Georgia football HC Kirby Smart: ‘The DBs are coming along’

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart discussed the secondary following UGA football’s second scrimmage.

Georgia is tasked with the challenge of replacing a ton of talent in the secondary this offseason.

In the secondary, Georgia will have a new look after losing Richard LeCounte, Mark Webb, Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell, DJ Daniel and Tyrique Stevenson.

The Bulldogs signed West Virginia transfer Tykee Smith, which should help. Smith has four career interceptions and was named PFF’s No. 5 returning defensive back in college football.

The former West Virginia star is reuniting with defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae in Athens. The pair helped West Virginia field the nation’s top pass defense in 2020.

Smart did not say much about the WVU transfer when talking with reporters after the team’s scrimmage on Saturday, but he mentioned the improvement he’s seen in the entire secondary.

“The DBs are coming along. We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re getting there,” Smart said. “I haven’t seen any regress. That’s the good thing. If we’re on a one-mile journey, we just hit the first quarter. We’ve got a ways to go. We’ve got to figure out who it is.”

The Bulldogs’ defense took a step back in 2020 after a phenomenal 2019 season in which the group ranked among the top five in the FBS in nearly every category.

Last season, though, especially in the passing game, Georgia’s defense seemed soft. After ranking 31st in the nation in 2019, Georgia’s passing defense ranked 88th last year, giving up 248.7 passing yards per game. Georgia’s rush defense, however, has ranked No. 1 in back-to-back seasons, giving up an average of 73.4 yards per game on the ground over the last two years.

Georgia returns no starters at cornerback for 2021. Players expected to see action include:

Ameer Speed

Jalen Kimber

Daran Branch

Nyland Green

Lovasea Carroll (a converted running back)

“I will say this,” Smart said. “Every one of them wants to get better, and every one of them are trying to get better. We’ve had flashes of some good plays but consistently we have to improve. We have to improve our consistency in the secondary. That starts with tackling, that starts with eye control. It’s not just the corners. It’s the safeties as well and communication. All of those things are critical, and we’re not where we need to be but I didn’t expect them to be right now. We’ve got a ways to go.”