CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – AUGUST 30: Greyson Lambert #11 of the Virginia Cavaliers passes the ball during first half action against the UCLA Bruins at Scott Stadium on August 30, 2014 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Greyson Lambert is the Right Man To Lead Georgia This Fall

Mark Richt made the right decision to select Greyson Lambert as Georgia’s starting quarterback. The Bulldogs will be a better team this fall with Lambert under center because of his skills and experience.

I realize that this point of view will raise a few eyebrows. After all, Lambert lost his job to Matt Johns at Virginia, in a competition that Mike London said wasn’t even close. How could he possibly lead the Dawgs to the SEC East Division title?

A closer examination of his resume will answer this question.

Make no mistake about it: there’s no substitute for meaningful game experience. Regardless of how many stars are associated with a player’s name, the only metric that matters is how he performs when he steps on the gridiron.

Lambert has a decided advantage over Brice Ramsey and Faton Bauta in this department. He started nine games for the Cavaliers last season, and appeared in 16 games during his time in Charlottesville. In those contests, he faced six ranked opponents, including UCLA, Louisville, Florida State, and Georgia Tech last year.

However, Lambert didn’t merely show up against top 25 competition; he took his game to a completely different level. Aside from throwing six interceptions, his performances were rock solid, completing 68 of his 114 passes (59.6%) for 724 yards and five TDs versus ranked opponents. He turned in his best effort of the year against Florida State – arguably the toughest defense he faced all year – throwing for 220 yards and a respectable 3-1 TD-to-INT ratio. He also guided the Cavs to an upset over Louisville in the third game of the season.

In addition to playing well against elite competition, Lambert was at his best last year when his team needed him the most. When Virginia was tied or trailing by a touchdown or less, Lambert went 84-for-140 (60%) with a very respectable 7-to-2 TD-to-INT ratio.

Combining the last three paragraphs together, it’s easy to see why Lambert is the best option at quarterback for the Dawgs this fall. With 16 games of experience under his belt, he gives UGA a veteran presence under center. While he probably won’t be asked to throw much since the Bulldogs have one of the top ground games in the country, Lambert’s proven that he can get the job done against ranked opponents and when the team is behind.

What team wouldn’t want a player like that as its starting signal caller?

About Terry P. Johnson

Terry Johnson is the Associate Editor for The Student Section. He is a member of the Football Writers Association of America and the National Football Foundation.

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