When Kirby Smart talks about the standard, it’s not just lip service.

“The standard” has helped the Bulldogs achieve their many successes during Smart’s nine years as head coach, including back-to-back national championships and last season’s SEC crown.

However, as the Bulldogs head into their second week of spring practice, playing to that standard is something some are still growing accustomed to.

“We have to coach it. I mean that's what they get that's what they pay us to do,” Smart said after practice on Tuesday. “They have to be willing to receive coaching and, on the whole, preach after the practice. We got a lot of guys that put their hands up. They're offended when you coach. I'm not talking about the freshmen. I'm talking about in general.”

Smart was not thrilled.

“We had multiple NFL coaches come through here go to practice and you know they talk about how their players love to be coached,” Smart said. “They'd (former players) love to be given a nugget, a technique that might help them play longer or play better. Some of our guys were thinking about it … it's like, 'You're coaching me hard like you're telling me I got to play with effort?' Some of them, I guess they've never held up to that standard, but that standard is not going to change here.”

Smart acknowledged inexperience is a concern.

In Smart’s nine previous seasons, this year’s spring roster features the fewest players who have attended three spring practices with the Bulldogs.

“That should tell you something. I asked the guys to stand up who have practiced at least three spring practices,” Smart said. “There's basically nobody saying that. We just don't. We have a very young, inexperienced group.”

Smart said the Bulldogs are struggling to practice in the manner he expects because of that youth.

“We really can't practice to our standard because they're all tired,” Smart said. “So, like we go to practice and it's like great energy, great in shorts, guys learn what to do … but then we start going and it's like they can't go? So, we got to do a better job getting them in shape. We got to probably simplify some to get guys just to go play and not be thinking out there.”

Smart is also looking for some leaders.

“I need the older players … I mean old to me is year two, year three to lead our year one guys because I feel like half the roster is in their first season at Georgia. Not necessarily their first season in college but their first season at Georgia and that's it's been tough. We’ve got a long way to go but I am optimistic. We do have good kids and they do work hard.”

…Count Georgia’s freshmen wide receivers among those adjusting to life on Smart’s practice field.

“They’ve got to get in shape. They're constantly tired at practice. They got their hands on their hips, exhausted. I think there's a little anxiety in that,” Smart said. “It’s not like they're taking more reps. The older players might have 25 reps in a practice. They might have 20 but they can't sustain their 20 reps throughout practice. They get really tired. They’re trying. There's no lack of effort and they're talented but they got a long way to go in terms of learning what to do and that's our job. Our job is to get them ready to go.”

• Safety talk

With no Malaki Starks and Dan Jackson, there’s plenty of opportunity to be had at safety.

Among those working at the position are KJ Bolden (who Smart says has gotten bigger), JaCorey Thomas, and newcomers Zion Branch, Adrian Maddox, and Jaden Harris.

Harris, freshman Todd Robinson, and Kyron Jones, along with incumbent Joenel Aguero, are all working at Star.

• Smart explained to reporters why he decided not to have G-Day televised this year.

“In terms of TV, I think it was more about being controlled on what time and in terms of we'd like to have recruits there,” Smart said. “We'd like to have prospects come in. It's a big event. We have official visits, so we want to control the timing of it more and we want to be able to play at our pace and not have to worry about the constraints of being inside a window.”

As far as G-Day itself – currently set for April 12 - Smart hinted that injuries could affect how the event takes place.

“I want to have G-Day but again we went through practice four so practice one I couldn't say with certainty we were going to have it. Through practice four, I still feel good about it. We've been very fortunate on the injury side of things,” Smart said. “But we're very deficient at a couple of positions and if we lose one or two or three, it would convert into some kind of control practice some kind of other format. Right now, we haven't been through scrimmages. We'll see where we go.”

• Freshman running back Bo Walker received some praise.

“Bo's doing a nice job. Bo's very bright. He's had some really good runs,” Smart said. “He's had some mistakes. What I like about Bo is he's very teachable. He's very coachable and he's got natural rushing skills.”

• Smart singled out tight ends Lawson Luckie and Oscar Delp as being two of the team’s better leaders.

“They are two of our leaders in our program. They lead in toughness,” Smart said. “They lead in carrying the torch for young tight ends in the ring. We expect to be good. They're both physical competitors. I'm lucky to have two guys that have played as much as those two guys. I'm glad you guys get to see them as well as those other guys who are going to be here.”

• Smart was also asked about the health and recovery of defensive tackle Jordan Hall, who missed most of last year with a pair of stress fractures in each leg.

“I feel like he's completely back. He might not feel like that. He would say he's still banged up and bruised up,” Smart said. “He’s getting used to the gauntlet of practice. The good thing about spring is he gets a day off in between to recover, but he's looked much better and much healthier. He had his pins taken out. He's practiced much better so far this spring than he did at the finish of last year. We need him to be an integral part of leadership on this team.”

• Freshman Juan Gaston Jr. is making an early impression.

“Juan is one of the new freshmen who's continued his journey to lose weight. He's really fighting that,” Smart said. “He's had an impressive two weeks at going down on his weight. I've been proud of him for that, but he still has a way to go.”