Kirby Smart explains decision to put Carson Beck in game for final snap despite injury

The SEC Championship Game ended up testing the depth that the Georgia Bulldogs have, particularly at the quarterback position. Even in the final play of the game, head coach Kirby Smart was forced to make a quick and difficult decision at the quarterback position.

On the final play of the first half, Carson Beck went down with an apparent arm injury. He would be replaced by Gunner Stockton. However, when Stockton had his helmet come off during a targeting call that would be reviewed and overturned, he had to exit for a play during overtime. That’s when Kirby Smart turned back to Beck, who handed the ball off for the game-winning score.

Following the game, Smart explained his thought process in that final sequence and why he chose to put Beck into the game despite his injury.

“No. I can’t remember what game it was this year,” Kirby Smart said. “We had a targeting somewhere where the helmet came off and the officials came over and told us that the kid could stay in if it was confirmed targeting and he had to come out if it wasn’t. And so it immediately came to my mind, when it happened with Gunner, I just assumed he’d be able to stay in because I thought I was gonna be targeting, and then I saw the replay and realized he led with his shoulder and we were gonna have to take a snap with another quarterback, which we were prepared to put Ryan Puglisi in, and he knows the system. He knows what to do. But we felt like, one the offensive coach called and said, Carson can take a snap, it’s not an issue.”

Beck wasn’t asked to throw the ball. Instead, he handed off for what ended up being a touchdown. With that, the Bulldogs won the SEC Championship and effectively clinched a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.

“So, we did that, and Mike [Bobo] and them had a good plan, really good plan on that play, and executed it, and it was a really physical play,” Smart said. “And it’s a good, quick decision because we had already burned our time out on defense. So, we wanted to be efficient and not run down the play clock.”

Carson Beck would finish the SEC Championship with seven completions on 13 attempts for 56. For his part, Gunner Stockton did briefly spark the Georgia offense, completing 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards and an interception.

Now, the question for Kirby Smart and Georgia will come down to Carson Beck’s health for the College Football Playoff.