Georgia Football Coach Kirby Smart Sounds Off On The NFL And College Football
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ATHENS - Georgia Bulldog head coach Kirby Smart spoke with reporters on Tuesday about NFL players coming back to school, the latest injury update, a defender on the rise, and much more...
On NFL players returning to college...
“We're not currently evaluating anybody on NFL rosters. To each his own. I'm worried about our team, our organization, how we do things, the opportunities presented to the guys on our team is important to me. They've earned those opportunities through an off season, through a summer program, through a really tough fall camp, and you have to decide each and every person if that's valuable enough to warrant replacing your players that, you know, have worked with your team with others. You know, they might be better, so our job is to upgrade and try to get better as much as we can and win games. So, if some people feel like that gives them an opportunity to be better, and doesn't change their cultures, then more power to them.
On Quintavious Johnson...
“We like the fact he was a wildcat quarterback, but probably the most intriguing things about him was that he played our “Mike” linebacker. He came to a 7-on-7 and played inside linebacker that dropped and played coverage in space. Most kids that have the spatial awareness to play off the ball don't struggle to move on the ball. They might struggle with physicality, but they don't struggle with the instincts and knowledge and ability to communicate, make plays and adjustments. And that was the case with him. He was able to pick it up really well, and he's got the size to go with it.”
On Kyron Jones...
“Kyron, I don't want to say there wasn't a lot to learn or a lot to improve on, everyone has something to learn and improve on, but he's been a product of our system. He's a guy that grew up in the system, developed in the system, and his best football was really this time last year. He had a scrimmage last year, where he flashed and played well, and earned kind of the ability to be considered a starter and a rotating player. The injury has not changed that. It's just changed the volume with which he could practice, and the volume with which he could play. And we had to prepare as if he was not there, because we don't know what he's going be able to give us. And so far, he's done a good job.”
“He's been on a little bit of a pitch count, and we'll have to rotate and play guys with him, but he's done a really nice job. He’s an older player that the more you play in football period, but the more you play in this defense, the better you play. And he's a product of that, as a product of a guy that's stuck around and stuck it out, and it's a good football player right now, playing it a really good level. We just gotta continue to do that. We gotta have a plan for him if he can't.”
On Tyler Williams and Thomas Blackshear...
“They both have flashed and made plays. They need to contribute on special teams. They both have ability. They wouldn't be here if they didn't. I'm pleased with that entire room and those guys enjoy work. They come out to get better every day and they both had shining moments. They both made some plays in the scrimmages and have done a nice job.”
On the loud microphone during practice...
“I'll start thinking about that, but about period three, I have not thought about that anymore. There was no inspiration for it. I couldn't get across what I wanted to say without being having a headache. So it was a better solution to a communication problem that I couldn't get to the other end of the field with my voice. So that thing would. Some of the players can't even hear it. A lot of times it's for organization purposes when we change drills and things like that.”
