Georgia shook off a slow start to outpace UT-Martin 48-7 last Saturday. Georgia was scheduled to travel to Norman this weekend to take on the Sooners. The Sooners’ decision to move to the SEC two years ago made for a change of plans. Unable to fulfill a home-and-home series, both teams, with SEC assistance, chose to cancel the contract and seek new opponents. Oklahoma will play SMU this week, and Georgia will host Ball State. The Cardinals are coming off a 5-7 2022 season and were boat-raced 44-14 last week in Lexington. Kirby Smart and the coaching staff will use this game to assess their young team’s growth, which wouldn’t have been possible if they had played in Norman. Smart primarily discussed Georgia’s defense growth during his weekly Monday press conference. Here is an overview, before we preview the matchup against Ball State.
Smart on Georgia’s Defense
Defensive Line
On Monday, the discussion revolved around recruiting defensive linemen. When asked if the quick release of opposing quarterbacks has influenced his drafting strategy, Smart disagreed. He mentioned that while teams may release the ball quickly on early downs, they often have to hold it longer on later downs, emphasizing the importance of getting to the quarterback.”You have to have people who can rush the passer, especially when you get to the upper echelon and you start playing your SEC opponents. We have to have guys that can block, tackle, run, catch hit, intercept, and that doesn’t change how we recruit.”
In the past two years, Smart saw three defensive linemen (Jalen Carter, Travon Walker, and Jordan Davis) drafted in the first round. This season, Georgia doesn’t have a standout player like them. Smart was asked about his criteria for selecting defensive linemen and whether this year’s team needed a difference-maker. Smart first talked about the characteristics of a great defensive lineman. “You always want a really disruptive, violent, quick, twitchy player. Everybody wants that, and you need both.” Smart shared that even guys like Carter didn’t have both skills, but he is comfortable with the guys he has. “We have guys that can be disruptive, but we just don’t know if they can do it and stop the run as well without guessing sometimes.” Some of that guessing may have been on display last week, UT-Martin had a handful of big runs in the first half against Georgia’s defense.
Secondary
Smart spent the other part of his press conference talking about the back end of his defense, the secondary. He was asked about the progress they’ve made from playing against UT-Martin, but he emphasized the importance of the daily competition they experience in practice. “They probably grow up more in practice because they get challenged a lot more in practice. We don’t put any greater value on the game reps that they took the other day, then we do the practice reps that they took today. They get to go up against high quality people.” Smart added one area where he saw growth during the game. “I thought they held the point, played a little more physical out there than I expected.” One of the leaders of the Georgia defense was Malaki Starks, whom Smart had high praise.
“I’ve been around some thumpers. And I think about all those guys – Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, Dom Sanders here, Lewis [Cine]– he’s different than all of those guys. He’s probably the one guy that could go out there and play corner if he had to. Starks got a coverage skill set and a speed skill set that most safeties don’t have. He’s a good tackler.” Starks is in his second season as a starter for Georgia. As a freshman, he was third on the team in tackles (68) and pass breakups (7). Starks was a 2022 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award finalist. In his second year on the team, Starks has emerged as a leader on the team and seemed to be all over the field on Saturday night, leading Georgia’s defense with 8 tackles.
Ball State Preview
⏰ 12:00 p.m. (EST)
📍 Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium
Line: UGA -42
O/U: 53
This game provides Georgia with another opportunity to improve and grow before they face their first SEC opponent next week. Defensively, Georgia’s defense looks vulnerable on a few run plays in the first half. Ball State managed a meager 72 yards in last week’s loss to Kentucky. On the offensive side of the ball, it would be nice to see Georgia establish their ground game. Kendall Milton and Roderick Robinson II each managed a combined 103 yards last week, far below Georgia’s standard. Milton is still returning from injury, but Robinson looked ready to take on a larger load of the offense. Speaking of injuries.
Smart shared that Ladd McConkey has still yet to participate in practice, just running routes against air. So his status is still questionable for Saturday. Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint will return to action against Ball State after being suspended for the first game. Smart felt that would help increase quarterback Carson Beck’s confidence. “(Marcus) goes up and makes plays on the ball. He’s just very reliable, and I think having him back gives all those guys a little more swagger and confidence at receiver because he’s out there.” Speaking of reliability, Brock Bowers was limited in the second half still dealing with an undisclosed injury.
Prediction: Georgia 52, Ball State 3
Photo courtesy: Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK
