Where Do Things Stand at Defensive Back?
After 15 practices and three scrimmages, where do things stand at defensive back for Georgia?
The Dawgs went into spring practice off the backs of the departure of three starting defensive backs along with three other contributors. Not to mention defensive back coach Charlton Warren left Athens to become the defensive coordinator at Indiana.
Replacing three starters at any position is tough but doing it at defensive back when it seems like everyone is running a spread offense predicated on an explosive vertical passing game makes the task more demanding. On top of that, replacing your defensive back coach is not helpful. But Coach Smart is no stranger to the defensive back position.
Smart played as a safety during his playing career in Athens, where he recorded an all-time Georgia record of 13 interceptions over four years in the red and black. Smart would then coach defensive backs for 11 years. Ten of those under the legendary Nick Saban. It is safe to say that Smart can impart his knowledge for the position on any assistant he chooses (it also helps to have Smart’s one-time safety pairing Will Muschamp on staff as an analyst).
With Richard LeCounte getting into a motorcycle accident following the Kentucky game, his eventual successor Christopher Smith gained even more experience before stepping into the full-time starting role in 2021.
Smith performed better than many expected as he finished the season with 26 total tackles and four quarterback pressures. Smith showed signs of the potential that was talked about throughout his recruiting process. The former four-star prospect out of Atlanta, Georgia, is a player who could improve his stock tremendously in 2021.
Smith will be playing alongside Georgia’s most experienced defensive back in terms of starts, Lewis Cine, who has amassed 12 starts in his first two campaigns in Athens. The junior safety stepped up in the absence of Richard LeCounte. But there is still room for improvement with the junior out of Cedar Hill, Texas. Cine has only recorded one career interception through his freshman and sophomore seasons.
LeCounte was the playmaker on the backend for Georgia in the past as being a ballhawk. Replacing his ball-hawking ability will be making his shoes even bigger to fill.
A combined 17 career starts at safety; it will certainly help deal with the glaring lack of experience at cornerback. Both starting outside corners Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell declared for the Draft, while rotational piece DJ Daniel went with them.
The early contenders to replace those three Ameer Speed, Jalen Kimber, Kelee Ringo, and Nyland Green, have never started a collegiate game. Speed is the most experienced out of the three, seeing action in 24 games to this point heading into his senior season.
G-Day was our first look at three of the contenders as Speed and Kimber were the starting pairing for team black. Kelee Ringo started for team red, while Green did not participate in G-Day, and was not present.
Speed and Kimber were able to get experience, be it in a pre-season game atmosphere, against some of Georgia’s top healthiest receivers. Ringo made his debut in the red after missing the 2020 season after surgery to repair a torn labrum.
We also saw senior Latavious Brini starting at the STAR position for Georgia in the secondary. Brini’s competition at the position rose mid-way through camp with the announcement of honorable mention All-American Tykee Smith’s intention to transfer to Georgia in the fall after two successful seasons at West Virginia.
Smith adds much-needed experience to the defensive back and a sense of familiarity with the new defensive back Jahmile Addae, something only he possesses. Addae coached Smith for two seasons at West Virginia, where he guided Smith to become an All-American as a true freshman.
Georgia is looking to replace two contributors at the STAR position as Mark Webb declared for the Draft, while his likely full-time replacement Tyrique Stevenson transferred to Miami. Smith and Brini are the two favorites to start at the position entering fall camp.
While Georgia went into this spring with many questions that needed to be answered, we never expected them to get answered after 15 practices. To be honest, it was unrealistic to think Georgia will have all of their starters in place before fall camp. But Georgia is better off at the position with the addition of Tykee Smith and the added experience of spring practice.