College Football

Georgia Football: Assessment of Kirby Smart's First Season

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:46 a.m. ET

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Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart is shown on the sideline during the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Georgia won 33-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The Georgia football program had a rocky year under first year coach Kirby Smart, but how much of the Bulldogs’ troubles can be placed on his shoulders?

Three regular season losses. That’s what most prognosticators and experts were seeing for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2016. If Mark Richt could coach this raggedy bunch to a 9-3 mark in the regular season, then surely Kirby Smart could match that total with a much easier schedule (aka: no Alabama).

Yet here Georgia sits at the end of the 2016 regular season with a 7-5 mark, and losses to three of its four biggest rivals – only the minor upset win over Auburn keeping the Dawgs from shooting blanks in the must-win games.

A win in a bowl game will matter very little to Georgia, because they’ll undoubtedly play in a bowl game that doesn’t really matter against a team who may or may not matter to fans.

There are arguments to be made that Kirby Smart was in a no-win situation in his first year (as are many new head coaches). He had to make due with what was left by Richt; he had to assemble a new coaching staff; and he had to (as he so eloquently put it) “turn the ship” in a new direction.

Granted, Mark Richt left his successor with some problems, but he also left him with a lot of talent. Regardless of how much stock you place in recruiting rankings, Georgia has some horses that many teams in the nation coveted, and still do covet (yes, that means Georgia fans should beware of a transfer exodus).

Is 7-5 an acceptable record given the circumstances? It’s all in how you look at it. It’s a glass half full/glass half empty kind of thing.

Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) catches a game winning touchdown pass in front of Georgia Bulldogs safety Dominick Sanders (24) on the last play on the game during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Is The Glass Half Empty?

Starting with the half empty side of things, Georgia lost (and nearly lost) games they had no business losing or even keeping close. The five losses:

Ole Miss: 45-14
Tennessee: 34-31
Vanderbilt: 17-16
Florida: 24-10
Georgia Tech: 28-17

And technically, you could probably count the 26-24 “win” over FCS Nicholls State as a loss if you felt like being ugly about it.

Of that list, the only loss (in retrospect) which really looks to be understandable is the Florida game. Georgia had an inept offense and was going up against arguably one of the best defenses in the nation. A 24-10 loss there can be explained away.

The loss to Tennessee was a last second hail mary pass victory for the Vols, but it was Georgia’s game to win. Once again, they relaxed their grip on a lead over the Vols and let them back in the game, giving up 20 fourth quarter points.

Ole Miss was playing good football at the time they met Georgia, but there was no excuse for the Bulldogs to fall behind 31-0 to the Rebels. It’s clear that Rebel team was nowhere near what was believed to be, with or without Chad Kelly.

Vanderbilt played well enough to become bowl eligible this year. Still, losing at home to the Commodores (on Homecoming weekend no less) can’t happen in the SEC. Georgia had a shot at the win, but didn’t run with their best horse when they had the chance.

To close out the season, Georgia allowed Georgia Tech to come back from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit, once again letting victory fade in the last period of the game.

Each of those losses – Florida notwithstanding – can be traced back to coaching issues, whether it be play calling or personnel – the UGA coaches failed.

Nov 12, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Auburn 13-7. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe It’s Half Full

Georgia fans can take at least a little comfort in the fact that their young team – led by true freshman quarterback Jacob Eason– was three plays away from a 10-2 regular season finish.

Eliminate the Tennessee hail mary, the poor play-call on 4th and 1 from the Vanderbilt 41 as time was running out, and the inexplicable pass play which led to a Georgia Tech interception, and suddenly the Dawgs are SEC East champs and heading to Atlanta to be offered up as sacrifice to the Saban-god.

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Unfortunately, at present, Georgia fans are not in possession of a DeLorean, a flux capacitor or any plutonium reserves on campus. Those bells have all been rung, and there’s no way to un-ring them.

The way Georgia handled ranked teams like North Carolina and Auburn this season should give some hope. These were well executed, well coached games where Georgia played up to their potential against quality opponents.

You can’t live on “what ifs” when it comes to college football, but you can hope that even some small improvements will push this team to making the plays needed in similar situations mentioned above, and that coaches learn from their mistakes.

Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs offensive cordinator Jim Chaney talks with quarterback Jacob Eason (10) on the sideline during the third quarter of the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

What Were Kirby Smart and Hist Staff Supposed to Fix?

Kirby Smart knew what he was inheriting when he arrived at Georgia. He had faced the Bulldogs just the year before as Alabama’s defensive coordinator, and was quite familiar with his new team’s strengths and flaws.

Smart and his staff new the offensive line lacked size and the ability to get any push at the point of attack. It was also clear very early on that pass protection was going to be an issue.

Instead of insisting on continuously running through the tackles and putting all the burden of success on Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, and having a true freshman play sitting-duck in the pocket, a new approach was needed.

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The coaches should have worked on ways to get the offensive line moving. Use zone blocking schemes and pull guards and tackles to block on toss-sweep plays. Use Eason’s young legs to move the pocket or run naked bootlegs to get the ball in the hands of his talented running backs.

Smart also knew his wide receivers lacked the size and speed to make the vertical passing game effective. There should have been much more work done on screen plays and having tight ends release in the flat. This was unimaginative play-calling at its worst this season for the Dawgs.

But Kirby Smart’s biggest challenge was to get this team to play more disciplined football. Bad penalties and loss of control had been hallmarks of Richt’s final years as head coach, and Smart even eluded to fixing this issue before the season began.

Georgia was penalized an average of 41.8 yards per game, good for 16th nationally, and only a slight improvement over the 45.5 penalty yards per game in 2015. In the losses to Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt the Bulldogs were penalized eight times per game for an average of 50 yards per game.

But more than the yardage itself, penalties are judged by when they occur and what the nature of the foul is. Holding calls at inopportune times and costly personal fouls were still far too frequent, and helped cost Georgia some games this season.

Nov 26, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Qua Searcy (1) jumps for the go ahead touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Georgia Tech defeated Georgia 28-27. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Trust The Process, Or Time to Worry?

It’s hard to judge any coach by his first season on the job. Kirby Smart’s supporters will point to the fact that Nick Saban was 6-6 in his first regular season at Alabama, including a home loss to Louisiana-Lafayette.

On the other hand, those who are already nervous will look at Mark Richt’s first year in Athens – an 8-3 regular season finish with what would be considered less talent – and wonder if Georgia hadn’t rushed the decision to hire Smart.

For now, the Bulldog Nation will have to take a wait-and-see attitude. Smart will have his first full recruiting season this year, and that will tell a lot. How he handles any potential changes on the coaching staff (ahem…polish the resume, Jim Chaney) will also be a good indicator. One of Mark Richt’s biggest flaws was showing far too much loyalty to staff choices who were failing.

This wasn’t necessarily a tell-tale season for Smart and the Bulldogs, but there’s enough evidence to show that at least a little concern is warranted.