Safety LeCounte says he can learn from Smart’s ‘feedback’

ATHENS— Lastweek, Georgia coach Kirby Smart commented about safety Richard LeCounte, offering that he’d like to see more consistency in the sophomore’s play, among other things.

While some might term Smart’s remarks as criticism or even “tough love,” LeCounte has another word for it.

Coaching. “Feedback from Coach Smart, positive or negative, is always something I can learn from,” LeCounte said Tuesday evening after the Bulldogs’ 10th practice of the season. “I can’t sit there and be mad about it. It’s coaching. I’d probably be mad if he wasn’t coaching me. It’s a learning experience.… Tough love or not, it’s coaching. It’s something I have to be open to, and all of us get that same type of love from coach Smart. It’s something that’s going to happen.”

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound LeCounte reasons that Smart probably wouldn’t say anything to him or about him if he didn’t fit into the team’s plans.

“Hearing his feedback is something I have to take,” said LeCounte, who in 2017 saw action in 10 games and finished the season with 15 tackles. “I love it. I love hearing feedback from him. If I couldn’t take it, I wouldn’t be here.

“Everybody at this level knows it’s a job, and me doing my job is something the team needs. I’m just a small piece of this big puzzle, and coach Smart taking the time for me is a sign showing me that he really cares.”

Junior defensive tackle Michael Barnett concurs.

“I don’t think it’s criticism,” said the 6-4, 304pound Barnett, who played in a dozen games in 2017. “(Smart is) just doing his job, which is coaching. He’s just trying to get us better, and we take it and we learn.”

Stanley speaks: Senior wide receiver Jayson Stanley was among the players praised by Smart after Saturday’s scrimmage and apparently was unaware of his coach’s comments.

“He said that?” Stanley asked after a reporter shared Smart’s plaudits. “He said that? I just go on to the next practice — I just worry about the next practice.”

During his tenure in Athens, Stanley has been part of the receiving corps, but he’s made his bones with the team with some outstanding special-teams play, working on both the punt and kickoff coverage teams. In Stanley’s estimation, he’ll do whatever it takes to get on the field.

“It’s a mindset thing,” he said. “I look at it as getting more opportunities to make plays on the field. And I’ll take it.”

Stanley, who started in the SEC Championship game and later that same daywas arrested in Barrow County on DUI, speeding and marijuana-possession charges, did not play in the Rose Bowl but did compete in the College Football Playoff Championship game.

“It was a learning experience,” he said. “I learned from it, and I see a very brighter path.”

Stanley appeared in 11 games last season without recording a reception. In his career at Georgia he has two receptions for 23 yards.

The 6-1, 207-pound Fairburn native also has earned raves for his downfield blocking prowess.

“I just try to do anything I can to help the team,” he said. “Somebody’s got to do it.”

McGhee out: It was reported by Dawgs247 that junior defensive back Tyrique McGhee suffered a foot injury at Saturday’s scrimmage at Sanford Stadium. It is expected the 5-10, 187-pound McGhee will be out four to six weeks.

McGhee played all 15 games in 2017 with two starts and recorded 25 tackles. He was second among Bulldogs defenders with six pass breakups. He also had a career-best five tackles in the Rose Bowl.

Smart is expected to address McGhee’s injury after today’s practice.