Mark Stoops sounds off this week on Georgia ahead of top-15 matchup
As we get closer and closer to kickoff, DawgsHQ continues our coverage of Georgia-Kentucky. We’ve kept you up to date on anything and everything Kirby Smart said this week. Now, it’s time to take the trip up to Lexington to see what Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has had to say.
On Georgia’s Current Defensive Dominance
“I’ll take any and all advice this week, because this defense is pretty, uh… it’s like the 1985 Chicago Bears,” Stoops said. “Their defense this year is similar in structure — Kirby has been involved from day one, he’s a defensive guy. The biggest difference is their overall talent and depth. They’ve been good, one of the top defenses — if not the top — the past two or three years. Top one, two or three every year. This year, they are No. 1 in the country, and they are 100 yards per game in front of No. 2 in the SEC. That’s how dominant they’ve been. They’ve given up a little over 200 yards per game, and the No. 2 defense in the country — I want to say that’s Alabama — they’re giving up like 304 or 305 yards per game. We might be third — don’t quote me on that — at like 316, 320 yards per game, somewhere in there.”
On Georgia’s Defensive Experience and Recruiting
“They are so dominant, 100 yards better than the next-best defense in the SEC. They are playing dominant,” Stoops said. “The biggest difference is overall experience and talent. They’ve always been well-coached and talented, but this year, they’ve got some experienced guys and some young guys that are just dynamic. Their recruiting has been off the charts. Georgia’s defensive success isn’t solely due to the elite talent lining the roster from top to bottom. It’s also a well-coached team that designs different looks and blitzes to make the opposing offense uncomfortable.”
On the Georgia Pass Rush
“They put a lot of pressure on you because they’re good,” Stoops said. “Lining up in their base defense and playing, they’re good, then you start mixing in any kind of pressures or different looks. The big thing for Will (Levis) will be him having some time. The protection being good, guys getting open, it will be a challenge for everybody. They are playing at a ridiculous level defensively.”
On Georgia’s No. 1 Ranking
“It is hard to argue that,” Stoops said. “We certainly have played a lot of great defenses through my time here. You watch these guys on film, and it is another level of good. With them, you just have to man up and play. We’ve got to play at a high level. You’re not going to beat the No. 1 team in the country by just showing up on Saturday or going through the motions.”
On Mark Stoops Having An 0-8 Record Against Georgia
“I don’t get into the history of it all like you do, other than knowing that we have been able to accomplish some things that haven’t been done here in a long time, if ever,” Stoops said. “The key to our success has been hard work, but also finding a new way to think about these big games. For too long it’s been about hoping to compete. Now it has to be about knowing you will compete in those games and then expecting to win those games.”
Kickoff for Mark Stoops and company against Georgia is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
