Kirby Smart wants defense, special teams to set team's offense up better

Georgia had a chance to take an early lead against Ball State but came up empty after a pair of miscues after reaching the red zone. Coach Kirby Smart explained the issues with his offense.

The slumbering offense hadn’t produced any scoring by the start of the second quarter, with the lone scoring play a 69-yard punt return touchdown.

“Well we had a great opening drive, we moved down the field,” Smart told the SEC Network’s sideline reporter Alyssa Lang. “We don’t handle third down real well right there. Carson (Beck) fumbled and we missed the kick. So if we would have got points there I’d have felt much better about it. The second drive we didn’t get as much out of it, but at the end of the day we’ve had two drives and it’s the end of the first quarter.”

The game was locked 0-0 until a big special teams play by the Bulldogs broke things open.

Return man Mekhi Mews took advantage of some open running lanes between the special teams coverage to race 69 yards to the end zone for a score early in the second quarter. That made it 7-0 Georgia.

The Bulldogs had struggled offensively prior to that, piling up just 75 yards through the 12:41 mark in the second quarter.

But Smart thought the issues were more about creating favorable situations for the offense, which he pinned on the defense and the special teams units.

“We’ve got to get field position and turnovers,” Smart said. “We need to get our offense the ball on our side of the 50, so we need some stops.”

Shortly after Smart said that on the SEC Network, Georgia came away with an interception of Ball State quarterback Kadin Semonza. Cornerback Malaki Starks came away with the interception on a deep pass, ending a drive that was approaching Georgia territory.

Georgia led 14-0 at the time of this writing, with 10:16 to play in the second quarter. The Bulldogs scored on a touchdown pass from Beck to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, which will please Kirby Smart, who wanted to see drives finished.

How to Watch, Listen and Stream

Kickoff Time: 12:00 p.m. ET

TV: SEC Network (Taylor Zarzour – Play by Play, Matt Stinchcomb – Color Commentator, Alyssa Lang – Sideline Reporter)

Streaming: Watch ESPN

Radio: Atlanta (750 AM/95.5 FM), Athens (960 AM/106.1 FM), Augusta (580 AM/95.1 FM), Brunswick (1440 AM, 107.7 FM), Columbus (1270 AM/102.5 FM), Macon (106.3 FM), Savannah (1400 AM/104.3 FM), Sirius XM (Channel 137 or 190 – Georgia Bulldogs Radio Network), Online at www.georgiadogs.com/watch/

For those who get their TV through Spectrum, the SEC shared a statement with alternate viewing options for fans still wanting to watch games while the Spectrum-ESPN stalemate continues.

“As negotiations continue between Charter Communications and Disney Entertainment, Spectrum cable customers who are seeking SEC programming on ESPN channels, including SEC Network, can easily find and sign up for ESPN channels across all other major TV streaming providers like DirecTV, Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV and FuboTV.”