Two ways Georgia could help Fromm against Auburn

As heads craned back to observe the halo board at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and as players moseyed around at the beginning of a walk-through Friday, Jake Fromm yawned.

Smiling and joking with offensive linemen, the freshman quarterback seemed unfazed that he’s about to play in the biggest game of his life.

Fromm then crouched under an invisible center. He took an imaginary snap, dropped back then slid up in a non-existent pocket — as if he was envisioning what he will do Saturday against Auburn during the SEC Championship.

In Georgia’s first game against the Tigers, Georgia failed to find any resemblance of rhythm on offense. The previously-dominant running game was shut down. The offensive line was pushed into Fromm’s lap. Fromm, 19, was rendered ineffective.

“We’re going to see a more grown-up Jake Fromm,” former Vanderbilt quarterback and SEC Network analyst Jordan Rodgers said. “They’re going to need a lot from him.”

Three weeks ago, Fromm went 3-for-3 on Georgia’s first drive with passes of 28 and 26 yards as Georgia scored to take an early lead on Auburn. He ended the game with his lowest completion percentage (46.4) this season.

For Fromm to have success in this championship rematch, former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, now an SEC Network analyst, believes Georgia should throw on first down, which is something it only did 10 times during the first game. Five of those attempts came on Georgia’s final drive.

“Don’t put him in third-and-7, third-and-9 situations,” said Tebow, who won the 2007 Heisman Trophy. “In this environment, in this pressure, that’s a lot to put on a young kid.”

Often failing to move the ball on first and second down, Georgia threw nine times in third-and-long situations during its previous game against Auburn. Six passes fell incomplete. One went for 30 yards. Twice, Fromm was sacked.

Tebow expects Fromm to once again be under heavy pressure from Auburn’s defensive front, which rarely has to blitz.

One way Georgia could scheme away from Auburn’s pressure and assist Fromm, Rodgers said, is to move him outside of the pocket. This has not been an element in Georgia’s offense all season.

“What that does to the rush, that slows them down,” Rogers said. “Those front four guys moving laterally, you do some play actions, some rollouts, some boot stuff off the run game with Fromm, I think you’re going to see more success. You’re going to slow those guys more on passing downs.”

Tebow doesn’t look at the freshman and see a quarterback whose speed, arm strength or explosion will change Saturday’s game. But there’s an element to Fromm he does recognize — one he had as well — that could prove to be a difference.

“The No. 1 thing you see is the dude’s just a winner,” Tebow said. “He’s just one of those guys you don’t want to bet against. He’s probably going to prove you wrong and he’s probably going to get it done.”

This story was originally published December 1, 2017 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Two ways Georgia could help Fromm against Auburn."