SEC football preview: Georgia QB debate dogs Georgia

Mark Richt is such a humble, upstanding guy he’d tell us if he did.

Who’s going to be Georgia’s starting quarterback this fall as the Bulldogs begin defense of their SEC title?

"I’m curious, too,’’ Georgia’s All-SEC defensive end Quentin Moses said Wednesday at SEC Media Days. "On the plane ride over here today we were trying to get a little extra information out of Coach Richt about it.

"He tells us the same old stuff. If he had to play a game tomorrow, he doesn’t know who’d start.’’

For Richt’s first four years at Georgia, he knew. David Greene was his man, an extension of the coach on the field. When Greene left, there was no mystery as to his successor. Senior D.J. Shockley took over last fall and quarterbacked the Bulldogs to their second SEC title in four years.

However, Shockley’s heir apparent isn’t so, well, apparent.

There’s senior Joe Tereshinski, a modest talent who’s played a little and sat in a lot of meetings.

There’s highly touted incoming freshman Matthew Stafford from Texas.

In between those two extremes there’s sophomore Blake Barnes and redshirt freshman Joe Cox.

"It’s something I’m not nervous about,’’ said Richt, "but I’m a little curious about. A lot of people think I know who that guy already is. I don’t.’’

Somebody will win the job in fall camp. Or not. Since Tereshinski is the only one with significant game experience, Richt said it wouldn’t be fair — or prudent — to eliminate candidates without seeing them against live fire.

It could be "a game or two or three into the season,’’ Richt said, before the answer reveals itself.

Stafford is almost certainly the quarterback of the future. But Georgia’s program is on such solid ground, the future can wait.

"We can’t play a guy just based on potential right now,’’ Richt said. "We’re going to try to win this year.’’

The Bulldogs will win this year. That’s a safe bet, based on Richt’s track record.

Since he went 8-4 in 2001, his first year at Georgia and first as a head coach, Richt has guided the Bulldogs to a 44-9 record and three appearances in the SEC championship game in four years.

This year’s challenges are formidable. Georgia returns only four starters on offense and five on defense.

Still, confidence permeates the program.

The Bulldogs have recruited well. Lately, it’s been a case of one departing star being replaced by a rising one.

"David Pollack steps up the year after Charles Grant left and nobody was talking about David Pollack,’’ pointed out Moses.

"At safety, Sean Jones leaves and nobody had heard about Thomas Davis. Then he’s gone and it’s Greg Blue. There’s always somebody waiting on their turn.’’

The first-string offensive line has experience. The ball-carrying load is divided among three quality tailbacks: Thomas Brown, Kregg Lumpkin and Danny Ware.

Sophomore receiver Mohamed Massaquoi catches nearly everything thrown his way, regardless of traffic.

The kicking and punting games are as good as any in the league. Defensively, some new names must emerge.

Moses is regarded as one of the top seniors in the country by certain NFL draft analysts. Wait until they get a load of Charles Johnson at the other side.

"I’ll be the first one to tell everybody he’s the best defensive end on our football team,’’ said Moses.

If only somebody could tell everybody who’s the quarterback.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.