Georgia: Spartans QB Hoyer looks for bowl redemption

ORLANDO — Michigan State’s Brian Hoyer is experienced at being that “other” quarterback in bowl games.

Hoyer has been overshadowed by Georgia counterpart Matthew Stafford leading up to today’s Capital One Bowl. Reporters from Michigan have been especially curious about Stafford, who could leave early for the NFL and potentially be drafted by the 0-16 Detroit Lions.

In last season’s Champs Sports Bowl, Hoyer’s Spartans faced Boston College and quarterback Matt Ryan — now with the playoff-bound Atlanta Falcons in the NFL.

“There is an inner competition where you see someone who is at your same position,” Hoyer said, “and if they do something well, you want to do something well. I think part of my trouble last year is that I was trying to outdo Matt Ryan, and I can’t do that.

“I’m not going to go out there and outperform Matt Stafford. I’m going to go out there and be Brian Hoyer.”

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Hoyer was disastrous in the 24-21 loss to the Eagles, completing 14 of 36 passes for 131 yards and getting intercepted four times. He is viewing this trip to the same stadium as a chance to make up for that debacle.

Georgia’s defensive plan starts with stopping Spartans tailback Javon Ringer, who has rushed for 1,590 yards on a nation-leading 370 carries. That’s how most teams look to stop MSU, which is fine by Hoyer.

“If they want to put eight guys or nine guys in the box, we have a full complement of healthy receivers that we can get in there,” he said. “I feel we can mix it up, and if they want to do that, I don’t have any problem with that. It’s my last game, and I’ll go out with a bang.”

Michigan State and Georgia each have 9-3 records, so today’s winner will clinch a 10-win season. The Spartans only have two 10-win seasons in school history, while the Bulldogs have five under coach Mark Richt and 17 overall.

The Bulldogs also hope to send their seniors out with a 40th win in four years.

“There are a lot of things on the table for us,” Stafford said.

While Stafford has dominated the attention at quarterback, Ringer and Bulldogs tailback Knowshon Moreno have received equal billing. Moreno has rushed for 1,338 yards and also has an impending decision about his future.

Ringer and Moreno were finalists for the Doak Walker Award, which went to Iowa’s Shonn Greene.

“There are going to be a lot of things happening on the field,” Moreno said. “The quarterbacks will be doing what they can do and the wide receivers also. People are going to be watching, but I think other people are going to be making plays.”

Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said having Moreno helps prepare for a back like Ringer, and the Bulldogs could use any help they can get. After owning the nation’s No. 3 rushing defense through seven games, Georgia plummeted to 41st entering the bowl season.

The regular-season finale was especially painful for the Bulldogs, as they allowed 409 rushing yards to Georgia Tech.

“We’ve got to make them one-dimensional,” Bulldogs cornerback Asher Allen said. “Putting the game in the quarterback’s hands is something we will try to do.”

Which brings things back to Hoyer.

“I think his mindset is to be a quarterback that wins 10 football games,” Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said. “That will set him apart from a lot of quarterbacks that have played here at Michigan State. This is not a game between Stafford and Hoyer.

“The game is between Georgia and Michigan State.”

Dobbs still hobbled

Georgia defensive end Demarcus Dobbs, who started three games during the regular season, remained on crutches Wednesday after spraining his ankle Sunday. Richt considers Dobbs highly questionable for today’s game.

“He’s just about on every special team and is a integral part of those teams,” Richt said. “There are a lot of coaches scrambling around to make sure someone’s ready on those special teams.”

Richt said there were already 28 players who are unavailable today, including 16 who would have played.