Kirby Smart shares the main difference for Georgia this year and it's fantastic

It can be argued that Kirby Smart has done his best coaching job to date with the Georgia Bulldogs this season. The Bulldogs' defense, which had been a staple of Smart's during his decade-long tenure in Athens, needed time to grow this year.

The pass rush, or lack thereof, was getting much of the attention, but the run defense also needed to improve. That improvement is what Smart believes could be the major factor in Georgia making a run for a third CFP championship this decade. 

"We’ve run the ball and stopped the run better. And I said, ‘Why have we done that?’ And they said, ‘Well, we made it a point of emphasis, coach… And I don’t know if we thought that was a given last year, but we didn’t really earn that,'” Smart said. “And this group has earned it, and they’ve practiced really well.”

The end result of Georgia's improved run defense was on display two weeks ago in the SEC Championship game when the Bulldogs held Alabama to minus-3 yards rushing. It was a level of physical dominance that is rarely seen against the Crimson Tide. 

The confidence is growing in Athens

Smart explains to David Pollack how he challenged his defensive coaches and how they challenged themselves to identify ways to improve the defense and identify the players that could help them accomplish that. 

"We had some games where we didn't perform well, so we knew we could do better," Smart added. "But we had to make some adjustments. I think [defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann] and the defensive staff kind of looked inside themselves and said, 'Okay, what do we do well? What can we do well? Who do we have on the sideline that we're not using that can get better and grow?" Smart added.

This is the kind of coaching that can result in more championships. Smart, Schumann and the Georgia coaching staff never stop trying to improve. Instead of allowing an inconsistent pass rush or run defense to be acceptable, they look for ways to make it better. They are willing to adjust a scheme or change personnel if that will make a difference. 

It's what Smart demands of himself, it's what he demands of his coaches and the players have responded.