Social media thrilled with JT Daniels performance, but ponders why Kirby Smart didn’t play him sooner
JT Daniels looked every bit as advertised and then some in his debut on Saturday night for the Georgia Bulldogs.
In his first start in a Georgia uniform, he tossed for 401 yards and four touchdowns. He’s the first Georgia quarterback to post those kinds of numbers since Aaron Murray did back in 2013.
Given how much of an issue the quarterback position has been for Georgia this season, many rejoiced and celebrated the performance.
“It feels really good, this is the first time I’ve taken a (game) snap since Aug. 31, 2019, in another part of the country,” Daniels said. “I really couldn’t be happier and more appreciative to Coach Smart Coach Monken and the team.”
🐶
— JT Daniels (@jtdaniels06) November 22, 2020
🎯 401 Pass yards
🎯 4 TDsJT Daniels is the first QB in @GeorgiaFootball history to throw 4 TDs in his first game 🐶 pic.twitter.com/FdEkyQ6h9m
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 22, 2020
First game in a Georgia uni and JT Daniels was BALLIN’ 🔥
– 28/38 pass
– 401 yards
– 4 TDs(via @SECNetwork)pic.twitter.com/ce1INdza4j
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) November 22, 2020
401 yards
4 touchdowns
Zero interceptions
WELCOME TO THE JT DANIELS SHOW!! 🥶🥶🐶🐶🐶 pic.twitter.com/bTozLKZU6Z— Chris Figgures (@chrislfiggures) November 22, 2020
Thank you JT Daniels for unlocking the #83 ranked passing game! That was awesome! #UGA @680TheFan
— buck belue (@buckbelue8) November 22, 2020
What on Earth is going on with Georgia? Now their QB JT Daniel can’t miss and they can’t run the ball worth a flip. Can’t never have 2 things at the same time. Peanut butter, no jelly Burger no bun Kool aid no sugar.
— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) November 22, 2020
This was dropped, but how was JT Daniels not starting earlier? This play is incredible. pic.twitter.com/7GEPOGIw4G
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) November 22, 2020
https://t.co/AzkS8rRfmZ pic.twitter.com/VKh5mKqotH
— Alyssa Purser (@AlyssaPurser) November 22, 2020
JT Daniels look good
— DB (@DavinBellamy17) November 22, 2020
If you’d told me that JT Daniels was 25-for-31 for 324 and 3 TDs, I’d have assumed Georgia was beating Mississippi State by like 75 points.
— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) November 22, 2020
— AXactly (@DawgAXactly) November 22, 2020
Yessir. Eat 🤬 https://t.co/UfBfxBrT6d
— Amon-Ra (@amonra_stbrown) November 22, 2020
JT Daniels just threw 3 beautiful TD passes on the same drive.
My goodness can he fling it.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) November 22, 2020
Related: JT Daniels’ explosive plays to Jermaine Burton, receivers bring joy to offense
The one downside to Daniels’ stellar performance is that it has many asking why Georgia’s head coach Kirby Smart didn’t turn to Daniels sooner.
Daniels had been cleared after the game against Arkansas. Stetson Bennett looked good in wins over Tennessee and Auburn, he struggled against Alabama, Kentucky and Florida.
Smart himself did answer that exact question on Saturday night after the win.
“Absolutely I would,” Smart said. “But I also think people need to take into consideration that I’ve been coaching football for I don’t know how many years, 20 or 25 years and God knows Monken has probably doubled me as old as he is. There’s not a decision that we make as coaches, as a coaching staff, as an offensive coaching staff, five guys that I adore and think the world of … maybe the question should be, man, aren’t they glad they’ve got J.T. here, when nobody thought that maybe they needed him.
“Would I have loved him to go out and do that same thing to other teams? Absolutely. But the decisions were made on who we felt gave us the best opportunity to win, and a lot of that had to do with mobility and Stetson’s play. As Stet struggled, we had to look for other options. He did a great job with his opportunity, he also had some help in receivers that came back and how Mississippi State played them. I don’t want to use that to demean how he played. He played unbelievable. I’m as proud as hell for the way he played. But every decision we make is who gives us the best opportunity to win the game and the men in that room who are making those decisions, they’ve got a lot of experience doing it.”
I thought this @JeffSchultzATL question to Kirby Smart had a very interesting answer pic.twitter.com/ijLH6oTz4C
— Connor Riley (@Kconnorriley) November 22, 2020
DawgNation looking at Kirby Smart When JT throw a Touchdown Strike on the first open drive of Game Vs Mississippi State pic.twitter.com/Jr3Sdkt83w
— LongLiveFred👼🏿🏀 (@Trigger_Trey7) November 21, 2020
JT Daniels is the first UGA QB player w/300 passing yards + 4 TDs since Aaron Murray in 2013.
Maybe Kirby should’ve played him all year long?pic.twitter.com/lWH64pCFZ0
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) November 22, 2020
5 years of head coaching experience. 3 division titles, 1 conference championship, two Sugar Bowl apperances (1 win), Rose Bowl win.
Yep – I'm team Kirby. Sucks JF transfered and Newman opted out. Sucks JT didn't play until tonight. I'll choose to look at Kirby's accomplishments
— Beat USCe (5-2) #GoDawgs (@1DawgGA) November 22, 2020
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 22, 2020
👀 Right on both predictions. Good morning, Dawg fans. https://t.co/Kr2jRYpYQW
— Jon Tweets Sports (@JonTweetsSports) November 22, 2020
https://t.co/yojlnX1rbv pic.twitter.com/358ilI3g1E
— sina iranikhah (@sina_iranikhah) November 22, 2020
Georgia absolutely needed Daniels to play well given Georgia’s struggles running the ball and on defense. Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers threw for 336 yards, while Georgia ran for 8 yards on 23 carries, the worst rushing performance of Smart’s tenure as head coach.
Smart did go on to say that Daniels would be the starting quarterback going forward following his performance in the 31-24 win.
Among some of the other trending topics from the Mississippi State game include some spectacular catches by the Georgia wide receivers and the return of the black jerseys.
JT Daniels @jtdaniels06__ hits Jermaine Burton @NASAMAINE for 6️⃣!!!! pic.twitter.com/P0zSQY1nQh
— GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) November 22, 2020
Jermaine Burton has 7 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
Coming into tonight he had 10 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown.
— Connor Riley (@Kconnorriley) November 22, 2020
#UGA QB J.T Daniels finally made his long awaited debut last night, and boy he didnt disappoint.
28/38, 401 yds, 4 TD 0 INT
I havent seen a UGA QB put up numbers like this in a while. tFr WR Jermaine Burton posting an 8/197/2 on the night 👀 #Devy pic.twitter.com/43lGdbWFSo
— Cory P. (@FF_Guitarist) November 22, 2020
“did you miss me?” -George Pickens 🐶 pic.twitter.com/WcInhtrjmx
— Chris Figgures (@chrislfiggures) November 22, 2020
Exciting game for UGA fans: JT Daniels is the starter, black jerseys, night SEC game, George Pickens is back, what more could you want?? #GoDawgs 🐾
— UGA Recruiting (@UGARecruiting20) November 21, 2020
When you combine for 284 receiving yards and 3 TDs. pic.twitter.com/WLrgEtZSBI
— AXactly (@DawgAXactly) November 22, 2020
Stating the glaringly obvious here but MAN is Georgia better with George Pickens
— Sarah K. Spencer (@sarah_k_spence) November 22, 2020
— ♚ David Daniel ① (@David_X_Dope) November 22, 2020
I cannot tell you how good it feels to be in Sanford Stadium on a November Saturday evening.
But there is nothing normal about it here.
When we beat this stupid virus I hope we throw the biggest party this stadium has ever seen. (while wearing black jerseys, of course.)
— Logan Booker (@LoganMBooker) November 22, 2020
— Jamie Han (@jamiehan) November 21, 2020
⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️#GoDawgs #ATD pic.twitter.com/kfMoPm2sAP
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) November 21, 2020
Georgia returns to the field next Saturday against South Carolina. The game is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff and will air on the SEC Network. South Carolina did beat Georgia 20-17 last season.
Georgia football coach Kirby Smart explains why JT Daniels didn’t play sooner
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