays put in for the other two QBs just to give them a little more game experience.
Hey BC I agree with your assessment of AM. I clearly remember the Missouri game from last year after we had lost 90% of our playmakers. it was a total grind. But just look at the GT game last year. If you know anything about a dead arm you will clearly see that HM arm strength was so much stronger than what we have seen this year. Have coached kids with dead arm in baseball and football and it literally takes 1 month of not throwing. I love HM and he is for sure a DGD but a dead arm is a dead arm.
Hutson’s yards per pass has gone up this year vs 8.2 8/3 in 1st 2 starts in 2013. He had his best 2 games vs Troy and South Carolina, both over 8.7 yards per pass.
Arm is getting stronger, no doubt. Was just telling my neighbor how much stronger Mason’s arm looked vs SC & Troy, 8.7/8.8 yards per pass, never hit that in 2013, nice.
BC, I was defending HM.He is our best chance this year
This blog is schizo. One post ‘don’t give up on mason’, the next ‘time for a change at qb’, what?
Rotator cuff. He’s also changing up his footwork to compensate. Probably hurts like hell every time he tries to puts some velocity on it . Oh…and Richt and Bobo have forgotten more about the qb position then any of us will ever learn. I don’t tip toe. If Ramsey had some accuracy to go along with his cannon he’d play. Regardless,Park will play next year. Try and keep it real sports fans. I’ll show myself out. Thankyou.