ATHENS — There was little expectation that Georgia’s first preseason scrimmage would lead to the naming of a starting quarterback. There was some thought it could lead to one of the three candidates being eliminated.

Not so, it turns out. At least probably not.

“To say that one guy is going to be ruled out from the scrimmage, I think I know enough to say that’s not going to be the case,” Smart said on Saturday afternoon. “We are going to have to start getting to where guys can get more reps, to develop and see where we’re going. But obviously we’ve got another scrimmage.”

That would be next Saturday, and at that point there may be definite separation among senior Greyson Lambert, junior Brice Ramsey and freshman Jacob Eason. The next week, however, is likely to see the three continuing to split practice reps fairly evenly. 

That could always change once Smart and his staff have had time to examine film from the scrimmage. 

“I want to reserve judgment until I see the tape. So I can say, all right this is where we’re going from here,” Smart said.

Each of the three quarterbacks got about the same amount of snaps with the first team, or at least that was the aim going in. The scrimmage was closed to the media and general public, there were no stats released and no players were available to speak afterwards.

Someone, Smart didn’t say who, completed a long touchdown pass to senior receiver Reggie Davis during a simulated third-down drill. There were also “a couple big balls” during the simulated two-minute drills, Smart added, but otherwise nothing much stuck out.

“Each guy that did something good, did something boneheaded,” Smart said. “So I don’t know that we got anywhere in regards to quarterback. I want to see the tape.”

As for the team overall, Smart’s opening statement was that “we’re not where we need to be, and that’s for sure. But I didn’t expect it to be that way.”

They tried to run a simplified playbook, because Smart said they’re trying to find the best “50-60” players. The effort was “good,” the toughness was “okay” but the execution was “poor.”