Georgia QB Jake Fromm keeps proving all doubting opponents dead wrong

(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Georgia Bulldogs and quarterback Jake Fromm have come under criticism from opponents, but the true freshman has put all doubters into the loss column this year.

When Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm was forced into action in Week 1 against Appalachian State, most weren’t sure what to expect. Fromm relieved the injured Jacob Eason and led the Bulldogs to a 31-10 win.

When he was then named the starter in Week 2 against Notre Dame, there were a lot of tepid narratives about Georgia’s quarterback situation being written. Fromm went into South Bend, at night, and helped Georgia upend Notre Dame in a 20-19 win which has meant a lot for both teams in terms of playoff rankings.

After one relief appearance, eight starts, and nine wins, you’d think the critics would finally give in to the fact that Fromm is mature beyond his years and can lead this team.

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But the opposition keeps lining up to provide Fromm and the Bulldogs with bulletin board material which comes back to bite them in the hip pads.

First it was Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner who said “He’s throwing simple passes. Anybody can throw a slant. I get it”.  Well, he got it alright. As part of a 42-7 Georgia win, Fromm went 4-of-7 for 101 yards and a touchdown, including burning Gardner a couple of times. Not gaudy, but efficient.

This week it was South Carolina safety Chris Lammons who responded to a question about Georgia’s passing game with a simple, “They can’t pass”.  Fromm responded by going 16-for-22 for 196 yards and two TDs en route to a 24-10 UGA win.

They never learn.

The truth is, Fromm is performing better than most of the FBS quarterbacks out there today. Coming into this week’s matchup with the Gamecocks, Fromm had a completion percentage of 61.7, an overall quarterback rating of 171.9, with 9.9 yards per attempt and a TD/INT ratio of 13-4, showing some of the best quarterback efficiency in the nation.

Why would any team coming up against Georgia even think about poking the bear?

Georgia is going to run the ball. There isn’t a college football coach worth his weight in scouting reports who wouldn’t make his offensive coordinator lean on the running game if they had the likes of Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Brian Herrien, D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield in the stable of running backs.

But defenses can’t just key on the run and leave Georgia’s talented receivers open. Fromm has made huge passes when needed, such as this clutch pass and catch with receiver Terry Godwin against Notre Dame.

Fromm may be labeled a “game manager” and he might not have Baker MayfieldMason Rudolph-like shootouts with any opposing quarterbacks this season. But most Georgia fans would be willing to bet he could if it came down to that.

As long as Georgia has a healthy complement of 5-star running backs who could start on any team in the nation, it’s doubtful we’ll ever find out.

Kind of like the Tootsie Pop question…the world may never know.

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Opponents can go ahead and continue throwing shade at Jake Fromm and the Georgia passing game, and he’ll keep throwing accurate passes when asked and leading his No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs to the College Football Playoff.

You can bet neither Florida nor South Carolina will be there.