Kirby Smart focused on fixing Georgia Bulldogs’ biggest problems on defense ahead of SEC rivalry game against Florida Gators
Georgia still struggling with tackling and sack generation on defense, but Kirby Smart believes his team is getting there
The Georgia Bulldogs are 6-1 as Kirby Smart somehow has his team in prime position once again to push toward another trip to the College Football Playoff. This 2025 team hasn’t perfect. There have been some major growing pains, especially on defense, but based on what Kirby shared with media this week, he’s excited and expecting to see his team take another step in the right direction.
The defense still can’t manage to generate pressure or sacks consistently. They were missing tackles at an alarming rate for three quarters of the Ole Miss game, which helped lead to five touchdowns in a row. Can Georgia fans really expect this defense to get right and back to looking like typical Bulldogs dominance?
Georgia Bulldogs Tackling and Sack Stats ahead of Florida
- The Georgia Bulldogs defense missed at least eight tackles against Ole Miss and have now missed 40+ on the season
- Georgia ranks 127th among FBS teams in in defensive sacks generated with just eight of them through seven games
- Georgia’s defense has just one sack generated by a true defensive end or defensive tackle the entire season
Kirby Smart has Bulldogs focused on tackling and execution against Gators
The issues have been undeniable this season for Georgia’s defense. Yes, the Bulldogs have been fine when playing against terrible opponents, but gave up 24 points to Alabama (in their only loss), 41 to Tennessee, and 35 to Ole Miss. And the points scored aren’t close to the worst of it. Georgia’s missed 40+ tackles (according to multiple charting services) on the season and eight against Ole Miss alone. They still just have eight sacks on the year through seven games. When asked about what Kirby Smart has seen from his defense in practice this week and what he needs to see moving forward he had this to say:
“Yeah, Tackling. Execution. Defensive football is about effort and tackling. That’s one of the things that we talk about all the time. I think we’ve had good effort in games. We haven’t always tackled well in games. We’re trying to put the guys in a better position to be successful. And I’m excited to see them go play [against the Florida Gators].”
Tackling and execution. Simple enough. That’s what Georgia needs more of on defense for sure.
The effort has certainly been there all season long, which is why Georgia hass scratched and clawed their way back into games late in four out their seven contests so far. However, Kirby was right on the money with the tackling issues. That’s shown up in the back field, when the team has missed sack and tackle for loss opportunities. It’s shown up in the secondary, leading to huge explosive plays for both Tennessee and Ole Miss. It sounds like the team is getting there this week though – thanks likely in part to the one consistent star of the defense, CJ Allen.
The Georgia defense may still only have one sack from any true defensive end or tackle on the season, but CJ Allen has three by himself. He’s batted balls at the line and broken up a handful of passes in coverage. He’s racked up more tackles than anyone else on the team and almost never misses. Allen has been the standard-setter for the Georgia defense this season.
If Kirby Smart can get the rest of his defense to play as consistent as Allen has (or anywhere near it), there’s still time for the Georgia defense to get right ahead of the postseason. The Florida game should be a great chance to do it too. Gators quarterback DJ Lagway has taken 16 sacks, thrown nine interceptions, and fumbled the ball three times already this season. It’s that kind of player that the Bulldogs defense needs to take advantage of in order to start building back to what they must be if they’re going to beat the best teams in the nation down the stretch this season.
Hopefully coach Smart is right, and his team has been improving in their tackling and execution this week. If they don’t against the Gators, Saturday’s SEC rivalry game might be yet another closer competition than it needs to be for the Bulldogs.
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