Smart waffles on Swift injury

ATHENS — It’s subtle, for sure, but it seems as though some of Kirby Smart’s optimism regarding D’Andre Swift’s availability for the SEC Championship game may have dissipated by Monday.

After Swift was sidelined with a “shoulder contusion” during Saturday’s win at Georgia Tech, Smart said “he’ll be fine” for this week’s game against No. 2 LSU. Smart was, of course, asked about Swift’s status again Monday.

“We’re hopeful that he’s going to be able to play,” Smart said without elaboration.

It’s hard to tell whether that assessment is any different than what Smart said following the Tech game. Swift left with 9:32 remaining in the third quarter after losing his second fumble of the game. Curiously, Swift was not hit on nor did he land on his left shoulder during the tackle by Tech linebacker David Curry. Yet Swift had the left shoulder wrapped in ice packs as he sat on the Georgia bench the rest of the game.

Smart indicated afterward Swift has been “dealing with an issue” with his shoulder for much of the season.

During a teleconference with reporters Sunday, Smart was reminded of a similar injury situation with Auburn star running back Kerryon Johnson in 2017. Johnson aggravated a shoulder injury in a season-ending win over Alabama and was subsequently pronounced as “fine” by coach Gus Malzahn in the days leading up to a rematch against Georgia in the SEC Championship. However, Johnson did not seem “fine” the second time around against the Bulldogs. He finished with 44 yards on 13 carries.

Smart dismissed the comparison. “I don’t think it’s the same scenario,” he said. “I think I expect D’Andre to be fine.”

There is no way to be certain how much work Swift is getting in practice versus training room rehabilitation this week. The Bulldogs’ practices are closed to media viewing, as they have been for the last half of the season. Suffice it to say, Swift will likely be at least some degree below 100% against LSU. That’s an issue, considering he is averaging 100.4 yards rushing a game, after leaving the Tech contest with 73. But Smart expressed confidence in the rest of the Bulldogs’ running backs — senior Brian Herrien, sophomore James Cook, redshirt freshman Zamir White and true freshman Kenny McIntosh — should they need to take over against LSU. The Tigers come into the game ranked fourth in the SEC against the run at 124.5 yards per game.

“I feel very comfortable about the other guys,” Smart said. “Obviously, Swift has a different skill set probably as a total package than all of them, and we want him to be in there. But we have got some depth at that position.”

Georgia is fifth in the SEC in rushing at 200.2 yards per game. After Swift, Herrien leads the way with 42.4 yards per game, followed by White (28.3), McIntosh (14.8) and Cook (12.8).

There also is talk of the Bulldogs deploying Cook more as a receiver since they’re short at that position. “The last couple weeks we have given him a few more carries,” Smart said of the 5-foot-11, 190-pound sophomore from Miami.

Lanning a Broyles finalist

The winner of the Frank Broyles Award could come down to what happens in the SEC Championship game on Saturday.

Dan Lanning, Georgia’s firstyear defensive coach, made the cut Monday as one of five finalists for the award, presented to college football’s assistant coach of the year. LSU’s first-year passing game coordinator Joe Brady was also named a finalist, in addition to Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Snow, Ohio State co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Jeff Hafley and Utah defensive coordinator/safeties coach Morgan Scalley.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart won the 2009 Broyles trophy and was a finalist in 2015 while at Alabama.

Lanning, 33, who also coaches the Bulldogs’ outside linebackers the SEC in points allowed (10.4 ppg, No. 2 nationally), rushing defense (71 ypg, No. 2) and total defense (257.0 ypg, No. 4). The Dogs have allowed just 125 points in 2019 and only one rushing touchdown.