Kirby Smart tells Brice Ramsey to 'show me that you want' starting QB job
When it comes to Georgia’s quarterback competition, Brice Ramsey seems to keep being glossed over.
Greyson Lambert is the returning starter and Jacob Eason is the highly touted new arrival. But with it being an open competition, Ramsey hasn’t been discussed much, probably since he spent the entire 2015 season as a backup.
The narrative might change, at least slightly, with what head coach Kirby Smart had to say about Ramsey. Asked about how Ramsey has been at quarterback, Smart said he was “pleasantly surprised” with how he has performed and that he’s now rotating with the first unit during team and offensive line periods in practice.
But being a quarterback involves a certain leadership quality. That’s an area Smart wants to see Ramsey improve in. Smart spoke with Ramsey before Tuesday’s practice, hoping to fire him up in this regard
“Brice, I think you’re too casual,” Smart said he told Ramsey. “I think you relax a little too much, I need you to be more assertive and take a leadership role. Show me that it means something to you. Show me that you want it.”
Smart said Ramsey has done his part to try and improve this aspect of himself as a football player.
The natural talent is quite evident, considering Ramsey’s standing as a four-star recruit that major college programs wanted. A lot has been made of the hypothetical of whether Ramsey would have started the 2015 season if former offensive coordinator Mike Bobo didn’t take the head coaching job at Colorado State.
Instead, former head coach Mark Richt hired Brian Schottenheimer, with the two deciding on Lambert, who transferred in from Virginia.
As a backup, Ramsey has thrown for 582 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions the past two seasons. While Ramsey’s now earning first-team reps, Smart said he and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney did have this in mind before Georgia’s first scrimmage on April 2.
Quarterback isn’t the only thing Ramsey is focusing on in practice. He’s still handling punting duties after finishing the 2015 season as Georgia’s starter.
With Georgia awaiting incoming freshman Marshall Long to arrive, Ramsey has received his fair share of first-team reps. Ramsey has done enough to suggest to Smart that he’d be the one to roll with if the Bulldogs were forced to play a game this weekend.
“If we had to punt today, he’d be the one,” Smart said.
This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 10:46 AM with the headline "Kirby Smart tells Brice Ramsey to 'show me that you want' starting QB job."