Clik here to view.
Kirby Smart intends to use a “platoon” backfield in his first season as Georgia’s head coach.
Smart told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg on Monday that he plans to use several different running backs in 2016, even if starter Nick Chubb makes a full recovery.
“You can’t get through the SEC unless you have three [running backs], and right now, we have one that’s healthy out there,” Smart said. “We’ve got a couple young pups, we signed a guy, but that’s the scariest position because even with Nick at 100 percent, which I don’t think he’s going to be 100 percent right away, we’ve only got two. We want to platoon them. There’s just too much unknown right now on Nick to feel certain.”
Kirby Smart told me today Georgia would ideally platoon Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, while developing another… https://t.co/XZiFz0Svrs
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) March 21, 2016
In theory, Smart’s plan does make sense. Obviously Chubb is the star of any tandem he’s in as he’s arguably the best returning SEC back save LSU’s Leonard Fournette. Chubb rushed for 100-plus yards in 13 consecutive games before getting injured on his first rushing attempt against Tennessee on Oct. 10 and missing the rest of his sophomore season.
Sony Michel took over in his absence and rushed for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns on 219 carries. It’s no surprise that Michel provided the perfect replacement for Chubb considering they both ranked as 5-star prospects in the 2014 National Signing Class. But Michel, like Chubb with Todd Gurley, was overshadowed by his teammate until his role expanded.
Georgia’s 2016 roster also includes veteran Brendan Douglas and incoming freshman Elijah Holyfield, son of legendary boxer Evander Holyfield. Douglas has taken limited reps at Georgia — 715 yards on 175 attempts — and has seen a decline in production during each of his three seasons. Holyfield rated as a 4-star prospect and the No. 6 overall running back for the 2016 class but would, at best, see the third-most carries behind Chubb and Michel.
Clik here to view.
(Photo by Charles Mitchell/Icon Sportswire)
Georgia’s rushing attack likely won’t be as much of a “platoon” as it will be splitting carries between Chubb and Michel 60/40. Sure, the Bulldogs can start their season giving all four running backs reps, but when it comes down to make-or-break situations, Chubb will be running the football.
This scheme isn’t anything different from Mark Richt’s recent teams. Gurley and Keith Marshall also entered their college careers together as blue chip prospects and split touches before Gurley emerged as the team’s best back.
Chubb and Michel likely began their careers at Georgia with similar expectations. It’s not unfathomable to think that both backs could record 1,000-yard seasons being that it’s happened with Arkansas where new offensive coordinator Jim Chaney coached from 2013-14. Chaney managed to properly distribute carries between Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams and should be able to do the same with Chubb and Michel.
There’s no doubt that Michel will be second on the team’s depth chart and get more carries than both Douglas and Holyfield, especially after getting the experience of starting in Georgia’s last seven games. But it just seems like Chubb will be the standout regardless of whether he has to split touches or carry the offense.
Either way, Georgia has two players who could start at running back on the majority of SEC teams in 2016 and should find success in its rushing attack regardless of how it distributes carries.
The post Hall: Nick Chubb should be the star of UGA’s ‘platoon’ appeared first on Today's "U".