I think JG is (finally) on a short leash. The coaches know that 2020 is a one-off, and UT is not going to win the SEC, East or Conference. The UGA game made that point clear, and there are still some very tough tests ahead. So now you focus on (a) getting better as a team; (b) gaining bowl eligibility; (c) recruiting; and (d) working towards what will hopefully be a normal 2021 season.
The (c) and (d) goals clearly exclude JG. Both (a) and (b) can be debated. So for JG, the margin for error is small, if not zero.
I expect the UK defense to try and do what UGA did, and sell out against the run. And if JG struggles, I expect to see a change at QB. If he plays well, then I think he starts against Bama. No one with a room temperature IQ actually believes we're at Bama's level yet, and we can't go all Kiffin and give them a run in a shootout either, so...it is what it is.
If he struggles against UK, then Coach Pruitt has to make a decision. If UK can rattle him, so can 5 of our 6 remaining opponents. I wouldn't trust him against any opponent other than Vandy moving forward. And that's only because Vandy is literally that bad.
At around sunset on October 24th, this should be a 3-2 team, with 5 to play. 3 on the road, and 2 at home. I'd say only the Vandy game looks like a given win at this point, so now we're down to a 4-game slate, split between home and away, where we try to find one...preferably two QB's to pick from leading into the 2021 season. I'm not saying give up on 2020, I'm saying at some point you have to start thinking about next year, and the chance to continue to develop talent to the point where you can reasonably compete with UGA and UF...and I do think we're at that point. JG is not going to get us there this year, and I don't think he's a factor even if he's here next year. Best case, he comes off the bench for mop-up duty.
UK is the litmus test. If JG passes that, I think he starts against Bama. No point in throwing another QB to the wolves. Personally, I have nothing against him, but I do want to see a QB who gives UT its' best chance to win, and I no longer believe he is that QB.
But in any event, after Bama it's time to start thinking about the 2021 season, and finding the next starting QB for UT.
Go Vols.