CKS - Georgia has No Depth

So listening to the DawgNation podcast today, Buck Belue got the only interview with CKS yesterday and specifically asked him when he was preparing as a DC to face Georgia, what were his impressions of Georgia as a team. His answer was telling:

Coach Kirby Smart wrote: First thing you gotta do is get more depth. I don't think they have enough depth for the SEC. When you're playing week-to-week, you're gonna have injuries and you gotta have another guy that can go in. I don't think the depth quality is here like it needs to be; you know, being big, physical...getting the right kind of players in that are big physical players are important too. You know? Cause if you're gonna run the ball, you gotta be big and physical. So the size criteria for each position, we gotta make sure that meets. And then getting the right kinda kids in here, which for the most part, we've done.

So, what does this tell us? Here are my two thoughts:

I. Diagnostics & Honesty:

How wonderful is to hear our coach diagnose and address specific problems? Not this nebulous nonsense like our problems being just needing to "finish the drill" or "get after it" or study film, but someone addressing real...actual....problems. Now some people are going to say that it's easy for CKS to come in as a first year and pick apart/call out all the problems with a team. But on the flip side of that coin, it would have been just as easy for his predecessor to have done the same thing; unless he didn't really know what those problems entailed?

The forthright honesty about the state of our program is so refreshing that I almost have to pinch myself to wonder if this is real. All of the things I've been saying about UGA's deficiencies are being summed up here by CKS.

II. Structural Philosophy

Clearly, CKS knows what it takes to win in the SEC and he's telling everyone with ears to listen up: you need a devastating offensive and a devastating defensive line. Big, nasty, physical, aggressive, focused, position players. You might have the snazziest QB and the flashiest running back in the world, but without the massive O-line to protect them and open up gaps, all they're going to do is amass yardage - not win enough games to take them to the big show. If you want to know why I know CKS will win a championship at UGA (if not several), it's because of the fact that he knows that everything hinges on the lines. With a devastating O-line, you can take a QB who maybe doesn't have the 5-star skill set and develop him into a very intelligent and capable QB because his O-line gives him the ability to slow the game down and see better what his coaches are asking him to do.

Championship teams are built behind the lines, and it is clear that this is the top priority for CKS in his recruiting philosophy.

Hint: it doesn't take a Matt Stafford-type QB to win a natty, but it does take an Alabama style O and D line to win one. Could you imagine if Todd Gurley had run behind Alabama's line? I truly believe he'd probably have set NCAA records that would have stood for 30 years.

Thoughts?

:whistle:

Coach talk from our HC. Praise the Lord. I haven't heard any of that in ages.

Big Guys... SEC... Depth...

Thank you Coach Smart. Keep it honest and "coach 'em up" as Buc says.

Go Dawgs.

SouthernDawg, good post/thread.

Reason for my first post here was for this reason . . . . there are several here that have begged for what you included in the thread.

Can remember when sites and media would speak to flash and dash. Not much mention about those with their hands in the dirt until Dawgs.com spoke to the problem of "DEPTH".

Really glad to see you come to this board as a poster and make some comments that the members have asked for, for years.

Looking at the AJC and other sites now (today), they are back on Jacob Eason like UGA football will be over and done with if we don't land him. Kirby Smart made the trip to Washington State, admire him for that, especially with the "schedule" he is trying to handle at this point.

Truthfully, have never seen such coverage on a High School Senior, that includes a long list of top notch players, dating back years.

Thanks, good "stuff".

One can see what Alabama did with Coker.
Enough said.

If Eason comes, fine.
If not, we will be alright.

We finally have a coach who sees the big picture.

How sweet it is to have a coach acknowledge our deficiencies that so many on this board have pointed out for years even though we were not in the arena. Do believe we are about to see great things happen. Might just be coach speak but it's dang good and needed for awhile. Would love to have any recruit that wants to saddle up and work hard. But if we don't get them they are plenty more out there much rather have a three star that plays with his heart than a five star that thinks the world owes him something.