Kirby Smart demands more with Georgia up 31-7

No. 1 Georgia took a 31-7 lead over No. 18 Missouri into halftime in Athens. Kirby Smart criticized the Bulldogs’ finish to the first half. Smart told DawgNation’s Mike Griffith that Georgia played well in the first quarter but failed to maintain that level in the second.

Georgia led 21-0 after the opening quarter and scored on each of its first five offensive possessions to build a 31-0 advantage. The Bulldogs gained 158 of their 264 first-half yards during the opening 15 minutes.

Smart focused on two empty possessions at the end of the half and a defensive lapse that allowed Missouri to score. His complaint concerned players reacting as if the result had already been decided instead of maintaining their assigned standard for four quarters.

The coach also was unhappy with punter Drew Miller, who recorded two punts for 80 yards. Smart said Miller failed to place the ball where the staff wanted it.

That response fit the standard Smart regularly emphasized during Georgia’s back-to-back CFP championship seasons in 2021 and 2022. He called for players to maintain that standard for four quarters after the two empty possessions to end the half.

Why it matters

Georgia controlled the scoreboard, with 158 of its 264 first-half yards coming in the first quarter. Smart’s criticism centered on sustaining execution across offense, defense and special teams for four quarters.

What to watch next

The second half offered Georgia a chance to answer Smart’s criticism after two empty offensive possessions and Missouri’s late first-half score.