One of the most random statistical oddities in college football right now is that Georgia has finished fourth nationally in yards per play for three seasons running.
Though the Bulldogs trailed Ohio State, Coastal Carolina and Western Kentucky in 2021, and Ohio State, Tennessee and USC in 2022, and LSU, Oregon and USC in 2023, their actual per-play output rose each season -- from 6.98 in '21, to a school record 7.17 in '22, and then to another school record 7.26 last fall.
For Georgia's offense in 2024, another school record is likely just a starting point.
"I think we have a chance to be great on offense," Smart told ESPN's Chris Low.
Georgia's offense starts, as with everyone else's, at quarterback. After finishing sixth nationally in yards per attempt (9.5), fourth in completion percentage (72.4), and eighth in efficiency (and four of the seven above him are preparing for the NFL right now), Beck enters 2024 as the co-favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and a way-too-early consensus first-round pick in 2025.
"He's 'Mr. Mellow' out there," Smart said. "The guys in the locker room love him because he's confident, calm and very smart. Even though he's got a little bit of arrogance to him, he's not holier than thou like you see with some quarterbacks. Early in the year last season, we probably did try to protect him too much. But then you see nothing ever really affects him and know you've just got to let the cat go play because we were either going to make it or not make it on his back. As the year went on, he got better and better, but we were probably a little too slow with him out of the gate."
Georgia loses leading rushers Dajiun Edwards and Kendall Milton, but added Florida's star running back Trevor Etienne in the portal. All-timer tight end Brock Bowers is gone, but leading receiver Dominic Lovett is back.
What has Smart most excited, though, is the offensive line. Five of the top seven players from the SEC Championship are back, and they've been pushing the Bulldogs' front around in the first part of spring practice.
"Either we're maybe a little weaker on the defensive line or we're really good on the offensive line," Smart told ESPN. "The glaring thing I've seen at practices is that the offensive line has done a really good job. That's not to say we were subpar on the defensive line last year. We just weren't great. We didn't have a dominant guy, but we're always going to be good on defense. I don't know that we're going to be great this year, but I think we have a chance to be great on offense."
Opposing coaches may be able to map out a path to 24 points, maybe even 28, against Georgia's defense. To which Kirby will shrug and say, 'Bring it, we're scoring 42.'