Georgia Bulldogs : Should Fans Be Impatient with Kirby Smart?
By Kit Anderson
Georgia Bulldog’s Head Coach Kirby Smart has already lost some fans who believe he should be fired based on this season.
The Georgia Bulldogs had a bright finish to their season this year knocking off TCU more than a month after falling late to a resurgent Georgia Tech team Thanksgiving weekend. The win finished out the first season that Dawg’s fans have had with a new coach to blame in quite some time.
Even with a weak SEC this year the Dawgs struggled throughout the season falling to Vandy, Georgia Tech, and having a difficult time beating the likes of Nicholls State. The Bulldogs also lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Tennessee Vols failing to keep them out of the end zone when they were only seconds away from a big upset win that would have put them back in the SEC race.
With the tough losses many fans have already begun to lose patience with first year Coach Kirby Smart. While the frustration is understandable it is misplaced to the put the blame on the shoulders of Smart. Kirby Smart is still in the process of rebuilding a Dawgs team that suffered from several seasons of poor recruiting. It is important to give Smart the benefit of a doubt this season considering that he is yet to have a full year under his belt as a head coach focused on recruiting for Georgia and getting used to the rigors of coaching a SEC team.
The Dawg’s win against TCU is an encouraging sign along with the steps forward that true freshman quarterback Jacob Eason has taken throughout the season. Along with the 2017 recruiting class that Smart is assembling Eason is a crucial piece to the Bulldog’s success over at least the next two seasons. Eason has been labeled as a can’t miss NFL prospect but showed his inexperience this season with multiple errant throws and struggling behind a weak offensive line.
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Both Kirby Smart and Jacob Eason are still adjusting to the next level of their careers and should be given at least another season to show improvement. Smart in particular is just beginning to get his feet under him as the Georgia Head Coach. He is yet to benefit from his own recruiting class and has already had many impressive prospects commit to the Dawgs. There is no questioning losing isn’t fun, but for those blaming Coach Smart remember he is still cleaning up after Mark Richt and should be given at least another year to right the ship.