Who is the No. 2 tailback at Georgia?
That’s actually a very good question at the moment. At least three players could stake a pretty good claim to it. But for the Bulldogs, it doesn’t matter.
There is absolutely no uncertainty who is the No. 1 man. Perhaps you’ve heard of Todd Gurley? The others are battling for whatever opportunities are left over after that. But there has been plenty to go around, and there will be a lot more this Saturday when the Bulldogs play host to the beleaguered Troy Trojans (0-3).
“I think that, on a weekly basis, between (offensive coordinator Mike) Bobo and B-Mac (running backs coach Bryan McClendon), we’ll decide who’s going to be second team,” Georgia head coach Mark Richt said this week.
Heading into Saturday’s game, Gurley has gotten more than three times the rushing attempts (35) of all the other tailbacks. Freshman Sony Michel is second with 10, freshman Nick Chubb has had eight and Keith Marshall has had seven.
Richt and Bobo insist that they’ll go in the game making no assumptions about outcome or plans to protect their Heisman Trophy candidate. But they’re also hope to get Gurley’s backups more involved in the game.
“You come out with the same mindset that you do every week,” Bobo said. “That’s to respect your opponent and expect the best out of the team you’re going to play. You better be at your best. That’s what we talk about.”
Against both Clemson and South Carolina, Michel was the first in the game. But in both instances he actually lined up first at flanker with Gurley also on the field. On the second play of this past Saturday’s game, caught a tunnel screen from the right side of the field and took it 36 yards for a touchdown.
“That was a situational play,” Richt said. “If we didn’t call that and just ran a zone or something like that, it probably would have been still been just Todd.”
Michel is the leading receiver among the tailbacks with 53 yards on four catches.
The second tailback to get a rushing rep out of the backfield this past weekend was Chubb. He has been the most productive ball carrier beyond Gurley, averaging a gaudy 13 yards and scoring a 47-yard touchdown. But Chubb underwent surgery for a broken thumb this past Monday and his status for Saturday’s game is questionable.
“It’s still to be determined,” Bobo said. “Can’t tell what’s going to happen. Nick’s a very tough kid and wants to play. But that’s going to be a decision from the doctors, I assume, not him.”
Then there’s Marshall. The junior from Raleigh is listed as the No. 2 tailback on the depth chart and has pretty much been in that role since he and Gurley arrived as highly-touted freshmen in 2012. However, he appears to be lacking some of the quick burst and top-end speed he displayed before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the fifth game last season. He’s averaging 1.4 yards per carry.
“Keith’s going to get some reps, no doubt,” Richt said. “”I’d be surprised if Keith doesn’t have some nice runs in this game. It seems like every time he’s gotten the ball there hasn’t been a lot of space; there hasn’t been any room to go anywhere. Sometimes it’s the luck of the draw when you get the ball handed to you. But sooner or later there’s going to be some space for him when he gets it and I think he’ll do well.”
In the meantime, sophomore Brendan Douglas, who played in 12 games last year and finished with 345 yards and three touchdowns, has yet to have a carry this season. Expect that to change Saturday
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