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ATHENS - You might not have noticed it this spring, but Kirby Smart is harping on one thing more than anything else right now.
Special teams.
Sure, players like Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Lorenzo Carter and others who provided talent and leadership will have to be replaced. That’s something writers have focused on - with good reason.
But Kirby seems laser focused on special teams. After all, it might be the No. 1 reason the Bulldogs’ season changed around so dramatically from 2016 to 2017.
Consider:
Rodrigo Blankenship provided the game-winning kick against Notre Dame and finished second in the league in FG percentage. Don’t forget Blankenship’s game-changing kick heading into the half at the Rose Bowl Game.
Cameron Nizialek was a much more consistent punter for the Bulldogs in 2017 than what the program had in 2016.
The Bulldogs’ 24.62 yards per return in kickoffs was second best in the SEC last year.
In addition, think about the game-altering plays in the Rose Bowl Game and the SEC Championship. Depending on your perspective Georgia either won the game or changed the game in its favor with blocked field goals against Auburn and then Oklahoma.
“We thought we were really good at special teams last year,” Kirby said after G Day. “We wanted to improve our special teams and not get complacent. We were targeting special teams.”
Does Oklahoma become too far away to catch up to if Blankenship misses the kick heading into the half? Auburn would have tied the game midway in the 3rd of the SEC Championship by converting the 31-yard FG - did Dequan Hawkins-Muckle’s block take all of the steam out of the Tigers for the rest of the game?
Auburn managed only two more first downs the rest of the game until the Dawgs surrendered the ball up 28-7 with 2:07 left in the game. Just in time for Georgia to get a couple more sacks for the record book.
Kirby’s point, too, might not just be that special teams can change the outcome of games, but that it helps with the development of players.
“Our wideouts gained confidence this spring,” Kirby said of their play on special teams transitioning to offense. “They are hungry. They want to play.”
And they are developing along the way because of special teams, and the fight to play on those important squads.
Watch special teams this fall. UGA "should" be as good as it has been of late. The biggest question mark appears to be who will be doing the punting. Keep in mind, too, that Kirby and crew have moved impact players… guys like Lorenzo Carter, Mecole Hardman, etc… to special teams nearly full time. That critical component of the game paid off in 2017.
Expect the same in 2018.
