ATHENS – Kirby Smart Coaching Era’s greatest return will not be remembered as the most beautiful, but it was certainly the most courageous.
🗣️ HOW TO DRAW WITH THEM DAWGS#GoDawgs #CFAPeachBowl pic.twitter.com/wI8NnY9UCc
– Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) January 2, 2021
The Bulldogs defeated an undefeated Cincinnati team 24-21 on Friday at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, recovering from a 21-10 defeat in the fourth period.
RECAP: How Georgia came back to win the Bearcats
It took heroism from the attack, defense and special teams in the final minutes. This, along with the maturity and adaptability of newly connected players like Latavious Brini, Tyrique Stevenson and Xavier Truss, right before our eyes as the game progressed.
The 10,000-foot national vision: Georgia solidifying its status as a SEC powerhouse and, for the fourth consecutive year, a Top 10 team.
The New Year’s Six Bowl victory also marks a few other boxes:
• The UGA senior class ties with the biggest win (44 wins) in the program’s history with the 2005 and 2019 groups.
• 24th appearance of a straight bowl, the longest active sequence in CFB, dates from Smart’s first year (1997). UGA was 5-6 in 1996.
• Smart’s tenth victory over a Top 10 team, his record now an excellent 10-6 in high profile matches.
Here are three other lessons from the Peach Bowl victory:
1. New hero
The transition from Rod to Pod is complete, there is a new folk kicker hero in town after Jack Podlesny, previously unknown in his second year, made a 53 yard field goal with 3 seconds left to lift UGA to the Peach Bowl victory.
It was Podlesny’s third field goal of the day. His first, 37 yards, slid in from the vertical to give the Bulldogs a short 10-7 lead.
RELATED: A More Detailed Analysis of Jack Podlesny, Why They Believe Him
Podlesny said it was the first victory of his football career.
“I told the coach before the game, I was well within 55, 54 yards, ”said Podlesny. “Our offense took. As soon as we got there, I tried to slow my breathing because I didn’t want to rush anything, I didn’t want to make up for anything. “
2. Opt-out relief sigh
A series of opt-outs almost cost Georgia the game, which is to be expected when considering the great talent of the players who missed the game to prepare for the Senior Bowl and the NFL Draft.
WATCH: Kirby Smart reveals the main problems solved before the game
UGA had to make major shuffles on the secondary and offensive lines, without former captains Ben Cleveland (guard) and Eric Stokes (defender).
The middle linebacker, Monty Rice, was another captain of the absent team, and one could not help thinking that Rice would have linked the middle in the 79-yard run from Cincinnati.
The Bulldogs had 10 ex-starting players in total, with James Cook missing because of the death of his father and other injured or transferred players.
If Georgia had lost the game, it would be easy for some to point the finger and not forget.
Instead, Azeez Ojulari, designed to choose the NFL Draft in the first round and opt for the bowling game, performed a three-bag performance that increased his draft stock and earned him the honors of defensive MVP in the game.
3. Powerful impulse
Georgia has a streak of four consecutive off-season victories and a renewed sense of confidence in their attack. The UGA showed the type of passing game needed to compete for championships.
“Everyone believes in the dynamic,” said Smart, analyzing how Podlesny’s kick of 1.5 meters or more determined the final result of the season.
“I wouldn’t feel anything different, but the perception would certainly be different, based on another 2 yards or less, no matter how far he went.”
REPORT CARD: Georgia Grade A return win assessment
But there was also a personal impulse.
George Pickens had another phenomenal performance with 7 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown, and freshman receiver Arian Smith showed his world-class speed in a 55-yard reception.
Quarterback JT Daniels went on to 4-0 as a starter, with a passing performance of 26 of 38 and 392 yards that featured an attempted game win in 8 of his own 20 with no time limit.
Daniels deflected praise for Kenny McIntosh’s three footprints in the victory race and Podlesny’s big leg after the game, providing a sense of offensive unity in the off season.
4. Pending transactions
Smart’s technical committee has undergone changes every year, and there is no reason to believe that this off-season is any different.
But there will also be more players coming in and out of the NCAA transfer portal.
Bulldogs have a signature day in February ahead, but 20 of the first signers are already on board.
RELATED: Reviewing American Football Hiring Class No. 3 in the Ranking
Smart said he plans to add another defensive back and defensive striker in February, but it would not be surprising to see Georgia hit a cornerback through the NCAA transfer portal.
The revitalized passing game, with Daniels at the center, may also attract the kind of special talent that the LSU transfer Arik Gilbert could bring if he returned home and played for Georgia.
5. Kirby’s mental alertness
Kirby Smart used the following quote for at least one coaching clinic; is one of the most frequently attributed to Charles Darwin:
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change. “
WATCH: Kirby Smart’s fascinating defense analysis ‘Mint’
Smart also said, “If it’s not broken, do it better,” and he promised to be looking for constant improvement.
But talking about the willingness to change and doing that are two different things, as there is also something to be said about “staying the course”.
The fact is, coaches can apply axioms to adjust to whichever direction they choose to go.
There is a fine line between all of this. What separates the good guys from the great coaches is knowing where to draw the line and when to cross the line.
Smart has put together a championship level program, the pieces in place, and now it’s just a matter of taking the right breaks and trusting the inner circle assistants around you.
Before you know it, Georgia will start the next season as a preseason Top 5 battling Clemson in their opening game, with the confidence of last Friday’s comeback win in their back pocket.
Georgia Peach Bowl Stories
Azeez Ojulari becomes official, becoming professional
Georgia Football Peach Bowl Bulletin, A Return to First Grade
RECAP: How Georgia beat Cincinnati 24-21 in return win
Social media reaction to Georgia’s 24-21 victory over Cincinnati
The game’s winning field goal validates UGA’s belief in Jack Podlesny
Observations of Georgia’s 24-21 victory over Cincinnati
Game ball for Azeez Ojulari after he records 3 sacks, makes the game crucial
Kirby Smart shows a video of Richard LeCounte’s unique play