With only two losses in the past three years, Kirby Smart faces the task of finding fresh ways to challenge his Georgia team as they prepare for the 2024 season.
Georgia football’s fall camp will conclude on Saturday with the second intra-squad scrimmage, marking the end of their preseason efforts. With the start of classes, practice will be reduced, putting added pressure on the players to perform well, especially since Kirby Smart was dissatisfied with the first scrimmage.
“Progress has been good,” Smart said at a midweek press conference, “but I wouldn’t say the first scrimmage met our standards or expectations. We lacked enthusiasm and didn’t play at the level we need to.”
Smart acknowledged the players’ hard work and discipline but criticized their performance, indicating that this was not the first time he’s addressed such issues publicly. He expressed concerns about the team’s depth, noting a trend of decreasing player capability over the years.
“We are nowhere near where we need to be,” Smart said. “I feel like we have less depth than ever before, and it seems like a common concern among other coaches. It’s a deterioration of football because each year, we have fewer players capable of winning games.”
Smart’s remarks were aimed not only at the media and the preseason hype but also directly at his players. He stressed the need for improvement, as the team faces a demanding schedule and will require more than just their standout quarterback.
Carson Beck, who had an impressive season last year with nearly 4,000 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, now faces the challenge of leading an offense with fewer of his top receivers from last season. With key players like Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey gone, Beck will need to rely on new targets, including Oscar Delp and others.
Smart acknowledged that the lack of depth around Beck might increase his pressure to perform perfectly. Despite concerns about depth, Georgia remains one of the top teams in the country. If the new group of receivers and backs, including Trevor Etienne, step up, Beck doesn’t need to be flawless—just effective enough to help Georgia secure its third national championship in four years.
Smart’s message is clear: despite their success, the team needs to stay grounded and focused. If external factors can’t keep the Bulldogs humble, Smart is determined to do so himself.
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