Barnett explained that it’s not how Smart tells them things but what the message of it all is. The defensive lineman made a statement about Smart and the things he says at practice.
“It’s not about the tone of what he’s saying but the message,” Barnett stated.
He said that whatever the head coach says to them, they take it and learn from it. So when it comes to the defensive line, what message does Smart want them to know? Well, it appears that consistency is the key when it comes to the defensive line.
“Throughout the whole defensive line I feel like we just have to remain consistent know our job and do our job well,” Barnett notes.
With John Atkins and Trent Thompson gone on the defensive line, it’s going to take a lot to fill in that hole. Barnett weighs in on what Atkins brought to the line that they can continue using this season.
“He just remained consistent, and he was like the workhorse of the defensive line,” Barnett says about Atkins. “He just held everything up and made sure Roquan and the linebackers didn’t get touched and were trying to find that consistency. Which I think we’re doing a good job we have to keep doing it every day.”
Despite people saying Smart gives the players tough love and a lot of criticism, the players understand that it comes with football. The players know if they listen to Smart it’ll bring them success. Last season, Georgia proved that tough love could help a team find its identity and become a force in the college football world.