Georgia Bulldogs safety Shawn Williams' criticism of the team's defensive performance this season has served as a motivational tool and a "catalyst" this week in practice, according to a report in the Athens Banner-Herald.

"We're playing too soft as a defense," Williams said Monday. "That goes for the D-line, linebackers, corners, safeties, everybody. We're just not playing with the same attitude we were last year. I don't know what it is."

Williams' comments came after Georgia allowed 24 points to SEC cellar-dweller Kentucky and 35 points the week prior in a loss to South Carolina. The Bulldogs are allowing an average of 24.1 points against per game this season.

"They want to do better," coach Mark Richt told the Banner-Herald in response to Williams' comments. "They do care very much and we do have a very good, unified group even though sometimes in the family somebody might say something you don't like. It hurts your feelings, but in the end, it was done with the intentions of making things better and that's what I think everybody's focusing on right now."

Georgia travels to Jacksonville, Fla., to play Florida this Saturday at 3:30 p.m.