A Worthy Rival: A Complete Guide to The Kirby Smart Defense Posted by Cameron Soran on February 23, 2021 Plato and Aristotle. We get seven sacks and countless pressures on a Clemson quarterback but refuse to give more than three guys to the rush. I just don't see anybody scoring that much against these guys going forward.". See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. With the right players in a scheme like that, you build impossible defenders, and there is no great way to shortcut a defense built this way. Alabamas DBs played outside leverage technique (this means they were lined up to take away routes that broke towards the sideline) because they had safety help towards the middle of the field. Kirby has seemingly now somewhat lapped his teacher in this regard. Nearly every FBS program has zone-read run concepts and RPOs that they run off of those base packages. We'll look at the GMC Playbook for the fronts, blitz packages, defensive line play, and an in depth look at the coverages. And I believe it is at least part of the reason we have seen the dominant Alabama defense of the past become less so. He filled in for Christopher Smith when he was injured in the Auburn game and led the team in tackles. "They all look the same, and I don't know how many times I could say that about the defenses I've competed against or seen," Beamer said. "That's where it starts, where you build any defense, in the D-line and across the front," Smart told ESPN. With the advent of spread offenses, many teams began . They read your teams alignment. 2023 NFL Draft grades for all 16 NFC teams | NFL Draft | PFF If that explanation somehow didnt scare you off, you can find me there talking Bulldog football at all hours -probably also discussing my belief in the goodness of waffles, why Atlanta sports have ruined my life, as well as frank conversations about the importance of mental health-the latter being often related to the former. Even more amazing, they've had 245 rushing plays attempted against them, and only one of those was for 20 yards or longer, a 23-yard rush with 15 seconds remaining in a 56-7 win over UAB in Week 2. When you have a Saban-style defense with a million plays and variations of plays that each defender must remember/know their assignment for any additional wrinkles that an offense can throw in that equation is going to increase the likelihood that you get burned tenfold. If an opposing coordinator felt they had more of an advantage against Alabamas four-man front than their three-man front they could just stay in certain personnel packages. With second-level defenders flying upfield as blitzers, creating the impression of pressure, quarterbacks are fooled into looking for their hot throws and finding nothing open underneath. Smart mentions that the coaches get weight reports on their players two times a week. They get off blocks in space. I have seen more and more teams using the 4-2-5 style coverage package both with and without 4-2-5 personnel. Running a 5-1 Bear Front vs 2-Back Spread - Substack The No. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. A look at Georgia's 2020 playbook If you are looking for a deep dive into what Todd Monken was calling last season, look no further than this. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. The swarming Georgia defense has dominated all comers so far this season. No more 8 in the box unless your DC is stupid and has a death wish. The Evolution of the Kirby Smart Defense: How The Mint Front Helped UGA And the key to it is as simple as it is devastating: Georgias defensive superiority hinges on demanding perfect, disciplined execution of fundamental skills and elite decision making. Clemson/UGA was the marquee matchup of not only the opening weekend, but perhaps the entire regular season. Cover 0 and rush 6 on 3rd and 20 is something you do on a video game. Defending democracy requires a free civil society - POLITICO Well, not only do you not need a fake an injury in an Oscar-worthy Notre Dame fake eye-gouge performance to slow the game down, but also- more importantly- offensive coordinators cannot game plan to confuse you the way they can with a stack of complicated defensive schemes. They are not really that much of a mismatch when it comes to on-field talent. And because of how Kirby often sets up his coverage to work against a spread offense and the RPO, as I will explain more next time, they often have fewer places to hide. Hayes and Schembechler. The run game cant gash the defense up the middle. This season, if you havent already, pay attention to how many times our players look to the sideline for an individual call. If one of those rushers didnt get to the quarterback quickly it would result in massive plays for the offense. Like most around the NFL, the Eagles offense has a ton of college-based concepts, and borrowing from the Georgia playbook could help speed up the transition for five former Bulldogs that'll see. This took away the wide open running lanes up the middle for quarterbacks. They run so well to the football, and they get there angry. For Kirby Smart, a coach who grew up, played and coached in an era of football tailored toward stopping a two-back offensive philosophy, the spread afforded offenses answers that defensive coaches simply werent prepared for. The contrast from these SEC coaches evaluation of the two programs is interesting. 4-2-5 Resource Guide - BLITZOLOGY DEFENSIVE LINE With the 3-4 front the Bulldogs are installing, this means there will be only three down lineman on the line of scrimmage: a nose tackle and two defensive ends. Beamer was an assistant coach at Georgia in Smart's first two seasons there in 2016 and 2017. In this part of one of a two-part series, I am going to explain how the defensive play structure as a whole demonstrates this UGA defensive mentality. Flexbone Offense Playbook Online | Georgia Tech Swarm As Georgia continues to steamroll its way through the remainder of the regular season and what the Dawgs hope will be their first College Football Playoff appearance since 2017, invariably there will be comparisons between this defense and some of college football's best in recent decades. Tell them what to look for. That has been one of the hallmarks of this Georgia defense. The spread was stressing Smarts defenses. Execute perfectly. This week's FirstDown PlayBook Featured Team is the Georgia Bulldogs defense. northwestern college defensive plays. Triple Option Master Playbook | PDF - Scribd Malik Herring (Sr.) 2. Or are you gonna say piss on that were fixing to find a way to run around him, throw the ball in space Its not the same kind of game. Smaller linebackers play better in space. A creeper, by design, is using a player at the second level (slot corner, inside or outside linebackers) to be the fourth rusher by blitzing from depth. In some designs and out of certain fronts, a traditional-looking rusher can drop out into coverage. But its stale, predictable scheme prevented the program from taking a leap and maximizing its talent when playing against other elites. In that sense, we really dont have fewer plays than a Saban-type defense, but we certainly have telegraphing and delayed processing. It is devastatingly stingy. Also, Saban has almost two completely different playbooks based on whether he is running his base personnel (no nickel player) or his nickel package. Plus, plenty of teams have been and will recruit around UGAs Kirby era level-and yet they havent been able to produce the same level of defensive product in recent years. Lets look at Georgias defense in 2017. This isnt dissimilar from all the picking and twisting youd see in the NFL, and college defenses need these bluff looks to buy enough time for the defensive line twists and slants to work into open areas. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. Yes, defenses across the board give up more points in this modern offensive era- UGA is no stranger to this. Execute consistently at a perfect level. He's 6-6, and we tell him that if he's in the 340s, he's dangerous.". I dont know if Kirby realized he was encapsulating why offensive football has evolved so quickly and uniformly over the last decade with one hypothetical question or not, but he nailed it. This, in my eyes, stands as a direct parallel to the run-pass option and play action on the offensive side of the ball, creating a best-of-both-worlds play call. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). "Both of those offenses at the time were bully offenses, and what a good defense is made up of now is not what a good defense was made up of then," Smart said. He was dismissed from Clemson's team a few months after the conclusion of the 2020 season and has stepped in as Georgia's man coverage specialist. The Bulldogs refer to their Nickel-based Tite Front defense as Mint. They have length. "Because they're so good inside, you want to try to get the ball on the perimeter, but their space guys are great in space," Briles said. Its hard to find people to move those kind of guys.. One of the other effects of the Mint Front is that the alignment of the defensive lineman plays on the spreads reliance on the open B gap bubble found in most defenses. Its really the only real way to beat them, unless youre a Clemson, because you cant win one-on-one matchups. It is a level of defense that is extraordinarily demanding. So, as I settled in with my own pure Duke Mayo induced glee- it occurred to me that this defense was going to be one that would probably be talked about extensively and nationally. The Jack can rush the passer, play the run, or get out and cover the running back on screens and pass routes. You have to be able to give people negative plays to get them behind the sticks. And theyve won the play even before the snap. FirstDown PlayBook Featured Team: Georgia Bulldog Defense I am known fortunately or unfortunately by my presence as the resident tweeter of the life of an exceedingly emotionally unstable, superstitious, Dawg fan. "We're probably averaging playing nine to 10 players for four spots," Smart said. Tanner McKee (QB - Stanford) - 188th. Rock Rubbin, Hill runnin, NIL hatin Clemson. I look forward to JT getting more time with his receivers to know how far to throw those passes going forward. If you beat them, you beat them, but its not that often because a guy was wide open from a misread play, or you get the line to bite and open the wrong way on a run. The Dawgs ranked sixth nationally in both scoring and total defense in 2017, but Beamer said there are a couple of factors that set this defense apart. Daniel is . That may be part of the reason the Dawgs are performing on such a high level is not in addition-but subtraction. But boiled down in simplest terms, the framework rests on the requirement that on their own, players are expected to perform more, recognize more, and adjust more, with less of a safety net than many other programs. So, what to do when the offense isnt making it easy for you to tell your players how to set up? You play soft zone, rush 4, make the tackle, and force a FG attempt. Top recruitin' Clemson. That's how it's going to be on this defense.". So isnt Sabans way much more impressive? The 6-foot-6 Davis was tipping the scales right around 360 pounds for the Arkansas game on Oct. 2, but is now closer to 350, Smart said. He tells a story about going to the NFL Combine when he was coaching for the Miami Dolphins under Nick Saban. College Football Best Bets: NCAA National Championship Georgia vs Here to join in the community talking anything and everything CFB, but especially why every single one of our rivals is embarrassing, worthless, and worthy of our disdain. Year-over-year in SEC play, Georgia improved its TD Rate, 3-and-Out Rate, Explosive Play Rate, and overall Success Rate. The path to a college football title ends in Indianapolis this season, but all roads must go through Athens, Georgia, and the best collection of 11 players in the sport. At first glance Id say yes probably, but in actuality it is apparent how much more lethal Kirbys style of defense can be when executed to the level we saw on Saturday. If the opposing RB stays in to block, the linebacker is going to get a one on one matchup against a back. This may seem a counterintuitive way to paint the theme of our defensive success and growth. OFFENSE PLAYBOOKS The Air Raid Offense is a shotgun spread, pass-first offense designed by Hal Mumme and Mike Leach while they were at the University of Kentucky in the 1990's. These are various College Playbooks Don't let anybody kid you that it's about scheme or anything else, because with offenses being able to run it, pull it or throw it all on the same play now, you better have players who can defend all areas of the grass. Void in ONT. (Learn More) 3-4 Defense Playbook. Unlike Saban, Kirbys defense was made, molded, and forged in the era of spread offenses. Part one of a power point defensive playbook for running the 3-3. You cant. The LB at the top of the line can cover the RB on a route or take him on if he stays into block. "We didn't throw things out. Georgia is taking a page out of Alabama's playbook to build an SEC powerhouse. Smart saw that as a problem. And then in part two Ill explain which specific defensive schemes and positions require higher execution of fundamentals to do more with less. Here he is as the offensive coordinator at Utah, diagraming his base run package and talking about the importance of those B gaps. 2019 Georgia DL Drills - Kirby Smart Playbook - YouTube Nor did Clemsons offensive success begin four years ago. No egos are allowed. He starts by talking about his first years as the defensive coordinator at Alabama. Better? ", How Kirby Smart built a near-perfect defense at Georgia, What's going on at Colorado? The Georgia Bulldogs Playbook: Inside the Huddle for the Greatest Plays in Bulldogs History . Bowl projections and analysis: Where Spartans, Demon Deacons fit in. The Kirby Smart Defense-When Less Is More (Part One) By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Or as Mike Golic Jr. so beautifully stated, pure dementors. Captain Obvious wanted me to remind you that UGA's deep passing really took off once JT Daniels was inserted into the lineup. Try to create gaps.. Void in ONT. Again, because the play is a designed handoff, Georgia gets the effect at the point of attack of rushing five without taking a player out of coverage, allowing the defense to play Cover 3 had it been a pass. Dean, a mechanical engineering major, isn't interested in making any comparisons. "Without him, we would be in a little bit of trouble right now.". (And I dont mean in an ending score that is these days only reserved for middle school girl basketball games.) "We're good at what we do, number one, because we have good players. But he knows the reward. They ran the ball sideline to sideline in an effort to wear out the bigger Alabama defenders and negate OSUs size advantage. One significant way that Kirbys less is more philosophy shows up is in his much smaller defensive playbook. Taking those away while rushing five requires a defense to play man coverage, thus landing a unit right back at square one of the quandary facing Smart and Saban in Alabama. 3rd & 6+ is a passing down for most of college football, and 3rd & 3+ is the marker for most NFL teams. Trust me, itll keep you occupied for a while. Think of the Oregon offenses of the Chip Kelly era. Those linebackers have the advantage filling around the outside lanes against the run. Congratulations to Kirby Smart, Dan Lanning and the entire Georgia coaching staff on the defensive game plan they put together. "We know that. Recruiting is the undeniable, necessary bedrock of its success. Know where a lot of those big holes were? Nobody outside of the coaching world is much interested in hearing the axiom anymore, but a great defense beginning with stopping the run isnt any less true today than it was three decades ago. Until last Saturday, Clemson hadnt failed to score in the first half-since 2010. While they gave up almost 30 yards more per game than in 2021, the 2022 defense was still incredibly good. Hes got a ton of clips to check out, breaking down the playcalling. Kirby Smart is redefining "spread defense" at Georgia Butts take up space, and its easier for linebackers to fill gaps when they can crash behind big butts. "We didn't change our goals, and we're not going to," he said. It's important to distinguish this nickel corner and talk about what makes them special. "In today's game, you can have the two best corners in the world, and people throw the ball well enough and they get you in space that your corners better be able to tackle," Smart said. Instead of heavy. What the Eagles can incorporate from Kirby Smart's defensive scheme at It was like the DB didnt realize the ball had been snapped. They understand what you are doing. In Kirby Smart, they have the coach who has been closest to Nick Saban. "For us, it's really about a more athletic linebacker that has the toughness to tackle backs," Smart said. That's where the depth comes in. Four rushers can turn into five, and if its a run play theres plenty of guys close to the line of scrimmage. Another change that Smart made on defense was that he went from rushing four to rushing three in order to deal with modern quarterbacks who could run when everyone was covered. The last decade (plus) of college football has been a case of trial and error in defending the advent of the spread. Georgia, in particular, uses the Tite Front as their base defense with two hybrids for OLBs (DE/OLB). Monken called less runs from under center or the pistol and the Dawgs RPO Rate nearly doubled against conference opponents. Leave No Doubt. While no one would be foolish enough to claim that any of the Alabama defenses fell short of greatness, it felt that the best offenses were creeping closer to drawing even. But how does this stream-lined approach translate into the defensive success we are seeing now? "You're going to get the same Georgia defense," he said. mastercard - 4-2-5 Defense Senior safety Dan Jackson didn't have a scholarship when he arrived in Athens. The Zone Blitz The zone blitz that many high school teams can use. Also, this. Ppt - 2002 Georgia Military College Defensive Playbook (3-5-3 I think, too often, we discuss offensive innovations without giving much thought to whether a philosophical counterpunch even exists on defense. wow!". With no true front runner for Heisman, the focus was squarely on the dominance on the field in Athens, Georgia. Sorry TigerNet, but this-actually wasnt the starting offense for the Dabo Swinney Rec League for Troubled Youths- Clemson has the fourth most talent rich team in the country. which my good friend and DawgSports guru DawgoutWest wrote up. Additionally, that three man rush can become a four man rush if a clean lane opens up for the spying linebacker to rush the quarterback on a delayed blitz. PPT Georgia Military College Defense - files.leagueathletics.com those are dementors. I think this difference cannot be ignored, and in fact, neither do Saban and Smarts peers. The Evolution of the Kirby Smart Defense: How The Mint Front Helped UGA Solve the Modern Spread, Georgia Bulldogs Jackson, Podlesny Ink Free Agent Deals, Nolan Smith and the No-lose Draft Strategy. From 2009-2013, Smarts defenses ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense every season. Let's be honest, the New Year's Eve games can be fun to have, and it was awesome to profit on both, but those games were pure domination by Georgia and Alabama. During the early Alabama years, Smart and Saban almost always brought five and six rushers on third downs. 44 Stack/Split D High School 4-4 stack/split defense. Civil society organizations (CSOs) are vital to the European Union's efforts in defending democracy. Belichick liked to get behind the defensive lineman when they lined up to run the 40-yard dash. They have and will continue to find NFL jobs for years to come. With one word to the field Dan Lanning sets our guys up for four or five possible offensive scenarios that can be born out of that single word, the players are just the ones that adjust, and execute, to the correct scenario. The 6-foot, 225-pound Dean, who calls the signals from his inside linebacker spot, acknowledges that every team in the SEC can run. Georgia comes one stride short of intercepting a bullet from. Ringo is a bit stiff moving laterally, which may have caused his drop here, but at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds he . Georgia Football - MatchQuarters // #ArtofX 21+ (18+ NH/WY). But this was Clemson. Like his mentor, Smart knew changing course offensively was vital in the never ending arms race that is college football. (yes I know the offense played too, but this is my post, people, I dont have to focus on the things I dont want to). You have to be more disruptive whereas back then I felt like you could out-physical people.". Grading big trades during the NFL draft: Who won the D'Andre Swift deal? Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). The Eagles gave up a 2024 4 th to move up one spot to draft the best player . For years, Gary Patterson laid claim to the most flexible defense in the sport, Brent Venables current tenure peaked as what looked to be the Alabama antidote, Pat Narduzzis old-school Cover 4 helped build Michigan State into a contender and Bud Foster was all but guaranteed to kick dust in the eyes of an ACC championship hopeful.