Justin Fields one of four invited to Heisman ceremony

[g-dawg]

Separate thread so if you are here, you are here because you want to be here - so don’t be a drama queen and complain about the thread topic - you came in through the front door.

With the Heisman invite for Fields, seemed like a good time to look back and reflect.

Justin Fields was every bit the phenom he was touted to be coming out of Harrison High School.   Watched him for two years - he is a Top 10 future draft pick and now a Heisman finalist.

He was a Dawg.  We had him.  He also was anchor player and active recruiter for the #1 recruiting class in 2018 for UGA.

This thread is about nurturing, developing and most importantly KEEPING this special talent.  I can 100% appreciate this was a tough situation.  Fromm coming off  the most successful season in UGA football since 1980 and a good leader - Fields could not just be given the job - but I don’t even believe that was a requirement of the Fields camp.   They were looking for opportunity to grow and develop and working him in more as season went on - that is NOT what was given.    

It seemed obvious early on that Kirby was sensitive to any type of QB controversy and really allowed for almost nothing other than extreme mop-up duty and generic play-calling for Fields . “Run, run, pass (or scramble).

Of course Justin was making a big jump in competition and there would be growing pains - many of his critics on here and elsewhere often would say “he can’t read a defense” or “he is a one read QB” and contrast with Jake who had the opportunity to learn/grow on the job his Freshman year.
 

Justin could have played a ton more in blowout games - been given 2nd halves, more of playbook, etc - not so as to create controversy (which still could have happened) but to maximize both Fields talent and create more opportunities for the offense - had that happened,  UGA and Kirby would have been in a much better position to keep Fields for another year - and there is little doubt with more his Freshman year that he would have took the job from Fromm - if not straight out of camp then shortly thereafter.

I also believe there has been some white-washing of these practice reports as it seemed there were many players who thought Fields was the best option - I don’t believe it was anything more than just seeing the talent disparity between he and Fromm.

We move forward now but there is enough info now that it should be clear to all that Kirby and staff made mistakes here with Fields and Ohio State is reaping the benefits of Georgia’s mistake.   Justin is still developing but he is at a phenomenal rate.   41 TDs and 1 interception - not bad for a guy that cannot read defenses.   Aaron Rogers and Tom Brady would take those numbers.

Kirby is a GREAT coach and I am so thrilled he leads our program and my Alma Mater.   I still believe he is the best man for the job in spite of the loss of Justin, the failure of the 2019 offense and now the loss of Sam Pittman - we have hit some adversity here - just want to see Kirby make the proper adjustments and learn from his mistakes - also hope he looks at the offensive side of the ball and makes changes.  Great defense without Great offense won’t break the National Title drought for Georgia.   Let’s fix this offense and have a better plan for Freshman QBs as they come into the program.

[PapaJoe]

 No harm intended here g-dawg; just think it’s hilarious scenario so I had to add the humor to it.

i really wish JF had stayed but oh well.

https://m.imgur.com/r/OddlySatisfying/smyTC3T

No harm intended here g-dawg. Just good natured ribbing ‘cuz you had to post it

[g-dawg]

15 minutes ago, m2Falcons said:

 No harm intended here g-dawg; just think it’s hilarious scenario so I had to add the humor to it.

i really wish JF had stayed but oh well.

https://m.imgur.com/r/OddlySatisfying/smyTC3T

No harm intended here g-dawg. Just good natured ribbing ‘cuz you had to post it

It is what it is

[FalconsIn2012]

The more I think about it, I think Fields left not necessarily because of Fromm, though clearly that was a factor, but because of our offensive philosophy.  We’ve had so many great skill position players do nothing in this offense.
 

Last year, with our great OL & Nata, Mecole, Goodwin, Swift & Ridley we should have thrown for 325 ypg.  

[g-dawg]

22 minutes ago, FalconsIn2012 said:

The more I think about it, I think Fields left not necessarily because of Fromm, though clearly that was a factor, but because of our offensive philosophy.  We’ve had so many great skill position players do nothing in this offense.
 

Last year, with our great OL & Nata, Mecole, Goodwin, Swift & Ridley we should have thrown for 325 ypg.  

I am sure that was part of the calculus but I doubt the largest part of it.   He wanted opportunity - he wanted to play.

[Red Bandana]

Him, swift, and cook in the backfield would’ve been unstoppable. 

[FalconsIn2012]

26 minutes ago, g-dawg said:

I am sure that was part of the calculus but I doubt the largest part of it.   He wanted opportunity - he wanted to play.

Honest question, if he stayed at UGA do you think Kirby would have ultimately benched Fromm for Fields?  I’m not certain he would have

[TheTrue7]

If only he checked his ego at the door.. **** of a talent..

[g-dawg]

22 minutes ago, FalconsIn2012 said:

Honest question, if he stayed at UGA do you think Kirby would have ultimately benched Fromm for Fields?  I’m not certain he would have

this year?  yeah I do.   This offense was on life support all year - a more mobile QB could have created plays that simply weren't there running our base offense under Fromm due to lack of receiving talent.     Fromm is a system QB and not a creator - not necessarily a bad thing and he worked the system well for two years - but if he isn't surrounded by very good talent, he just isn't capable of carrying an offense - Fields can.

[g-dawg]

20 minutes ago, TheTrue7 said:

If only he checked his ego at the door.. **** of a talent..

yeah, he definitely has a little edge to him and needs to be a little more humble.   Very smart kid though and he comes from good family - probably a little too much hero worship that he could have handled better before getting to Athens.

[Carter]

It’s pretty awesome that we got owned by Joe Burrow, a QB who was the epitome of average last year but is now probably winning the most lopsided Heisman vote ever.... and he is the only reason Fields isn’t winning it this year.

Not awesome in a bitter type of way. Awesome in a “why do I even like Georgia sports, there is always a new level of misery” type of way.

[AutumnEffect]

4 minutes ago, Carter said:

It’s pretty awesome that we got owned by Joe Burrow, a QB who was the epitome of average last year but is now probably winning the most lopsided Heisman vote ever.... and he is the only reason Fields isn’t winning it this year.

Not awesome in a bitter type of way. Awesome in a “why do I even like Georgia sports, there is always a new level of misery” type of way.

[UAB_DAWG]

It really is a shame fields didn’t want to stick it out. If he was able to take the job from Fromm and lead us to the playoffs he would have been a legend. He may get that opportunity at OSU but it’s different doing it as the hometown kid. 
 

Given the circumstances last year I don’t blame him but I still don’t like the way the situation was handled. 

[LawDawg]

2 hours ago, FalconsIn2012 said:

The more I think about it, I think Fields left not necessarily because of Fromm, though clearly that was a factor, but because of our offensive philosophy.  We’ve had so many great skill position players do nothing in this offense.
 

Last year, with our great OL & Nata, Mecole, Goodwin, Swift & Ridley we should have thrown for 325 ypg.  

That's crazy. Fields left because Georgia is racist. Didn't you hear?

 

 

[g-dawg]

46 minutes ago, LawDawg said:

That's crazy. Fields left because Georgia is racist. Didn't you hear?

 

 

Yeah I have seen like 10 interviews where Fields was claiming Georgia a racist institution - he just can’t stop talking about it.

[g-dawg]

1 hour ago, UAB_DAWG said:

It really is a shame fields didn’t want to stick it out. If he was able to take the job from Fromm and lead us to the playoffs he would have been a legend. He may get that opportunity at OSU but it’s different doing it as the hometown kid. 
 

Given the circumstances last year I don’t blame him but I still don’t like the way the situation was handled. 

Ummm....Fields has already led OSU to playoff.

[FalconsIn2012]

2 minutes ago, g-dawg said:

Yeah I have seen like 10 interviews where Fields was claiming Georgia a racist institution - he just can’t stop talking about it.

Really?

[UAB_DAWG]

1 minute ago, g-dawg said:

Ummm....Fields has already led OSU to playoff.

Sorry that wasn’t clear. I meant he has an opportunity to be a legend at OSU depending on how this season and the next plays out. 

[LawDawg]

3 minutes ago, g-dawg said:

Yeah I have seen like 10 interviews where Fields was claiming Georgia a racist institution - he just can’t stop talking about it.

I knew you'd like my comment. 

 

[g-dawg]

11 minutes ago, FalconsIn2012 said:

Really?

No

[g-dawg]

1 hour ago, UAB_DAWG said:

It really is a shame fields didn’t want to stick it out. If he was able to take the job from Fromm and lead us to the playoffs he would have been a legend. He may get that opportunity at OSU but it’s different doing it as the hometown kid. 
 

Given the circumstances last year I don’t blame him but I still don’t like the way the situation was handled. 

I don’t think many recruits as talented as Fields would have waited.   Remember before Tua got in the game to win the Natty, it was said he was likely on the way out at Bama.

[FalconsIn2012]

2 hours ago, g-dawg said:

I don’t think many recruits as talented as Fields would have waited.   Remember before Tua got in the game to win the Natty, it was said he was likely on the way out at Bama.

You know, I had completely forgotten about that.  But you are 100% correct.  He was gone after the NCG.  Funny how life works

[g-dawg]

10 minutes ago, FalconsIn2012 said:

You know, I had completely forgotten about that.  But you are 100% correct.  He was gone after the NCG.  Funny how life works

If you really think about it nowadays,  nobody redshirts anymore (not top guys) and most QBs want to come out after their true Junior year if they are 1st rd pick, sooooooo.....Fields wasn’t confident after Freshman year he was gonna get a fair shake for starting job in competition with Fromm - so he left.

[slamee101]

I haven't been here much so I haven't chimed in on this too tough so I'll say this and then likely stop beating the dead horse.

For all the great things Kirby has done so far I feel like he botched this one in a major way.  There was a way to "stay loyal" to Fromm and still give Fields valuable playing time/snaps.  That didn't happen.  I was shocked when we got him...less shocked when he left after the way the season played out.

Unfortunately, as is often the case when arguing about sports icons in the state of Georgia...there's often a racial component to it.  Quite frankly it stinks but it's unavoidable.  I love UGA but as an alum I find it a bit comical that people have SUCH an issue with Fields talking about the racist element on campus.  Would he have bolted if he would have been named starter even with those issues?  Probably not.  However, I'd be here all day if I were to list the things I or my classmates dealt with from year to  year in Athens.  I know, uncomfortable subject but it is what it is.  It's not everyone or the institution...it's not even most...but it is there and I think pretending it's not only compounds the issue.  I just wish people got  half as upset about the ACTUAL RACISM as they do about the mention of racism.

I'm happy for Fields just like I was happy for Eason landing at UW (even though he had mixed results this year).  If we have another QB with that kind of talent that wants to be in Athens I hope Kirby and his staff figure out how to utilize the talent versus saying we'll stick to what we know if sticking to what we know is going to give us the kind of results we got on offense this year.  I really think that was the biggest issue.

[Faithful Falcon]

On 12/10/2019 at 0:15 PM, FalconsIn2012 said:

The more I think about it, I think Fields left not necessarily because of Fromm, though clearly that was a factor, but because of our offensive philosophy.  We’ve had so many great skill position players do nothing in this offense.
 

Last year, with our great OL & Nata, Mecole, Goodwin, Swift & Ridley we should have thrown for 325 ypg.  

It's taking Kirby Smart too long to understand that he's bringing in the wrong OC. Chaney was terrible, and Coley makes Chaney look good.