ATHENS — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart does not give off the impression that he’s completely comfortable with his football team.
Smart pointed out the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs (1-0) remain somewhat untested after their 45-0 win over Austin Peay.
“I didn’t think the conditioning was where it needed to be, and I told those guys that,” Smart said, asked about Georgia’s offensive line play leading up to the 3:30 p.m. game Saturday at South Carolina.
“They’ve gotta do a better job of creating movement and they gotta do a better job second-level blocking, getting to the second level and protecting our ball carriers down the field and covering down which takes more effort.”
The Bulldogs could change up the starting offensive line before Saturday, with senior Kendall Baker back in the starting lineup at offensive guard.
Georgia’s starting offensive line for Austin Peay was:
• LT Andrew Thomas
• LG Solomon Kindley
• OC Lamont Gaillard
• RG Ben Cleveland
• RT Isaiah Wilson
Smart isn’t settled or sure about his front seven, either.
“Probably didn’t get tested, to be dead honest with you,” Smart said, asked how the front seven performed. “That [Austin Peay] is not the caliber of offensive line we’re going to have to face …. we know that we’re going to have to face bigger, heavier and quicker people, and we’re going to have to play better.
“You can’t say the kids didn’t play hard — they played hard, ran to the ball. We didn’t play with good technique all the time, and it will continue to be a committee.”
Smart said after the game that the secondary, with three new starters, still has plenty to prove, as well.
”The verdict is still out as far as our pass defense in the secondary,” Smart said. “We didn’t get challenged.
“Those [defensive backs] have to go play, and they’re going to have to play well this week because they have some really good wide-outs.”
Georgia-South Carolina coverage
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• No guarantee Justin Fields will play at South Carolina
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Georgia football coach Kirby Smart
