Is That…Is That a Deep Pass???

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Georgia media team, sneaking in a way to address the doubters.

Yes, there’s a few deep balls in there. One thing noted in Brent Rollins’ Five Predictions for UGA Football is this:

Gunner Stockton’s traditional numbers are basically the same, but he plays significantly better.

Last season, Stockton averaged 243 total yards and 2.4 touchdowns per game. Those numbers aren’t far off from the last two national championship-winning quarterbacks (Will Howard and Fernando Mendoza). Will the per-game rushing yardage decrease a little and the passing yardage increase a little as Stockton is more sure of himself in year two? Almost certainly. But it will still likely be around the 250-yard per game mark.

The key, Stockton will play significantly better. Where does that get reflected? In the PFF passing grade. Let’s look at Jake Fromm and Stetson Bennett as a comparison.

Getting to the 85.3 passing grade that Fromm posted in his sophomore season would’ve put Stockton in the top 10 in the Power 4 last year. He at least gets there and finishes right around an 86.0 passing grade. His improvement combined with the defensive improvement mentioned above leads into the next prediction.

Personally, I question what was Year 1 for Stetson…2020, or 2021? If 2020, man, what a mess a season that was. If 2021, maybe I’m optimistic.

In the end, it’s all numbers and data metrics, so what that means when it steps onto the field, especially a field that is tilted very different from the nature of college football in 2017 and 2020, is a different story.

Let ‘er rip, Gunner. At least a couple of times a game.

7 thoughts on “Is That…Is That a Deep Pass???”

  1. Figure it was the year that Kirby made Fraud Monken accept Lil Stet was gonna be the QB.

  2. Y’all were all fooled. That was Gunner on one sideline throwing a screen to the other sideline.

  3. Stetson was at 68.9 in 2020.

    If Gunner makes the same leap as Stet did from 2021-22, Iā€™ll blame Bobo.

  4. Do not be fooled! What we just watched was not a deep ball. Bobo calls such plays ā€œvertical screen passā€. It may look like a deep route, but it is merely a nonhorizontal screen. The blocking scheme remains the same, and Bobo sneaks the most unassuming WR out on an extended swing route.

    Here is hoping that we see #1 improved and consistent O-line play (please, please stay healthy) #2 explosive running game, and #3 Gunner gaining confidence in his O-line, which SHOULD result in improved confidence in the pocket.

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