Kirby Smart: Georgia Bulldogs Not "Tricking" Max Duggan

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ATHENS - The Georgia Bulldogs have given up 850 passing yards in the last two games. That’s quite a difference from what we saw over the first 12 games of the season.

Of course, it won’t get any easier on Monday night as they take on TCU Heisman Trophy finalist, Max Duggan. As good as CJ Stroud is, you could make the case that Duggan is even better.

The Horned Frogs star quarterback has thrown for 3,546 yards and 32 touchdowns. That’s in an offense that’s run the ball 107 more times than they’ve thrown it. Duggan has also shown he can make plays with his feet, rushing for 461 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Georgia’s defense better be ready. They’ll need to bring their “A” game against one of the best players in college football. Head coach Kirby Smart said this week that they won’t be able to “trick” Duggan, but that it will all come down to executing the game-plan.

Prefect “coach-speak”, but he does have a point.

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“He (Duggan) has great players to win with” Smart said this week. “He understands defenses. I think he's very smart. There's no defense he's going to see that he hasn't seen before. You're not tricking an experienced quarterback, very similar with Stetson. You've got to do it better than they do it. You've got to out-executed them. There's no tricking them. And he does a tremendous job of that. They have a system to allow him to manage that and to get back to third downs where you've got a shot to convert them.”

Max Duggan was a Heisman finalist for a reason, but he’s far from perfect. He doesn’t have elite arm strength, he’s not a burner, and he’s not always accurate, completing just under 64% of his passes.

Now, he does have size at 6-foot-2 210-pounds and he’s an effective runner in short-down situations and near the goal-line. He’s smart, decisive, and runs the TCU offense with ease.

The Bulldog defenders have to attack him, but they also have to contain him. Bring pressure, but keep a close eye on him. 

Georgia has the talent to get the job done, but it will be up to them, not Duggan, to execute. If they do, they’ll be celebrating hard on Monday night.