Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart Looks at Facing No. 9 Ole Miss
OXFORD, Miss. – Georgia head coach Kirby Smart met with the media earlier this week to discuss the upcoming top-10 matchup against No. 9 Ole Miss on Saturday in Athens. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN.
No. 2 Georgia (9-0, 6-0 SEC) is coming off a 30-21 victory over No. 12 Missouri last weekend.
“Ole Miss has a really good football team. They have improved when you watch them on tape and watch the games throughout the year they have improved in every game.”
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart on Ole Miss
Ole Miss (8-1, 5-1 SEC) rolls into the game after a 38-35 victory over Texas A&M inside the Vaught.
“They have played a tremendous schedule,” Smart said of the Rebels. “Some really tough teams on their schedule and Lane (Kiffin) has done a great job with his program, team. They have a great staff and great players.”
Smart noted that Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is playing at a really high level with great running backs. This season, Dart has passed for 2,467 yards and 16 touchdowns and on the ground has run for 334 yards and seven touchdowns.
Coach Smart talked about the challenges of tackling Dart when he’s outside the pocket and the overall physicality of the Rebel backs.
“Once (Dart) he’s a runner, he’s no more protected than a running back. I mean, we’re going to tackle him like we tackle backs. He’s physical. I mean, their backs are physical. They’re all hard to tackle in terms of size and stature. If you get over 210-215 pounds and they’re running 4.4s or 4.5s, it’s physical. He lowers his shoulder and competes to play. I have a lot of respect for the way he runs, but in terms of us tackling him it’s going to be like we do a back.“
Smart on tackling Dart and the Ole Miss RBs
Defensively, Ole Miss has only allowed its opponents to score 22.89 points per game over nine games. Ole Miss has only surrendered 184 first downs in the season (94 passing, 75 rushing and 15 penalties).
“I think Pete (Golding) has brought energy. You see it in the way that they play and attack the ball. They come after the ball and they lead the SEC in turnover margin.”
Kirby Smart
Smart talked about his tight end, Brock Bowers, who has been out since suffering an ankle injury during the second quarter of the Bulldogs’ Week 6 win over Vanderbilt. Before his injury, Bowers had tallied 37 catches for 545 yards and 4 TDs and was widely considered one of the best players in college football.
Bowers underwent tight-rope surgery on his left ankle after the injury and, according to Coach Smart, is on track in his recovery timeline.
“He’s working hard. He’s doing all he can in terms of trying to get himself in shape and get better. I mean, he’s back running now on dry land. I mean, we’re hopeful that he keeps getting better. I mean, that’s kind of the MO on this injury. Every kid we’ve had so far that’s had it, Week 1 they do this, Week 2 they do this, Week 3 they do that, and Week 4 — I mean, he’s right on schedule for the things he’s been doing.“
Kirby Smart on TE Brock Bowers
Smart also talked about an Ole Miss defense that has forced 13 fumbles this season and ranks No. 5 in the nation with an average of 3.44 sacks per game.
“I know they lead the SEC in the fewest fumbles and the most fumbles gotten,” Smart said. “They do a great job with that and really play hard so we have a hell of a challenge and a great atmosphere. We need to be as great of an atmosphere as it has ever been to take care of our home field advantage.”
Coach Smith was asked about his relationship with Lane Kiffin as both were on Nick Saban’s staff together
“I have a lot of respect for Lane, I told you that…a lot of respect for him as a coach. He was a head coach at a really young age. He taught me a lot of things about what he believes in being a head coach and doing it your way. He’s certainly had a unique experience in terms of the places he’s been able to work as a head coach, and he draws on that.”
Kirby Smart on Lane Kiffin
In Tuesday’s release of the College Football Playoff committee rankings, Georgia remained No. 2 while Ole Miss moved up one spot to No. 9.
Adam Brown
Adam Brown joins The Rebel Walk as the Managing Editor after being on the Ole Miss beat as a Sports Editor for over 11 years. He is a lifelong Oxford resident. Brown graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Prior to The Rebel Walk, Brown was the sports editor of HottyToddy.com covering every Ole Miss sport and local high school sports in the community.
