Kirby Smart takes shot at PFF grades while evaluating Christopher Smith

Since he got to Georgia, Kirby Smart has brought a dominant and well-coached defense to the field. He’s had a lot of success doing this because he can evaluate and develop talent. However, his way of evaluating talent is drastically different from groups like PFF.

While speaking to the media, Kirby Smart was asked about Christopher Smith and where he has seen Smith grow the most. However, Smart resisted the use of the term elite when describing his or anyone else’s play.

“His maturity,” Kirby Smart said. “He’s played a lot of football.”

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“Look, guys, if you play in the SEC for three and four years, I mean, playing at an elite level is a brave statement. I would say that you’re gonna know what to do, know how to do it, know when to do it that way. But, I’m not PFF grading someone. You know what I mean?”

Kirby Smart earned a light laugh from the press in the room as he joked about PFF. For him, though, when he analyzes a player, he tries to avoid grading them for the mentality that they can create.

“Like I think sometimes those things give people a false sense of security. What he’s done well is take care of his body. He’s tackled well and he understands our defense,” Kirby Smart concluded.

Christopher Smith was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2018. This is Smith’s final year of eligibility at Georgia. He has two interceptions on the season after picking off five passes in 2021.

How Christopher Smith handles championship expectations

At Georgia, thanks to great defensive players like Christopher Smith, the Bulldogs were able to become a perennial national championship contender. Now, the program needs to be able to handle those expectations. For his part, Smith has no problem with those expectations being put on the program.

“I would say it’s fair. And the reason why I say it’s fair is because we have those same expectations for ourselves. It’s no different when other people hold us to that same standard. With the way that the world is today, social media age and me being on social media, you see things. but I don’t pay much attention to it,” Christopher Smith said.

“The opinions that matter to me are the opinions in this building and [from the people] putting in work with me every single day; the coaches, my family, and the fans as well. Expectations are high but it is nothing that we don’t hold ourselves to. So, it doesn’t bother me at all.”