Pro Football Focus reveals dominance of Georgia Bulldogs defense

Kirby Smart and the best-in-show Georgia Bulldogs defense in Week 9 proved once again why they should be considered college football’s No. 1 team, as Georgia steamrolled the Florida Gators, 34-7. All the while, Georgia also proved once again why its defense is the best in the nation.

The Bulldogs defense for the first time this season allowed over 300 yards of total offense, which, at first glance, may seem like a subpar performance. In fact, Georgia was out-gained by Florida on the day, as the Bulldogs tallied 354 yards of total offense and the Gators had 355. But it hardly mattered — Georgia’s defense was still dominant, forcing three second-quarter turnovers. Junior linebacker Nolan Smith had a fumble recovery and an interception, and fellow junior linebacker Nakobe Dean had a pick-six. To no one’s surprise, the Bulldogs held onto their No. 1 ranking in the latest AP poll.

Dean, Channing Tindall and Quay Walker were so dominant for Georgia’s defense that the linebacking trio were Pro Football Focus’ three highest-graded linebackers of the week, with Dean earning an 85.4, Tindall earning a 76.4 and Walker coming in at 75.5. All three of the SEC’s top-performing linebackers in Week 9, by Pro Football Focus’ standards, were on the same dominant defensive unit, as Georgia held Florida in check by forcing turnovers. Dean, in addition to his pick-six, had seven total tackles (three solo stops) and one quarterback hurry, while Tindall had seven total tackles (two solo stops) and half a tackle-for-loss and Walker led Georgia’s defense with 13 total tackles (seven solo), half a tackle-for-loss and two quarterback hurries.

With the win, Georgia’s defense helped Smart clinch an SEC East title for the fourth time in the last five years. Later this year, Georgia will head to Atlanta, Georgia to face the winner of the SEC West after the conclusion of the regular season, as Smart has become a perennial contender in the SEC Championship game.

After the game’s final whistle, Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs, who solidified their No. 1 overall ranking in emphatic fashion, took to the sidelines in celebration. The players and coaching staff alike seemed emotional after the victory, despite Florida not posing much of a challenge. Many players even made their way over to the stands in celebration with Georgia fans.

Smart was asked about the emotional celebration in Jacksonville, and why the Bulldogs were so elated to have picked up the win against the Gators, to which he gave a simple response — “if you can’t enjoy these moments, why do we do them?”

“Well, you put so much into the game, you know?” Smart continued in Georgia’s postgame press conference. “If I can’t embrace my family and hug them and love it and see the fans that stuck around for it, that’s what it’s all about to me. I had a coach a long time ago tell me that if you can’t enjoy those moments, then why are you in the business?”