Dell McGee Talks Running Game

Run game coordinator and running backs coach Dell McGee discussed preparations for the upcoming fall 2020 season Wednesday afternoon.

On what he has learned about Coach Smart that he didn’t already know during the pandemic and how they all adjusted to a different type of offseason...

“I wouldn’t say I have learned anything new. I would say that we all had to deal with a lot of mental gymnastics with COVID-19, and just a structure in your normal, everyday life of going through a spring ball season, assessing your players, concluding spring. Then you go to summer workouts and then to fall camp. The biggest thing was just having to adjust our normal practice routine and all of those facets.”

On whether he’s ever had such an overhaul at the running back (RB) position as this season…

“First off, I think we have a great room. All of our guys are very, very talented. They all bring certain qualities to the game of football. Losing D’Andre Swift was a big loss, but we definitely have five guys that are capable and will do a great job this year.”

On how important a rotation at the RB position is…

“It is definitely a good thing. It is a philosophy of ours—we feel like the more guys that we can play keep our running backs fresh. They can be more explosive, have less mental breakdowns. They are able to assess the game, stay involved in the game and execute at a high level when their number is called. It definitely benefits us having a multitude of guys and like I say, ‘Reliability and accountability is a big factor.’ I feel very confident with this group.”

On why it is important to play college football with everything going on in our world today…

“I just feel like it brings normalcy. Football and particularly athletics in general, it allows everyone to move away from that space and look at it and enjoy the game we all grew up loving. I think it’s really, really good for our kids—being cooped up and not being able to do spring ball and their normal routine. Just being able to come back and practice and have the social interaction—the everyday interaction we have with our players has been beneficial to them, as well as us as coaches. It was tough sitting in the house having to do all of your sessions and meeting via Zoom. I think it is welcomed. I think we have done a great job as a staff, medical staff and insuring that all of our players are safe and everyone feels comfortable moving forward."

On how he went from being a successful DB coach at Auburn to a ‘guru’ RB coach now at Georgia…

“First, it was a blessing for me. I actually started when I was at Auburn under Gus Malzahn. He allowed me to enter the college realm in an off-the-field role. I definitely learned a lot that season. We lost to Florida State in the National Championship, then moving forward from there to Georgia Southern. Being a high school coach, you have to coach almost every position and have knowledge in every position, so I feel comfortable on both sides of the ball. I think, with my defensive background, it actually helps coach the running backs and help them understand what a defense is really trying to do and really, in particular, in blitz pickups and assessing different looks on where running holes and running lanes are possible."

On how important his success as a player in the SEC (11-0 during 1993 season at Auburn) is with recruits...

"I think it helps. I don't bring it up very often. A lot of the guys that are being recruited don't really go past today or the near future, so they don't really look back at those things. I do offer those experiences to the parents, and they definitely understand that. I think it's beneficial, because a lot of the kids that come into this conference— if you've been in this conference, you kind of know what you're getting ready to go through as a player, on and off the field — and just giving those parents the satisfaction and putting their minds at ease that they're in good hands.”

On the running back room/those RBs he sees are ready to take on starting roles…

"I feel like all of our guys are putting forth a great effort in the classroom, as well as on the field. We definitely have two older guys with Zamir White and James Cook who provide a lot of leadership to the room, and they bring a lot of experience. They are definitely two guys that complement one another. From a standpoint of understanding the offense and learning offense the fastest, they've kind of propelled themselves in that regard. We’re still in the process of developing and seeing where all the guys are going fit, so nothing has been decided yet, but I really like our room. Like I said, dealing with COVID, everyone has to be ready to play because we never know what's going to happen. That's my process, is making sure that all our guys are ready to run the football and protect the quarterback when their numbers are called.”

On his concerns about the pandemic with his kids and also with the season…

"Like I said earlier, the biggest thing is just adjusting. We didn't have a spring, but we did have a lot of walkthroughs and a lot of Zoom sessions, so it was a lot of mental preparation. We did lose a lot of the physical part of it, and we're making do now. I think we are up to speed from that standpoint, and just moving forward, because you never know what's going to happen with COVID amongst your team. It's always going to be a ’next man up' mentality for us, and it's my job as a coach to make sure everyone in my room is prepared to play at a winning level.”

On how much more the pass/catching element is emphasized now more than during his playing days at Auburn…

“We have been doing it since I’ve been here, but it’s definitely a benefit because in the next level—which all of our guys aspire to be [in]—you have to develop that part of your game if you want to be an every-down running back. It just adds value, and it adds various things to our offense as well. The more you can do, whether it is catching the ball, running great routes, protecting the quarterback, creating yards in the running game, the better off you’re going to be with us and in the future.”

On how he feels his five running backs are in the pass/catching game…

“I do feel like all five are capable—some are better than others and that’s the development part. That goes on me, and I have to take that and develop the guys that have shortcomings in those areas.”

On how things are changing philosophically under Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken…

“First off, Coach Todd Monken is a great offensive mind. He brings a lot of knowledge, experience. He’s done it in the NFL level, college level—at a successful rate. We are in great hands as far as that is concerned. I think we are going to be a balanced football team. I think we are going to try to put our players in the best position to be successful, whether it is running or throwing the ball or both. I think that’s going to be a wait and see deal.”

On what his memories are of the recruiting process of former UGA RB Isaiah Crowell, a player under McGee during his time as head coach at Carver-Columbus High School…

“It was definitely a time where Isaiah Crowell was considered one of the best backs in the country. Every college was pursuing his services. He was definitely a special talent. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out here, but I think he still proved that he was an NFL-quality player despite the shortcomings at the University of Georgia. I still talk to him to this day—he is doing well. He has a son of his own. Very proud of having coached Isaiah along with all the other guys I have coached at Carver-Columbus High School.”

On the ways recruiting has changed since he first got involved in the process…

“I think there is because of how the social media piece has increased and kind of sped up things. We get a large quantity of film and suggestions of things from coaches, services, through social media. I think kids promote themselves a lot more through social media, and they can get in contact with us via that route as well. So, it’s definitely sped up the process and created us as coaches to evaluate kids at an earlier rate.”

On maximizing the offensive players’ skill sets/how that is working out with the running backs who seem to have many different talents…

“Every running back and every player on our offensive has a stronger quality than others, and it is up to us to put those guys in the most successful position—where we can be successful as a team. At the same token, making sure we play at a high level, at a high standard—not turning the ball over and play clean football. Just moving forward, I think we will use those guys in the correct manner. Like I say, ‘[If] they have a deficit, it is up to me to bring that deficit up to speed.’ Anything is possible. That falls on Coach Monken’s shoulders. I am sure whatever plan we come up with from week to week, it’ll be a great plan.”

On how the running back group has set the tone for the season/how that impacts the season…

“For one, we are recognized as RBU. I think with that being said, it’s a very, very high standard in our room. It was established long before myself being here. Our kids take that personally, and they show it every single day in the way they prepare and in practice. We always, as coaches, try to make practice a lot harder than games. If you can make it through our practices day in and day out, you are going to be really prepared for a game.”

On whether he has noticed any changes in James Cook and Zamir White this season…

“Just more so from a vocal standpoint. They are taking more of a leadership role with our younger guys. They are mimicking what they got when they were freshmen when they had D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield, older guys in the room. They are taking the young guys under their wings—showing them how to take care of their bodies, how to prepare and be the best you can be the best you can be the next day. As far as film studies concern, just all the tidbits and how to be successful on an every day basis. I think they also provide help to our younger guys in going to class and not being a list-guy, just being an overall really, really good student-athlete.”

On whether he has aspirations to be a head coach…

“I definitely have aspirations to be a head coach, but right now my whole focus is on doing the best job I can here at the University of Georgia this season and kind of let things fall where they may when those times and opportunities present themselves. But I’m totally happy being the running back coach here at Georgia. I feel like I have the best running back job in the country. Like I said, we have a high standard and our guys are going to live up to that standard."

On how important exposure is for the assistant coaches like himself during a time when recruiting is so limited due to COVID-19…

“I definitely think the in-person recruiting has been hampered. It’s definitely tough to recruit via zoom, not being able to interact with the parents and the kids on an in-person level. So, they do get to see me as a coach through a different lens, but at the end of the day, it’s all about relationships. We have to adjust, and every college in America has had to adjust to COVID and recruiting under the circumstances, without the student-athletes and their parents being on campus and being able to interact in person.”

On the work Zamir White has put in to come back after two ACL surgeries and how he serves as an inspiration for his peers…

“First off, Zamir Whit] is a great kid. He had some tough upbringings throughout his life, and he’s been an overcomer. That’s the expectation. He’s never down; he’s always very upbeat. Like I said, his hard work has been recognized by his peers, along with the coaching staff, so much love for Zamir and just the way he’s embraced two knee injuries. That’s a very tough feat to overcome, but he’s a spiritual person and has all the faith in the world in our training staff, and he has faith in himself, as well. I’m expecting a lot of big things out of him this year.”

On what new ideas Offensive Line Coach Matt Luke has brought to the Georgia offense…

“Coach Luke is a great man. He brings a lot of energy, and I think his players, along with their other teammates, really respect him. I think all of our coaches have brought great ideas in all facets of our offense. I think that Coach Monken has done a great job of implementing those ideas, and I think we’re going to have a great plan every Saturday when we hit the field to be successful. Now, we have to execute that plan, of course.”

On Kendall Milton’s injury…

“He’s not out. He’s been doing everything, as far as the development of just making sure we get the correct reps in. He’s missed certain parts of practice."

On what stood out about Daijun Edwards that made him and the coaching staff think he’d be an asset to the team…

"First, he was a great high school running back. He started for four years in the toughest division in Georgia, and he was very productive at Colquitt County. He brings that hard-nosed mentality. He can catch the football. He can run in between the tackles and has enough speed and burst to make explosive players. I love everything about Daijun and his work ethic.”

On the O-Line and how Georgia is working to fill voids left after last season…

“I think our O-Line will be fine. I think we’re all a work in progress at every position, and that’s what camp is for. That’s what we’re gearing our efforts towards. As we progress closer to our opening game and kind of scaling everything back, I see us being a very good offense."

On whether he thinks James Cook, Zamir White and Kendall Milton picked up special skill sets preparing for the Sugar Bowl…

“Like I said, our guys prepare each and every week like they’re the guy, and that’s the expectation. Preparation in the Sugar Bowl wasn’t any different than preparation for any other game, so the only thing is their opportunity came, and they actually showed exactly why they’re here. Like I said, I love my room. I love my guys, and they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with this year."

On what the expectations are for James Cook and Zamir White considering the success of past RBs…

“Expectations aren’t about statistics for me. It’s just more so about wins and losses, and how we can be successful, limit our mental errors and make sure we protect our quarterback and take care of the football. As long as we do those things, the individual accolades will come. If that happens, it happens; but that’s not the big picture of things. It’s more so about taking care of the football, protecting our quarterback and playing with great effort.”

Dawgs Speak To Media Following Practice

Travon Walker, Sophomore, Defensive Lineman

On competing this year and if they have gotten used to COVID-19 testing…

“So far, the coaches have gotten it to us. They told us we’re going to be tested a lot, so everybody just bought in and did what they need to do. When it comes to that situation, everybody is just doing what they’re told to do.”

On how good he thinks the defense can be…

“I think the sky is the limit for this defense. One thing we’ve really emphasized is our third and short. We need to get a lot better in our third and short game. Coach Smart has been preaching about that, and everybody is working to get better.”

On where he is at now physically compared to last season…

“Me, personally, I think I’ve gained a lot of strength from my freshman year, just from recovering from my two wrist injuries. I just think I’m coming off well from this, and the strength staff has done a great job pushing me and helping me develop my strength back.”

On what kind of advice he has given to the freshmen defensive linemen…

“One of my main things I’ve told the young guys, the freshmen rather, is just give it all they’ve got and always give everything you have. That way, nobody can tell you no, that you can’t be on the field with the ones or the twos or whoever.”

On what it is like coming in and competing as a five star without a guaranteed spot…

“Like you said, just knowing that I have to go out and work hard every day, knowing that somebody like me is in front of me. I have to go out every day and make few errors and step up my game. As long as I go out and step up my game, I don’t have to worry about what he’s doing, as long as I’m doing my job.”

On Jalen Carter…

“He’s showing a lot of great things right now. Like I said, the sky is the limit for him, also. He’s a very talented player who doesn’t have to be coached a lot because he came in already knowing a lot, so that says a lot about him just alone.”

Tyson Campbell, Junior, Defensive Back

On how he would describe his development throughout his first two years in the program/where he sees himself now as a player…

“I think I’ve matured so much as a player from coming here being young, not really knowing the defense. As the coaches developed us on defense, especially through experience through the game, I’ve been able to mentally — as far as getting my IQ better in football — and also becoming stronger faster, the whole nine yards of becoming a better athlete.”

On his turf toe injury and how he fought through it last season/how he is now…

“Last year was tough, but Mr. Ron Courson and his whole training staff have helped me and made sure that, if I was going to be on the field, I was 100 percent ready, and I thank them for that. Now, I’m pain-free and excited for the season coming up."

On the program’s 'Dawgs for Pups' initiative and why it is important for he and his teammates to help the community…

“Those kids are people who watch us on TV, and some of those kids look up to us and what we do at our university. So, we feel like, why not give back with something they’re in need of? Everybody needs an education, and they’re not as fortunate as other people are who can afford WiFi so they can do virtual learning with this pandemic going on. I feel like this initiative is very important.”

On the strengths he sees at the quarterback positions /what strengths he sees in JT Daniels and D’WanMathis…

“JT Daniels and D’Wan Mathis have been competing. Both have very strong arms. Both are very mobile. Both are very intelligent and know the offense. They’re both great quarterbacks, and I’m excited for us to have them on our team this year."

On whether knowing the secondary’s strength helps the defensive starters avoid complacency/acts as an incentive to fight for the starting spot week in and week out…

“Yes. The whole defense has a lot of depth. There’s talent all over the place, offensively and defensively. That’s what makes practice so competitive, and everybody is just getting better each and every day. You want to have guys behind you, pushing you. That’s the best part about playing at Georgia."

Dawgs Hold Second Scrimmage

Coach Kirby Smart comments on the Dawgs’ scrimmage Saturday afternoon.

Opening Statement…

“Just finished up from the scrimmage a little bit earlier than last Saturday. But, I just wanted to open with a plug for this new ‘Dawgs for Pups’ that our players came up with. I want to give a lot of credit to Cortez Hankton and Josh Brooks for spearheading a lot of it. As we have worked hard with our players, and we’ve been listing to our players—which I spoke to last week. They wanted to do some things in the community. They helped with a food drive, but this ‘Dawgs for Pups’ has really taken off. A lot of the local Athens community, kids in the school system, are struggling to get WiFi. They don’t have it, so this is kind of a hotspot project. Ben Watson, I want to thank him and Todd Gurley. They’ve jumped in. Todd’s foundation, the M.A.D.E. Foundation has jumped right in. Ben Watson pledged $5,000. The Kirby Smart Family Foundation, my family’s foundation, pledged $10,000. There’s going to be a lot of kids in Athens, Ga., getting WiFi, and that’s a direct result of our players in an initiative that they grabbed—about five or six players grabbed it, and Cortez grabbed it. They’ve done a lot. So, it would help us if you guys keep plugging that, and sending that out there to our fan base so we can support those guys.

With that, we had a scrimmage today—similar format to last week. Probably the biggest difference, we did a little more goal line today. We did second and 10, third down—which is not an all third down period. It’s second and 10. If you get five yards, it’s third and five. If you don’t, it’s third and 10. It’s a two consecutive plays. Those were really the major change ups we had. I thought the guys played hard—it was cooler today. We had—the temperature was much better. It was not as hot, so they didn’t have to push through as bad. We [got] about 135-140 plays in. We are very fortunate to be able to scrimmage like that. A lot of our peers across the league are struggling to be able to have enough depth to get that number of plays. Some may only have ones, some may have ones and twos. We have ones, twos and some threes. We are certainly more injured now than we were last scrimmage, in terms of numbers. We got some guys down and out, but we are still able to scrimmage and we still have a long way to go. To be honest, I thought we would be further on along from scrimmage one to scrimmage two, but it was sloppy. I mean, we got a lot of penalties. We didn’t tackle really well. We didn’t play really well in the red area on defense. On both sides of the ball, when we went ones on twos, it overpowered the other one—with the ones on ones being a little more balanced.”

On when he learned of Jamie Newman’s plans and how that affects Georgia’s plans moving forward...

“Yeah, it’s really irrelevant and not important at this point in time. We are moving forward and we respect Jamie Newman, I respect Jamie. He has done a tremendous job. I respect any kid that chooses to opt-out. He came and let me know on Tuesday. It was a non-practice day for us. It was actually the day we went over to the Hunter-Holmes Academic Center. He let me know. I think he announced it on Wednesday.”

On what he feels he has at the quarterback position...

“It’s a work in progress. We had guys today that went out and practiced well. It almost feels like—we really want a guy to assume the lead and take the lead. That hasn’t happened yet. You’ll have a guy that has a great play and a great series, then comes back with a bonehead mistake and a turnover. Nobody has really taken charge and taken over. I wish I could say that. Both JT Daniels and D’Wan Mathis went with the ones. Carson Beck went with the twos a lot. Then JT and D’Wan both went with the twos a little bit. Stetson Bennett went with the threes. We don’t have a guy that’s way ahead. I don’t know what to say other than we are going to keep competing, and we’re going to try and find the best one.”

On whether he expects JT Daniels to be cleared by the first game versus Arkansas...

“First on JT, I am under the assumption that that is going to happen, but that is not my decision. Obviously, that’s the medical decision. He is cleared to practice, which is unique for quarterbacks because they’re not out there getting hit every day—they’re non-contact. We expect him to be cleared by the first game, but that’s not a complete certainty. I know Ron Courson feels confident that he’s far enough post-op, and he’s got enough strength in his leg to be in a good position—to be able to play, but that’s going to boil down to Ron and our doctors making that call.”

On what D’Wan Mathis gained last year while dealing with his situation, and where he is now in terms of readiness...

“As far as D’Wan, the advantage that he’s got is that he got to go on the scout team a lot because he was not medically cleared. If you remember he was not cleared to do anything until past-May. We were kind of in the dark on whether or not—we had to go to like six NFL doctors to look at the scans and see the healing in his skull to be able to clear him. During that time of last season, he was getting all the reps against the scout team which is really helpful because you get to feel the rush. You have one of the best defenses in the country coming at you with a makeshift offensive line a lot of times on the scout team. You feel that pressure and you get to go in there and compete. He got to take a lot of reps in that regard. He is in a little different system. It’s not like he’s in the same system he was in last year.”

On what stood out to him on defense that did not during the first scrimmage...

“I don’t think anything really stood out. I thought we had a couple really nice plays to get interceptions, guys broke along the way and high-pointed the ball, and made good plays on the ball down the field. The one defense dominated the two offense for the most part. They went out and stoned them—a couple three and outs. They didn’t give up a first down. Then the two offense got a little drive going and went down and made some plays, which I was very excited about the two offense getting a little life against the ones. Then, in the ones-on-ones period, it was pretty balanced. Second, 10 and third down, I thought the one offense dominated the one defense. Red area, the one offense beat the one defense, but in the move-the-field portion, the bigger portion of it, the defense was a little bit ahead in regards to that. There wasn’t a lot of difference in the defense from this scrimmage to the last. I certainly am concerned about complacency there, and making sure they are competing and staying on top of things because they have a chance to be a talented group.”

On the changes Georgia plans to make on offense now Newman is gone...

“Yeah, not a lot changed in regards to the quarterback. Like I said, Jamie obviously wasn’t there this week and he was the last, so the reps went to really three guys, and then Stetson in the practices that he wasn’t there. It’s not hard for us in practice to give four guys reps because we do what we do called ‘two-spot.’ We are able to get maybe the ones and threes, or ones and freshmen, and then twos and fours, work. The quality of that work may not be equal because the quality of the age and experience isn’t balanced. The quarterbacks get a lot of work in practice. In a scrimmage, there’s not but one quarterback on the field at a time, so that makes for less reps in a scrimmage for sure.”

On the tight end situation, particularly Tre’ McKitty…

“I have been really pleased with Tre’ McKitty. He is tough. He’s physical. He works. He blocks. He catches. He does a good job. He got a little bit of a ding today, and ended up having to leave the scrimmage—I think about halfway through. I think he will be fine. To be honest with you, I’m not sure if it is his ankle or his knee. We felt like he would be good. Ron was checking on him. Darnell Washington has been working his way into shape. He was at one time 273 lbs. We felt like he needed to get down to 263 to be effective. He’s a big man. Then we got Ryland Goede and Brett Seither back. Those guys took some reps. They’ve done a good job as well. Then John Fitzpartrick has been around. We’ve got a good depth there at tight end. We’re trying to figure out what each one’s skillset is as we endeavor in this offense and try to figure out the best way to use those guys.”

On the 'Dawgs for Pups' initiative and how it resonates with him...

“I’m excited about it because our kids kept expressing the day we talked — it was the day after the NBA boycotts — and so many of them want to use their platform. They say, ‘We want to use our platform, Coach. There’s more we can do, Coach. We want to make an impact. We want to make change.’ You make change with action; you affect young people’s lives, and several of the players stood up in the meeting and said, 'We need to do something in the community, in our communities back home, and in our communities here, and we have the power to do that.’ So, we’re teaming up two powerful things: our brand and the ‘G’ and our players’ social networks, and we’re asking people to support impoverished communities here in Athens that don't have WiFi. Kids can't go to school. They don't have school at home. They can't bring school to them. I know that we're really excited about them ordering over 2,000 hotspots, I think they're going to be able to order, and we're hoping to be able to fund all that."

On how unique it is to be preparing for a first game set for late September when the first game was initially set for this coming Monday, especially in wake of Jamie Newman’s departure...

“It would be really tough if our timeline was different, if we’d found out about Newman closer to the game. It would have been really tough, but we also didn’t get to start when we would have started, either. We’re kind of through practice 12 or 13, and we’re moving along. We’ve been pretty fortunate, knock on wood, from an injury standpoint. The biggest concern I have is COVID and protecting our players, and when you talk to the other guys in the league as we share information, it’s just scary that at any given time, it can hit your team and you not have enough guys to practice and get better. It just seems like it’s a matter of if it’s going to hit you before this game or that game, but it seems to be going around the league. From a quarterback standpoint, the extra time certainly is big and much needed.”

On why he thinks his team has not been hit by COVID-19 in the same way it has affected other programs across the country...

“I think Ron Courson and his staff do a tremendous job, and I don’t think there’s anything we’re doing that somebody else is not. I don’t have a statistic about the positivity rate across the campuses in the SEC, but I know it’s gone up since students have come back which we expected. A lot of our kids are in online classes or in synchronized online classes, and some aren’t. Some are in actual sitting classes. Positive cases at UGA have gone up. We’ve had more in the last week than we have had the previous two weeks. It’s a concern across the board. I don’t know exactly why we’ve had a little less than others, but that can prove unfortunate later in the season if we have more of an outbreak.”

On the program’s march last week/how important it has been to see his staff and fellow coaches speak out on the social injustices...

“I think the most important thing is for our players to be heard and be understood. We believe in education in action. We want to educate our players in every way possible in the proper ways for them to take action and for them to understand how they can bring about change. You change things one day at a time, one person at a time, one vote at a time. We've tried to really impart knowledge on our guys. We don't tell them who to vote for, [and] we don't tell them what to think. That's a freedom that they have and that we all have because we live in this great country. The education piece has been critical, and I think across the UGA Athletic Association, we've done a great job of listening to our student-athletes — because they want to be heard— and also educating them on the circumstances in our country and the ways they can bring about change.”

On the list of things the team wants to do for the community in order to take action/what players have been particularly involved in taking initiative...

“I don't know that there would be any one guy involved in the decisions. When we had the team meeting, everybody was involved. We brainstormed with the entire team. I've had countless meetings with the leadership group in which I've tried to tell them to grab some initiative and just grab the bull by the horns. It really hadn't taken form until here recently, when we had the meeting last Thursday, and that's when the ‘Dawgs for Pups' came about. There are a lot more things on the docket we've got working. Every position group, each week, is going to have a Zoom with an elementary school or middle school that have kids who want to hear from our players, and [our players] want to be mentors for them. The outside linebackers are doing a deal with Zoom on Sunday, and they're going to meet with an elementary school that has kids who want to hear and learn from some of our players who come from the same background. They're trying to change lives one at a time, but I can't say that there's any one position or any group that's had more input in that than another. It’s a shared responsibility for us.”

On whether he believes he is getting a full read on the potential quarterbacks during practices/scrimmages...

“I don't know that we're getting a full read ever. We're not getting a full read on any of them. D’Wan Mathis steps up to scramble today, and you're having to make a determination of ‘Did he get sacked, or did he not?’ That's really never fair, and the only way to make it fair is to make it live. That's the tougher decision, and it's a decision that we've actually thought more about this year than we ever had before. Both JT Daniels himself and Carson Beck — they have mobility. Even JT has some mobility with a knee brace on, but D’Wan certainly is ahead of them in regards to that, so it’s a hard measuring stick. You're trying to judge whether the guy was down or not down, did he break the tackle, or did he not break the tackle? So no, you're not getting a full exposure to what you would like. The only way you’re going to get that is, A. Scrimmage live, or B. Play a game, and the game is next in line for us outside of some other practices to get better.”

On whether there are any players who act as “enforcers” for the team on defense and offense, but also as overall leaders for the team...

“We have some really good leaders. This is a fun team to coach so far. We do things as a group, and I love being around them. They’re funny. They’ve not shied away from any work. I’ve really enjoyed being around both sides of the ball, including special teams. Defensively, Richard LeCounte has been a great leader. Jordan Davis has stepped up. There are so many guys who are leaders. They seem like they’re experienced, and they lead in the right direction. They’re positive when things aren’t going well, and they have a lot of fun on the football field at time. On offense, I feel like that leadership is missing at times, because there’s not a bonafide natural leader out there. Most the time, it’s Jamaree Salyer or Trey Hill or Justin Shaffer, somebody trying to get the offense going. The two backs spark a lot, between Zamir White and James Cook. We certainly need to find that one emotional guy on offense.”

On whether he works more on silent counts knowing there will be significantly less crowd noise…

“We’ve done a lot of work there, and we were not real good at it today. We jumped offsides on defense, I don’t know, maybe three or four times, and when the offense did go on any hard count, they jumped offsides. It’s supposed to be a weapon, and today it was not a weapon. We were glutton for punishment. We did not handle it well, and we were more penalized today than we were last scrimmage for a lot of reasons. It wasn’t clean, and so the penalties were probably the most disappointing part about today’s scrimmage.”

On what Smart needs to see from the quarterbacks in order for one to separate himself from the others...

“You want them to move the offense and score points. I know that’s easier said than done, but it’s a catch-22 here if you’re calling plays designed for a certain quarterback, and you’ve got certain styles. JT Daniels, Carson Beck and D’Wan Mathis are all different quarterbacks. Right now, we’re trying to figure out what they can do. To only call certain things that maybe fit D’Wan or just fit JT or just fit Carson isn’t fair. That’s not right. You’re trying to find out what he can and can’t do. Sometimes I don’t know what you can’t do until I call something to see if you can do it. We’re still trying to figure out exactly what that is. We’re in that stage, instead of just saying, ‘Okay, this guy has these plays [and] this guy has those plays.’ That’s not ever good, because we don’t know what they can and can’t do. They don’t get better unless they get to do [the plays], so we’re going to grow in stages in regards to that. The good news is we have a lot of work to do mentally in preparation to get ready for the first game, but also to get our offense kind of in sync in rhythm to be able to hit things in rhythm."

Scott Cochran Discusses Fall 2020 Prep

Special teams coordinator Scott Cochran offered the following comments about the upcoming season Friday afternoon.

On why the move to UGA was important to him and what made him choose Georgia...

“I’ve always wanted to coach, and I found the best opportunity. Coach Smart gave it to me, and I had to jump on it.”

On the transition to special teams coordinator/how much his experience at Alabama prepared him…

“I would say it’s been challenging for sure, and that’s kind of what I was looking for. When I first got into coaching, it was at the high school level, and I kind of fell in love with special teams and strength and conditional sort of came with it. When I had the opportunity to do strength or special teams when I was a GA (graduate assistant), I went with the strength side. Now, I wanted to transition into special teams."

On the differences in the Georgia culture and Alabama culture in terms of his staff…

“Knowing Coach Smart since LSU days, and then obviously that time at Alabama, I think everything that he does, he has a process and has an organized plan for everything. Then cultural wise, it’s been fun just to get to know the players. Diving into the culture side, there are a lot of similarities for sure."

On his thoughts about returning to Alabama in his new role…

“I’m just excited. I mean, how could you not be? Just having football alone is exciting, but going back to Alabama — every game is important— when that time comes, it’s going to be great."

On what has been the reaction from the Alabama community since his departure…

“It’s so hard to tell because everyone I knew and everyone I was around was always pro the players, just like I was, and pro my personal development. I think this COVID pandemic has kind of pushed my stuff away, which has been great in a way, so I could really concentrate on being great at my current job."

On his ‘funeral’ comment leading up to the 2008 Georgia vs. Alabama game…

“The great thing about that is that no one remembers that—the players at UGA. No one even knows about it, so don’t tell anybody. Help me out a little bit. I’m trying to gain the respect around here. I was kind of keeping that on the DL, right now. In reality, I think in that moment it was kind of make or break. I wasn’t planning on it becoming public at all, but at the same time when it did—I was scared to death. I was 29 years old, I think. Whew! I thought I was going to lose my job.”

On his ‘funeral’ comment becoming ‘bulletin board’ content…

“That’s exactly what everyone said. You know people said, ‘They didn’t need motivation; you just gave it to them.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, thanks.’”

On the different approaches he takes now as an on-field coach that he did not necessarily take as a strength coach…

“For me, I have to really be specific with my time. In the weight room, you didn’t have as much time. Now, I have time I feel like on the field, but I’m missing that hour in the weight room. It's kind of a catch-22, but yes. For me, I feel like I have to be detailed, and I have to be very specific on my goals on who I am trying to reach, what players I’m trying to reach to do a better job—whether it be on kickoff or kick return. So, it’s very similar, but I feel like, because of the weight room, now I have to be way more detailed, and kind of planned on what I’m going to say.”

On his journey to becoming an on-field coach…

“It’s one of those things that was always in the back of my mind, that I wanted to get on the field—to see this side of it and work this side. When I had the opportunity, I mean come on, Coach Smart is the best to do it. So, let’s go!”

On what made him finally decide to make the transition out of Alabama…

“I think everything happens for a reason. Timing is everything and, at the time, I felt like I was in a good place. Now, I feel like I’m in a great place! I think timing has everything to do with it and, for me, right now is the time. I’m just excited about this opportunity.”

On his philosophy…

“Speed kills. Speed kills! If you’re fast and physical, I am going to find a spot. You don’t have to be the smartest guy on the team, you just have to be fast and physical.”

On how involved he was in recruiting this summer/what he brings to the process…

"I was expecting to get on the road. I was expecting to meet guys. Now, everything is virtual, so that was a challenge. I like sitting face-to-face and talking it out, but I've been able to do that virtually. What I bring is what I've always brought, and I'm going to be real and tell them like it is. I'm going to help them develop before they get here and, once they get here, I'm going to continue that process.”

On his take on last weekend’s scrimmage/what was sloppy from a special teams standpoint…

"​It's the first scrimmage. Before we got to the scrimmage in a full setting, we did a lot of reps and individual stuff, but that full setting, I agree 100%. We're coaches; this is what we do. We're going to coach it until we can't get it wrong. This second scrimmage, we're going to hopefully come out a little bit better."

On the guys who jump out at him who are ‘physical freaks’…

​"The O-line and D-line— you could list anyone on it. Then, you go to the linebackers, [and] it's hard not to see their size when you see them. To me, that's a big hats off to Coach Scott Sinclair. He does a really good job, but to say specific names— I would leave out so many.”

On his thoughts about the way Georgia does strength and conditioning/the work Scott Sinclair does…

​​"He knows what he's doing, that's for sure. I'm very impressed by the way he handles things from top to bottom in the weight room. The stuff that I've seen has been awesome, so I'm a big fan of the stuff he does for sure.”

On his assessment of Georgia’s kicking and return games as they stand right now/whether he sees Jake Camarda as being the major threat in taking the starting job…

"We have competition everywhere. From the deep snappers, we have three guys attacking it every day to try to figure out who's going to be the guy. For kick off, we have four guys going at it. Jake Camarda is in the mix, Jack Podlesny and Jared Zirkel are doing really well. It's a lot of fun for me with the returners, because you've got Kearis Jackson, James Cook and Zamir White. I've got a lot of cool toys to play with, and there's a lot of competition on that side of it, so everyone gets better, and that's great for us."

On whether he has always possessed so much energy...

“I would say ‘yes' to that, but I think it’s all about timing, too. The one thing for me— and this is for recruiting too and coaching— is I just like to be real. If it’s needed, I’m going to do it. If we’re out there and dead and moving then, man, what a great way to set the tempo with special teams. We start every game, every half like, “Let’s go!" Are you kidding? Have I always been that way? I think so.”

On whether he ever had a moment where the decision to make the move to UGA clicked…

“I don’t know if there was a moment that made it click. I just think that it was time for me to transition. There’s no time like the present. I hated the fact that right after, we had the pandemic. At the same time, maybe I can use it to my advantage like I tell the players to use it to their advantage. It can be all negative, but everybody’s got the same problem, so decide today that it’s going to be an advantage which is near impossible to say with all the stuff going on.”

On where his toughness, work ethic and confidence originate…

“It’s all from my momma and daddy for sure, hands down. Dad was military and Mom was a teacher, so that definitely ran in the family of being tough and having a good time being tough, too."

On whether he expects to have nerves heading into his first game in his position…

“Yes. Yes for sure. I’m big on nerves. I’m big on controlling your nerves. I have to deal with, obviously dealing with specialist a lot, but I’m dealing with freshmen. I’m dealing with guys that last year were all starting on special teams and now they’re starting on defense and I have them on one special teams. Man that’s just…shoot I was nervous coming in and talking to all of you. I think nerves are part of it. I love it. Who was it? I think John ‘Bones’ Jones said ‘you get the butterflies, the key is to fly in formation.’ If you’re not nervous and anxious I don’t think it’s important to you."

On whether he uses the fact that he wasn’t given the opportunity to be an on-field coach at Alabama as motivation...

"You can use anything for motivation. To me, the question goes deeper. I think Coach Saban has my back; I worked for him for 18 years. If the position would have been open at Alabama, it probably would have been a possibility. For me, I wanted to work with Coach Smart. I wanted to work with somebody who I see eye-to-eye on with a lot of things. I see the same with Coach Saban, obviously. I wouldn’t be here without him, but with Coach Smart, I feel like there’s a big emphasis on some things that I’m big on."

Kickoff Set For Arkansas, Auburn, Alabama And Florida

Georgia’s first two football games this fall — the season opener September 26th at Arkansas and the home opener vs. Auburn on October 3rd, were among an early round of selections made Tuesday by the ESPN networks, according to an announcement by the SEC office.

The Dawgs’ contest in Fayetteville in slated for a 4:00 p.m. (ET) kickoff and will be televised by the SEC Network. The following Saturday, Georgia will play Auburn on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in a 7:30 p.m. (ET) kickoff on ESPN.

Two other games, October 17th at Alabama, slated for a prime-time, 8:00 p.m. (ET) kickoff and November 7th vs. Florida in Jacksonville at its traditional time of 3:30 p.m. (ET), were selected as part of the 7-game package of SEC games carried nationally by CBS in the season, according to an announcement by the league office Tuesday.

Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson, along with reporter Jamie Erdahl, are CBS Sports’ lead college football announce team. Gene Steratore will again serve as the Rules Analyst.

Kickoff times and networks were announced for the first two weeks of the SEC football season and selected games for three other Saturdays later in the year. Given the unique circumstances of this season, the SEC requested that its television partners make advanced game selections where possible prior to the start of the season to assist the Conference and schools with planning and logistics.

For any games not chosen before the start of the season, the normal 12 or six-day selection process will be used during the season.

The 2020 SEC football season will be comprised of a 10-game Conference-only schedule and the SEC Football Championship Game will be played December 19th at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, rescheduled from the original date of December 5th. The schedule will include one mid-season open date for each school and an open date on December 12th for all schools.