The Plainsman thanks Michael Hebert and the Red and Black for their contribution of Georgia's transcript.
ATHENS, Ga. — University of Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart, along with several players, previewed Saturday’s game against Auburn. They offered the following comments during Monday’s media session.
Head Coach Kirby Smart
Opening comments …
“Open up, we're moving on to Auburn, who we have tremendous respect for. Gus (Malzahn) does a great job with them in practice. Obviously, it's the first time in a long time, probably ever, that we've played them three times, in what really amounts to a calendar year. And these guys have a good football team. When you look at them defensively, they're loaded up front. They've got a lot of big guys. They've got a lot of players who play a lot of snaps. I mean they're experienced across the board.
On their defensive unit, it seems like every guy has been there for three years and played a significant role. And then offensively, I think every time you play one of Gus's offenses, it's time consuming. It's frustrating. He does a lot of misdirections. They come right at you and hit you in the mouth like they did last year. They've got really good skill players to take shots with, and they do a great job on special teams, always have. So it'll be a tremendous challenge for our guys, as they move on from the Kentucky game into this game, and I know our players and our coaches have a lot of respect for the way Auburn plays the game.
On if there is still motivation from last year’s regular season game against Auburn …
“It's a rivalry game. I mean so many of our kids were recruited by them and so many vice versa. It's always a rivalry game, and I think that a big part of that is being at your best when your best is needed. And that's the challenge for our guys. We're playing at home, at night, in our stadium, which I think is really important to our fans, important to our players to protect our home turf, and we want to put our best effort forward. And certainly going to have to with the challenge they present, because they've got a lot of good football players.”
On the extent of celebration for winning the SEC East …
“Yeah, that's not a case for us. I mean obviously the locker room, guys were fired up. Guys were excited. I mean I think anytime you play another top-10 team and you have a big win, it's something to get excited about. These guys worked really hard for a long time. So being able to enjoy that moment and that big game for the trip home, and then Sunday we move on. And it's onto Auburn, who's got a really good football team. They get your attention the minute you turn the tape on because they've got an experienced quarterback. He's got an elite arm. They've got a lot of really good wideouts. They're talented, fast, extremely fast. And they've got a defense that's been there forever. So I mean there's not anybody on our team that's going to be worrying about anything but Auburn because that's the next task at hand. That's what we have to be focused on. Our goal is to play the next team, whoever the next team is, and we don't try to have real big highs and no real lows. We want to stay right neutral in the middle.”
On the importance of winning time of possession against Auburn…
"I think it goes back and forth. I think it's a lot about what kind of team you are. If you have depth defensively, and you think you can withstand those drives, the most important thing becomes ‘Can I get off the field on third down?’ And the Auburn teams have been different over the years, too. They've had really fast-scoring ones. They've had some long, methodical teams that go on long drives. It's a lot more important what we do, than what they do, and we have to go execute regardless of what they do. They've got some up-tempo stuff, and they do a really good job of it, and you have to go out execute them. You have to go out and be able to play fast, and your kids have to be able to line up. It's what everybody in college football works on now in the offseason to get ready for."
On the principles that Auburn has consistently done well under head coach Gus Malzahn…
"Physical. Being able to run the ball. I mean people think it's all sideways, and when they've had elite backs, they've really run it well. When they've had elite quarterbacks, they've really run it well. They've got more wideouts now than I remember them having as far as vertical threats and guys that can run and throw the ball down the field and a quarterback that can get the ball to them. I’ve got a lot of respect for the job he does, and they've always created a lot of problems because of the tempo and because of the window dressing, and they do all that, but they still run the ball at you."
#13 Elijah Holyfield | Jr. | TB
On being motivated by last year’s loss to Auburn…
“We have enough motivation with what we have going this year. We have a chance to play for many more things down the road and we are just looking forward to playing the game Saturday against a good team, executing and playing our best.”
On playing a team like Auburn that you have so much familiarity with…
“It helps a lot, you know we are very familiar with them. We play them every year and we played them twice last year. We are very familiar with the team and we are looking forward to a good game.”
#13 Jonathan Ledbetter | Sr. | DE
On facing Auburn’s high-tempo offense and controlling time of possession…
“If you control the ball, you control the game. They’ve got a really fast team and when they get going in the groove, it can hurt a lot of teams, people get tired. They’ve got a lot of defenses that aren’t lined up. You have to be able to stay ready and sustain during times like that. [Time of possession] is definitely crucial. If our offense can stay on the field longer, control the ballgame, they have less time with the ball and we can limit that. If we’re getting three-and-out’s, that means the game is flowing how it needs to be.”
On focusing on the next game knowing the team is playing in the SEC Championship …
“Our main goal this week is to focus on Auburn. We clinched the East, that’s great, now it’s back to work, it’s now Monday, and we’re back to the drawing board ready for this week. We’re not worried about anything down the line except Auburn.”
On the familiarity of facing Auburn for the third time in a calendar year…
“You’ve got two good football teams playing against each other, competing and playing their hearts out. It’s a physical game, always. It’s one of my favorite games of the season so I’m looking forward to it. I’m always looking forward to a challenge.”
#71 Andrew Thomas | So. | OL
On challenges of Auburn defensive line…
“I know for a fact every year that their front seven is very talented, very physical, and we have to run the ball to win the game, so we’ll be working on that.”
On avoiding a slip-up game …
“Every week we have to come with the same approach. When you become lackadaisical that is when you slip-up as a team. We are working to get better, because we have to win out the rest of the way to be where we want to be.”
#20 JR Reed | Jr. | DB
On Auburn’s offense and importance of tempo…
“There will be a big emphasis this week to handle the tempo on first and second down, because when those guys get third-and-short that is when they like to go really fast…It will be very important this week to communicate well and also watch a lot of film to understand what types of movements and shifts that they do and what our checks will be in and out of those shifts.”
On celebration of SEC East Championship…
“There was a little celebration but we know that winning the East doesn’t mean that much. Winning the East two times in a row is nice, but it is now on to Auburn and the next team after that. We just have to be where our feet are.”
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
