Has Kirby Peaked at Ga?

[Vol$_Deep_11_9]

Georgia basically hired the same dude they fired. Richt had identical numbers through his first few seasons. I would argue Richt was better. Richt was winning the conference and games when Tennessee and Florida was good, even Carolina was decent. Kirby has made a living off a weak East division. Is he recruiting great talent, sure he is, but he’s done nothing more with it than what Richt would have IMO

 

[05_never_again]

Georgia basically hired the same dude they fired. Richt had identical numbers through his first few seasons. I would argue Richt was better. Richt was winning the conference and games when Tennessee and Florida was good, even Carolina was decent. Kirby has made a living off a weak East division. Is he recruiting great talent, sure he is, but he’s done nothing more with it than what Richt would have IMO

The question with Kirby right now has to be is he going to drop off like Richt did. You're quite right to say the first 4 years are very similar. 2001-05 Richt wasn't the same as 2006-15 Richt. In Richt's first 5 years, Georgia finished in the top 10 4 times and won the SEC twice. In his final 10 years, he finished in the top 10 3 times, finished unranked 4 times, and failed to win the SEC. If Kirby continues to emulate Richt, then we've already seen the best Kirby has to offer, and remember it is basically impossible to recruit better than he already has. Georgia will never be more talented than they are right now.

Ultimately, they won't fire him if he's able to win the SEC and make the CFP once every couple years, even if he doesn't win it all. They will be discontent and grumbling, but when they put their finger on the trigger ultimately they'll realize how crazy it would be to fire a coach who has a consistent top 10 program and makes the CFP once every 2-3 years. If he goes too long without winning the SEC (and therefore doesn't make the playoff), yes, they'll usher him out.

 

[Gatornator]

If he's peaked, I like the place he has the Dawgs. Won the conference once, the division twice (and likely thus year), defeated the Heisman trophy winner's team in the Rose bowl, played for the Natty once taking the eventual champion to OT....yep no doubt he's peaked. Feel sorry for Dawg fan.

BS Richt was not fired because he can't "win" games. He was fired because....

....1980.

If Kirby can't bring in a National Championship with the talent he has, he failed miserably.

 

[05_never_again]

BS Richt was not fired because he can't "win" games. He was fired because....

....1980.

If Kirby can't bring in a National Championship with the talent he has, he failed miserably.

I wouldn't go that far. Kirby will have failed if he can't deliver SEC titles and/or CFP appearances on a fairly regular basis. Eventually, he needs to beat Saban once.

Saying that a HC is a failure if they don't win a title is a really strong statement to make no matter how well they recruit, because at any given time there will be 2-3 other schools that are similar to you in talent, and you'll have to beat at least one of them to win a title. Richt wasn't fired because he never won a title - he was fired because he didn't win enough big games and he didn't have a shot to win the SEC enough later in his tenure.

So far, Kirby really only has the one inexcusable loss (South Carolina this year), and he missed out on a 2nd SEC title because of some questionable in-game decisions.

 

[Roustabout]

Just some food for thought. Kirby cannot recruit at a higher level than he has the last 3 years. He has all of “his guys” in place. It will become harder to recruit with regional recruiting rivals as Clemson, Florida , and (fingers crossed) Tennessee on the rise. His window is quickly closing to cakewalk through the SEC East. Half the West is proving to be at on the level of GA. He has had 3 years to improve as an in game coach and has done little to prove he has learned much of anything. Just my two cents.

UGA is still in position to win the SEC.

Good grief.

 

[Jax_Vol]

I wouldn't go that far. Kirby will have failed if he can't deliver SEC titles and/or CFP appearances on a fairly regular basis. Eventually, he needs to beat Saban once.

Saying that a HC is a failure if they don't win a title is a really strong statement to make no matter how well they recruit, because at any given time there will be 2-3 other schools that are similar to you in talent, and you'll have to beat at least one of them to win a title. Richt wasn't fired because he never won a title - he was fired because he didn't win enough big games and he didn't have a shot to win the SEC enough later in his tenure.

So far, Kirby really only has the one inexcusable loss (South Carolina this year), and he missed out on a 2nd SEC title because of some questionable in-game decisions.

I'm "challenging" that last comment....let us go to the tape for a review.

 

[05_never_again]

I'm "challenging" that last comment....let us go to the tape for a review.

You're challenging the notion that the fake punt was a questionable in-game decision?

 

[Firebirdparts]

If you're playing overtime in the NC game, yes, you've peaked. It goes without saying.

 

[Firebirdparts]

I'm "challenging" that last comment....let us go to the tape for a review.

They lose either way.

 

[Jax_Vol]

You're challenging the notion that the fake punt was a questionable in-game decision?

So, what all are you including in some "questionable" coaching...?

 

[05_never_again]

So, what all are you including in some "questionable" coaching...?

Nothing from his first year - that team was talented, but he's still installing his systems and what he wants to do.

The only real in-game coaching decisions I'd question were in both games against Alabama, the fake punt being the most egregious. I specifically said he missed out on a 2nd SEC title and 2nd CFP appearance because of in-game coaching. I know we're talking about Saban, but Kirby has blown multiple multi-possession leads both times he's played him. He got out-coached and out-adjusted at halftime. You can't totally absolve Kirby by saying "...but he lost to Saban" though. Dabo has played him 4 times and found a way to get it done twice, including blowing him out last year.

There's also been a couple of losses where they just got their doors blown off - 2017 Auburn (regular season game) and 2018 LSU. He atoned for the Auburn loss by blowing them out in the SECCG that year. I don't think Georgia was really all that interested in playing in the Sugar Bowl last year or against South Carolina this year. Kirby's decision to get more yards and not kick the FG with 7-8 seconds left against South Carolina with no timeouts was also stupid. They ended up getting a penalty and moving backwards, having to resort to the Hail Mary, which they didn't even get off.

 

[tbh]

If UGA fires Kurbee Smort, will he go back to starring in Dr. Pepper commercials?

 

[Remy]

UGA opening as a 6-point favorite.

You guys will destroy them. I don't see UGA giving you a ballgame. Then TA&M tanks them. Kirby's seat is a little warm next year. Their OC is not going to get miraculously better and Fromm cannot carry a team, their rushing game is great but so is your rushing defense. Not sure they've played anybody better than the gators this year, the gators in turn have played a better team in LSU. They smell that out and dominate the dawgs at Jville this year IMO.

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

If UGA fires Kurbee Smort, will he go back to starring in Dr. Pepper commercials?

If UGA fires Smart for not winning ( they wont ), he could have a new job at at least 7 other SEC schools in less than an hour. Fulmer would fire Pruitt to get him.

 

[Gatornator]

I wouldn't go that far. Kirby will have failed if he can't deliver SEC titles and/or CFP appearances on a fairly regular basis. Eventually, he needs to beat Saban once.

Saying that a HC is a failure if they don't win a title is a really strong statement to make no matter how well they recruit, because at any given time there will be 2-3 other schools that are similar to you in talent, and you'll have to beat at least one of them to win a title. Richt wasn't fired because he never won a title - he was fired because he didn't win enough big games and he didn't have a shot to win the SEC enough later in his tenure.

So far, Kirby really only has the one inexcusable loss (South Carolina this year), and he missed out on a 2nd SEC title because of some questionable in-game decisions.

He lost to Alabama twice because of his dumbass in game decisions. Both inexcusable. Elite coaches win those games with the kind of talent Georgia has. Its that simple.

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

He lost to Alabama twice because of his dumbass in game decisions. Both inexcusable. Elite coaches win those games with the kind of talent Georgia has. Its that simple.

Which in game decisions are you talking about? Coaching his defense up to stop Jalen Hurts so that Saban would introduce the world to Tua? Or a fake punt late in the game that didn't look so sporty. If I remember correctly, the GOAT pulled something similar in the Natty vs Clemson. Is he no longer elite? Smart's teams
have schooled the Gators of late, running your previous coach out of the conference. And the Gators talent has not been too shabby either. If Dawgs lose Saturday, then hats off to the Gators. But come on, youre writing off Kirby 3 1/2 years into his tenure? UGA is the only East team to win the conference in the last decade. The Dawgs havent been a part of the coaching churn that all the other East teams have experienced the last 15 years. I guess the new norm is if you don't win the Natty in 3 years, fire 'em?

 

[Vfl2407]

UGA opening as a 6-point favorite.

Ok. I’m only going to say this once...and realize it’s only because I absolutely loathe UGA and we recruit more directly against them. So....
Go gat.....I can’t seem to finish it...but let’s just say I want your team to score more points Saturday in Jacksonville.

 

[GVF]

Kirby is a good coach def a better recruiter. I have my doubts on his in game decision making especially in big games though. Georgia despite that bad loss to SC East still controls their destiny they win out and win the SEC and they will be back in the playoff.

GA will have to win the SEC to go to the CFP. We trounced the mediocre team they beat UGA with. Not a good look for UGA. But, some others have fallen, so they might still get some cred. Being a fairly mid-season game it may wash to the back of voters memories. but, they will need a strong and decisive whipping of UF to help that along.

 

[Gatornator]

Which in game decisions are you talking about? Coaching his defense up to stop Jalen Hurts so that Saban would introduce the world to Tua? Or a fake punt late in the game that didn't look so sporty. If I remember correctly, the GOAT pulled something similar in the Natty vs Clemson. Is he no longer elite? Smart's teams
have schooled the Gators of late, running your previous coach out of the conference. And the Gators talent has not been too shabby either. If Dawgs lose Saturday, then hats off to the Gators. But come on, youre writing off Kirby 3 1/2 years into his tenure? UGA is the only East team to win the conference in the last decade. The Dawgs havent been a part of the coaching churn that all the other East teams have experienced the last 15 years. I guess the new norm is if you don't win the Natty in 3 years, fire 'em?

The fact that the general feeling going into this game next Saturday that it is a 50/50 chance going either way is an embarrassment. Georgia is the 3rd most talented team in the country. They have 14 5 stars and 45 four stars. Florida has 1 five star that is not even eligible this year, and 38 four stars. The talent difference is huge. An elite coach would not have a program stacked with so much talent barely beating teams with much lower talent. Florida should be going into this with absolutely no chance of winning, like UT going into a game against Alabama, yet we can all agree that they somehow do stand a good chance if winning.

The only thing that makes up for that difference is how well of a coaching job Mullen is doing and how terrible of a job Kirby is doing. Now granted Mullen is doing marginally better at recruiting than the last two disasters we had, but still he is to blame for the lower talent he is getting. If Mullen can't bring in better talent, he will end up in the same category, a coach that can win many games but rarely win anything meaningful.

You wanna know why Kirby is not the answer? Just watch the ND game this year, or the USCe game. Its not just one terrible 4rth down call against Alabama. He just cannot pull out close games. USCe was not a fluke this year. He will keep choking in big games over and over again.

 

[golfballs]

Just some food for thought. Kirby cannot recruit at a higher level than he has the last 3 years. He has all of “his guys” in place. It will become harder to recruit with regional recruiting rivals as Clemson, Florida , and (fingers crossed) Tennessee on the rise. His window is quickly closing to cakewalk through the SEC East. Half the West is proving to be at on the level of GA. He has had 3 years to improve as an in game coach and has done little to prove he has learned much of anything. Just my two cents.

 

[golfballs]

I think Kirby Smart is kind of an idiot. Georgia fans like everyone else in the SEC don’t have much patience. He’ll win a lot of games but will keep falling short of their expectations. Dan Mullen will ultimately get the better of him in the East and he’ll be run out of town.

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

The fact that the general feeling going into this game next Saturday that it is a 50/50 chance going either way is an embarrassment. Georgia is the 3rd most talented team in the country. They have 14 5 stars and 45 four stars. Florida has 1 five star that is not even eligible this year, and 38 four stars. The talent difference is huge. An elite coach would not have a program stacked with so much talent barely beating teams with much lower talent. Florida should be going into this with absolutely no chance of winning, like UT going into a game against Alabama, yet we can all agree that they somehow do stand a good chance if winning.

The only thing that makes up for that difference is how well of a coaching job Mullen is doing and how terrible of a job Kirby is doing. Now granted Mullen is doing marginally better at recruiting than the last two disasters we had, but still he is to blame for the lower talent he is getting. If Mullen can't bring in better talent, he will end up in the same category, a coach that can win many games but rarely win anything meaningful.

You wanna know why Kirby is not the answer? Just watch the ND game this year, or the USCe game. Its not just one terrible 4rth down call against Alabama. He just cannot pull out close games. USCe was not a fluke this year. He will keep choking in big games over and over again.

Ok Prognosticator. We will agree to disagree. Only time will tell. But Finebaum said Kirby will win One soon....

 

[Gatornator]

Ok Prognosticator. We will agree to disagree. Only time will tell. But Finebaum said Kirby will win One soon....

Oh ok. I take it all back. If Bama-is-gonna-destroy-Clemson Finebaum said it I suppose teams should stop suiting up for games and just hand a NC to Kirby...

 

[Model12]

I hate georgia.

That is all.

 

[Jax_Vol]

The fact that the general feeling going into this game next Saturday that it is a 50/50 chance going either way is an embarrassment. Georgia is the 3rd most talented team in the country. They have 14 5 stars and 45 four stars. Florida has 1 five star that is not even eligible this year, and 38 four stars. The talent difference is huge. An elite coach would not have a program stacked with so much talent barely beating teams with much lower talent. Florida should be going into this with absolutely no chance of winning, like UT going into a game against Alabama, yet we can all agree that they somehow do stand a good chance if winning.

The only thing that makes up for that difference is how well of a coaching job Mullen is doing and how terrible of a job Kirby is doing. Now granted Mullen is doing marginally better at recruiting than the last two disasters we had, but still he is to blame for the lower talent he is getting. If Mullen can't bring in better talent, he will end up in the same category, a coach that can win many games but rarely win anything meaningful.

You wanna know why Kirby is not the answer? Just watch the ND game this year, or the USCe game. Its not just one terrible 4rth down call against Alabama. He just cannot pull out close games. USCe was not a fluke this year. He will keep choking in big games over and over again.

Can Mullen not recruit because everyone thinks he looks like Cousin Eddie?