ABC broadcast reveals Kirby Smart, Georgia defense scrambling to adjust to Kalen DeBoer, Alabama offense

Amidst Alabama’s red-hot offensive start against Georgia on Saturday night, Kirby Smart and his defensive coach staff were sent scrambling for answers early. All the while, their defense continued to be out foxed on the field.

Alabama marched easily down the field for touchdowns on the Crimson Tide’s first two possessions and as the third approach, Smart and defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann were already marshaling their players with adjustments. ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe recounted the hectic scene.

“Well guys its all hands on deck on defense right now. Glenn Schumann, the defensive coordinator, Kirby Smart, the head coach, they have all been up in the defenses face trying to make some quick adjustments,” Rowe said on the broadcast.

She added that the motions being dialed up by Kalen DeBoer and Co. were causing the most problems and breakdowns in coverage and run fits.

“The motion that Kalen DeBoer’s offenses are so well-known for are causing problems. They keep telling the players, ‘When they go in motion, you have got to adjust your eyes.’ That last touchdown drive, the motion was a problem. That’s what they are trying to fix.”

And shortly after Rowe’s report, Alabama tacked on another touchdown to make it three in three drives and take a 21-0 first quarter lead. On the next drive, Alabama made it 28-0 before Georgia eventually responded.

Kirby Smart felt Georgia’s offense was solid in the 1st half

Speaking with sideline reporter Holly Rowe at halftime, Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart said he actually thought his offense performed OK when it got on the field. The problem was just a lopsided possession margin.

“And our offense hasn’t been bad, we just can’t get our offense on the field. And we have to stop him. We turned the ball over,” Smart said.

While Smart wasn’t worried about the offensive showing, others will be.

Quarterback Carson Beck was 8-of-17 for 98 yards and two interceptions in the first half, including one that came right after a fourth down stop for the Bulldogs defense. Beck was also responsible, partly, for a safety when he was pressured and committed intentional grounding the end zone when he lofted a deep pass to some empty field.

And the rushing game managed to be a slight bright spot, going for 80 yards and the lone first half touchdown at a 7.3 yard per carry clip.

But the bigger problems lie on defense, where Georgia was sent chasing its tail early and often. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe finished the half with 305 yards of total offense himself while the entire offensive operation for the Crimson Tide looked effortless at times.

“Well most important thing is we’ve gotta get some stops,” Smart said. “Alabama’s been really explosive tonight. We’ve had no answers for Milroe. He’s a great athlete, phenomenal athlete. We’ve struggled to tackle him. We don’t have the edges. They’ve done a really good job throwing with him out of empty and that’s been new. But we’ve gotta get some stops.”