When Will Muschamp named John Brantley his starting quarterback several days before the Florida Gators' game against the Georgia Bulldogs, close observers wondered why he was giving away information so early in the week. I remember seeing one tweet that said, "Why tell Georgia that?"
And this is Muschamp, who's been criticized for closing media out of practices and for withholding as much information as possible. Between Muschamp and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, we're talking about Nick Saban meets Bill Belichick.
Robbie Andreu, Gators beat writer, has an inkling:
This is so unlike Muschamp, revealing this much information about an injured player, especially a quarterback (remember how he kept the Jeff Driskel injury hidden the week of the LSU game). It makes you wonder what he's up to.
Is Brantley really going to play Saturday in Jacksonville? Or does Muschamp just want Richt and the Bulldogs to think he is?
Or maybe he just wants Georgia to think it has to prepare for Jacoby Brissett, who Weis declared as the clear No. 2 on the depth chart, when it's really Driskel who's going to get the start. Or maybe something something Tim Tebow joke.
But unless he thinks Georgia's so dumb they wouldn't prepare for the backup quarterbacks when playing against a starter whose leg was rent on national television just weeks ago, what would be the actual strategic advantage of declaring Brantley ready to go? Todd Grantham would've had to prep for all three no matter what Muschamp said early in the week. Right?
For more on this game, visit Georgia blog Dawg Sports and Florida blog Alligator Army.