What Georgia's Defense May Look Like with Tykee Smith

Tykee Smith's transfer changes the face of Georgia football's 2021 defense.

Over a week ago, Dawgs Daily published a story about what Georgia football's defense would look like in 2021. 

However, despite being less than 10 days old, that article is pretty much useless because it was written before West Virginia transfer Tykee Smith joined the team. 

A player of Smith's caliber changes the outlook of a defense. A lot of what we thought about the 2021 defense has been altered. For starters, Georgia might not revert to a 3-4 base after all. 

Head coach Kirby Smart originally planned for outside linebacker Adam Anderson to assume a much larger role at the STAR position by improving his pass coverage. This would have allowed Georgia to field a seven-man front without sacrificing pass coverage against spread offenses. It also addressed the Bulldogs' lack of experience at nickel corner and defensive back as a whole.

Georgia no longer lacks experience at the nickel spot. Yes, Smith is new to the team, but he was an All-America selection in 2020. Plus, Georgia's current defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae was Smith's positions coach at West Virginia. If there's any coach that can speak his language to get him caught up to speed as quickly as possible, it's Addae. 

Typical early downs

Smith's arrival means Georgia could stay in a 4-2-5 base. He's not a shutdown corner or a deep-ball safety, but Smith is the hybrid linebacker/safety/cornerback that Georgia fields in the STAR role. 

One outside linebacker will be dropped out of the starting lineup for Smith and that would likely be Anderson. In years past, when Georgia was in their 4-2-5 defense, the SAM linebacker (Anderson), was pulled off the field and the JACK linebacker (Azeez Ojulari in year's past and now Nolan Smith) remains on the field. 

Defensive end: Travon Walker
Defensive tackle: Devonte Wyatt
Nose guard: Jordan Davis
Jack linebacker: Nolan Smith
Mike linebacker: Nakobe Dean
Will linebacker: Quay Walker
STAR: Tykee Smith
Cornerback: Kelee Ringo
Cornerback: Jalen Kimber/Ameer Speed
Safety: Lewis Cine
Safety: Christopher Smith

Passing downs

Georgia employs a variety of formations on obvious passing downs. The formation that will be seen most is a 4-2-5 with two edge rushers and two traditional defensive linemen. Georgia wants to create havoc, and it looks to achieve that by packing its defense with pass rushers. 

Much of Georgia's formation variety is in its dime defenses. The most prominent dime formation is a 4-1-6, but the Bulldogs will have a few variances this year

The purpose of the 4-1-6 is to allow Georgia to place as many defensive backs on the field as possible , while also loading the box with five defenders that can win their one-on-one matchup and get to the quarterback on passing downs. 

With the best pass rushers on the field, Georgia can continue to create havoc even with a five-man front. 

Defensive end: Jalen Carter
Defensive tackle: Devonte Wyatt
Sam linebacker: Adam Anderson
Mike linebacker: Nakobe Dean
Will linebacker: Nolan Smith
Jack linebacker: Travon Walker
STAR: Tykee Smith
Dime-corner: Latavious Brini
Cornerback: Kelee Ringo
Cornerback: Jalen Kimber
Safety: Lewis Cine
Safety: Christopher Smith

Second stringers with big roles

Channing Tindall and Jalen Carter were given the spotlight in the original story. Tindall is a good pass rusher from the second level and he'll spell Quay Walker throughout games to give Georgia's pass rush a little boost.

Carter is the future of Georgia's defense. Devonte Wyatt will be the starting defensive tackle considering his seniority on the roster. However, expect to see Carter get a rather large portion of snaps this fall. He was too good to keep off the field as a true freshman and he could enter star status in Year 2. 

Latavious Brini played very well in the Peach Bowl, but that was his only start. His inexperience is likely what prompted Smart to work Anderson at the STAR before Smith's commitment. Brini should excel in a second-string role similar to the way Mark Webb did for Georgia upon Tyrique Stevenson's emergence in the STAR role. 

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