Carson Beck gave Georgia the QB performance it needed to have on a validating night

ATHENS, Ga. — The story circulating was that Tennessee fans found and leaked Carson Beck’s phone number. Just like they did two years ago with Stetson Bennett, Beck’s predecessor as Georgia quarterback, and we all remember how that went: Bennett taunting Vols fans after a touchdown, making the phone to ear sign.

It is indeed true that Beck’s number was leaked this week. His high school phone number, of course. Turns out Tennessee fans were either turning on a dead number or another poor soul.

“I’m two steps ahead,” Beck said Saturday night.

He smiles. And yes, this time, Beck was allowed to smile.

As difficult as this season has been, for Beck and his team, this night was validation. The season was almost on the line. Criticism of Beck was at its peak. And he led Georgia to a 31-17 victory, playing his best game of the season, scoring 31 points against a Tennessee team that hadn’t even given up 20 all season.

And this didn’t happen because someone leaked their phone number. It happened because it had to happen.

Five days earlier, after the team’s regular Monday meeting, coach Kirby Smart asked the coaches to leave the room. It was time for the players to speak alone. Jalon Walker got up before the team. Tate Ratledge. Malaki Starks. And then Beck.

“It’s not something I do often,” Beck said. “I don’t talk a lot, so I think when I do, it means something.”

The short version of what he and the others said, according to Beck: “Everyone understood the situation we were in. Our backs were against the wall. The only way out is to do what is in front of you.

Smart tried to downplay the meeting, saying it was not a “world-changing event.” But he also admitted there was “an emotional discussion” to make sure everyone knew the importance of this match.

Beck is not a fiery guy. The fifth-year senior’s behavior can be misinterpreted, like when cameras caught him smiling on the bench at the end of last week’s 28-10 loss to Ole Miss. Backup quarterback Jaden Rashada had just said something to try to cheer Beck up in his waning moments, but it became an excuse for critics to attack Beck, who had thrown 12 interceptions in six games . Smart actually answered a question during Monday’s press conference about whether he would ever consider playing another quarterback. Smart filmed this on Monday and referenced it again after Saturday’s game.

“Carson is well-behaved and I’ve been very consistent with even some of the stupidest questions in the world, no offense, about our quarterback because we see it every day,” Smart said. “You know, he’s judged on his results and his stats, but we don’t judge based on that. We judge internally, on what gives us the best chance of winning.

Truth be told, Beck didn’t play that bad at Ole Miss. His only interception came on a fourth-and-long play. Georgia’s problem was more its lack of running game, dropping receivers and protection issues on the offensive line. But the quarterback is often blamed, especially one who has been plagued by turnovers in the previous five games.

“Being a quarterback at Georgia has to be one of the hardest things to do. The things he has to deal with on a daily basis (on a basis),” tight end Oscar Delp said. “I wouldn’t wish on anyone what they have to go through every day. He’s a great player, he’s a baseball player, he knows it and we know it.

Did Delp notice anything different about Beck this week?

“He trained hard, like everyone else,” Delp said. “When everyone is on the same page, good things happen.”

These good things:

• The offensive line didn’t replace anyone for perhaps the first time all season. Left tackle Monroe Freeling made his first career start, right guard Tate Ratledge played his first full game in months, and the result was zero sacks, a week after allowing five to Ole Miss.
• Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo developed a game plan that kept Tennessee off balance and saw five different receivers or tight ends finish with at least 50 yards.
• The running game, without starter Trevor Etienne, complemented the passing game effectively. True freshman Nate Frazier plugged in, rushing for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Pretty good for an offense that has drawn deserved criticism, including from the head of the College Football Playoff selection committee, who cited the offense as one of the reasons the Bulldogs fell out of the projected bracket . That will change this week, and Smart took the opportunity to express his disbelief.

“I don’t know what they’re looking for. I really don’t,” Smart said. “I wish they could really define the criteria. I wish they could do the eye test, where they come here and look at the people we’re playing against and watch them and, you know, you can’t see that stuff on TV, and so I don’t know not what they’re looking for, but that’s for someone else to decide.

Was it fair for them to criticize your offense, Smart was asked?

“They will still do that, because that’s what they say about the eyeball test,” Smart said. “So they’ll probably look at this week and say, well, we just played one of the best defenses in the country, and we had 453 (yards), you know, and we could have been more. So it’s just the story of each week, and we’re trying to be a really good cumulative team and not be on this emotional roller coaster controlled by people in a room somewhere who maybe don’t understand not football like we do as coaches. »

Coaches, players, members of the athletic department, everyone in Georgia knew what was at stake this week. It was also the first home game in forever (35 days), and the first three games of the season weren’t very important games. So they pulled out all the stops for this one: fireworks before the game, between quarters…and after Georgia’s goal.

The running joke was that, well, they wouldn’t need many fireworks in this one. And for a while, it looked like that might be the case. Georgia’s first three drives went nowhere. At the end of the first quarter, Georgia had just 21 total yards and was facing third and long.

Then it changed. Beck saw a Tennessee edge rusher cross the line.

“It’s a free play, we run four verticals,” Beck said. “Let it rip.”

He let it rush to Dominic Lovett for a catch and a 38-yard run. That sparked what would be four straight scoring drives, an offensive rhythm that hadn’t been there in a while.

“I just thought we had juice and intensity. We had a fire around us tonight,” Beck said. “It looked like we were just having fun.”

As Beck spoke, center Jared Wilson stood behind reporters, smiling and waving his arms at Beck. The quarterback saw it, smiled, then continued to answer questions. Wilson continued on his way.

The questions on Beck’s mind aren’t going to go away. He needs to lead his team to two more regular-season wins — the game against Georgia Tech is no mere formality — to feel safe making the playoffs. Then there’s the playoffs, which at this point seem likely to come after Georgia, due to tiebreakers, not making the SEC Championship Game, which could be a blessing for this beaten football team, physically and emotionally.

But it’s less emotionally distraught than before Saturday. This victory was a shock to the spirits which could carry the team for a while. It remains to be seen to what extent and for how long. It may depend on Beck.

And if that’s the case, Georgia’s chances suddenly look a lot better.

(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)