Kirby Smart delivers ringing endorsement of NFL-bound defenders
There are plenty of words that have been used to describe Georgia football’s defense from last season.
Talented. Loaded. Champions.
But the head coach has his own thoughts in looking back on the group.
ESPN’s Laura Rutledge asked Kirby Smart for his take on the defense and how NFL teams should evaluate the defenders bound for the draft later this month.
The top Dawg was clear in his assessment.
“None of these guys had gaudy stat numbers because they played together. Other guys out there are going to have more tackles than Nakobe Dean or more sacks than Travon Walker or more snaps played than Jordan Davis,” Smart told Rutledge. “Because they played with other great players, it was harder to accumulate them. It was a race to the ball.”
Smart continued, with a suggestion as to how general managers should examine the body of work put together by his former players.
“All you have to do is watch the tape to see the caliber of player they are. Watch the unselfishness they had to rotate in and out. By how they played the game, they didn’t just run out there and try to make plays for themselves,” he said to Rutledge. “That’s how you see what type of teammate you’re getting and what type of guy you’re getting for the organization that drafts them. At one point in time, it was called the ‘No Name defense’.”
A potential No. 1 pick upcoming in the Kirby Smart era?
Our Wes Blankenship just dove in deep on the building hype surrounding Travon Walker and the likelihood he lands at the top spot on draft day.
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He included a great quote from the NFL Network’s Peter Schrager that provided some context as to why the noise is building to crescendo.
“Everyone’s inking Aidan Hutchinson to the Jaguars. Around the NFL, there’s talk about GM Trent Baalke, and his draft history with SF,” Schrager said on the NFL Network’s Good Morning Football. “Year after year, the 49ers took players with incredible physical traits over the top collegiate performers. That’s Travon Walker.”
Make sure to check out the full story from Wes as to why the Dawgs could see one of their own standing aside Roger Goodell first later this month.
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