Good look from Graham Coffey at what the coaching staff has to work with in the secondary, starting with the sure things…
We know two things for sure about Georgia’s secondary
1. Kelee Ringo will be UGA’s top Cornerback
2. Christopher Smith will return at Safety to anchor the back end of Georgia’s defense
… and ending with whoever winds up grabbing the starting spot opposite Ringo, where, as Graham puts it, “This is where things get really muddy for Georgia”. The good news there is that Georgia is blessed with an abundance of talent to choose from; it’s just that there’s next to no experience to work with.
That being said, Smart hasn’t shied away before from starting a true freshman at corner. I share Graham’s assessment that it’s likely they rotate players in the spot early in the season until somebody emerges. Fortunately, it doesn’t look like the Dawgs will face many dynamic passing attacks over the season’s first half, so it’s a strategy they’ll likely survive.
Get The Picture 
I’m thinking Oregon will likely test the secondary.
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Oregon isn’t just coming to Atlanta to get paid…they’re going to be pumped up and I just hope Georgia isn’t sick on rat-poison. It’s a game Georgia should win, but Oregon could win. I doubt it’s the gimme like some think.
(I hope they’re right and I’m wrong.)
I do think Georgia’s depth and skill will prevail by game’s end.
Lanning will have offensive plays designed to negate the Dawgs’ speed on defense. He very well knows what will work and not work against our D.
Very quick hitters with occasional draws and a lot of run-pass options etc so Bo doesn’t go running around backwards so much.
I’m expecting a little more of a challenge from Oregon’s offense than a lot of folks are. Bo has talent. He just needs to be in the right system and play under control. If Lanning is able to tame him, he’ll give our defense some trouble. You know the kid is going to be motivated.
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Don’t forget…they’ll give us their best shot.
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If I were a betting man and didn’t have any allegiance to either team I’d take Oregon and the points in this game. Nix is talented but he is a head case who thinks he is still playing high school football where he is the most athletic player on the field and he can make plays all by himself. I think Lanning will be using a lot of what you describe on offense and will use a lot of dime packages on defense to keep his linebackers from having to cover our tight ends. I think he will have his defense playing fairly close to the line of scrimmage to minimize our run game and will rely on speed from the extra defensive backs to be able to cover our tight ends.
I think we win but I will be surprised if we cover 17.
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“…Lanning will be using a lot of what you describe on offense and will use a lot of dime packages on defense to keep his linebackers from having to cover our tight ends.”
I sure hope so. RBU could probably get 300-400 yards until he decides to get gashed a different way, and then Monken unleashes the passing game. And if he stubbornly stays with the dime package, the defense will get a lot of rest and instruction while the offense is eating clock on the way to a score.
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Lanning knows what he has to defend. I think going with more dbs will keep him from watching our tight ends and outside receivers catch lots of passes and he will be able to play closer to the line because the extra dbs will have speed. Having 8 defenders within 5 yds of the line of scrimmage will at least make the running lanes crowded if nothing else.
Lanning probably knows he has to settle on some compromise on defense. If he goes with size to try and control the line and shut down the running game, he knows he will get killed over the top. Putting more speed on the field will at least give him the chance to get more bodies around the ball. This year’s Georgia offense should definitely be a “pick your poison” proposition for opposing defenses.
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Yes, a season opener with youth in the secondary should be an area of concern. However, I believe our offense is going to score early and often. I’m riding with Stetquavious and the Four Tight Ends of the Apocalypse. Dawgs roll. by 21.
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I’m hoping the linebacker corps can get pressure and QB sacks in abundance to help the secondary get experience and eventually take the training wheels off…opposite of Ringo
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As long as Kirby is our coach, I find it hard to worry about the D.
As long as Monken is our OC, I find it hard to worry about the O.
I do love talking about them I just try not to worry
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Worrying is a useless and futile exercise, but I do worry.
Maybe it’s to shield my psyche from that old bugger, “The most Georgia thing ever” that may or may not be dead. He was nowhere to be found during the ’21 season, but showed up at the SECCG, only to jump on Bama’s back in Indy.
Maybe Kirby’s stomped that sucker flat?
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Is Tykee Smith close to healthy?
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If he is, we (and Lanning) will never know.
Kirby’s rule!!
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Nolan, Jalen, Brinson, and Beal will have something to say about how “exposed” our young secondary gets.
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Lanning knows Nix will have to get rid of the ball quickly. Look for lots of screens, quick hit slants and draws. Oregon’s offensive line is not bad, they will give Nix enough time to throw short passes.
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I count 10 DB recruits in the ’21 and ’22 classes, and 9 of them were 4-stars or 5-stars. Throw in Ringo, the 2 Smiths, Poole and Jackson.
If any team can top that group they’ve got one heckuva defensive backfield.
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Anybody know why Jalen Kimber transferred? I thought he was in a position to be the other corner.
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Hopefully Poole can parlay his good NC performance into a good season at STAR. That’s a critical position for KS’s defense.
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