ATHENS ― Another week, another player from the other team providing what might qualify as bulletin-board material for the Georgia football team. And again, it seems aimed at the passing abilities of Jake Fromm.
South Carolina safety Chris Lammons was asked during interviews on Tuesday which facet of Georgia’s offense, the run or the pass, posed the greatest concern for the Gamecocks.
“The run,” Lammons answered. “They can’t pass.”
Georgia ranks last in the SEC in passing yards per game ― only 162.6 ― but that’s mainly because the Bulldogs don’t have to pass it very much. Fromm, the freshman quarterback, only attempted 7 passes against Florida, and Georgia still won, 42-7.
Fromm leads the SEC in yards per pass attempt ― 9.9 ― and QB rating at 171.86. Fromm has thrown for 13 touchdowns and been intercepted 4 times.
South Carolina coach Will Muschamp was more laudatory of Georgia’s passing game, with Fromm the first player he mentioned by name in his opening statement on Tuesday.
“Jake Fromm’s done an outstanding job of taking care of the football and managing their offense,” Muschamp said. “He’s shown his arm talent, he’s been accurate with the football when they’ve asked him to throw the football. You look at the Missouri game. I think there’s four or five explosive plays on third down where he’s creating explosives down the field against tight coverage.”
Lammons, a safety, had big praise for Georgia star tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.
“They’re NFL backs, to be honest,” Lammons said. “And if we want to win this game, we have to stop those guys.”
Georgia needed just 29 passing yards when it beat South Carolina last year, 28-14. Then-freshman quarterback Jacob Eason completed 5 of 17 passes, throwing for 1 touchdown. He also was intercepted once.
Last week, Florida safety Chauncey Gardner also took a verbal shot at Fromm, saying: “Anybody can throw simple passes. I get it. Anybody can throw a slant.” Florida receiver Josh Hammond also said that Georgia couldn’t beat Florida, alluding to the three-game winning streak the Gators brought into the game last Saturday.
Georgia players said after the game they were very aware of those comments, with senior linebacker Davin Bellamy calling them “very disrespectful.”