After throwing for 29 yards in Georgia's win at South Carolina and for 346 yards in last Saturday's loss to Vanderbilt, true freshman quarterback Jacob Eason has been given more homework this week.
The Bulldogs, who are 4-3 overall and 2-3 in Southeastern Conference play, are off this weekend before traveling next week to face Florida in Jacksonville. Georgia has lost its last two meetings against the Gators by a combined 42 points.
"We've given him a list of about four or five things we want him to really work on and harp on," Bulldogs first-year head coach Kirby Smart said Wednesday on the weekly SEC teleconference. "The biggest thing is his communication to the group and making sure that everybody gets the call and understands what it's supposed to be. He can fix any mistakes or errors that are there, and then he needs to settle his feet in the pocket and read coverages.
"He's more proficient now at telling you what the coverage was after the play, because these teams don't just line up and make it easy for you. They make it as complicated as they can, and most of them do a good job of confusing young quarterbacks."
Eason, the top-rated quarterback nationally in the 2016 signing class, has completed 113 of 208 attempts (54.3 percent) for 1,366 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. He will try to become the first starting quarterback at Georgia to defeat Florida in his first attempt since Greg Talley in 1989.
Gathering info
Smart did not have a status update on sophomore inside linebackers Natrez Patrick and Roquan Smith, who rank first and second on the team in tackles with 42 and 39.
University police were called to Patrick's room in McWhorter Hall on Saturday night after a complaint about marijuana smoke. Smith was in the room with Patrick and drug paraphernalia was found, but officers did not pursue marijuana possession charges.
"Right now, all I can comment on is that we're continuing to gather information and that we'll handle everything appropriately in due time," Smart said. "I don't have a timeline on that right now."
Recruiting update
Georgia's lone open weekend of the season may result in rest and relaxation for the players, but it's just the opposite for coaches, who will be on the recruiting trail.
Smart said the extra time off will allow coaches to travel greater distances compared to a game weekend.
"We've covered Georgia pretty well already," he said. "We've been sending guys out each week periodically, and obviously an open week allows you to go a little further away from home, so we'll be in four or five different states I know on Friday. It allows you to go further because you don't have to obviously return as fast on Saturday for a game.
"We'll have guys all over the Southeast. I know we'll have guys in Texas and Florida and Virginia - we'll be all over the place this weekend."
The Bulldogs have 15 nonbinding commitments for their 2017 signing class. Georgia's current crop is ranked fifth by 247Sports.com behind Ohio State, Alabama, Oklahoma and LSU.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.