The most remarkable thing about Smart’s post-practice presser yesterday is how unremarkable it was.
Pretty much everything he said there could have been said a week or two weeks ago. With the same delivery. From that alone, you’d never know his first game as a head coach is coming up in a week.
Yeah, I think he’s doing a little soft selling there. No doubt they’re still knee-deep in player evaluation — it’s a first-time staff with a bunch of players signed by others, after all — but I’m skeptical they’ve been that casual about game planning for North Carolina.
Oh, and speaking of game planning, for those of you who think there’s some strategic reason to keep Gene Chizik guessing about who Georgia’s starting quarterback will be, Kirby shot that down.
Subterfuge could always be a reason for not announcing a starter. North Carolina would have plenty of film on Lambert, but much less on the other two. But Smart seemed to downplay that as a strategy, as none are dual-threat quarterbacks.
“I don’t know if that’s a big deal or not,” Smart said. “I think it’s different when you have truly distinct quarterbacks to get ready for.”
So much for that theory.
What I do think you can say is that the man does an excellent job of not showing his cards.
Get The Picture 
The most remarkable thing about this team is how unremarkable our quarterbacks are.
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You’re not going to think that, Joe, when you see #10 sling it.
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So Kirby’s pretending the decision he doesn’t want to reveal to UNC doesn’t really make any difference? How Belechikian is that? “Pay no attention to the quarterback behind the curtain….”
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UNC will start with the same D for all three of our QBs. Stop the run and pressure the QB. We don’t have a Murray or DJ in the bunch…yet.
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Unless the starting quarterback is (Evil Voice): TERRY GODWIN
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That’s the strategy Baylor used and shredded the Baby Blue Defense.
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LOL
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I’d laugh my butt off if the starter was a walk-on or someone not touted to be the starter and it had been kept secret all summer. My delight would be enhanced by the upturned hands of the NC coaches.
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I dreamt the other day that Mecole Hardman was QB1 on September 3rd. Most of the highlights I’ve seen of Mecole have been of him playing QB. That was a fun dream.
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Kirby may have shot down the notion that he’s playing coy with Chizik in yesterday’s press conference. But he has indicated otherwise in other recent comments. There’s no way for me to know for sure, but I’d be very surprised if he is genuinely perplexed about how he plans to use his quarterbacks against NC. More than surprised, I’d be disappointed.
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“I’d be very surprised if he is genuinely perplexed about how he plans to use his quarterbacks against NC.” Me, too. I suspect Kirby knows more than he’s letting on, which is perfectly fine with me.
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I agree, but he just keeps stringing it along. I’m just waiting for, “Ask the Dasani bottle.”
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I’m afraid UNC is going to kick our ass really bad.
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With Chizik as DC??????
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A year ago, UNC lost to a South Carolina team that boasted just two other wins. They’re a good football team with a high-powered offense. They’re also not the Alabama Crimson Tide.
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That was Game 1 of season with Game 1 for the DC. Bama held Clemson to 5 fewer points than UNC did.
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LOL
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He seems to have a level of contempt for the media, I do not know why. I guess it is the Saban effect but wouldn’t it be better to have a good working knowledge with the press. PR is one of his job duties whether he likes it or not.
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I sense the contempt also. I take it as “I really don’t have time to be here and what’s worse is that I have to filter everything I say and it’s a pain in the ass”.
I’ve known and worked with men that are similar to Saban and seemingly smart. Intensity is off the charts, wasting seconds on something that was the same yesterday is brutal to them.
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90 days.
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I wouldn’t call it contempt. Boredom perhaps. Just something you have to do, like wiping your ass. But he seems friendly enough. I’d be a lot more concerned if he was desperate to be friends with the media and blabbed about everything they wanted to know.
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I agree. Not contempt, just more important things pressing. He has some decisions to make.
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Don’t know if it’s contempt. But considering the “media” includes the vultures from the ajc, who love to blow any small problem out of proportion, I think he’s correct to parcel out only what he wants them to hear.
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If I were in his shoes, I’d be MORE vague and less forthcoming. First times for anything are personally excruciating, remember your first interview and how you handled the queries? And that first Day on the job, did you not seek to ‘not screw up’ or did you unleash your inner Ghengis Khan?
I expect the full range of possibilities come 3 September & so too should UNC.
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Subterfuge?
I saw them a Bonnaroo a few years back.
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Eh, I liked them better when they could only draw a few hundred to Legion Pool. They sold out at Bonnaroo.
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pft, they’re in it for the money.
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I would say the UNC game plan would change some when facing Eason/Ramsey vs. Lambert. With Lambert the down field threat is much less of a worry than if one of the other two is behind center. Not a huge difference but I would think the DB’s could be more aggressive with less worry of the deep ball if Lambert is on the field.
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Aren’t we just kidding ourselves, Lambert starts and Eason doesn’t play unless Lambert screws up. How can any rational coach sit a 5th year senior with real game experience ,who most importantly threw all of 2 interceptions last year for an admittedly talented true freshman who was throwing passes against cornerbacks who ran a 5 flat 40s at this time last year. Lambert starts and Chizik knows it.
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I wouldn’t wager money on that, woof.
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Lambert did some things really well…but go back and look at the tape from the Auburn game in particular. #26 is really good. Lambert took three shots down field and all three were just ineffective throws. He overthrew Mitchell who was clearly slowing down in anticipation of not being able to run under the ball…the other two ended up being jump balls. He was really, really good throwing in front of the coverage…but he just doesn’t have the arm to throw it over the top. That just really limits what you can do…DBs can be agressive and try to jump the out knowing that they won’t get burned deep. Safeties can help on the run rather than having to worry about a deep pass. You also end up with less space to find the TE.
That’s the hard part…how much of a gain do you get having a kid that can throw deep vs. the negative implication of him throwing a pick. Ramsey has the arm…but the guy has 4 picks in about 70 career throws. That’s insane and if Kirby smells any inkling of that in practice or scrimmage, he’s not playing. That leaves you with Eason…who, if he doesn’t turn the ball over, is the best option even as a frosh. Anyway, if Tennessee has shown us anything…start slow, finish strong against weak opponents…and they’ll have all the hype they need to keep momentum on the recruiting trail heading into 2017.
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Until CKS and staff review the film every Sunday, these are the sound bites for the day……with the exception of extraordinary effort. Till then my friend, 12 ounce curls by the pool ! GO DAWGS!
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3oz curls of WL Weller suits the mood much better.
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If you can find it the 12 year really hits the spot. I’m guessing it’s all but gone these days. What there was is probably masquerading as Van Winkle “lot b” 12 year.
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Explored the 10 year model…..had to cease and desist as my account balance went to zero and sent to rehab……would consider “lot b” upon further review and availability. Porfidio Aneoj and blondes will be my vice till CKS, staff and the visor put pen to paper with starting line up! GO DAWGS!l
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True dat. Is hard to find but worth it. Very reasonably priced
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Uncommitted on whether or not he will wear the visor. C’mon Kirby game time is approaching.
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He’ll be inside for the first game. No visor.
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“I don’t know if that’s a big deal or not”
Sounds like as much justification as Smart would require to engage in subterfuge, although I doubt that subterfuge is the primary factor in his non-committal reports on QB.
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“although I doubt that subterfuge is the primary factor in his non-committal reports on QB.”
…like really not knowing which QB to start…
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