Kirby Smart explains reasoning behind Georgia’s quarterback change

Kirby Smart explains why he pulled D’Wan Mathis in favor of Stetson Bennett.

Kirby Smart swapped Stetson Bennett in for D’Wan Mathis and it worked out for Georgia football.

It was a controversial decision to pull the redshirt freshman not even before halftime of his first career SEC start. Then again, Mathis struggled mightily against the Arkansas Razorbacks defense. Though Smart could lean on his vaunted Georgia Bulldogs defense as always, he needed are more comfortable passer in Bennett to lead the Dawgs to victory. Here is what he had to say about that.

Kirby Smart made the smart choice to switch out Mathis in favor of Bennett.

While Mathis had apparently been crushing it in practice this fall, he just could not get into a rhythm vs. the Arkansas defense. He completed only 8-of-17 passes for 55 yards and an interception. Georgia was trailing 7-2 to a rebuilding Arkansas team before Smart pulled Mathis in favor of Bennett, who served as Jake Fromm‘s primary backup last season. It worked out wonderfully.

Bennett came in and completed 20-of-29 passes for 211 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. He also had five carries for 20 yards, as well as an incredible two-point conversion run to make it 13-10 Dawgs early in the third quarter. Though you do have to feel for Mathis blowing his big opportunity, at least he got to come back in and try to redeem himself in garbage time later.

It was another example of why Smart is one of the better head coaches in the Power 5. Though he’s not perfect, one of the things that set him apart from most of his colleagues is his ability to adjust at halftime. Georgia was playing some terrible football heading into the second half down 7-5 to the Hogs. They came out and outscored them 32-3 in the final two frames to win, 37-10.

While getting a victory is always good, Dawg Nation got a little nervous in the first half with the way the offense looked. Eventually, Bennett was able to come in and make timely throws in the passing game, as well as leaning on his running game to break the Hogs defense down in the second half. However, this Arkansas team is not on the level of what Georgia faces next week.

When the cross-divisional rival Auburn Tigers come to town in primetime, will it be Bennett, Mathis or a medically-cleared JT Daniels making the start Between the Hedges? In truth, we’ll see all three of them play ball this fall for Smart. This season won’t factor against their eligibility if they don’t want it to count. Getting live reps this season will be big in their development as passers.

If we had to venture to guess what Smart plans to do in Week 2 vs. Auburn, he’ll keep this one incredibly close to the vest, just like his decision to start Mathis Week 1 vs. the Hogs. Don’t expect it to be Mathis though, as Georgia can’t afford to let this one get out of hand vs. Bo Nix and a very talented Auburn team. It may be Bennett who gets his first start, but it could be Daniels as well.

Either way, Smart made the correct decision to avoid soul-crushing embarrassment on Saturday.

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