Kirby speaks, part four

The last of the comments I’ll mention, about the potential shift in defensive philosophy:

More than once, Smart has had to remind himself of such this preseason when the offensive line has put a beating on the defensive line. One of the things he said the Dawgs have to do better defensively this season is pressure the quarterback.

“We’ve got to affect the passer better and get a better rush,” Smart said. “We did that against Alabama. We gave up some points but affected the quarterback. We got to him and knocked him down and hit him. We were a little more rush the passer first and play the run second. That’s a little more of the demeanor we’re taking on this year.”

In particular, Smart said redshirt freshman outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari has had a strong camp along with senior defensive lineman Tyler Clark. He likes this freshmen group as well, including linebackers Nolan Smith and Nakobe Dean.

“We’ve got some active, athletic guys who can help us,” Smart said. “We don’t match up super well against our (offensive line) guys every day in practice. We’re getting smashed some, but they’re going to do that to a lot of people. I mean, they’re grown men, but that’s just going to make us better.”

He knows the risks he runs emphasizing havoc, but he’s more willing to take those this season.  Why?  I suspect it’s a combination of what he took away from last year’s SECCG, along with the personnel he has to deploy this year — although I do wonder what he’d be saying if Mel Tucker were still his defensive coordinator.

To me, this is going to be the change in approach to keep an eye on throughout 2019.

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Kirby speaks, part three

Here’s what Smart had to say about the transition at offensive coordinator:

This will be James Coley’s first season as offensive coordinator and playcaller after Jim Chaney left in the offseason for Tennessee. Smart said he didn’t want to see Chaney leave, but was also intent on keeping Coley, not to mention offensive line coach Sam Pittman.

“People were coming after (Coley) left and right,” Smart said. “I love Jim. He did a good job and led that side of the ball. I was very comfortable with that, but he felt like this was his chance to get paid at a really high level. I ran the risk of paying him at that level and possibly losing two other coaches. The key is you’ve gotta figure out who you’re going to pay and where your value is in recruiting.”  [Emphasis added.]

If you want to get paid major bucks on this staff, you’d best be a hit on the recruiting trail.  At Georgia, the Jimmies and Joes are worth more than the Xs and Os.

Kirby speaks, part two

Dawg porn, or a dispassionate take on the roster?  You decide.

… And while the Dawgs were gutted at receiver, the freshman to watch is George Pickens, who’s been hard to miss thus far in practice. Smart said Pickens is the most talented receiver on the roster and has routinely made “wow” plays during the preseason.

Must resist cold shower…

Kirby speaks, part one

This ESPN piece has some of the most illuminating comments I’ve seen from Smart this offseason, so I thought I’d share, breaking some of them into separate post subjects for the benefit of commenting.  (In other words, read the whole thing.)

Here’s what he had to say about his offensive line:

Smart was a part of four national championship teams while coaching at Alabama under Saban, so he knows what a championship team looks like. He looks around the practice field this preseason at Georgia and is heartened by what he sees, particularly up front offensively.

“We’ve got two tackles (Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson) that look like Cam Robinson did at Alabama, big, athletic guys,” Smart said. “Solomon Kindley at left guard is a lot like Chance Warmack was at Alabama, and there’s a great battle at the other guard spot between Ben Cleveland and Cade Mays. In time, the best player of all of them might be (true sophomore) Trey Hill at center. He’s the most athletic 350-pound man that I’ve ever seen. And what I like is that everybody is motivated because they’ve been anointed and talked about all offseason.

“They better get ready because they’re going to get everybody’s best shot, but they’re talented. All five guys will play in the NFL. I have no doubt.”

I’m sure the comment about Trey Hill will get the most attention, but I sense the feeling there, even though I’m sure he’d never admit it, that the o-line is Mr. Impose Your Will’s favorite position group.

The best coaching another school’s money could buy.

You may recall seeing from the other day that Tennessee’s athletic department managed to lose well over six million dollars during the 2018 fiscal year.  It’s nice to know a $755,471 chunk of that went to fund Bob Shoop’s stellar season at Mississippi State.

With NFL first-round picks Jeffery Simmons, Montez Sweat and Johnathan Abram leading the charge, the Bulldogs led the nation in total defense (263.1 yards per game allowed) and ranked second behind national champ Clemson in scoring defense (13.2 points per game allowed). Those results helped Shoop become a Broyles Award finalist in his first season in Starkville despite Mississippi State paying him a salary, $400,000, that qualified as a pittance compared to those of other Power Five coordinators.

If there’s another college football program over the past decade that’s been as consistently (and spectacularly) mismanaged as Tennessee’s, I’d cringe to see the evidence.

Chart of the day

For some reason, I find this intriguing.

Here is the graph we discussed in the first segment on the decrease of home field advantage since 1996 in College Football – See the decline for yourself! (Gamblers take notes✍️ ✍️) pic.twitter.com/amEM95YxzU

— Wharton Moneyball (@WMoneyball) August 14, 2019

No reason is given for the decline, so we’re left to speculate.  I assume factors like the increase in neutral site games, as well as cupcake games, contributes.  Is it possible this is an indication of a widening gap in quality between the top teams and the rest?  What do y’all think?

The Greatest Definite of Our Era

What’s especially hilarious about this idiocy…

The Ohio State University has filed a trademark application on the word "THE."

The filing, made on August 8th, indicates #OhioState is offering a brand of "THE" clothing.

Not sure how 'The U' will feel about this one.

My analysis 👇:#BuckeyeNation #MiamiHurricanes pic.twitter.com/1UvLOAOnIc

— Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) August 13, 2019

… is that it turns out somebody else ran through that door before the Buckeyes did.

However, there could be a snag. Marc Jacobs, the apparel company, beat Ohio State to the punch when it comes to that three-letter word. Its application for “THE” (as in THE BACKPACK MARC JACOBS) was approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in June, but that remains under review, according to the Jacobs application. Marc Jacobs would have priority in the trademark because of the filing date, according to Gerben.

No word yet on whether Georgia is considering pursuing a trademark for “AND” from Red and Black.