Kirby: "There’s No Incompetent Group Among Our Staff"
ATHENS - Kirby Smart isn’t so sure changing both coordinators is such a big deal.
“It’s really probably overrated,” Smart told 680 the Fan on Tuesday.
We will see if that’s the case this fall. Say what you will about the previous coordinators at UGA - now Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and now Colorado head man Mel Tucker - both produced pretty well in their time at Georgia.
Year one wasn’t so smooth for Chaney with a true freshman at the point for the Dawgs, but a year later Chaney’s offense moved forward with a different true freshman at quarterback. Frankly, UGA’s jump in to 2017 from 2016 was as much about the offensive line, which changed dramatically, as it was the change in quarterback.
Georgia pretty much ran when it wanted to, and scored a lot of points under Chaney. Averaging 35 and 38 points a game these last two years is not exactly a bad way to leave Athens.
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Tucker, with Kirby at his side, turned in three very good years. Tucker’s defense allowed 30 points or more in a game six times in three years. Jeremy Pruitt’s defenses allowed 30 points or more eight times in two years; Todd Grantham’s squad allowed that many 21 times in four years.
That’s pretty good production leaving at the same time. Replacing both coordinators will be taught for sure.
“I think the media has made a lot bigger deal of it than it actually is,” he said on radio.
Maybe Kirby means “made a lot bigger deal of it” and is including social media in there with “media”. Maybe he’s talking about folks who have to write articles in order to hit click-bait quotas. I don’t know. In those cases he would have a point.
Still, this is going to be a challenge. Let’s not gloss over that. Kirby isn’t saying that this isn't going to be a big deal. He’s saying some folks are making too much of it, which is nothing new and won’t change.
Yes, players play, but coaches set the tone from the top. If nothing changes in terms of nomenclature then things should be pretty smooth - at least the transition should be less rough. I doubt things will be considerably rocky on the defensive side of the ball because Kirby has had a hand in this defense since he was announced as head coach in December of 2015. That Dan Lanning was in house last year should make for a smooth transition, too.
On the offensive side of the ball, UGA’s quarterbacks coach from a year ago takes over as offensive coordinator. That usually how it works anyway - the QBs coach calls the plays and is responsible for the offense.
Maybe it was easy to see that James Coley was heir apparent when he didn’t leave for Texas A&M a winter ago as was elevated to co-coordinator. Now the charismatic, energetic Coley will have all of the focus on him when things go wrong offensively (it is rare offensive coordinators get the credit they deserve).
“Players ultimately play for coaches. The relationship you have with them, and the drive you have with them is important. So is scheme. So is getting guys to buy in and maybe not doing too much and keeping things exciting for the players,” Kirby said. “There’s a fine line in those things and James has been around really good coaches throughout his whole career and understands what it takes to win, especially in this conference. We’re excited about him bringing some new energy.”
You aren’t going to have a problem with Coley and energy.
Kirby closed by saying it is up to the entire staff to make UGA a winner.
“At the end of the day when you sit in the seat I that sit in, we are responsible for both sides of the ball and special teams. So if you sit in those meetings, obviously it’s important to have good leadership but it’s done by a group of men who do it together,” he said. “There’s no incompetent group among our staff.”
