Alabama vs. Georgia stage was too big for Greyson Lambert

Alabama vs. Georgia was the premier SEC game of the week with a lot on the line, and UGA quarterback Greyson Lambert was in over his depth.

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Two inconsistent and shaky games, followed by two unbelievably efficient and well-played games. That’s how Georgia quarterback Greyson Lambert started the season. But all four games were wins, and the transfer graduate from UVA had the confidence of his team and his coaches.

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Unfortunately, four starts against ULM, Vanderbilt, South Carolina (the 2015 version) and Southern don’t entirely prepare you for the onslaught of the SEC spotlight and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Lambert wasn’t ready for this stage, and without him being able to find receivers and keep drives alive, the rest of the Georgia offense was handcuffed.

Case in point – Georgia running back Nick Chubb likely would have had his string of 12 consecutive 100-yard games broken if it weren’t for an 83-yard touchdown run as the 3rd quarter was winding down.

Georgia was ranked No. 8, and Alabama No. 13. The Bulldogs broke Bama’s streak of being favorites in 72 straight games. They had all the pieces in place, except for the one they needed most against a defense as good as the Crimson Tide.

They needed a quarterback. They needed Aaron Murray or Matthew Stafford or even D.J. Shockley. They needed a step-up, get on my shoulders, I’ve-got-this kind of guy who had suffered and survived the brutal battles that you get in big-time SEC games.

Lambert wasn’t that guy.

Is Hutson Mason out of eligibility? Just checking.

This isn’t to blame Lambert, he did what he could. He came to Georgia from an also-ran to bottom-feeding ACC program where he was displaced as the starting quarterback. His play against Alabama reflected exactly that. He looked like UVA Greyson Lambert would have looked against Florida State or Clemson…frustrated, befuddled and inaccurate.

His passes sailed, his passes fell short of the mark, his passes were behind receivers (leaving them way to susceptible to teeth-rattling hits). Georgia could have matched Alabama blow for blow, save the quarterback position, and it was quarterback play which really put this one away.

Oct 3, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback

Brice Ramsey

(12) is brought down by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back

Minkah Fitzpatrick

(29) during the third quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

With less than a minute to play in 2nd quarter, Lambert’s day was pretty much done on the heels of a 7 for 17, 70-yard first half performance which exposed the anthropology degree holder for what he was…the apparent best of a group of unimpressive quarterbacks. Brice Ramsey came in, but the story remained the same.

After Ramsey threw two interceptions and was even more ineffective than Lambert, Mark Richt had no choice but to bring the starter back in the game.

He threw seven more passes, with one completion and one interception that sealed the deal for the Tide.

OK, yes, the weather was lousy, the footing was terrible and the ball was slick as a used car salesman. But Jake Coker was playing in the same conditions, and he finished the day 11 of 16 for 190 yards and a touchdown.

Lambert isn’t done, far from it. Neither is Georgia. He’s not a terrible quarterback, and he will start again and have some good games. This will probably be the best defense the Bulldogs face all season. Lambert may even lead Georgia to a one-loss season and a berth in the SEC Championship game.

The stage will be too big for him there too.

Some guys just aren’t ever going to perform well when it counts the most.

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