Kirby Smart gets asked again to compare Georgia 2021 defense to Alabama in 2011

Kirby Smart is one of many former assistants of Alabama head coach Nick Saban who is now a peer of the Crimson Tide headman. However, every now and then, a question comes along that brings the Georgia Bulldogs head coach back to the days as an assistant to Saban. And after the Bulldogs’ spring game, G-day, one reporter’s question did just that.

After the game on Saturday, Smart was asked about comparing the Bulldogs’ 2021 defense to that of the 2011 Alabama defense, again.

“Other than I’m trying to replace all those guys. The last thing I’m thinking about is where they stack up against the ’11 Bama defense. I’ve got issues — duty that lies nearest, that’s at the bottom. So I’m really trying to conclude where they stack in relation to those guys as much as I am replacing those guys. It takes a full day’s work by our defensive staff to replace what’s leaving here, and we’re trying as fast as we can because we have some talented players on defense, they just don’t have experience, guys,” said Smart.

“You cannot put a price tag on experience. We don’t is enough guys with experience, so what do you got to do? You’ve got to get them experience. You’ve got to go play in scrimmages, you’ve got to play in an environment like today, so our kids will grow from this. We’re just very fortunate that we don’t have a 15th practice, we have a 15th game. So I get to see how they react to giving up a play. But I can’t compare those two defenses. “

As an engineer of both national championship-winning defenses, Smart can pat himself on the back for both units’ performances in their respective seasons. Both teams dominated defensively on their way to the national championship. And both had to overcome a loss to one of their rivals along the way to completing their historic runs. While many would love to compare the two defensive units, the jury is still out on how the Georgia Bulldogs stars will fare at the next level and where they will go in this year’s NFL draft. But for now, we can agree that coach Smart has been the mastermind behind arguably two of the greatest defensive seasons in college football history.