‘Dummy it down a little bit’ – Did Georgia’s Kirby Smart take another shot at the Tennessee Vols’ offense?
A little over two years ago, Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart seemingly took a shot at the role that quarterbacks play in the Tennessee Vols’ offense (and other up-tempo offenses). Smart suggested that quarterbacks in “really fast” offenses aren’t true decision makers. “It’s like, a true quarterback is a decision-maker in our system because […]
A little over two years ago, Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart seemingly took a shot at the role that quarterbacks play in the Tennessee Vols’ offense (and other up-tempo offenses).
Smart suggested that quarterbacks in “really fast” offenses aren’t true decision makers.
“It’s like, a true quarterback is a decision-maker in our system because some systems take all the pressure off the quarterback and they just go really fast,” said Smart in 2023. “We don’t do that. We’re a quarterback-driven offense, so can you process the information. That means get the signal, get people lined up then see what the defense is in and figure out are we in the right situation?”
Vols head coach Josh Heupel indirectly responded to those comments a couple of days later.
“Our guys control everything,” said Heupel. “I don’t think there’s anybody in America that puts more on their quarterbacks. Run-run checks, run-pass checks, loaded boxes, alerts, kills, they’ve got to do it all. So he’s (QB Joe Milton) highly instrumental in the efficiency and effectiveness of our running game.”
Smart met with reporters on Thursday as fall camp gets underway for the Bulldogs and he again made a reference to the role that quarterbacks play in up-tempo offenses.
“The average fan is not aware of the demand of what the quarterback’s having to decide, and they certainly aren’t aware of what the defense is having to defend,” said Smart. “Because the eyes of the defense have to be in multiple places. There’s a play on this side of the formation, there’s a play on this side of the formation, and then there’s an interior play. So there’s three plays, and the defense is having to defend more of it, so it’s become tougher to defend. It’s also become probably less of a quarterback having to change the protection and play the quarterback position that the NFL would like to have, and more of a go-tempo, dummy it down a little bit, and let the quarterback make easy decisions and make throws and runs that make it really hard to defend.”
On one hand, Smart pointed out the demands of what quarterbacks have to decide in the moment (with RPOs). On the other hand, he clearly took a swipe by suggesting that tempo offenses “dummy it down” for the quarterback, while also noting that the way quarterbacks play in those offenses doesn’t translate to the NFL.
Only Smart knows for sure if his comments were a subtle jab at Tennessee offense under Heupel. But it’s worth noting that Smart is one of the most calculated speakers in college football — he rarely says anything to the media without a purpose. That’s why it’s hard to believe his comments weren’t intentional.
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