Kirby Smart Talks Jamon Dumas Johnson Injury and Win over Missouri
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00:00 >> [LAUGH] >> Right,
00:02 we get a few opening comments on the game and then questions.
00:05 >> First off, I'm really proud of our players.
00:09 I think that we built a group of men and
00:13 team that go out and play with resiliency, composure.
00:16 Really, we talked all week about having discipline to execute in crunch times.
00:21 And they did that.
00:22 They had discipline.
00:24 I thought that our first three points came on them jumping off sides.
00:29 And our kids were disciplined enough to stay on sides.
00:31 We stole a drive there.
00:32 Give Missouri a lot of credit.
00:35 I think Eli does a great job.
00:38 And that team's hard to play.
00:39 You gotta, I kinda think it was a three year starter quarterback.
00:42 I don't know if that's exactly right.
00:43 But he played against us here three years ago.
00:46 And we've got tremendous skill and great size on the defensive line.
00:50 So our kids played really hard.
00:52 The difference in the game was probably a kicking game this time.
00:56 And Woodman coming through and uses returns.
01:00 And some critical red area stops.
01:03 That's what games come down to.
01:04 He actually said it during the week.
01:06 Third down to red area, we would look back on as being major critical spots.
01:11 And they played well in red area defensively.
01:13 And we played well in red area defensively.
01:16 Great team, great games, what the SEC's all about.
01:19 And all the more reason we get to go to the next week.
01:22 So what the life of the SEC is.
01:25 >> What about the interception of Stackhouse?
01:31 Can you see what you saw on that play and how important it was?
01:34 >> Huge, biggest play of the game.
01:35 It was slow motion.
01:37 We told him after the game we had to get his hand on him.
01:39 The fact that he said he took out and he didn't know he was gonna score.
01:43 And he didn't realize how far he had to run.
01:44 >> [LAUGH] >> He was out of breath about halfway.
01:47 Jaylin Walker did a great job.
01:49 Just a great example of how to discipline to not block somebody or
01:54 clip somebody in the back.
01:55 And they did a great job there.
01:56 >> You mentioned Peyton, but hitting a career long in a really big situation.
02:01 Was it more for you, like I said, the fact that you could have come through with
02:04 that kick?
02:05 >> Yeah, it shows we have a lot of faith in him and trust in him.
02:08 I think the toughest call I had all night was on four and five.
02:11 There's a lot of analytics that will tell you not to kick that field goal.
02:14 Cuz a six point differential just tells them they get four downs and
02:18 you just invited them to have four.
02:20 But I thought there was a chance we might have another chance at a field goal.
02:23 Three and three, but we make nine.
02:25 But if we don't get the field goal or we hit it and they go down and score,
02:30 it's certainly a tough situation.
02:31 You gotta have confidence in the rest of your team that can stop them.
02:34 We got about half of that third down back.
02:37 There was consideration there on four and five, we go for it.
02:39 But because of Peyton and what he's been able to do, we kicked it.
02:44 >> Coach, I think I noticed Kamari Lasker in the slide.
02:46 I guess what, when in the decision to move him in there, and
02:48 what does it do for your defense to have a guy that can go do that?
02:51 >> Well, Kamari's a talented football player.
02:54 And when he first got here as a freshman,
02:56 we had times that we worked him in the slot.
02:58 We cross trained because he's a match up, pretty physical tackle,
03:01 a really tough guy.
03:02 And as we watched him during that week,
03:05 we felt like we needed to have a weapon, some answers in the slot.
03:09 And to do that, you gotta have guys that go out the outside.
03:12 And Doug Daly and Julian had to go out there and play.
03:18 They made some good plays.
03:19 They had some really close PIs and tough calls.
03:23 They had some really tough back shoulder throws.
03:25 And you take Kamari off in that boundary spot and go up in yourself to those.
03:29 So we think we have good corners to play.
03:33 And Kamari allows us, we're lucky that we have defensive players
03:36 versatile enough to try to match up to some things they did.
03:39 >> Why do you think this team has been able to make good plays to keep you guys
03:43 competed when you've had too many tight games?
03:46 >> Yeah, I really believe in our system.
03:48 We have built a culture of competitive edge in the fourth quarter.
03:54 We believe that we're in the best condition and
03:57 we're gonna win the game in the fourth quarter.
03:59 We're gonna rely on each other.
04:00 I got goosebumps down my back when they went down there and scored.
04:04 And Cedric Vanderham was yelling at the defense to run off the field.
04:08 Run off the field, we got your back, we got your back, we're gonna be fine.
04:11 Cuz they were in Missouri, put together a really good drive,
04:13 kinda broke it down our throat, and hit us on a lot of fastball runs.
04:18 And Ced was telling those guys, jog it off, we're gonna be fine.
04:21 And there's a lot of good leadership out there, man.
04:23 We got some really positive leadership.
04:25 >> Kirk, on these tight games,
04:26 is the locker room scene pretty much the same in terms of,
04:30 I mean, you guys come out in the second half and you need to do a ETA.
04:32 What about these?
04:34 >> Look, all games are gonna be tight.
04:36 I don't know, like y'all are, I don't like, we're having tight, I mean,
04:39 tight games are what you do in the SEC.
04:41 I mean, that's the margin of victory.
04:43 It is hard to win.
04:44 Here's some projects come out of the SEC.
04:46 It's hard to win.
04:48 Make sure these guys enjoy it,
04:50 cuz they realize how hard it is across the NFL.
04:53 It's hard, man.
04:54 You're gonna get every team's best shot, and
04:57 I thought our guys played a really good football team tonight.
05:00 And we practiced really well, prepared for it.
05:03 I was proud of the way they played.
05:04 I don't know if that answers your question, but the locker room's great.
05:07 I mean, they've been in these kind of battles.
05:11 >> You guys scored on your first four drives at a halftime,
05:13 and when you're running the clock out there, what sort of changed with this
05:16 offense, especially when going into the half, you have two three outs right before
05:19 then?
05:20 >> I don't know.
05:20 I'll have to watch and see.
05:21 I can't really tell you what changed.
05:22 I know that we have a potent offense, we have a lot of weapons.
05:26 We have a lot of guys we can use.
05:27 We got a guy that can get it to them.
05:28 We got good pass protectors.
05:29 We got good run blockers.
05:30 I didn't think we ran the ball overly well in the first half or the second half.
05:35 Now, the second half had some moments, and you gotta be able to control options.
05:40 You can't live life in second and all game.
05:43 And I thought we have a lot of second and all, but they won first down more than we
05:46 did.
05:47 And Mike did a good job staying with it, sticking with the plan.
05:50 We were very committed to the run, but most teams would have abandoned it.
05:55 >> Kirby, Carter's had a couple of intense scrambles.
05:57 Can you talk about what that means when he's able to get those few yards in
06:00 those situations and poison the second half?
06:02 >> It's hard, look at us.
06:04 I mean, their quarterback was the leading rusher probably in the first half.
06:07 And it's tough on the defense when you cover everybody and he takes off.
06:11 Their guy made it hard, and our guy made it hard on them.
06:15 The conversions he had with his feet are just,
06:18 it makes you as a defense coordinator not wanna call certain things.
06:20 It takes you out of your element.
06:22 >> Kirby, Carson actually said he almost had to learn how to play football again
06:25 this year since it had been so long since he'd taken a hit.
06:28 What has he shown you this year?
06:31 And maybe you didn't know before, or maybe you didn't know before.
06:34 What's he affirmed to you?
06:35 >> I say it often because everybody asks that question about,
06:38 I just, I never, I always had a lot of confidence in Carson.
06:42 I mean, Carson, he did all the things he's doing now.
06:44 He did them in all practices.
06:46 He did them against a 20-21 defense that may have been one of the top three
06:52 defenses ever, and he did it every day out there.
06:55 He would go against those guys and be like, man, this guy ain't flinching.
06:57 So I've seen all these things before.
07:00 If anything surprises me, it's probably his feet.
07:03 Cuz he didn't get to use those often in practices.
07:08 It's like you can't hit him, so he takes off running.
07:10 It's like we don't know if he'd have got it or not.
07:12 But his composure and his decision making,
07:15 his ability to change protections and know what defenses are doing.
07:20 I mean, you gotta give him a lot of credit.
07:21 First touchdown was probably all he did.
07:24 He saw something, made a change, and did a great job.
07:27 >> Did Sgt. Mallon go down with an injury?
07:29 Any update there?
07:30 >> I'm not sure, I think it's a tibia or it's a fracture or something in the forearm.
07:36 >> How do you feel like the linebackers, CJ and
07:38 anyone else got up here and played after he got hurt?
07:41 >> Didn't match.
07:42 They played before he got hurt.
07:43 I mean, those guys have played all year, so we need those guys to keep coming and
07:47 keep growing up.
07:47 And they've done a tremendous job.
07:50 Got a lot of respect for those young guys.
07:51 They've worked for this opportunity.
07:53 They go out there and practice every day as hard as they can.
07:56 And they're really good football players.
07:59 CJ and Ryan are very talented, and they got thrown in the fire tonight.
08:02 More than normal.
08:04 >> Do you like the preparation process for these games, or do you like the games?
08:08 Which is more fulfilling, fun, whatever?
08:11 >> I like both.
08:13 If you don't like it, I shouldn't do it.
08:14 It's like, what am I doing this for?
08:16 I've almost been this many hours, countless hours of it.
08:18 The offense is still 10, 10.30 at night, come in at 7.
08:21 I mean, there's a lot of preparation going on.
08:23 It was fun to game plan for this one,
08:25 but it was a little more chess match with them, the way they're playing.
08:28 They're not traditional.
08:30 They get in some four wide sets, and that's not, everybody's 11 and 12.
08:35 They were 10, and we got to do some different things with that.
08:39 They create tough matchups.
08:42 They get the best personnel on the field when they do that.
08:45 So I enjoy that more, and I enjoy seeing the kids play on game day.
08:49 I enjoy the decision making process.
08:52 As head coach, I don't have to worry about calling it.
08:54 I just gotta figure out what's our next play?
08:57 What's our next way to get an advantage?
08:59 >> You've matched Coach Dooley's home run streak now, I think, with 24.
09:02 What does that mean to get that victory at Sanford State?
09:06 >> Means I have a lot of respect for Coach Dooley, so
09:08 I want him to keep his name on there forever.
09:11 >> You mentioned that drive where Missouri kind of ran the ball in the fourth
09:14 quarters.
09:14 What did you see from them about them having success on the ground,
09:17 I guess overall in that drive, that tempo?
09:19 >> They didn't do anything.
09:22 They haven't done it on here.
09:23 They didn't scheme us up.
09:24 They went for ass.
09:25 >> It seems like they might have blissed you a little bit in the first half,
09:29 when we were 0-0.
09:31 I guess what's the key to being successful in offense,
09:33 even when facing pressure like that?
09:35 >> They bliss us all game.
09:36 I mean, it's what they do.
09:38 They're aggressive.
09:39 They come after you.
09:40 They make you beat them.
09:42 And they come hard.
09:43 They think they've got three sacks on our team.
09:45 They've had not many sacks.
09:47 I think they ended up with three sacks.
09:48 They're very aggressive.
09:49 You gotta have answers.
09:50 We work hard on that.
09:51 They know that.
09:51 They know your answers.
09:53 So it's a matter of, it's a cat and mouse game of,
09:56 are you gonna get a better answer than they got and respond to it?
10:00 They won some and they lost some.
10:01 >> Can you talk about getting number ten Ole Miss and
10:03 your old buddy Lane Kitten in the next week?
10:06 >> Yeah, they've got a great team.
10:07 I mean, I've got a piece of work on them tomorrow.
10:10 And a lot of respect for what Lane's done and built there.
10:13 He's an offensive mind.
10:15 He's gone out there playing good defense now too.
10:17 So it'll be a helpful matchup, cuz they've got a really good football team.
10:21 >> Can you talk about what happened to Kamara when he went down?
10:23 >> He just had some back spasm.
10:24 I mean, he just wanted to get up and celebrate, so everybody cheered.
10:28 >> [LAUGH] >> Have you noticed Xavier Soria wasn't
10:32 out there today?
10:33 >> He wasn't, but it's for personal reasons.
10:35 >> Kirby Stackhouse.
10:36 >> You talked about McConkie making continued contributions.
10:40 >> Yeah, what are you asking about that?
10:42 >> If you can use the stomp on his player.
10:44 >> Also, a great competitor.
10:47 Maybe we finally completed a post for the first time in a year.
10:51 He drove in there, and I thought, well, I had a chance for one early.
10:55 I thought the guy might have got there early, but we didn't get the call.
10:58 And then that hit the one later.
11:00 He made some big misses in one play.
11:02 We didn't block the guy.
11:03 I mean, we threw the ball out there and didn't block it right.
11:06 And that made him miss.
11:08 Big play in the game.
11:09 His playmaker, players make plays, and he did it.
11:11 >> Kirby Stackhouse said he hit 18 miles an hour is what he was told.
11:15 >> There's no change.
11:16 >> [LAUGH] >> There's no chance.
11:17 I don't think he hit 18 miles an hour on a bike or a car.
11:20 >> [LAUGH] >> Did you say
11:26 they're tough this past year?
11:28 >> They're all tough, bro.
11:30 They're all tough.
11:31 There's no difference.
11:32 They're all tough.
11:34 >> We talked all week about what you learned about your team last year.
11:38 You guys played Missouri.
11:39 What do you feel like you learned about your team in this year's game?
11:42 >> All the same things.
11:44 We got a disciplined football team.
11:45 They do a little gas.
11:47 We don't get a lot of stupid penalties.
11:49 They believe in each other.
11:52 They believe that if they don't win the last moment, they'll win the next moment.
11:57 And if you win enough moments, you can do pretty good.
12:02 And we won enough moments tonight.
12:03 >> What's the key to playing good defense in a red zone?
12:07 >> Stop the run.
12:09 When you do stop the run, you're gonna make them do a throw.
12:13 You have to throw with less area, cuz there's a back line back there.
12:16 They don't give you seven to catch you behind it.
12:18 So you can sit on the house and squat on things.
12:21 It forces you to run the ball.
12:24 If you can't, it shows up behind the red area.
12:26 If you can't stop it, it shows up behind the red area.
12:29 >> Just wanted to ask about Marcus and his status after shaking off after that play.
12:32 If you could have gone back in and you needed him, would he have gone back in?
12:34 >> I don't even know the answer to that.
12:36 I didn't realize that he didn't go back in.
12:37 I remember the player talking about it, but I didn't get any updates.
12:41 And I don't know.
12:42 I don't think he's okay.
12:43 He was talking after the play, but I can't confirm that.
12:46 >> How was Missouri different from last year to this year?
12:48 I mean, obviously, really good defense, more offense.
12:51 >> Yeah, very similar.
12:52 A lot of the same offensive plays.
12:53 He went out and hired offensive coordinator,
12:54 brought some new wrinkles in, and they're big defensively.
12:57 Number six is just a grown man and
13:00 one of the hardest people to block in our league.
13:03 And they are really good.
13:07 They have a good football team.
13:08 They play sound, good, everything.
13:10 Special teams, they're sound.
13:12 It's not like you go in and you're like, ooh, I got him here.
13:14 You're trying to create an advantage, and it's hard to get a great field goalkeeper.
13:19 >> When on the stretch,
13:20 do you feel like you guys are playing y'all's best ball in November?
13:25 >> I don't know.
13:25 I mean, I think we've gotten better.
13:27 I think we've got to continue to improve.
13:28 I thought we had a great week of practice for
13:30 him, we thought we had a really good week of practice this week.
13:33 I expect him to play well, and the other kids came out and competed more.
13:38 >> Sure, he could have possibly had a big day.
13:40 What about, I mean, concerns about running in or
13:42 certainly the ticket cap the way that guy ran and they blocked him?
13:45 >> Yeah, he's a great runner, but they got great scheme.
13:50 I mean, they know when to run the ball.
13:52 They're not running the ball into loaded boxes, and
13:54 they do a great job on the stretch game.
13:56 I mean, they run the stretch as good as anybody in college football.
13:59 And it hurts for them.
14:02 >> So can Pop play in a cast?
14:04 >> I don't think so.
14:06 I don't know that.
14:07 I'd have to go see.
14:08 I just got a text with the x-ray on it.
14:10 So it's one of those that I doubt is gonna be able to, I don't know that.
14:14 >> Some big catches from Oscar,
14:16 just what do you feel like he brings to this offense?
14:18 >> Great kid, great player, blocks his tail off, works hard.
14:23 Made a catch down the field today.
14:26 It's what we were yearning for.
14:27 I mean, Oscar's a good football player.
14:29 >> Coach, are we to expect the red zone package with Brock down here moving forward
14:33 and all that, or is that just a- >> Well, we saw a little bit,
14:35 we thought we liked it.
14:36 And I thought we liked it, I told Mike and him that he gives us extra dynamic there.
14:42 And we didn't execute it very good, it was his fault.
14:45 And I was glad that he used it, cuz I trust Brock.
14:48 He brings an extra dynamic to the game.
14:52 >> How did Dom handle the weekend?
14:53 How do you think, what it meant to him to get in the end zone against his old team?
14:56 >> I know it meant a lot to him.
14:57 There was a ton of players out there hugging him afterwards.
14:59 He's such a great teammate and competitor that I know.
15:02 It meant a lot to him, but it meant a lot to them too.
15:04 That can be emotional, and we talked about the two things that cause you
15:08 to lose discipline are loss of emotions and loss of fatigue.
15:12 And you don't let fatigue sit in, cuz you lose discipline.
15:15 You don't let emotions set in, cuz you lose discipline.
15:17 And he didn't do that today, and he was out of it.
15:20 >> Let's take two more questions.
15:21 >> Coach, we're disappointed right before half time,
15:23 you didn't take advantage of the opportunity.
15:25 Maybe go in and score some more points right before half time.
15:27 >> Absolutely not.
15:28 We didn't let them take advantage of it either.
15:31 So if we hurry up and punt it to them, they got more time.
15:35 So the goal is to get a first down and score.
15:38 If you don't do that, the goal is don't give them the ball.
15:40 So by this point, we didn't quite convert, yeah.
15:43 But he didn't call timeout either, cuz he's sitting there thinking, Lord,
15:46 if I call timeout, it won't help.
15:48 And then we keep the ball to them, and they didn't take advantage of it either.
15:53 >> The fans were bullied after you decided not to come back to the Gold Board.
15:56 How do you feel about that?
15:58 >> It was time.
15:59 >> And in the first half, you kind of- >> They were booing it,
16:02 I think the two minute mark he's talking about where we stalled out.
16:06 But I'll be honest with you, I don't,
16:08 I gotta make decisions based on what wins games, not what wins spreads.
16:12 >> [LAUGH]