Alright folks, let’s dive into my recent little experiment: trying to replicate some of Kirby Smart’s defensive schemes in the context of, well, if he was somehow coaching the Indianapolis Colts. Sounds wild, right? But hear me out.
First, I started by watching a ton of Georgia Bulldogs game film. I mean, hours and hours. Not just highlights, but the full games, focusing on their defensive alignments, pre-snap reads, and how they reacted to different offensive sets. I wanted to understand the underlying principles, not just copy the plays.
Next, I took notes. Lots of ’em. I was looking for patterns. What coverages did they favor in certain situations? How did they utilize their linebackers? What were their blitz packages like? I started building a playbook, essentially a Kirby Smart for Dummies version, tailored to the Colts’ personnel (at least, as I understand it from following the NFL).
Then came the tricky part: translating that playbook to the Colts. This wasn’t about a simple copy-paste. The Colts don’t have the exact same players as Georgia. So, I had to think about how to adapt the concepts. For example, maybe the Colts don’t have a generational talent like Jalen Carter on the defensive line. Okay, how can we compensate for that with more creative blitzes or by using different stunts?
I started drawing up some hypothetical plays, imagining how the Colts’ current players would execute them. I considered player strengths and weaknesses, trying to find ways to put them in the best possible positions to succeed. This involved a lot of trial and error, and a lot of scratching my head.
I focused on a few key areas that I think are crucial to Smart’s defensive philosophy: aggressive run stopping, versatile linebacker play, and disguising coverages. I devised some drills to work on those aspects, things I could actually do on a field with some buddies. It was all pretty amateur, but the goal was to see if the concepts were sound.
The biggest challenge? Simplifying everything. Smart’s defenses are complex and rely on a lot of communication and split-second decision-making. Trying to distill that into something a group of us could grasp in an afternoon was tough. I had to pare down the playbook to the most essential elements.
Finally, we ran some of these “Colts-ified Kirby Smart” plays in a scrimmage. The results? Mixed. Some things worked really well. The blitz packages created some confusion, and we got some good pressure on the quarterback. Other things were a complete mess. Communication breakdowns, missed assignments – the usual stuff.
But the experience was invaluable. I learned a ton about defensive football, and I gained a whole new appreciation for what Kirby Smart does at Georgia. It’s not just about having great players; it’s about having a system that maximizes their potential and puts them in positions to make plays. And, most importantly, I had fun! So, yeah, that’s my little Kirby Smart Colts experiment. Maybe I’ll try replicating Nick Saban’s offense next time… or maybe not!
