Kirby Smart evaluates Georgia performance in first half vs. Ole Miss

For the second consecutive week, Georgia is playing their biggest game of the season. Missouri came to Athens, where Kirby Smart saw his team come away with a win. Now, No. 9 Ole Miss is in town and through the first half and Smart is enjoying what he’s seeing.

Beginning on the offensive side, Georgia got a huge boost by getting tight end Brock Bowers back on the field. He and fellow Carson Beck staple Ladd McConkey getting back to full health would only further help their case to win the SEC and make the College Football Playoff.

But for now, Smart is just happy with how Bowers and McConkey are playing.

“Well, they’re both really good kids and they’re great playmakers,” Smart said in an interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “To have them out there together is really helpful. I thought our offensive line has done a great job protecting and we’ve been able to run the ball well.”

McConkey leads all Georgia receivers at the moment, having four receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown. Bowers is not his normal self from a statistical standpoint, having just two catches for 26 yards. But fresh off tight rope surgery on his ankle, you cannot expect too much from the tight end.

Kirby Smart on how Georgia is faring against Ole Miss tempo

Everyone on the Georgia staff knew how Lane Kiffin was going to approach Saturday’s game. He wants explosive plays from his offense and can do so by running some tempo. Jaxson Dart is an experienced guy and is comfortable moving quickly.

Smart says moving forward, getting stops on first down will be key, not letting Ole Miss get into a rhythm. Stopping the run is also going to be a message he gives to his team in the locker room.

“Well, we got some first-down stops,” Smart said. “They’re potent. They’re fast. They go with tempo. We settled down a little bit, played some of the runs a little better.”

A lot over the past few years has been made about how deep Georgia is, especially on the defensive front. That really comes in handy when going up against an offense like Ole Miss. Getting those stops on first down keeps them at a slower pace and allows Smart to substitute.

As the game rolls on, getting fresh bodies in there will be critical. And if even the backups can perform well for a few snaps, Georgia is going to be in a good position.