Smart said offensive guard Clay Webb has an ankle injury, and thats what avoided him from traveling to Arkansas.
Malzahn opened his press conference earlier on Tuesday stating Georgia is “probably the most talented group in general in the SEC” leading up to the 7:30 p.m. video game on Saturday (TELEVISION: ESPN).
Smart had enhanced Malzahn to begin the week.
Former Auburn linebacker and group captain Deshaun Davis described it at the time as a “bullcrap call” by Smart.
Smart, whose team was fighting for a College Football Playoff area at the time and was ranked No. 5, said UGA attempted the phony since the lead wasnt “comfortable” enough.
The Bulldogs lost receiver Dominick Blaylock (knee) and defensive back Kelee Ringo (labrum) to season-ending injuries in fall camp.
Smart called out the Auburn head coach for “Coachspeak” at Georgias Tuesday night press conference, including a dash of spice to an already bitter and contested rivalry between the Tigers and Bulldogs.
” If you dont get it, theyre supported, so the idea was theyre going to take three goals to beat us,” Smart said. “Its everything about point differential. It was something that was well thought out long before it occurred and discussed throughout the drive.”
ATHENS– Kirby Smart and Gus Malzahn might respect each other on the field as competing coaches, however they resemble Cats and Dawgs in their running commentary.
” I believe if you ask someone the week of the game, the group theyre playing has the most talent in the league, and then the next week, that group will have the most talent, then the next week, that team will have the most talent,” Smart deadpanned. “And thats called coachspeak, so thank you Gus. He has the a lot of talent in the SEC.”
Smart brushed if off at that time, stating “When you perform the method they did on the field, you make the right to say really whatever you desire.”
” It constantly worries you when you play Auburn. Theyve got a quarterback that can get the ball to those guys, Chad is doing an astounding task of moving guys around and putting them in spots that theyre not usually in, so their ability level at receiver is really good.”
Smart, extremely edgy, wasnt done making his point.
Smart, who often battles Malzahn for recruits in Georgia and Alabama, suggested he didnt believe Malzahns comment to be genuine.
Malzahns No. 7-ranked Tigers (1-0) are a goal underdog to the No. 4-ranked Bulldogs (1-0).
Georgia avenged the loss in 2017 by beating Auburn in the SEC Championship Game.
Coming out of the game, Smart showed outside linebacker Jermaine Johnson had a shoulder contusion however had the ability to go back to action.
Injury update: Smart stated senior tight end graduate transfer Tre McKitty returned to practice on Monday and practice much more on Tuesday, raising the possibility that he might play on Saturday versus Auburn.
“They have actually hired well, they have truly good players, top-10 group in the country, so it needs to be an excellent ball game, excellent environment.”
Malzahn, in his Tuesday press conference, likewise mentioned that it was Auburn that scored the first rushing touchdown on Georgia last season throughout the Bulldogs 21-14 win.
In 2017, Malzahn was overhead saying after the Tigers 40-17 win over the Bulldogs in 2017 that “We whipped the pet dog crap out of them, didnt we?”
Asked how big of a worry Auburns receivers are for him, Smart tossed Malzahns words back in the instructions of The Plains.
The stress remained, and it may or may not have actually played a function in Smart trying a fake field objective with a 17-point lead and 3:20 left in the 2018 conference.
” Well they have the most skill in the SEC, so Im really concerned when it comes to their receiving corps and their talent level,” Smart stated.
” Hes occurring nicely, hes got a possibility to play, its one of those offers you d like to get some live action before you get out there in the game, (and) I dont understand if were going to get a chance to do that,” Smart said.
Malzahn, whose team routed 21-0 entering the 4th quarter, stated his defense “packed them in the 4th quarter.”
” But he definitely improved and is getting better shape.”
Smart most likely felt Malzahn went out of his way to magnify the pressure on Smart and the Bulldogs to win the SEC Championship.
Its not the very first time Malzahn has said something that inflamed Smart.
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” I think if you ask someone the week of the video game, the group theyre playing has the a lot of skill in the league, and then the next week, that group will have the most skill, then the next week, that team will have the most talent,” Smart deadpanned. “And thats called coachspeak, so thank you Gus. He has the a lot of talent in the SEC.”
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“They have actually hired well, they have actually great gamers, top-10 group in the nation, so it needs to be a terrific ball game, great environment.”
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” If you dont get it, theyre backed up, so the idea was theyre going to take 3 touchdowns to beat us,” Smart stated.
