Georgia football is preparing for the semifinals against Michigan in Miami for the Orange Bowl on Dec. 31.
While the SEC loss is in the past, some defensive leaders know it’s time to refocus and bounce back.
The defense lost themselves against Alabama, and that was evident, but they’ve had some time to think about things and get back to who they are.
Two Georgia football defenders proved the defense has regrouped for the semifinals.
Travon Walker and Nolan Smith spoke with the media on Tuesday, and both of them were fired up about the Michigan matchup.
Smith said he couldn’t sleep after the SEC Championship and watched film all night. If that statement of his doesn’t tell you how bad this loss was to the team, then find another group to cheer for because it bothered them.
He said that head coach Kirby Smart told them it’s a new season now, while they can appreciate what they did in the regular season, this is a win, you keep going, lose you’re out.
"“It is new life, it is one game and you have to win to advance. I think a lot of guys are ready to work and we are happy that we have this opportunity,” Nolan Smith said on Tuesday. “A lot of people watch Georgia football for a long time and a lot of people didn’t get this opportunity that we have had and now that we have it we have to seize it. I tell the guys every day, ‘let’s just come work. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other one.'”"
Georgia put themselves in this position, and their hard work got them to be 12-1 and No. 3 in the country. One loss doesn’t define them even if the fans continue to dwell on it.
The Dawgs got back to work, they’ve had some time to work on the things that didn’t work. They’ve also got to get healthy after a long season. This break comes at the right time because it’s allowed them to reflect and know they can still accomplish their goal.
Michigan is like looking in the mirror for the Dawgs. They are a big football team that has a stout defense and an offense that loves to run the ball. Georgia cannot overthink this gameplan, and fans should trust that Smart and his staff will play the right people in the right places.
The Dawgs have a staff full of talented coaches who know how to win ballgames, and they will have these guys ready. Plus this team is so self-focused they know what it takes to win. The team leaders have acknowledged their mistakes and I bet they’ve motivated themselves just as much as the coaches have.
"“We just have to go out there and play our ball, our type ball,” Travon Walker said in his interview on Tuesday. “That is just being the most physical team on the field and not wanting anybody to run all over us or do whatever they do. We just want to go out there and play our ball.”"
Walker told media members they were bought into the same mindset that they have been all season even with their defensive coordinator leaving.
Some may believe that could have been a problem since the news broke not a week later, but regardless, this team knows what kind of mindset they should have.
Georgia’s defense is clearly refocused and ready to prove everyone else that the Alabama game was a mishap and that’s it. The Dawgs have a goal and will do whatever it takes to win, trust that.