Darian Kinnard will be one of the most physical offensive linemen Georgia will face this year.
Georgia’s defense is fourth nationally against the run while Kentucky ranks 23rd overall in rushing offense with 214 yards per game behind Southeastern Conference leading rusher Chris Rodriguez (768 yards/128 yards per game and six touchdowns). Georgia’s defense has overpowered six teams going into Saturday afternoon’s matchup at No. 1 Georgia. The Bulldogs are being touted as one of the best defenses nationally.
Is this the best defense Stoops has faced in his nine years at Kentucky?
“It is hard to argue that. I haven’t put much thought into other great defenses. We certainly have played a lot of great defenses through my time here. You watch these guys on film, and it is another level of good. It’s impressive what they’re doing defensively,” Stoops said.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart says quarterback Will Levis has added a different dimension to the UK offense. Kentucky ranks 97th nationally in passing offense with 197 yards per game and Wan’Dale Robinson has 44 percent (527 of 1,186) of the passing yards UK does have.
Smart said Levis, a Penn State transfer, is a “wise, really bright” player who is proficient in the play-action system.
“The quarterback is a really good athlete, and he throws the ball really well. He has weapons,” Smart said.
The Georgia coach says Kentucky is always one of the “most physical games” Georgia has even if UK coach Mark Stoops has never beat the Bulldogs.
“I don’t think the rest of the world understands the physicality that their offensive line has played with. Their run game. Their defensive line has been enormous in terms of size. Just a different type than maybe when you play against Arkansas or even Auburn. They strike blockers,” Smart said.
“They are very similar to us defensively in the front mechanics they play and how they play blockers. They have always been really great at stopping the run and running the ball. The added dimension now is the quarterback with the vertical pass game. The weapons they have outside are obviously different, and the back (Rodriguez) runs so physical and downhill.”
Smart believes UK has four “draftable” players in the offensive line and says some will go high in the NFL draft.
“Their tackles are really good players and they’ve always had a good offensive line, but they had a good offensive line last year. (Darian) Kinnard is one of the most physical players we’ve played against. He’s huge, long arms,” Smart said.
“They’re committed to the run game and what they do. Very physical and a good team, people don’t understand that because they look at them last year because they didn’t have a lot of the same weapons in the pass game, the quarterback wasn’t a thrower like this guy is and they’re a really good team. I have a lot of respect for how they play.”
