Accuracy is the new (red and) black.

Hey, remember those heady days when Kirby Smart was laser-focused on explosive plays?  Now, he’d just be happy seeing his quarterbacks throw passes in places where guys can actually catch them.

Bennett and Mathis have combined to throw 9 interceptions and complete 52.4 percent of their passes. Only nine FBS teams have thrown more interceptions out of 122 teams, according to CFBstats.com. Bennett and Mathis also fumbled snaps on Saturday.

Georgia’s completion percentage is the worst in the SEC and ranks 111th nationally.

“We always say you’ve got to make your layups,” Smart said. “That’s the most disappointing things the last couple of games, really, is just the accuracy and the ability to hit the open guys.”

Bennett was 5 of 16 for 78 yards with a touchdown and interception against the Gators. Mathis was 4 of 13 for 34 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

“Accuracy comes with experience,” Smart said. “Accuracy comes with timing. Accuracy comes with consistency in who’s out there. If it’s one receiver, he might be running 21 miles an hour, and another receiver might be running 22. …You’ve got to be accurate. That’s probably the number one when you define the quarterback position, accuracy ranks right up there with managing it and not turning it over. Accuracy is probably the defining factor of that position.”

Now he tells us.

“The quarterbacks were a little bit off,” redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kearis Jackson said on Monday. “I don’t know what to say. It was just one of those days where we weren’t completing many balls through the air. It’s something that we have to work on. Has this been a problem all season? No. In practice, we do our things. We just have to translate it over to the game.”

If only practices counted in the standings.  Unfortunately, the Florida game counted ($$).

Stetson Bennett

• A little too far for running back Kendall Milton, who was covered, in the first quarter.

• Missed receiver Jaylen Johnson on a sideline pass in the first quarter.

• Overthrew receiver Matt Landers on a deep pass in the second quarter.

• Overthrew receiver Jermaine Burton near the sideline in the second quarter. Bennett threw on the run rather than setting his feet and firing.

• Overthrew receiver Kearis Jackson on a deep pass downfield in the second quarter. Just a step ahead of him.

• Threw slightly behind Washington over the middle near the end of the second quarter. The freshman tight end could have caught it.

• Overthrew Landers on a sideline pattern late in the second quarter. Would’ve had to be a nice fit.

• Overthrow tight end Tre’ McKitty over the middle.

• Threw behind Jaylen Johnson, resulting in an interception.

Mathis:

• Overthrew Robertson on a deep pass.

• Overthrew McKitty on a sideline pass that would have gone for a long gain.

• Underthrew Landers on a deep sideline pass.

• Threw the ball into double coverage on third down, incomplete.

• Pressured and threw a duck downfield (because he couldn’t take a sack on fourth down) that was intercepted.

• Again on fourth down, threw the ball downfield into coverage and was picked off.

You know what “a little bit off” reminds me of?

Of course, Kirby’s not remorseful about this just for the sake of the passing game.  Nah, he’s got his eyes on the real prize.

“We missed out on some opportunities there, and a lot of that can help a good run game. We have shown the ability at times to run the ball on some hard boxes, and Missouri gives you hard boxes almost every single snap. It’s one of those challenges that we have to improve on.”

Hells, yeah — in the end, it’s always about running into a loaded box successfully.