Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart was not happy with Georgia’s run defense or intensity in the Bulldogs’ 59-21 win over the UMass Minutemen.
Smart criticized Georgia’s tackling at halftime. Though Georgia cleaned some things up after allowing 110 rushing yards in the first quarter, the Bulldogs surrendering 226 rushing yards to a non-Power Four opponent was not an inspiring performance.
After the game, Smart revealed Georgia’s issues go beyond tackling.
“I don’t know that it was just tackling,” said Smart. “We did not tackle well, but it was more than just tackling. It was, I hate to say it, I just don’t think that our guys were ready to play and energized to play as their guys were. Their guys wanted it more than us, and it’s very rare that I could sit up here and say that.”
“Like, they were playing harder, they were moving us, they were playing physical. They had some nice RPOs and some nice play designs, but it wasn’t about that,” Smart continued. “It’s, I want to, like, desire. That’s the biggest thing.”
Georgia is going to have to want to win more than Georgia Tech next week if the Bulldogs want to make the College Football Playoff. Georgia faces a motivated Georgia Tech team that has already upset Miami and always has Georgia circled on their calendar.
Last season, Georgia Tech rushed for 205 yards against Georgia, so the Bulldogs better buckle up their chinstraps on Friday night.
