Defensive effort disrupts Bulldogs, Kirby Smart

Asked about his one regret from Saturday’s 59-21 win over UMass, head coach Kirby Smart was brief.

“I wish we had brought more players in,” Smart shrugged in his postgame press conference. “But defensively, we didn’t allow ourselves to do that.”

The numbers weren’t particularly pretty.

UMass accounted for 351 total yards, including 226 on the ground, the most allowed by the Bulldogs in a game this year by more than 50 yards.

That included the first drive of the game by the Minutemen, who drove 75 yards on the opening possession to take a 7-0 lead. Of those 75 yards, 71 came on the ground.

“We didn’t play real well defensively, obviously disappointing there,” Smart said. “The best thing was probably that we got a wake-up call.”

Linebacker CJ Allen agreed upon.

“We attack, you know, especially how when we work; we put in the work,” Allen said. “But it’s kind of disappointing when you see something like that, but you know, it’s all about practice, you know. “

Smart said it wasn’t just poor tackling that bit his Bulldogs on the afternoon.

“I don’t know that it was just a tackle. We didn’t tackle well, but it was more than just tackling. It was, you know, like I hate to say it, I just don’t think our guys were ready to play and energized to play. It was their guys,” Smart said. “Their guys wanted it more than us. And it’s very rare that I could sit up here and say that. Like they played harder.

“They moved us. They played physical. They had some nice RPOs and some nice play designs, but it wasn’t about that. It was bright. That’s the biggest thing.”

The Minutemen hurt the Bulldogs with big plays.

After allowing just one 15-yard pass against Tennessee, UMass had three plays over 38, including a 68-yard run and a 75-yard pass.

“We talked about holding the standard all week for the other guys, and we probably didn’t hold that standard defensively to give other guys an opportunity to play,” Smart said. “I hate it. But I’m proud of those who made it, those who got to go out there and play and compete because they earned the right to.”

Of those who did, freshmen Chris Cole had the best highlight for the defensive end with a 28-yard scoop and score to account for the game’s final touchdown.

One of the hardest workers.

“He and Justin (Williams) work extremely hard. It is no. 1. They are of high character, super intelligent, come from good families,” Smart said. “They both work really hard. You know, Chris has had a little more success this year and he’s had more playing time than Justin.

Georgia’s run defense wasn’t the only problem.

In the third quarter, quarterback AJ Hairston lofted a ball to Jakobie Keeny-James, which the receiver pulled down between defensive backs Daniel Harris and Dan Jackson and turned into a 75-yard score.

“We didn’t play the ball. So it’s elementary. You play the ball and then you tackle the man with the ball. If the man catches the ball, it’s okay. Catch and run with the ball, it’s not okay, but it’s not everything, what Daniel has to do,” said Smart. “I’ll see the movie, but Dan (Jackson) knocked him off. I mean you have to hit your target. So the two of them have to finish the play and they have to get the guy on the ground.”