Major reason Kirby’s scheme has been successful

[wmcovol]

I think Smart is a great coach & a huge factor in Saban’s success at Alabama. He left a loaded Def roster for Peabrain Pruitt to look like a genius. After the Smart recruits left, Alabama suddenly stopped being the defensive monster & went to outscoring people. That opened them up to upsets by Tennessee, Texas, LSU, etc cause those schools were now scoring 30+ points against them.

The major reason Kirby’s “scheme” has been successful vs Heupel is he’s had the best team & talent of any program in CFB over the last 4 years. Their roster has outnumbered Tennessee’s in NFL draft picks by 3-1 with a large number of their picks being 1st, 2nd & 3rd. Give any great coach that degree of talent advantage & he’s gonna be successful almost 100% of the time. Smart has also controlled the ball heavily in the 2nd half in both games in Athens eliminating any opportunity for the Vols to do much in the 2nd half of those games. Nobody in their right mind gave Tennessee a chance in 2021 (Ga was NC that year) or 2023 (Ga should have won the NC than year except for an injury to Bowers cost them the SECCG)

 

[B81]

Specifically being able to stop our run game with his front 4 defensive lineman. This allows the safeties to play free and help out in the passing game.

Lets hope that our o line can change this narrative.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

The major reason Kirby’s “scheme” has been successful vs Heupel is he’s had the best team & talent of any program in CFB over the last 4 years.

No, Kirby is an elite defensive coach. In 2022 for example, he shut us down when Saban and Alabama, who on paper had as much or more talent didn't. Yes, they've had great players, but great players do not GUARANTEE performance. It's like Michael Jordan had tremendous talent, but what made Jordan what he became, was having not only that talent, but also the highest level of work ethic and competitive spirit. He had both. Defensively UGA has had both under Kirby, they have had great talent, but also great schemes, motivation. Kirby needs someone to handle the offense though, having Todd Monken was gold for him. I think Bobo is better than most people give him credit for, but he's not Monken, that's where they have took a step back.

 

[EZE]

It’s the significant advantage in talent.

A coach can win a play, a series or even a game with superior scheming…but over the course of a long season, the best talent tends to rise to the top.

 

[Fadeproof]

No, Kirby is an elite defensive coach. In 2022 for example, he shut us down when Saban and Alabama, who on paper had as much or more talent didn't. Yes, they've had great players, but great players do not GUARANTEE performance. It's like Michael Jordan had tremendous talent, but what made Jordan what he became, was having not only that talent, but also the highest level of work ethic and competitive spirit. He had both. Defensively UGA has had both under Kirby, they have had great talent, but also great schemes, motivation. Kirby needs someone to handle the offense though, having Todd Monken was gold for him. I think Bobo is better than most people give him credit for, but he's not Monken, that's where they have took a step back.

100%

 

[Oldvoldad]

I think Smart is a great coach & a huge factor in Saban’s success at Alabama. He left a loaded Def roster for Peabrain Pruitt to look like a genius. After the Smart recruits left, Alabama suddenly stopped being the defensive monster & went to outscoring people. That opened them up to upsets by Tennessee, Texas, LSU, etc cause those schools were now scoring 30+ points against them.

The major reason Kirby’s “scheme” has been successful vs Heupel is he’s had the best team & talent of any program in CFB over the last 4 years. Their roster has outnumbered Tennessee’s in NFL draft picks by 3-1 with a large number of their picks being 1st, 2nd & 3rd. Give any great coach that degree of talent advantage & he’s gonna be successful almost 100% of the time. Smart has also controlled the ball heavily in the 2nd half in both games in Athens eliminating any opportunity for the Vols to do much in the 2nd half of those games. Nobody in their right mind gave Tennessee a chance in 2021 (Ga was NC that year) or 2023 (Ga should have won the NC than year except for an injury to Bowers cost them the SECCG)

So his "scheme" is the Jimmy's and Joe's?

 

[DaddyChad]

First of all Kirby is a great defensive mind. And yes he has a lot of talent as well. He also adjusts his guys to the way the refs are calling the game. He starts out physical AF at corner and if the refs allow the DBs to mug the WRs that’s the way Georgia will play it. This allows early hits on the QB and frustrates our WRs

 

[Visidog]

Talent is a lot of it, for sure. But I also think that Smart adapts scheme to his talent to let his team play fast.

By having talented DL and ILB, he’s comfortable playing -1 and sometimes -2 in the box against the run. It hasn’t been perfect: UT has scored on a couple of huge runs over the years, but that’s the risk he’s been willing to take. Everybody in the box is playing run fits first on standard downs.

He plays conservative against the pass, starting out manned up on each WR and a safety on either side over the top. Everybody in the secondary is playing pass first. The throws are there, but they are deep and along the sidelines. Those are really tough throws to make. Safeties can help against the run, but not initially.

In obvious passing downs, he has a couple blitzes that take advantage of Tennessee’s route rules and protection schemes. Specifically, he’ll put two possible rushers on the line in A gap, signaling an overload inside pressure. At the snap, they sprint deep to cover the seams and in-breaking routes. The pressure comes from outside: NB and OLB. These rushers have to get picked up by TEs and RBs, holding them in the protection. The outside WRs are getting “go deep” reads from the defenses leverage, so they aren’t looking for anything quick, and there is inside help anyway. The QB has to hold the ball too long.

I think UT’s new bunch formations and especially its outside-in screen plays will challenge or limit these blitzes.

 

[farmdogvol]

Part of it has been when the plays are there, which isn't often, UT hasn't had the QB make the play. Even in '22 Hooker missed the few chances he had to make plays.

 

[cgrish]

No, Kirby is an elite defensive coach. In 2022 for example, he shut us down when Saban and Alabama, who on paper had as much or more talent didn't. Yes, they've had great players, but great players do not GUARANTEE performance. It's like Michael Jordan had tremendous talent, but what made Jordan what he became, was having not only that talent, but also the highest level of work ethic and competitive spirit. He had both. Defensively UGA has had both under Kirby, they have had great talent, but also great schemes, motivation. Kirby needs someone to handle the offense though, having Todd Monken was gold for him. I think Bobo is better than most people give him credit for, but he's not Monken, that's where they have took a step back.

I agree Kirby is a great defensive coach, but imo he is average to below average as an offensive coach.