JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Tabbing Faton Bauta as Georgia's starting quarterback for the first time was a group decision, according to first-year Bulldogs offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
Bauta went the distance in Saturday's 27-3 loss to Florida, completing 15 of 33 passes for 154 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions. Greyson Lambert, who started the first seven games and was intercepted only twice, stayed on the sideline throughout the drubbing.
"We had talked about it for a couple of weeks, and Faton got some reps in the bye week and did some nice things," Schottenhiemer said. "Obviously his ability to move around and make plays with his legs was something that we liked. There were some inconsistencies with Greyson, and when you're struggling you're always looking for answers and trying to find things that might work.
"It did not work for us tonight, and that falls on me."
Bauta's running ability was never put on display, as the Gators limited the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder from West Palm Beach to 4 yards on three carries. There was no makeover, even a mild one, as far as Georgia implementing more quarterback runs, whether by option or on zone reads.
"We certainly called a few of them, but they did a nice job of taking them away," Schottenheimer said. "He got stuffed on the one when he pulled it outside, but you've got to give them some credit."
Said senior receiver Malcolm Mitchell: "We have an offense, and to expect something completely different with one or two weeks of preparation is kind of silly."
Bauta entered Saturday having played in every game this season as the team's holder, but he had not thrown a pass in a game since last November's rout of Charleston Southern. His 33 attempts are a single-game high for the Bulldogs this year, and he did not benefit from dropped passes by receiver Reggie Davis and tight end Jay Rome.
Early in second quarter, Georgia had a third-and-1 at the Florida 36. A play-action pass from Bauta to wide-open Rome was thrown behind the senior, and a fourth-down pitch to Sony Michel was stuffed for a 3-yard loss.
"I've got to throw a better ball there," Bauta said. "That's definitely on me, because we had a good play called, and if I had given him a better ball, it probably would have been a good play."
A completion there to Rome could have resulted in Georgia taking a 7-6 lead, but the Bulldogs quickly became overwhelmed by the Gators.
Now it's on to this week's game against Kentucky. The biggest question, of course, between now and then is whether Bauta is still Georgia's starting quarterback.
"I won't say that he is. I won't say that he isn't," head coach Mark Richt said.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.