Kirby Smart subtly throws shade at Josh Heupel and Tennessee
You can add Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart to the list of folks that's thrown shade at the Tennessee Vols' offense this offseason. Smart didn't directly name Tennessee with his comments this week, but it was pretty evident that his shade was directed at the Vols. The Georgia head coach made his comments after […]
You can add Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart to the list of folks that's thrown shade at the Tennessee Vols' offense this offseason.
Smart didn't directly name Tennessee with his comments this week, but it was pretty evident that his shade was directed at the Vols.
The Georgia head coach made his comments after a recent Bulldogs scrimmage.
Smart met with reporters after the scrimmage in Athens this past weekend and he was asked about what goes into evaluating quarterbacks.
For absolutely no reason at all, Smart brought up offenses that go fast and suggested that the quarterbacks in those systems don't have to make decisions like the quarterbacks in Georgia's system.
"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. "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?"
That absolutely has to be a dig at Josh Heupel and the Vols' offense, which is odd considering the way Smart praised Tennessee's offense for being physical last fall.
This is most likely Smart throwing stuff out there for recruits to hear. The Bulldogs are still the team to beat in the SEC, but UT's emergence is something I'm sure Smart is keeping an eye on. For now, the Vols are the biggest threat to Georgia in the SEC East.
The only way for this narrative that Tennessee's quarterbacks don't have to process information to end is for a player like former Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker to have quick success in the NFL. If Hooker can make a seamless transition to the NFL and become a productive starter, then the whispers about the Vols' offense being "simple" or a "gimmick" will stop.
Until then, Tennessee fans will likely continue to see comments like the ones from Smart.
Another way to stop this silly narrative would be to beat Georgia. If the Vols can be the team that finally knocks off the Bulldogs, I imagine the tone about Tennessee's offense will change dramatically.
The Vols will get another shot at Smart and Georgia on November 18 in Knoxville.
