How UGA’s coaches challenge Bulldogs defense to stay on top of its game
What does a defensive coach worry about when he has one of the best defenses in the nation?
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has made a habit of finding imperfections where others might see a flawless performance. So far in fall camp, he’s identified one main concern with his defense.
“I certainly am concerned about complacency there, and making sure they are competing and staying on top of things because they have a chance to be a talented group,” Smart said.
That’s a valid fear for a coach to have. For this defense, though, the concern is even more present.
This is a group, after all, that led the nation in scoring defense last season at 12.6 points allowed per game. It also returns a plethora of experience and talent, setting the Bulldogs up to once again be one of college football’s stingiest defenses this season.
Keeping the unit engaged starts with the coaching staff. It’s certainly a focus for Smart, but defensive coordinator Dan Lanning makes sure the group stays on top of things as well.
“He brings juice every day and he always says, ‘Match me,’” sophomore outside linebacker Nolan Smith said. “What ‘match me’ means, is his juice and his level of intensity is always at a high and you have to match him. We have no other choice but to match him. I just love playing for a guy like that.”
Indeed, Lanning brings an intensity to practices and games reminiscent of Smart’s days as a defensive coordinator at Alabama. Defenders say it’s hard to slack off with those two bringing that “juice” every day.
Smith came in as a freshman last season and played in every game. He, as well as other freshmen such as defensive lineman Travon Walker and inside linebacker Nakobe Dean, were integral parts of the defensive success in 2019.
Now, they are tasked with following up on that performance. Smith knows that playing time as a freshman guarantees nothing going forward.
“You try to tell yourself every day, you’ve got to get up and get better,” Smith said. “If I’ve got a class at 12 and I don’t meet until 2, I’ve got enough time to get treatment and to come in and meet a little more and get in my playbook just a little more and go over practice plays and stuff like that.”
Now sophomores, players such as Smith, Dean and Walker will be starters from day one. They will act as centerpieces for this defense as it looks to maintain its dominance.
That continuation will rest on cleaning up the little things. For example, Walker said third-and-short defense has been an emphasis in camp.
There’s also the development of depth throughout the defensive two-deep. Every position has four- and five-star recruits behind the starters pushing for playing time.
Junior Jordan Davis used to be one of those freshmen, playing in 11 of 14 contests in his inaugural campaign in 2018. Now, he’s at the point where he’s teaching the scheme to the young players, a trait defensive line coach Tray Scott calls “mastery level.”
“I don’t think anybody’s complacent on this team. Anything can happen,” Davis said. “You’re not a superstar. It’s just being able to teach the young boys and then if they take off and run, hey, that’s passing the torch. I’ll be proud of them for that.”
That talent and depth have made Georgia one of the premier defenses in the country for years now. If the Bulldogs can avoid complacency and buying into the hype, they’ll stay there for 2020.
“There’s talent all over the place, offense and defense, special teams,” junior defensive back Tyson Campbell said. “That’s what makes practice so competitive and everybody’s getting better each and every day. You want to have guys behind you pushing you. That’s the best part of playing at Georgia.”
When does Georgia football play?
Who: Georgia (0-0) at Arkansas (0-0)
Where: Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
TV: SEC Network
This story was originally published September 20, 2020 at 5:00 AM.