How Kirby Smart took Georgia Football to the No.1 ranking

It all starts with the defense:

It probably shouldn’t shock anyone, but Georgia is a defense-first team. Kirby is a defensive guy who has spent years perfecting that side of the ball. He climbed the ranks of Nick Saban’s teams and eventually became one of the top defensive coordinators in the nation. His team was always going to have a defensive mentality.

While the team returned 10 starters on D this year, I don’t think anyone expected them to be quite this good. Several of the players have taken their play to a whole new level. Davin Bellamy and Lorenzo Carter have become two of the best OLB’s in the SEC. Roquan Smith might just be the best linebacker in the entire country. DeAndre Baker looks like a legitimate corner who may get drafted.

But this is not a ‘star’ led unit. What makes them so good is their depth and their understanding of what Mel Tucker wants them to do. Guys like Jonathan Ledbetter and John Atkins are routinely doing their job and shutting down the run. Tyler Clark and David Marshall have grown in their sophomore year. JR Reed and Tyreke McGee are earning playing time and making an impact. These are not household names but they are all making a big contribution to the team’s success.

Right now, this unit has shown time and again that it can stop almost anyone. Notre Dame has run up points on everyone but Georgia. Mississippi State has steamrolled plenty of teams, but put up only 3 against UGA. This unit is why and it gives Georgia a huge chance to have a special season.