The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Smart wants to see LeCounte take commitment up a notch
Safety has been inconsistent during spring practice.
DawgNation
ATHENS — Richard LeCounte may line up as the starting safety when Georgia takes the field this September. That still could happen.
In the meantime, however, it’s becoming apparent the highly touted sophomore still has a lot to learn and show his coach.
Kirby Smart made that clear when asked how he thought LeCounte was doing this spring.
“Sometimes I think Richard beside him this season. Reed really wants to be good. I don’t began by saying LeCounte know if Richard knows what had learned a lot and come it takes to be good, like the a long way but then echoed demands it takes, the study Smart’s comments, if in more it takes, the seriousness it talent. gentle terms. takes,” Smart said. “He’s a “Do I like what I see on the “He’s just like a lot of the very talented young man, but football field?” Smart said. younger guys. Really the main he’s got to meet the demands “Five minutes, I’d say yeah. thing with these younger guys teams likely the position requires, which Another five minutes, I’d say, is they’ve got to study,” Reed in a 3-4 again, as not all is come in, learn, make the ‘What the hell?’ It’s up and said. “They’ve got to put in 3-4 defenses are the same. calls, make the decisions. down.” extra work to study this playOpponents have endeavored Sometimes I don’t know if There are times this spring book. It’s just like school, it’s to disrupt the Jackets with he wants that responsibil- where LeCounte has made like another class. So he’s just slanting (defensive linemen ity on him. We certainly are some “wow plays,” as Smart got to putin more work to get trying to penetrate the line counting on him, and we are referred to them. But it’s not the plays down.” of scrimmage at an angle) continuing to coach him until consistent enough. LeCounte’s one start last and popping (blitzing line- he gets it.” “He covers a lot of range but year came at Notre Dame, backers, often trying to time This doesn’t mean he can cover the range in the when the defense opened up the attack with the snap LeCounte is in Smart’s dogwrong direction really fast, in a dime package and didn’t count), and those are evihouse. The old saying is if you know what I mean,” have cornerback Malkom dently tactics in Woody’s coaches only tend to get after Smar t said, beginning to Parrish, who was injured. playbook. the players they know have demonstrate with his hands, LeCounte went on to appear
This spring, Tech’s offense the ability to be really good moving one way to signify the in 10 games, making 15 tackhas been seeing it in the Satplayers. And LeCounte fits wrong direction and the other les. By the end of the season, urday morning scrimmages that bill. way to signify the right direc- he was appearing more freand then in the scrimmage LeCounte came to Geor- tion. “So if you go the wrong quently on the field in other periods in other practices. gia in the spring of 2017 with way really fast, you have to formations.
“I definitely think it is plenty of accolades. A Parade recover that distance to make He’s expected to get more (helpful),” quarte r back All-American. A five-star prosit up to go back the right way. playing time this season. TaQuon Marshall said. pect, according to 247Sports So when he’s going the right “He’s got to take owner“Because we see it a lot, honand ESPN. direction, it’s really good. ship in knowing what to do estly. They haven’t given us And while he didn’t crack When he’s going the wrong and if he does that, he’ll be one of the looks that we northe starting lineup last year direction, it’s not good.” a really good player,” Smart mally get, but just being able — save for one game in a speSmart isn’t singling out said. “We’re counting on him. to go against their base look, cialized lineup — that was LeCounte for the sake of it The other players are countwhich is one of the looks mainly because of experience as a fellow safety sounded a ing on him. Dawg nation is that we get a lot during the ahead of him. When four-star fairly similar theme. counting on him. We want season, it’s always benefi- starter Dominick Sanders’ eliJ.R. Reed, who is Geor- him to learn what to do, and cial. Because we can work gibility was up, it was widely gia’s returning starter at I promise you we will meet on a lot of things now so we assumed LeCounte would strong safety, was asked with him every day we possidon’t have to cram it all in step into that role. about LeCounte after prac- bly can, but until he commits one week when we’re getBut Smart wants LeCounte tice Tuesday, considering he to that, I don’t know that he ting ready for it.” to use more than just his pure was supposed to be playing can reach his full potential.” Georgia Tech quarterback TaQuon Marshall (16) rushes as Virginia Tech linebacker Anthony Shegog defends last season in Atlanta. “I don’t know if Richard knows what it takes to be good,” says UGA coach Kirby Smart about safety Richard LeCounte (2).