Kirby Smart warns Georgia about Kentucky’s defense

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Kirby Smart praises Kentucky defense

The Georgia offense is coming off one of its best and most balanced efforts of the year against Florida, as No. 6 Georgia racked 36 points and 429 yards. But Georgia coach Kirby Smart isn’t going to let his team rest easy on last week’s performance.

While speaking on the SEC Coaches Teleconference, Smart praised the No. 9 Kentucky defense saying it will be even better than the vaunted LSU defense that Georgia played on Oct. 13.

“It will probably be our toughest challenge to date,” Smart said on Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference. “We haven’t seen a defense with this much experience and depth, speed. … They have everything you want: size up front, speed, guys on the back end. … It should be a great challenge.”

The most important name to know is outside linebacker Josh Allen. The Kentucky senior is second in the country in sacks with 10.0 through eight games. He is also tied for the most forced fumbles in the country with five. Ball security has been an issue for Georgia’s Jake Fromm, as he’s fumbled the ball three times this season.

If Georgia is going to win on Saturday, tackles Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson are going to have to keep Allen and the rest of the defense away from Fromm. Thomas left the Florida game with an injury, but he did return. It is still unknown if sophomore guard Ben Cleveland will be able to play, as he attempts to comeback from his fractured left fibula. Cleveland did travel and dress for the Florida game.

Jordan Rodgers rates Jake Fromm as the SEC’s second-best quarterback

Fromm wasn’t the only quarterback to move up in Rodgers’ rankings as Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald also took a big jump in the rankings after Mississippi State beat Texas A&M.

But Fromm’s stay in the No. 2 spot might be temporary given he’s going up against a tough Kentucky defense. The Wildcats have not given up more than 20 points in a game all year and were a big reason why Missouri quarterback Drew Lock dropped eight spots in Rodgers’ rankings.

Fromm and the Bulldogs take on Kentucky on this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on CBS and heard on WSB Radio 95.5 FM, 750 AM.

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