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Rough patches part of process for first-year coaches, including Kirby Smart
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For the first time in 15 years, Georgia’s football program is undergoing a major transition. After more than a decade of stability under Mark Richt, the Bulldogs are working to build a new identity with new expectations in an attempt to reach new heights.
Change does not happen immediately, and it can sometimes be hard to track. As Kirby Smart continues his first season as Georgia’s head coach, there have been constant reminders that even his mentor Nick Saban had a 7-6 season to begin his Alabama career and Richt led the Bulldogs to an 8-4 record in 2001.
Unlike the NFL, there is no free agency in college football. Rosters are turned over one recruiting class at a time. And while some Georgia fans are quick to point out how Smart is working with a roster constructed from highly-ranked recruiting classes with 4- and 5-star prospects, change isn’t as black and white as that.
Over time, a roster changes to reflect the identity and values of its coaching staff. Richt’s Bulldogs were often full of talented skill players, polished quarterbacks and pass-rushing linebackers. Even in his best years, fans expressed concern about finding consistent excellence in the trenches.
Upon arriving in Athens, one of the first evaluations Smart made of his new team was that they lacked size and depth on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Coming from a program full of NFL talent on the offensive and defensive lines, this is the first problem Smart seeks to fix on the recruiting trail.
There is a reason college coaches are often awarded a few years of patience. Although some implement schemes that can make use of a wide variety of skill sets, that isn’t what Georgia brought Smart here to do.
Smart was brought to Athens in an attempt to fashion the Bulldogs into a juggernaut like the one he left behind. But Alabama doesn’t win simply because of a better game plan, although Saban is one of the best in-game coaches of all time; it wins with superior size, speed and talent at nearly every position.
Winning with a new roster can take time, depending on the players a coach inherits and his ultimate vision for the team’s identity.
Fans will point to Jim McElwain’s success in his first season at Florida and exclaim that a division title should be expected even from the beginning. But McElwain, who is an offensive mastermind, had arguably the SEC’s top defense already in place and helped the Gators score enough points to win.
In his second season, McElwain’s offense is taking a small step forward and his defense is taking a small step back. By next year, that roster will have his fingerprints all over it and there’s no telling what strengths and weaknesses Florida will have.
Georgia didn’t have an elite defense for Smart to inherit. The Bulldogs’ best player was coming off a devastating knee injury and the best quarterback was a true freshman.
Judgment on Smart’s ability to build a team will have to wait, but fans can still evaluate other aspects of his influence as a coach. After Saturday’s loss to Tennessee, Smart preached about Georgia’s lack of discipline. As the season continues, the Bulldogs’ level of discipline can serve as a measuring tool for their head coach.
“I really believe they won this game because they were more disciplined than we were,” Smart told reporters after the loss. “And undisciplined players, undisciplined decisions, will get you beat. We had some undisciplined penalties that cost us.”
The Bulldogs had eight penalties for 44 yards against the Vols, including five within the final three minutes. Mistakes down the stretch arguably cost Georgia the game, and Smart’s ability to improve his team’s mental awareness should be under the microscope.
Smart has stated time and again that he and his coaching staff have challenged the players to play with greater effort, technique and discipline. Those are qualities that nearly every great team has, and Smart ought to know that better than everyone. They are also qualities that aren’t directly bound to a player’s talent level; anyone can give great effort, play with good technique or have discipline.
Georgia plays several young players at critical points of the game, which is going to lead to mistakes. As they grow and learn, these experiences should benefit the program in the future. It’s up to Smart and his coaching staff, however, to make sure they coach the right lessons from these learning moments.
With an average of 6.2 penalties per game, Georgia is coincidentally tied with Alabama at No. 63 among FBS teams. If that number improves as the season wears on, it will reflect well on Smart’s ability to instill discipline in his team. If not, and the Bulldogs continue to make undisciplined mistakes, then other questions will be asked.
Georgia’s toughest two-game stretch is behind it. Outside of Florida, there shouldn’t be a team that is more talented than Smart’s. Starting now, it’s time to see how his style and message affect the Bulldogs’ performance.
Building the right roster can take some time, but a team’s attitude and focus are qualities that provide short-term feedback on a transitioning program.
William McFadden covers the University of Georgia for Saturday Down South. For news on everything happening between the hedges, follow him on Twitter @willmcfadden.
