Kirby Smart describes upset Georgia locker room following blowout win

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart said that, despite a 43-6 victory against Missouri, the Bulldogs locker room wasn’t happy. Several players thought the team could have played better, though they didn’t allow a touchdown and led 26-3 at halftime.

Instead of focusing on the many things that went right, the team immediately set out to correct what didn’t.

“Some of those guys stood up and didn’t feel like it as our best effort,” Smart said. “It was a little lackadaisical at times. Some of that was more defensive than offensive. We didn’t run the ball the way we wanted to, but we were explosive.”

The need for perfection is part of the reason Georgia is undefeated and No. 1 in the country, with many pundits predicting it to win the national title. The Bulldogs have already clinched a spot in the SEC title game, where Alabama likely awaits.

The defense has been unrivaled this season, giving up less than a touchdown per game on average. Saturday was no different, though the Tigers did manage 273 yards and 15 first downs.

Stetson Bennett started the game at quarterback, finishing with 255 yards passing and two touchdowns. JT Daniels, who began the year as the starter but has been dealing with a lat injury, also played. He went 7-of-11 for 82 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

It was the ground game that was the most concerning, earning only 168 yards in the blowout victory. Although that may seem like a solid number, it’s important to consider that Missouri is one of the worst rushing defenses in all of college football. The Tigers give up 283.8 rushing yards per game, nearly 100 more than Vanderbilt, the second-worst SEC school in that category.

The Bulldogs close out SEC play next Saturday on the road against Tennessee. After that, they finish out the year against Charleston Southern and Georgia Tech. Kirby Smart and the locker room will look address their mistakes in those games and finish out the year strong.