Everyone loves the backup quarterback. Unofficial surveys show that fan bases love QB No. 2, sometimes more than the starting quarterback. These “results” are always based on potential, recruiting rankings or the belief by fans that they know more than the coaches. The other guy should be starting!
At the University of Georgia, Hutson Mason certainly receives plenty of love. A “late bloomer” in the recruiting game, Mason’s recruiting process at Lassiter (Ga.) High School didn’t really take off until his numbers did his senior season. Mason put up video game numbers while leading his high school team to the first region title in school history as well as a spot in the quarterfinals. Suddenly offers from Mississippi State, Indiana and UVA were coming in left and right. When the in-state power UGA finally offered, Mason pledged to the Bulldogs faster than you could say “Sic ‘em.”
Mason’s first pass as a true freshman came in the 2010 season opener, and it was a 26-yard touchdown. He would appear in four games as a true freshman, backing up Aaron Murray. Last year, Mason once again appeared in four games, including a stretch in the SEC Championship Game.
Now the debate has turned to whether Mason should redshirt one year to create some separation between himself and Murray. The Georgia starting quarterback hinted that he is considering jumping to the NFL after this season, but most don’t believe the undersized Murray would make that decision. Should Mason redshirt he would watch as Christian LeMay and Faton Bauta moved ahead of him on the depth chart, and with Brice Ramsey committed to Georgia, it would be interesting to see if Mason would truly get the nod in 2014 for one season, ala Joe Cox.
If I could, I’d like to make the case for Mason. In high school, people knocked his ability, saying he was merely a system quarterback. Is that necessarily a bad thing? Tim Tebow was a system quarterback. Danny Wuerffel was a system quarterback. Cam Newton was a system quarterback. Those three guys seemed to do well in a college system to the tune of a national title and a Heisman trophy.
Mason can throw it all around the yard with an accurate arm. Mason may not have the cannon of a Matt Stafford, but in Mike Bobo’s offense, you don’t necessarily need a cannon. Hit your targets and move the chains without turning the ball over. It will be hard to unseat Aaron Murray, but consider Murray has thrown 22 interceptions with eight fumbles (three lost) in 27 games with Georgia. People make the case, and they are correct, that he needs to take better care of the ball. Mason has zero interceptions in 47 passes. Mason is also several inches taller than Murray, which could help him absorb some of the hits and see better over the line of scrimmage.
If the correct system is put around Mason, he could flourish. Many groaned when DJ Shockley took over in 2005 after David Greene’s career came to an end. “Oh we’ve seen him, he isn’t good enough!” But Mark Richt designed an offense to play to Shockley’s strengths and the rest was history. Richt and Bobo couldn’t come up with a system that took advantage of Mason’s strengths? With the talent at receiver Georgia boasts, you would think a pass-happy system with Mason firing at will could work, especially with the question marks at running back.
But for now, Mason will likely redshirt and let LeMay and potentially Ramsey pass him on the depth chart. Pretty soon, I may be making the argument for either of those two, because, hey, don’t we always love the backup quarterback?
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