JD PicKell: Georgia's success depends on Carson Beck's ability

Georgia hasn’t announced a starting quarterback for the 2023 season, yet, with head coach Kirby Smart arguing he needs to see more from all the quarterbacks. At the same time, it’s beginning to look a lot like Carson Beck is going to be the team’s starter next season.

With that in consideration, On3’s JD PicKell explained that Georgia’s success in 2023 is going to fall on the shoulders of Beck.

“My question for Georgia is, is Carson Beck as advertised?” PicKell said. “Is 15 going to be slinging that pill around like a shady pharmacist? Do we know what we’re getting in him?”

“Because I saw him in the spring game, now, I saw Carson Beck in that spring game, it fired me up, dude. Like, if that’s what Georgia’s gonna be offensively, I love Stetson Bennett, God bless him, hope he never pays for another thing in Athens, Georgia, but Carson Beck, man, he’s got that arm talent. Looked like a technician behind that offensive line in Georgia.”

As PicKell explained, Georgia is a machine right now. Adding a new quarterback is like shifting gears and that can be tricky to do. So, Beck needs to be as seamless as possible.

“This thing in Athens, that roster, it’s not built to shift gears. You know what I mean by that. Any of y’all that drive stick, I don’t drive stick, thank the Lord, but when you drive stick there’s potential for that thing to stall out if you don’t shift gears properly. You kind of got to shift it one way and then eventually the car makes some noises and eventually gets into gear. That’s not the thing at Georgia now. We’ve looked at that roster, we know how Kirby Smart recruits, we know that culture, it’s not built to shift gears. It’s built to be pedal to the medal, let’s go get us a third ring,” PicKell said.

“And so my question, going back to Carson Beck, if he’s as advertised, they don’t have to shift gears. They just keep this thing rolling. Coach [Mike] Bobo now calling the plays, Carson Beck QB1 you would imagine, the defense is still just stocked with ridiculous ability. 70% of the production is back from a year ago. Is Carson Beck someone you have to account for like we saw Stetson Bennett be in 21? Or is he someone that propels Georgia, like we saw Stetson Bennett be in 2022? So, is Carson Beck as advertised? That’s the number one question I need answered for the Dawgs.”

The start of Georgia’s season could help Carson Beck

Georgia opens up with a relatively easy schedule to start the season. As JD PicKell explained, this is going to help Carson Beck as a first-year starter.

“Look at the way this shapes up for him should he be the starting quarterback, look at those first four games. It’s not going to be this thing where ‘Hey Carson Beck, congrats you’re the starter. Get ready, we got a blockbuster Week 1.’ It’s not the scenario. And it’s not really George’s fault. They play UT Martin, they play Ball State, play South Carolina, which will be, definitely, an increased level of difficulty,” PicKell said.

“I’m not disrespecting the Gamecocks and then you play UAB. So three out of your first four hypothetically as a starting quarterback are against (Group of Five) teams. I love that for him.”