Looks like there has been some last-minute change in the syllabus. Till a week back, Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish might have just focused on one person when it came to their preparation to fight against the Georgia Bulldogs. Even though more than a week is left for the January 1 kickoff, Freeman has changed their prep plan.
Instead of zeroing in on the Bulldogs’ usual star, QB1 Carson Beck, the spotlight’s now on Kirby Smart’s new guy, Gunner Stockton. Makes sense—Georgia’s banking on Stockton big time after Beck’s season-ending injury. Freeman’s adapting on the fly, working out how to crack the Stockton code.
Marcus Freeman’s strategy to tackle last-minute change in the rival’s roster
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Freeman and his Fighting Irish are moving on to the second round of the 12-team College Football Playoff after taking down Curt Cignetti’s Indiana Hoosiers. After leaving the ‘Google Me’ man’s boys to mere specks of dust landing a 27-17 defeat, Freeman’s next mission is the Sugar Bowl. Well, he knows how beating No.2 Georgia won’t be an easy task.
Since it’s the holiday season, most of the programs are at home. But Freeman’s Notre Dame has the “privilege” to hustle and bustle to land it big on the New Year’s Day matchup. Maybe winning 11 consecutive games since their 2024 loss to unranked Illinois is serving them with the boost. That’s why maybe Notre Dame is extra careful about their intentions. During the Sugar Bowl press conference, he talked about how he is dealing with the Bulldogs’ QB swap.
The study material is all ready for Freeman’s squad.“Evaluate obviously schematically what they’ve done all season, and then you have a separate tape of what Stockton, the new quarterback, has done,” shared the Fighting Irish HC. Can you imagine Notre Dame having tapes covering Stockton’s 80 plays as a quarterback? Freeman’s squad is ready with pen and paper to take down the notes.
“He can run their offense; he does some things a little bit differently. He can extend plays with his legs; he’s a good athlete. The thing I probably noticed most more than anything in watching those 80 plays is he’s an ultra-competitive individual,” pointed out the Notre Dame HC. “We’ll prepare for anything,” Freeman said while praising Stockton’s skills and acknowledging the tough matchup ahead. Meanwhile, looks like Smart is happy with how the Stockton plan is taking shape.
Kirby Smart presents a new-look Georgia for Marcus Freeman
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The Bulldogs underwent a poor fate. Their regular starter, Beck, fell prey to a serious injury during the SEC Championship Game against the Texas Longhorns. He suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow. Till a few days back, the fans were in a dilemma on whether he was going to miss the quarterfinal matchup. But it’s confirmed now that Beck will miss the remainder of the season with a UCL tear.
On Monday, December 23, the news was confirmed: “Georgia quarterback Carson Beck underwent successful surgery Monday on his right elbow to repair his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, Ca. A full recovery is expected with throwing to begin spring of 2025.” So what’s Plan B now? Just as Freeman is taking Georgia seriously, the same goes for Smart as well.
During the interim period, Gunner Stockton is said to have handled the bulk of the first-team reps during bowl prep. “He got lots of reps prior to these practices, but he’s getting much more now. I do think when you get ready for an opponent like Notre Dame, you need time,” said Kirby Smart.
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Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame will now be facing a signal caller who has 51 career pass attempts for Georgia. It’s better they go through the tapes minutely!
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With Carson Beck out, is Georgia's hope in Gunner Stockton a gamble or a calculated risk?
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With Carson Beck out, is Georgia's hope in Gunner Stockton a gamble or a calculated risk?
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