“We are not as good as you might think”

ATHENS – Lewis Cine appreciates compliments, but he has accepted the so-called “rat poison” that the Georgian defense is one level above the rest.

“I wouldn’t say that, I think we made a lot of mistakes,” Cine said. “We’re not as good as you might think, in a way, because we’ve got a lot to sort out, you know what I mean?”

The No.2-ranked Bulldogs took a 40-13 victory over South Carolina on Saturday night, but the Gamecocks hit deep on four passes over 35 yards, totaling over 300 yards and converting 8 times on 17 on the third try.

The Georgian defense, however, sank in and allowed just one touchdown, minimizing damage on the scoreboard.

Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer, a former UGA assistant under Kirby Smart, has named the Bulldogs’ defense as the best in the country.

WATCH: Shane Beamer’s epic rant on Georgia defense

Cine, however, seemed to indicate that Beamer would see during his film review that there were more holes in the high school than his quarterbacks had time to notice.

“It’s one thing when an attack doesn’t notice it and she doesn’t realize it now,” Cine said. “But I’m pretty sure if we don’t fix the problem, a team is going to expose us.”

This is what happened in 2020, when a famous Georgian defense suffered losses against Alabama (564 yards, 41 points) and Florida (571 yards, 44 points).

“We have to go back to the lab,” Cine said, “fix everything and tighten everything up. “

Georgia’s defensive front is certainly doing its part, which Cine said he and his fellow defensive backs greatly appreciate.

“It makes my job so much easier because I don’t have to cover guys forever,” Cine said. “These guys… they know what road they’re doing, they know where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be (there), and the fact that the D-Line and the linebackers are messing up their timing just ruins it.

“It helps me a lot. I feel like this is where we play as a unit, but we can improve day by day.

Georgian defenders recorded 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks.

Still, that wasn’t enough to please the football head coach either.

“We just need to improve and we’re not where we need to be,” Smart said. “We didn’t play as well defensively tonight as in the past, and we’ll continue to improve.

Georgia Security Lewis Cine