Georgia Bulldog Coach Kirby Smart "Comfortable" With Defensive Line
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ATHENS - Remember in the offseason when “experts” across the country thought the Georgia Bulldogs would take a considerable step backwards on the defensive line?
Of course you do. Now, they’ve only played two games, but Georgia’s defensive line, and defense in general, hasn’t missed a beat through the first two games of the 2022 season.
Three points. That’s all they’ve given up between Oregon and Samford. They’re the only defense in college football that hasn’t given up a touchdown yet.
Even after losing five first-round defenders, Will Muschamp and Glenn Schumann have put together one of the best defenses in college football through the first two weeks of the season.
Head coach Kirby Smart had some interesting things to say about his defensive line on Tuesday.
“Yeah, I'm very comfortable with the things our defensive line has been able to do, the opportunities they've been given”, Smart told reporters. They've affected the quarterback. If anything, I would say I wish we finished a little better on the ones that we've had that got away.”
He’s right about that. Compared to last year, Georgia isn’t getting to the quarterback as much as they were to start last year’s season. Ther’es only one Bulldog who has registered a sack this year, and it’s freshman defensive lineman, Mykel Williams.
That’s because the game is changing. Teams need athletic quarterbacks. Guys who can make plays out of the pocket. Guys who can move around and get creative when things break down.
Nobody wants to be a sitting duck against a defense like Georgia’s, so it’s important to get the ball out quickly. Of course, that hasn’t been successful against Georgia’s defense at all so far.
“We haven't been given very many opportunities (to get after the quarterback), and I don't blame them”, Smart added. “Like, that's not the game anymore. The game is not to sit back there and have a guy be a sitting target.”
The Bulldogs will play against an athletic quarterback on Saturday in Spencer Rattler, so look for the Bulldogs to come after him early and often. He’s someone who can get rattled, and from there, he becomes more inaccurate with the football. He was sacked six times against the Razorbacks. If the Gamecocks can’t handle Arkansas, they’re going to have a long day against the Bulldogs.
All in all, with all they lost from last year’s defensive line, it’s clear Smart is comfortable with what they’ve been able to do so far. If they play to their standard again this weekend, Georgia might be looking at another possible shutout.
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