We’re two days away from Alabama vs. Georgia in the 2021 SEC championship and that means a Thursday video news conference. Kirby Smart went first before Nick Saban and here’s a rundown of his comments.
— Smart is hopeful all four players are available to play after injuries saying they were able to participate in parts of practice this week
— Coaching at Alabama and under Saban was a big part of his career and they still have a lot of friends in Tuscaloosa. He said he appreciates what Saban’s done at Alabama even more after he left. “We don’t communicate daily but I have a lot of respect for him.”
— He’s seen considerable progress from his two cornerbacks this year “who are going against two of the very best in our conference.” On John Metchie and Jameson Williams “Nobody has really covered these guys well.”
— Georgia self-scouts every week and they spent the last two weeks looking deeply at everything they do throughout the season “because they have a video projector too.”
— Energy has been great this week in practice.
— Smart said it’s important to “curb the enthusiasm” and not spend all of its energy in practice this week.
— “It makes me worry,” Smart said about all the coaching changes and the pressure on a staff to win now. It’s something you have to understand when you get into this business “and it’s not for everybody.”
— Smart hasn’t had much time to think about the impact of Brian Kelly leaving Notre Dame for LSU or Billy Napier going to Florida.
— On WR George Pickens, Smart said he’s getting a lot of practice reps and is getting his confidence back after returning from a spring ACL injury.
— What makes this Alabama pass rush effective: “Talent,” he said. Their ability to push the pocket and come off the edge, he said. There are four points of pressure in a pocket and the press all four, Smart said.
— On scout team quarterbacks, Smart said they go good-on-good often, so Stetson Bennett has been facing the first-team defense. Smart said Young’s fast release makes it hard to defend.
— Asked if Young is like Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, Smart said they’re quite different players in their mobility.
— How different is this Alabama offense? There are some similarities since there are some of the same skill players but Young brings some different things in terms of mobility from the Mac Jones season.
Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.
