Despite leading the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs to a 6-1 record, quarterback Carson Beck has faced criticism for his inconsistent play this season. His recent performance against Texas, where he completed 23 of 41 passes for 175 yards, was his lowest yardage output this year, sparking questions about his effectiveness.
Coming out of the bye week, head coach Kirby Smart was asked about what might be “wrong” with Beck, but instead of addressing any flaws, he stood firmly by his QB.
“Yeah, I don’t answer it because I don’t think anything’s wrong with him,” Smart said. “He hasn’t played perfect, but nobody does. I’m very comfortable with where Carson is in terms of his leadership, his practice habits, and the things we’re asking him to do. I think he’s doing a good job in those areas.”
This season, Beck’s completion rate has dropped to 66 percent, down from 72.6 percent last year, and he has thrown eight interceptions so far, compared to just six in all of 2023. However, Beck isn’t solely responsible for the struggles in the passing game. Georgia’s wide receivers have dropped several well-thrown passes, and the offensive line’s protection has been spotty—a point Smart has highlighted multiple times this season.
Smart took accountability for the offense’s challenges and emphasized that it’s on the coaching staff to elevate Beck’s performance and the entire unit.
“We need to coach better, we need to execute better,” Smart said. “We need the people around him to play better. That’s the ownership a quarterback takes, and I wouldn’t expect him to answer questions about that any other way.”
Georgia’s bye week offered the Bulldogs time to address these issues as they head into the final stretch of a tough schedule. Beck and the Bulldogs are set to return to action this Saturday in a high-stakes matchup against the Florida Gators in Jacksonville. This game could serve as a pivotal moment for Beck to silence critics and prove his value as Georgia’s leader.
