Here is how Georgia plans to bounce back from blowout loss

A reference to the mirror is back.

“We have to look ourselves in the mirror and say, ‘OK, is this who we are?’ ” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said as he waved his hand over his face to resemble reflection. “We have consistently not been physical on the defensive line and offensively. We’re going to have to get better.”

Last season, Smart used a reference to the 1987 Michael Jackson hit “Man in the Mirror,” and now the late pop star is back in the Bulldogs’ heads. It’s not yet to the point where the song is being blasted on the practice fields again, at least to the knowledge of this reporter.

Nevertheless, Georgia is in the process of self-evaluation during its off week. The Bulldogs fell to LSU 36-16, and it marks the second consecutive year they’ve been beaten handily by an SEC West opponent on the road.

After the 2017 loss to Auburn, Smart’s group won the remainder of its regular season games and rode momentum to a National Championship appearance. Now, a one-loss Georgia team is hopeful for more of the same.

“On the inside, it’s a lot in the same to me,” Georgia tight end Charlie Woerner said. “We lost to Auburn last year, then came back and did great. We’re in the same scenario and can bounce back even stronger.”

This is also different.

When Georgia lost to Auburn in the 10th game of the season, the Bulldogs’ remaining opponents were a four-loss Kentucky team and a Georgia Tech opponent that wasn’t bowl eligible.

A season later, Georgia has five games left on its schedule. The margin for error if it wants to return to the College Football Playoff (or win the SEC East with two one-loss teams sitting atop the standings with the Bulldogs)? None. Of those five games, two of its opponents are ranked — 11th-ranked Florida and 14th-ranked Kentucky — and away from Sanford Stadium.

Woerner admitted it was slightly different, because the senior leadership of Lorenzo Carter, Nick Chubb, Isaiah Wynn and others aren’t on the roster to take upon the role. But senior center Lamont Gaillard and sophomore wide receiver have become more vocal.

“We’ve got great leaders on the team,” Georgia offensive guard Solomon Kindley said. “When (the departed leaders) left, we just filled in their place. We will follow those guys with whatever they do. It’s their team.”

Smart reminded the media that Georgia has its goals in front of it. If it wins the remainder of its games, Georgia will be back at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the SEC Championship game, with its chance to compete for a national title once more.

Georgia’s mentality is based on how it responds, not its immediate reaction. For those who experienced last season’s rebound, they can look back at those results.

“We are really using that as our example,” Kindley said. “We know what we had to do and what it took to get to that place. We know that for this year now. When we get there though, let’s take it a step further and win it all.”

This story was originally published October 18, 2018 at 7:47 PM with the headline "Here is how Georgia plans to bounce back from blowout loss."