Kirby Smart hilariously shrugs off doubters after Georgia Bulldogs finally fix most crucial problem on defense

Kirby Smart won’t admit that the Georgia pass rush was terrible, but it doesn’t matter now that the Bulldogs defensive line dominated Texas

Travis May — College Football Managing Editor
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Georgia Bulldogs Official Weekly Press Conference

The Georgia Bulldogs have finally found their pass rush and it might be exactly what Kirby Smart and this team needs to make a push for another national championship victory this year.

It’s no secret that the Georgia Bulldogs hadn’t looked like their usual selves along the defensive front this year in terms of generating pass rush pressure. Kirby Smart has been living in denial to that fact all season long any time it’s brought up, but Georgia’s lack of pass rush had put their defense in horrible positions against several opponents this year. The good news is that looks like a problem of the past now. When asked about the pass rush this week Kirby Smart hilariously shrugged off the question yet again.

Georgia Bulldogs stats and facts this season

  • Prior to the Mississippi State game, the Georgia Bulldogs ranked outside the top 120 in defensive sacks on the season, and not much better than that in pressure rate
  • Georgia’s defense had just eight sacks through their first eight games of the season
  • Georgia’s defense now has six sacks in the last two games alone against Mississippi State and the Texas Longhorns (three in each)
  • Georgia had just one sack by a true defensive end or tackle prior to the Mississippi State game, but now that number is up to four

Kirby Smart hilariously shrugs off questions about Georgia Bulldogs pass rush

Georgia’s defense went from giving up five straight touchdowns to Ole Miss just a few short weeks ago, logging zero sacks that game, to allowing just four total touchdowns in the last two games combined, racking up six sacks between the Mississippi State and Texas Longhorns game. They’re a completely different unit, finally looking like they’re gelling along the defensive front.

When asked about the kind of growth he’s seen from the defensive line in terms of getting push towards quarterback pressure, Kirby Smart hilariously shrugged off the question, this time in a more dismissive fashion than he has all year emphatically saying, “None.” He did so with a bit of a disgusted look on his face and a shake of the head as if he couldn’t believe the question was asked (again). Then he expanded saying, “We’ve been consistent all year.”

Unbelievably, no member of the on-site media chose to challenge Kirby Smart’s absurd notion that his defensive front has been anything but terrible outside of the last two weeks. Just hilarious antics from Kirby Smart for those who have followed this pass rush problem all season long. That’s the kind of false confidence and denial you can get away with when you’ve won multiple national championships.

It’s strange that coach Smart won’t just acknowledge the clear on-field results of the intense practice and growing chemistry that Georgia’s defense has been demonstrating lately. Regardless, it’s great to see for Bulldogs fans. The defensive front was always going to take a moment to get up to speed and look like a usually dominant Georgia front this season. They were adding a couple of transfers and leaning on a ton of youth and inexperience up front, an issue Kirby Smart spoke of throughout this offseason. It seems now that the talent was always there. They just needed more reps together.

Gabe Harris, Quintavius Johnson, and Zayden Walker all got home for sacks of Arch Manning against Texas on Saturday, as the pressure was knocking at the door all game long. It’s surprising that the Bulldogs’ ferocious front didn’t get home for more sacks overall in their 35-10 thrashing of Steve Sarkisian and Texas.

Kirby Smart is likely done getting questions about his pass rush after yet another impressive showing from his defensive line. He’s also likely done because the media now knows that no matter what they ask or say Smart will never admit there’s ever a problem with it in the first place, but that’s just Kirby being Kirby. He’s proud of his team. He’s proud of their “fire, passion, and energy” (his mantra for this Georgia Bulldogs’ squad). No reason to hint at any disappointment or doubt in them now.

This Georgia team is red hot on offense thanks to quarterback Gunner Stockton and his playmakers. Now they’re firing on all cylinders on defense too, which should make them one of the favorites to win it all in January.

We’ll be back with more Georgia Bulldogs coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!

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