ATHENS – JT Daniels proved it was all that was hyped Saturday night, and it was time to save Georgia from that embarrassing loss.
Daniels was 28-of-38 who was passing for 401 yards and with 4 touchdowns UGA couldn’t run the ball with any night interval and struggled to stop Mike Leach’s offense in a 31-24 win over Mississippi State.
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One would not have guessed that Daniels would post the first 400 yards pass in Georgia in 2013, posting SEC all-time pass leader Aaron Murray.
There is no one but Daniels, that is.
“Sure,” Daniels said, asking if he could imagine such a debut. “This is something you imagine and dream of, put good numbers.”
Daniels, for UGA fans who haven’t paid much attention to the build-up, it’s a quarterback who checks all the cheeks.
Talent leads the list of 2017 Gatorade High School Player of the Year which includes confidence, hand strength, calm, football .l IQ and mental toughness.
Oh, and patience – too much patience.
Daniels spoke for the first time since arriving at UGA in May after his performance on Saturday night. He confirmed that he was cleared to return from torn ACL and meniscus, which he suffered on August 31, 2019 after the Arkansas game.
But, Daniels added, “It must be said that I have raised a good amount since then, and we are still moving forward to regain full strength and perfect health.”
His right knee was tested in his starting series when he suffered the first sack out of about three withdrawals, when he almost took off. The rust of not playing was obvious.
“I can say after that drive, every kind of settled down, it was playing very similarly in terms of the looks we saw in the movie,” Daniels said. “We had a great game plan, I had bad plays, it’s time to move on.”
Daniels was more interested in talking about the talent around him and his intention to continue giving downfield strikes.
Freshman receiver Jermaine Burton went on 8 receptions for season-high 197 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Soffmore George Pickins, despite often paying too much attention, had a catch for 87 yards and his first touch from the second game of the season.
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“If you have George Pickens and Jermaine Burton, if you don’t throw them at them, don’t recruit them,” Daniels said of select talent.
“George made me look good, Jermaine made me look good, Carris (Jackson) made me look really nice when I threw the ball deep down, and it makes a great game.
“If you’re giving (coverage) to George, Kairis and Germain and all of us together, I probably will. I’ll try to show you that you can stop it.”
It’s not just the mindset, it’s Kirby’s smart game plan: take what the defense is offering.
Daniels, with his arm talent, has the ability to do just that, to properly apply the “make every throw” clich.
But he can also change plays in the line of notoriety, and in one game, he had no problem accepting that responsibility.
“We like to put up good numbers, and if the situation presents itself I’ll throw the ball to George, I’ll throw Caris Ball, D-Rob, all of that, I’ll throw them every time.” Said.
“But if you have a team playing soft (coverage), I have no problem giving the ball to Zamir (White) and (James) Cook, and Kenny (McIntosh) and Kendall (Milton) and all those people, to everyone. Rum. “
Daniels explains that it was the Mississippi State that took his poison.
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“We’ve been such a big run team on the film, and I think we had to prove ourselves a little bit in the pass game,” Daniels said. “They played a little more cover zero without any safety, they played a little more man. I think it was their burden to try to stop Zeus and Cook from taking on them.
“No, I don’t think we’ll come out and throw the ball, but it’s football. You play the game, see what their game plan is and what they are trying to prevent, and then you face it. “
The same, the universal truth of football, from the West Coast to the South – which, by the way, Daniels revealed when he asked why he chose to relocate to Georgia.
“I believe Coach Smart is about winning anything, it’s something I really respect, ”said Daniel. “I think he does a lot for the team. It’s completely selfless, it’s here to help us win games and achieve our goals, so that’s one thing.
“Two, I absolutely love the state of Georgia. I lived in the South for a while for Manning Passing Academy, and I fell in love with it when I was in Louisiana.
“Then Coach Monken’s offense, just talking to him through Zoom when I was in the transfer portal, I knew he was a guy I like to play with.”
Daniels’ passion and enthusiasm for the game was evident as he fearlessly attacked the defense of the Rune Bulldogs with one deep shot after another.
He went down the same way Daniels told Smart when he went to Fisk to play his case the day after the Florida game.
“He was so adamant that he had faith in the knee, that he was ready to go, that he could wound up and make decisions and do all the things that have not been done in terms of accuracy.” Said. “He has confidence in himself, which is what you need in that position.”
Daniels, it seems, checks all the cheeks.
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