The Process works in many ways, my friends.
Smart was asked whether the change in offensive line coaches may have contributed to the run-blocking problems, because of an adjustment in schemes.
“What went on last year?” Smart responded.
In terms of run blocking?
“Yeah,” Smart said.
Not as good as they would’ve liked, probably, the reporter replied.
“Same way we feel,” Smart said, alluding to this year’s staff. “So I mean, to me that’s the biggest difference, is they’ve changed the coaches but a lot of the personnel’s the same on the offensive line. And you’ve got to do a great job of getting those guys better, and you’ve got to get them stronger in the year. We’ve got to become a physical football team that runs the ball.”
Georgia has three returning starters on the line: center Brandon Kublanow, left guard Isaiah Wynn and right tackle Greg Pyke (who was at right guard last year.) Rhode Island transfer Tyler Catalina has started the first three games at left tackle, with redshirt sophomore Lamont Gaillard at right guard.
Another reporter asked Smart if he had thought about experimenting with the lineup, and shuffling some players to different spots, or giving different players an opportunity.
“What are you suggesting?” Smart replied.
The reporter replied that he wasn’t suggesting anything, but that Wynn had played left tackle.
“Move Isaiah (to tackle), move Catalina in?” Smart said.
No, just any general thought to shuffling the lineup, the reporter responded, or perhaps Wynn to left tackle, Catalina to right tackle. (The implication being Pyke could then move back to right guard.)
“Because we didn’t practice that in camp, and try that already,” Smart said. “You know, we’ve looked at every combination we can, and we’ll continue to do that. Those guys practice when y’all aren’t there, besides the 12 minutes you are there (for the media viewing period). They do those things, and we look at them. And we go against the defense. We go against (defensive linemen) Trenton (Thompson) and (John Atkins). Then we go over and do one-on-one pass rush when you guys aren’t there. And they pass (protection). And Isaiah does tackle and different guys play guard. At then at the end of the week we say ‘what’s our best lineup?’”
Smart paused for a beat.
“I hope that answers your question,” he added.
The Coke bottle couldn’t have done any better.
Hunh. Makes you wonder why anyone was asking questions in the first place.
Get The Picture 
He’s a prickly bastard, but I don’t care as long as he wins and wins cleanly.
LikeLike
He’s just pointing out the obvious; that the coaches have eyeballs, too.
LikeLike
Let me see if I have this straight. Kirby Smart limits reporters’ access to practice, and then he ridicules them for asking questions while making it plain that they shouldn’t dare to ask such questions because they haven’t see what goes on in practice. I suppose he thinks that’s clever?
I don’t so much mind that he holds practices that are, for all intents and purposes, closed to the media. That’s fine. That’s his right, and I actually think it is probably a prudent thing to do. But don’t be a dick and rub a reporter’s nose in it.
LikeLike
+1
LikeLike
I’ll go farther than my initial “+1.”
It would be in Kirby’s best interest not to bully the reporters who cover the team he coaches this early in his career, particularly given that those reporters’ job is basically to serve as a proxy for the fans who fund the program. (Aside: while alienating those reporters, he’s also cut down fans’ access to the program — e.g., eliminating Picture Day and drastically cutting back on what used to be public speaking engagements.)
Once he’s won a championship or two, maybe he’ll have earned the right to shut out the fanbase and the media. But right now, all he’s doing is shortening his own leash by preemptively exhausting some of the goodwill he’s afforded as a rookie head coach.
LikeLike
He learned from the best.
LikeLike
To be fair, the level of “journalists” he has to deal with(particularly from the pAyJC) has declined a lot these days.
LikeLike
You mean like when Chip Towers wrote an article about the article he planned to write on Richt’s fall practice in Miami. That was Pulitzer material right there.
LikeLike
To be fair, the guy asked him if he’d thought about mixing it up at all or trying different combinations…it is a pretty dumb question when all through camp they talked about how they were trying different combinations at different positions to get the best five on the field.
I don’t see the issue with the smartass answer to a pretty dumb question.
LikeLike
I rarely read or enjoy an AJC sports article but by your view I’m guessing Chip and the gang should just go into work and type a heading for the paper that says…”We have no questions or anything to report about Georgia football because all has pretty much been covered and we don’t want to bother Kirby”. I wonder how long they keep their jobs…I would hate to be a journalist. Like being a coach, you can’t please anyone.
LikeLike
I honestly didn’t think his ‘testiness’ was that bad at all. Heck, I witness or am exposed to worse weekly in my corporate sphere. With that said, I could see why some of you would be bothered by it — I guess it just depends on what you’re accustomed to.
LikeLike
To be fair, my critique was very specific. In general, I’m a fan of those who don’t suffer fools. But the notion that he would limit access to practice and then ridicule a reporter for daring to ask a question (without having seen what goes on in practice) is cheesy.
And to be clear, I’m not “anti-Kirby”. I think he was probably a good hire, and I certainly hope he does well. I’m just commenting on some of his rough edges.
LikeLike
Let’s all love the way Kirby handles the media and mock the way Jones does it.
27 never had less than 100 before Smart got here.
LikeLike
Now two games in a row.
LikeLike
’27 never had less than 100 before Smart got here’…well, that’s just not true (even if you don’t count the UT game). It happened the first five games of his career. If you want to get into how he was splitting time with Gurley/Michel and not the marquee back, fine, but even looking at averages, against UT in 2014, he had 11 carries for 32 yards with a long of 9. Against Bama last year, take away the one 83 yarder when the game was 38-3 late in the 3rd, and he had 19 carries for 63 yards with a long of 16. Strangely, that’s exactly what he had at Mizzou last weekend.
LikeLike
He hasn’t earned the right to be cantankerous with the media. Hopefully there will be a time for that but now now. What I saw from our OL Saturday night was pathetic run blocking for a line, mind you, that was predicted to be one of the best in the conference.
Perhaps someone should email him your stat because he could sure use a reminder, apparently.
LikeLike
Everyone do yourself a favor and actually watch the exchange before making a judgment about CKS and how “Testy” he is…..
If Chip Towers thinks that qualifies as “Testy” then he’s lived a very sheltered life…..
LikeLike
http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091916aai.html
LikeLike
Dial it up to 12:35 through 14:25.
LikeLike
Sorry, Jared, but that was extremely testy. And it was uncalled for.
LikeLike
Obviously, I don’t know you from Adam. But if you think that is “testy” then you, my dear internet-only acquaintance, have led an extremely sheltered life.
When compared to CMR? Sure, I’ll give you “testy.” But compared to most men in his position? It was really quite mild.
Now the earlier exchange with Towers over why Eason wasn’t available to the media. Not that was getting into testy territory.
LikeLike
In a press conference situation among professional reporters and interview subjects being paid millions of dollars? That’s testy. Sorry, it just is. And it’s unprofessional.
LikeLike
It’s kind of silly to compare this to any other situation where reporters are interviewing millionaires. For one thing, I don’t even understand why how much he gets paid has anything to do with it. He was either being “extremely testy” (your words) or he wasn’t. And he wasn’t in the OL exchange. It wasn’t even close to testy if you actually watch the video. He, in fact, appeared and sounded quite cordial.
LikeLike
Nah not testy. Maybe a little pop quizzy. But not testy. Kinda dickish to rub in the 12 minute viewing period the media has by mentioning all the stuff they aren’t allowed to see, but I don’t care. Now that Eason question, you are right, THAT was testy….
LikeLike
If I may…this sentence from ugadawgguy above caught my eye: “Once he’s won a championship or two, maybe he’ll have earned the right to shut out the fanbase and the media.”
I’d say that’s a reasonable attitude.
Shorter version: Nick can do this…now.
LikeLike
I think it’s kind of extreme to say he’s “shutting out the fanbase and the media.”
I say let the man run the program how he wants and maybe he’ll have some success. Don’t hamstring him into doing what you think he should do and only reward him with the freedom to run the program the way he wants after he’s successful. That doesn’t even make sense.
LikeLike
I don’t think it hamstrings a program to ask him questions that he should answer respectfully as part of his job as head of the program.
LikeLike
This.
LikeLike
But don’t you think he’s kind of got a point? I’d like to think that for what they’re making they’ve eliminated all other options.
LikeLike
I think he answered the OL question respectfully. And that’s what we’re discussing here. The Eason media availability? Again I’ll grant that that was bordering on “testy”. But if you watch the OL exchange I don’t think there’s a hint of disrespect or condescension on Kirby’s part. It’s more disbelief. Like, “are you really asking me whether we’ve considered switching the guys around?”
LikeLike
It’s sort of a no-win question for coaches. Paraphrased: “Do the players suck as much as they appear to, or are the stupid coaches just putting them in bad positions?”
I’m more curious about how Georgia is going to come back from 21 down to beat Ole Miss. It’s apparently the recipe for taking down the BBs this year.
LikeLike
I don’t know. I get it. Media comes with the well-paying job, but the question (like many of them) is actually a pretty accusatory question. He’s basically hinting that maybe there’s an idea the coaches haven’t thought of yet. What’s Kirby supposed to say, “Gosh, that’s a great idea. We hadn’t thought of playing other guys or putting the guys in different positions. You got any ideas about kickers?” The coaches have thought of everything.
But, if you listen closely to the way Kirby talks, he’s very, very, very supportive of his players. Richt might have answered that question like this, “Yeah, we’ve thought of that and we might try that this week a little more. We think we’ve got the right guys there but there might be some mixing it up some in practice.” Seems pretty simple. But, what that’s really saying is this: we’re not sure we made the right personnel decisions and we don’t really have confidence in the guys we put there.” Kirby’s tone is much different. It speaks, “We know what we’re doing, we’ve got the best kids we’ve got in the best positions and we believe in them.”
It’s like his answer about Greyson the other night. He sees a much bigger picture than the media sees. To Kirby, the guy that gives the team the right look on the scout team is just as important as the superstar.
We wanted detail. We got it. It doesn’t always taste good going down.
Being nice and winning 10 games will get you fired around these parts. The mission is to regularly get to 11 and 12 and be in the hunt. Ain’t got time for nice or accommodating every reporter.
And press conferences are so much more fun, if nothing else.
LikeLike
lulz….good one.
LikeLike
Yeah, he’s got his players’ backs, except that I’m sure a college graduate like Tyler Catalina is smart enough to notice that it was Kirby Smart and not a reporter who spoke aloud the idea of benching Catalina for Wynn. The reporter simply asked if any thought had been given to trying some different combinations on the line without naming a single player. 100% fair question. The answer should have been, “we’ve got the best group of guys in there and we believe in them. There’s room for improvement in the way that we’ve performed as an offensive line, and we’ll get back to work today.” If Kirby Smart thinks that he’s working against an adversarial media, then he’s in for a shock if he ever coaches somewhere that actually has sports reporters with fangs.
LikeLike
The reporter didnt even start there…Kirby took him there. The reporter asked about a change in scheme w/r/t run blocking.
It could have been an easy time to get into maybe a little X’s and O’ give the guy a couple of things to write about and move on. Instead Smart decided to make it about how the last guy left him with a giant shit sandwich and smart is going to make sure everyone takes a bite.
LikeLike
Granted, it’s in Kirby’s interest to downplay the talent on hand. He is, as noted every damn blasted place, playing the long game here.
LikeLike
Boy, who pissed in his cornflakes?
LikeLike
It’s been the MO since day one
LikeLike
Full disclosure: I used to be a member of the sports media. I think that plays a part in how badly I hate the way coaches like Nick Saban and now our very own Kirby Smart handle the media.
However, I’m also a human being and I despise seeing someone treat anyone with naked disrespect, whether it’s someone being an asshole to a server in a restaurant or just being a jerk to a cashier. I think that plays a much bigger role in the fact that I loathe watching Kirby’s press conferences. These men and women have a job to do. Treat them with some respect. Don’t speak to them like they’re dogs who just took a dump on your carpet. It’s basic decency. It also might just be good for self-preservation one day.
I’m a Dawg fan and I love Kirby, but this kind of behavior gives me second thoughts. With the exception of a little pushback on the freshman interview policy and the open records thing, Kirby has not been subjected to anything more than softball questions. Heaven forbid the media ever stop playing nice. I’m never going to be like one of these Alabama fans where I say, “he’s a dick, but he’s OUR dick.” How about just not being a dick?
LikeLike
He can be as much of a dick to them as he likes as far as I’m concerned. If he wins games, nobody else is going to care much either. If he doesn’t, he’ll be fired regardless.
LikeLike
Truth be told, the only good look the coaching staff has on our line’s ability to protect the passer is from game action.
We don’t have the pass rushers to give them a good read in practice.
Of course, Kirby isn’t going to say this in the presser.
LikeLike
Kirby is walking a tight rope to not say what everyone with a modicum of common sense can see: he inherited an OL that isn’t SEC quality. Period. Full stop.
He’s not going to say that, but it seems to be what the media is driving at. I think his point is that there is no sense in dwelling on the obvious. It is what it is.
LikeLike
You’ve got to quit with this bullshit about the roster that Kirby inherited. There is plenty of talent there. I’ve been amazed that Kublanow has not been sat down and someone else given a chance to try their hand at center. Our line isn’t playing well but there is talent on the bench and field. Stop with the “Kirby didn’t inherit SEC material” thats bullshit.
LikeLike
Because offensive line was never an issue under Richt….
In that position group, yeah, the criticism has merit.
LikeLike
Really? Because we’re starting a grad transfer from RI at LT because there isn’t an OT on the roster. I realize that’s tough to admit, but that’s what happened.
Sugarcoat it all you want, the talent level on the OL is not SEC quality. There’s nothing wrong with admitting it. Delusionally telling yourself otherwise isn’t doing anyone any good.
Look, I’m not sandbagging. I don’t WANT this to be true. I’m just calling it like I see it. YMMV.
LikeLike
One 2nd/3rd team All SEC preseason OL (Pyke) – I’d say the cupboard is pretty bare. We’re starting a 3rd string NT from defense in Galliard. We’re starting a graduate transfer from Rhode Island for Gods sake…..RHODE ISLAND. Where’s the OL talent Rebar…cause I don’t see it!
LikeLike
Amen
LikeLike
If we ever have an OL affiliated with Rhode Island I want it to be b/c we got some kid that’s so damn huge and plays so well that we can put him on an island with no help and his last name is Rhodes. I’m picturing a guy like big Max Jean-Gilles or something.
LikeLike
We have 13 other young men besides the 7 who have been playing.
Pat Allen – RS FR -6′-4″ , 298 lbs.
Chris Barnes – FR – 6’3″ , 301
Aulden Bynum – JR – 6’5″ 292
Ben Cleveland – FR – 6’6″ – 341
Sean Fogarty – RS SO – 6’4″ – 303
Daniel Gothard – FR – 6’6″ – 324
Sage Hardin – RS FR – 6’6″ – 290
Mirko Jurkovich – RS FR – 6’5″ – 275
Solomon Kindley – FR – 6’4″ – 336
Sam Madden – RS FR – 334
Billy Seward – JR – 6’3″ -269
Thomas Swilley – JR – 6’3″ – 317
Allen Williams – FR – 6’7 ” – 352
LikeLike
We don’t have any FR listed in our 2 deep. Many other SEC teams, including Bama, Ark, FL, TN are either starting or have FR in their 2 deep. Yes, the cupboard may have been bare, but whoever the coaching staff was going to be, the need to recruit talent to use immediately in the 2016 class and coaching-up the talent on hand were always going to be part of the job description. Just like it is for the rest of the SEC.
LikeLike
Dude, all you did was go down the roster and list all O-linemen. Jurkovich is no longer on the team (med DQ). Fogarty, Gothard, Seward, Swilley, and Williams are walk-ons and will never see meaningful action. Allen, Hardin, and Madden are RS Fr who who have made so little impact that they didn’t even make the travel roster and will be recruited over. The 2015 OL class is looking like a flop. Expect a couple of them to be encouraged to find another place to play this offseason. Bynum is RS Jr who was so light last year that he was given no. 41 and used as a blocking TE. Cleveland and Barnes are being redshirted, so there is still potential there. Kindley looks like a real sleeper that Pittman found late. It’s kind of scary that the only linemen who traveled to MO were the starting five, plus Sims, Kindley, Baker, and Bynum. This team had absolutely zero SEC-ready tackles, so a guard had to move out and a transfer from Rhode freaking Island was brought in to start. From a talent standpoint, the scholarship OL group, from top to bottom, is among the bottom third in the conference.
LikeLike
rebar………you’re full of it…………
LikeLike
How did we win 10 games with basically the same guys and now this staff can’t, hope that is other I am hearing!
LikeLike
I’m done. You either can evaluate the situation rationally, or you can’t. If there was better talent on the line, they’d be playing.
We have what we have on the OL because Richt just never figured OL recruiting out. You either agree with that statement or you don’t.
LikeLike
As far as run blocking goes, I expect to see more sweeps, traps, and counters from this group.
They don’t have the size to consistently mow people down drive blocking one-on-one, but they do appear to be better at pulling and moving down the line. Our rushing TDs so far have come from these types of plays.
Let’s see how well they adjust to the personnel they have, rather than the personnel they want.
LikeLike
This has been my biggest criticism so far with the coaches. It is obvious to anyone that the middle of the line is being blown up on a regular basis. At least when you run a toss sweep you don’t have to jump over Kubs, who is falling backwards into your lap on an off tackle run.
LikeLike
You guys are right, from what I can tell. Kublanow got put on skates a lot trying to drive block straight ahead. But watch him on Sony’s first carry on the last possession. He pulls around the right side and absolutely annihilates a Mizzou defender.
On the other hand, I saw several loaf plays from Catalina on the broadcast. But did anyone notice how many loaf plays the Mizzou WRs had? Maybe they’re out of condition to run tempo, but as my friend pointed out, there were plays when the WRs on the backside wouldn’t even run routes after the snap. Just standing there. No attempt at decoy. Just zero effort.
LikeLike
It’s crazy, but it’s part of the Vsylor system they’re running.
http://footballscoop.com/news/art-briles-explains-why-he-allows-his-receivers-to-take-plays-off-why-make-a-dog-chase-an-imaginary-bone/
LikeLike
Good intel, guys. Thanks for sharing. It still seems crazy to me, but at least there’s an explanation.
LikeLike
Some of that from the WRs may be by design. Baylor did a lot of that on deep passes where there was only one true option for the QB and the others were half-assed set dressing (the idea being they wouldn’t get as tired when the team’s trying to run 90+ snaps/game.)
LikeLike
I’m with bulldog Joe. The game is the test. Chubb gets hit behind the LOS 12 times and I’m changing something. Kirby’s winning, ugly for sure, but the honeymoon is showing some PMS.
LikeLike
One the thing always constant with the girly-boy sports writers and commentators, they always are underpaid coaches.
Just ask them. They know what the problems are. And not 2% have ever played a down in their life.
The girly-boys are a most sensitive lot. Maybe they should have their own restrooms and seating area for awhile.
Frankly, I have enjoyed how the coaching staff thru three games have changed the schemes and alignments to get production and generate three wins.
Now an adult would think those girly-boys could tighten their panties and move to other things than the O line. They would want you to believe these kids are not trying and neither are the coaches. Just maybe they need to go back and break down each play and see the alignments and personnel.
For some reason I think this team can and will run the ball. The coaches have certainly changed the playbook…use of the FB and slot receiver.
Maybe these girly-boys need to go to Oxford and talk to the Ole Miss coaching staff for awhile. Their take on the O line could be a tad different, and perhaps their girly ears can take that tone.
LikeLike
Will, that comment right there was a masterpiece of Will Trane-ness.
LikeLike
Who else could have written such a comment other than Will Trane?
LikeLike
“Will Trane will travel reads the card of a man….
A knight without honor in a savage land…”
😉
LikeLike
Off your meds again Will?
LikeLike
LikeLike
Most of these reporters sure would not have liked Coach Dooley.
Nice guy. 10 wins. That’ll get you fired. If I had that job, the last thing I’d be worried about is being nice. I’d be worried about consistently winning 11 and 12. If you watch the video, it’s much ado about nothing. The press conference is a nuisance to Kirby, and I like that. Win the games, not the press.
Because if you’re nice, but only win 10, they’ll still write articles about how your time is probably up. I’m a Grady grad, but I don’t have sympathy. They have a job, but that job’s not to help you. Mark Richt was as fine a man as one could ever be to the press and as open an any modern day football coach, and nearly everyone in that room essentially called for his head because 10 games wasn’t enough. Everyone in that room criticized nearly every decision in the last 2 years the nicest coach in America made. Would good comes from being nice, if you’re in Kirby’s seat? That’s just the reality. Salty press conferences don’t matter on Saturdays. They don’t matter in Tuscaloosa. They don’t matter in Columbus. They don’t matter in Ann Arbor. The scoreboard matters.
Recruit. Play by the rules. Win more games.
Beat Ole Miss.
LikeLike
I liked your first post in this series, also, but this is IT. Has any coach ever been kept because he conducted genteel press conferences? Ever? I don’t want to see outright paranoid hostility a la Booch “taking names”, but Kirby wasn’t hostile like that and also I like that Kirby doesn’t throw players under the bus when perhaps he is being baited to do just that.
LikeLike
I have a feeling Richt would have gotten far fewer than those fifteen years if he had treated the press and the fan/donor/alumni base the way Kirby has thus far.
On the other hand, there are only two donors who matter, and those are the guys who put Kirby in place; I assume they have unfettered access and are fine with his handling of the press (and, by proxy, the rest of the fans/alumni).
LikeLike
“I have a feeling Richt would have gotten far fewer than those fifteen years if he had treated the press and the fan/donor/alumni base the way Kirby has thus far”
That’s probably true…but if he turns out to be Boom 2.0, it will make parting with him a helluva lot easier.
LikeLike
True.
LikeLike
Please don’t lump me in as insulted by ‘proxy’ of Kirby’s handling of the press. I doubt there are many fans or alumni who feel that his handling of the press is an insult to them even if it could be better. That may be the silliest analogy I’ve ever heard, and I would still be getting the paper if they would deliver it here.
LikeLike
Yes. I’m not offended at all. And I don’t hear any fans saying, “Man, I can’t stand it that we can’t hear from Eason.” I like see Eason throw touchdowns. I could care less about him talking to the media.
Kirby is better with the lettermen, including more access, and I think he’s more forthright in a lot of his answers than Richt. Kirby is all about the fans. The media ain’t fans.
LikeLike
FWIW, I’d like to hear from Eason.
LikeLike
I hear ya. It’s just not a big deal to me. I don’t ever really look forward to player interviews. I’ll watch Nick’s sometimes or if I hear something’s funny.
I’d bet, and I may be wrong, the theory is that their heads are already swimming. Why give them one more thing to think about. I agree with that.
I’m sure he’ll be a bright, insightful interview one day. I don’t ever think twice about it until a reporter brings it up. Same thing on the coordinators.
And I’d bet most of those guys (players and coaches) love it. Some like the limelight. Most would rather do something else, especially the coaches.
LikeLike
Me too, but I appreciate the blanket “no freshman” rule.
LikeLike
I agree. Some freshmen may be fine doing interviews while others may not. However, the “no freshman” rule keeps it simple for everyone.
LikeLike
Agreed.
LikeLike
Based on what we’ve seen so far, I disagree with your perception that Kirby is “all about the fans.”
He’s dramatically scaled back his and the team’s opportunities to directly interact with fans, in contrast to the previous four coaching regimes.
If Kirby is “all about” anything, it’s replicating his mentor’s Process. And that includes the fans only to the extent that fans are required to impress recruits.
LikeLike
And to open our wallets to fund whatever is next in the arms race …
LikeLike
What I mean by that is that the beat writers and other media members who are allowed to ask Kirby questions (and are then generally treated like idiots as a reward) are the only means by which the fans’ questions MIGHT get answered. The reporters are allowed to at least occupy the same space as/speak to Kirby and some of the players, while the rest of us are not.
That’s what sportswriters’ main job is: to act as the voice of the audience, and to attempt to ask the questions most of us discuss aimlessly amongst ourselves for lack of the opportunity to present them to the only people capable of answering them.
LikeLike
IMO, CMR wasn’t fired for winning 10 games; he was fired for winning an average of 9.1 games yearly over his final 7 seasons, with an absolutely pathetic winning % against ranked opponents (I believe in the low 30’s.
LikeLike
But he averaged 10 his last 2 (albeit he didn’t win the 10th in 2015 in the bowl, but he most assuredly would have).
Nice guy. 10 games. 3 yr drought with no division titles. All that includes a massive NCAA screw-job of your best player in a season you most likely would have won the division, and an injury for the last half of the season to a heisman front-runner in another season. Didn’t matter.
That’s the standard we set from day one. Mind you, I’m down with it. I loved Richt but also believe in Kirby. But we set the standard from day one. It would keep me up at night if I were the coach.
LikeLike
3&G, he was fired for losing the last 2 to Florida. Nothing more, nothing less.
LikeLike
I’m having a very hard time getting worked up about any of this.
The guy asked if they “thought” about changing things up. He essentially said they “think” about it constantly and have been since camp opened. He also said that they “think” other combos are actually less effective.
Frankly, I like direct, substantive answers than just a “well you know we gotta get “buttah.” Or a “you know we’ll look at that.” Why be weak and mealy mouthed? Say what you mean and mean what you say.
The worst thing about the answer I thought was that he teetered on the line of saying that the problem last year and this year is the players. Its probably true, but no reason to say it IMHO.
LikeLike
Derek, you’ve hit the nail on the head here.
LikeLike
And you know, I seem to remember that, despite losing Chubb, we seem to have had a decent running game last year, even with them there bad coaches we fired and some of the same players we got this year.
Which statement begs, of course, the question…
LikeLike
They also lost 2 senior starting tackles and played a very weak schedule. Against the defenses with teeth, the OP got punted last year too. I think that’s the point he’s trying to convey without throwing the players under the bus.
LikeLike
Yeah you proly right…and there’s that whole coaching change thing that’s part of the process, too.
LikeLike
Chubb was averaging 150 yards per game until UT last year. Even against tomato cans that is an impressive number. With 3 returning starters he is under 100 yards for the second week in a row. Theus and Houston were not all SEC tackles so you want to come up with another excuse?
LikeLike
Jesus Christ. Seriously? Ok:
Theus was in fact a first team all-SEC tackle last year.
Even if he wasn’t, I feel comfortable that Theus + Houston > RI grad transfer + a guard playing tackle.
Because Pike is having to play tackle, that means he can’t play guard, where he’s better suited.
Therefore, right off the bat, we are worse at 3/5 of the OL positions from last year.
Not sure if you’re aware, but Chubb had a small knee injury last year. The fact that he’s back to level he is at now is simply astounding, but it’s not unfair to question whether maybe he’s a step slower and if maybe we ran him too much against UNC.
I think the OL can play better. I think they need to pull and move more because they can’t push anyone back. I also think gettin Sony more carries will help Chubb and the running game as a whole.
None of this changes the fact they there was not an OT on the roster.
LikeLike
I think Wynn is a better tackle than Catalina. He showed that in limited work at the position last year. Move Pyke back to RG and put Catalina at RT. Put Galliard at C and get Kublanow off the field or leave him at C and get Galliard off the field. Seriously, something else has to work better than what we are seeing.
LikeLike
This would be one of those areas where I would like some information from Kirby. I, too, am surprised Wynn is not at left tackle. I have noticed him come of games twice with ‘injuries’ – and it may be more, that’s just what I can remember – and I wonder if he has a nagging problem that keeps from him playing LT. I will say this though: I don’t think LT has that much to do with the run game because you can run to the other side, but we are not even getting that done right now. The biggest thing is you have to keep someone back to help a weak LT and that is one less leading block on a sweep. I dunno; I don’t get the big bucks.
LikeLike
I get all the angst about the OL, it’s painful to watch. But we are playing teams with equal or less OL recruiting so far. At this point, I don’t understand why our OL seems worse than so many other teams.
Mizzu UGA
2016 2016
OT – 4star OT – 4star
OT – 3star OT – 3star
OC – 3star OT – 3star
2015 2015
OG – 3star OT – 4star
OT – 3star OT – 3star
OT – 3star OT – 3star
OG – 3star
OT – 3star
2014 2014
OT – 4star OG – 4star
OT – 3star OT – 4star
OT – 3star OT – 4star
OT – 3star OG – 3star
OT – 3star
2013 2013
OT – 3star OC – 4star
OT – 3star OG – 3star
OC – 3star OT – 3star
OC – 2star
LikeLike
Well that didn’t post exactly right but you can see how even our recruiting is with Mizzu. we had the extra players in 2015 and 2013.
LikeLike
Schedule last year tougher than this year, appears only Ole Miss and gaturs should be a contest.
LikeLike
Those starting senior tackles everyone said last year were useless? Pyke has been ok at right tackle. Left tackle where that former 5-star recruit was? Not so much.
On the question of the schedule, Kirby doesn’t have that as an excuse for this year. This year’s schedule is a watered down version of last year’s schedule with the exception of UNC for ULM.
LikeLike
No question that the running game has been a disappointment. No question but that it’s worse than last year. I have a feeling it’ll be better in Oxford. Especially in the second half.
We’ll see. I thought the problem was at qb. I never thought Schotty and Sale were to blame for our woes.
Once we got the qb handled I thought the run game would only get better. That it isn’t is frustrating, but at least we’re 3-0.
LikeLike
I think our get tough policy with Derek is working. Those are actually thoughtful informative comments. My compliments.
LikeLike
HB, his comments usually are both…and since I have been on the receiving end of some of the more pointed comments from our good brother Derek, I can speak to the issue.
Just curious, when did you ask for his papers? I must have missed that.
🙂
LikeLike
I’ve been thoughtful and informative all along. That you didn’t understand that “you’re an idiot” is both of those things sort of proves the point doesn’t it?
LikeLike
Ah cain’t believe you did not follow up on the “showing his papers” reference, man…
LikeLike
Calling me an idiot is neither thoughtful nor informative. It’s a tautology, young whippersnapper.
LikeLike
No Derek. You’ve been thoughtful lately. You were bigmouth jackass who got off on the sight of his words on a screen. The fact that other people could see that and you could t doesn’t make them idiots. No matter how much you may want to believe that. The posts lately have been good though.
LikeLike
I don’t have a problem with this approach at all. If you do, maybe you need to give your red panties to Damon?
Look where being a nice guy gets you with the media…
Beat Ole Miss and to hell with the rest of this nonsense.
LikeLike
I don’t think the reporter’s question about changing things up was loaded at all, but it is a recurring theme. I think Kirby has a newcomer’s impatience with reporters. If he wins like Saban he can treat them with impatience. If he doesn’t he has to be nicer or suffer.
LikeLike
Exactly.
Although I doubt he’ll suffer much in the short term, given the forcefield he’s provided by our real athletic directors, the pair of liquor distributors who placed him in his current job. He’s their boy (at least for now).
LikeLike
I think he handles the press perfectly
LikeLike
Doesn’t take a plumber making $3.5 mill per year to tell me my toilet won’t flush.
LikeLike
Gong back to the “ask better questions, get better answers” line about BB above, I’d love to see someone asking about runs up the middle vs outside runs, and the potential predictability of running out of certain formations. Eason throwing over 50x was a nice sign that they won’t go full Muschamp on the “we have to be tough/run the ball” when it isn’t working, but I’d love to see a return to some of the varied outside runs from the UNC game, and why they weren’t used much vs. Mizzou.
LikeLike
The press is trying to get Kirby to say something that can become a sound byte. Kirby really doesn’t want to be publicly critical of his players. If he slips up and says “the current OL talent we have just isn’t good enough to compete in this league” it’ll be the end of our season, team will be lost.
Also, I grant him the benefit of the doubt right now. He really doesn’t want to give the impression that he is likely swimming in his head as much as Eason is right now. Let’s face it, Kirby has a lot on his plate. He knows what needs to be done, knows what he wants to do, knows reams of info that he wants to use but he simply can’t get to it all due to time. He needs to go through his first year and get himself grounded into his routine. Right now he is just 24/7 trying to tackle everything he can think of.
LikeLike
So Kirby, in his infinite wisdom and all those years at the hand of the master, thought to himself, Hey I’ve got a lot going on why not spend some time picking fights with the media. You know those guys with out a lot going on who get paid to fill pages. That’s what I should do.
Seriously picking a fight with the media almost never works.
Besides picking fights with people at work is weak.
LikeLike
WHY WON’T THEY ASK KIRBY IF HE EATS BOOGERS!!!
LikeLike
Jim Donnan approves. Chuck Dowdle reminds me of Loran Smith. I wonder how long it’ll be before Chuck makes the mistake of going Loran Smith-esque captain obvious with Smart at the wrong time.
LikeLike
How can yall not see what bullshit this is? As has been stated already, what good did being nice to the media do Richt? They sniped at him from day one despite how nice he was. I remember a Jeff Schultz write up about Richt that was really over the line in how much joy he was taking in treating Richt as his whipping boy and it was after a win. Screw these guys. They treated Richt like shit despite his patience toward them. I wish Terrence Moore was still around to get some of this.
LikeLike
Amen. I will never have any goodwill or sympathy for an employee of the AJC, unless Grizzard comes back to life and resumes his column.
LikeLike
+1
LikeLike
+1000 – regardless of what you thought about Richt, the “journalists” at the AUC never gave him credit for anything. Kirby has probably seen it from afar and isn’t going to take their $#!t.
LikeLike
To me they even seemed to despise his ‘good nature’. They LIKE irritating people. The more they piss you off the happier they are…it brings viewership.
LikeLike
They actually all but said Richt couldn’t win big enough because of his niceness. Now they cry because Kirby isn’t nice to them? Please.
LikeLike
Bingo. They’re not your friend. They say they have a job to do. Then do it. Call Eason’s dad and high school coach. Talk to his girlfriend. Whatever. There’s a million ways to write a story about “The Kid.”
This is a distraction, and it’s meant to be. Kirby didn’t think a thing about it the minute he stepped away from that podium. Chip thought about it all day. Lord, it’s the season. Can’t we talk about the games?!
Beat Ole Miss.
LikeLike
Yeaaaaahhh…..Saban gets away with that because of multiple NCs. Kirby’s shtick is going to get old quickly if the performance doesn’t pick up.
LikeLike
Absolutely.
LikeLike
5 turnovers by Mizzou and it takes a last second drive to win the game? Anybody that thinks this Georgia team is anything but mediocre didn’t watch Ohio State, Alabama, or Louisville. We may win the East but that ain’t saying much. We have big time issues on offense, defense, and especially on special teams. Two scholarship kickers and Ham is better than Blankenship? Really? Mckenzie is too small to last the season and other than our defensive tackles, no size to speak of on the line. We just aren’t physical. Finesse will only get you so far. You know, I know, and the American people know it. We gotta do a better job of doing a better job or we lose by 21+ to Ole Miss.
LikeLike
Aren’t you glad we get to play the games to actually figure it out on the field?
LikeLike
Sounds like the Georgia Way includes the blogs and the press. If the man doesn’t produce in three or four, let’s all rip him a new one. Until then, can’t we all just get a Dawg? 🍻
LikeLike
Stoops now thinks Kirby’s rule makes sense.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/17588370/oklahoma-sooners-qb-austin-kendall-comments-ridiculous
LikeLike
I understand Kirby’s frustration with the media, but I still think he could handle it better. As I’m sure it’s been stated above, everyone knows the policy on Freshmen not speaking to the media, so it was kind of silly for the reporter to even ask about talking to Eason. However, Kirby could have simply said, “Well that’s our policy regardless of what position you play or how you perform in a game.” instead of “What year is he in school? Right, he’s a Freshman and that’s why he doesn’t speak to the media” (paraphrasing).
Same thing goes for the question on the o-line. Have you thought about shuffling people around? Of course they have thought about that. But he could’ve easily provided the same information as he did, minus the snark.
BUT, if the worst thing you could say about the guy is about how he handles the media, then I think he’ll be alright.
LikeLike
It isnt the worst thing people say about smart. It is the worst thing that we are talking about in this thread.
The other threads are for the other terrible things he does.
LikeLike
I had something of a suspicion Saturday night that Chubb might have had more yards after contact than yards from scrimmage against Missouri. That stat about getting hit in the backfield 2/3’s of the time makes that all the more likely, but I haven’t actually seen that stat anywhere.
LikeLike