There are few shoes more difficult to fill nationally than Todd Gurley's cleats, and there are few teams more prepared to do so than the Georgia Bulldogs. The Missouri Tigers, coming off a demoralizing 34-0 loss in which they were dominated in the running game, can vouch for that.
With Gurley, a Heisman Trophy favorite through the first six weeks of the 2014 season, suspended indefinitely during an ongoing investigation into whether the junior accepted extra benefits for autographs or other uses of his likeness, Georgia's depth at running back was immediately put into question facing the Tigers in a crucial SEC East clash. Losing arguably the best running back around is a potential recipe for disaster for a rushing-centric offense. Former five-star recruits (and Gurley backups) Keith Marshall and Sony Michel were out as well, leaving the bulk of the workload to a true freshman: Nick Chubb.
"At first it was a big difference for me, but as the game went on I got stronger and things started opening up," Chubb said after his career day.
In a road game against Missouri (4-2, 1-1 SEC), Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo leaned on an old-time philosophy Vince Dooley once employed with Hershel Walker: Nick Chubb left, Nick Chubb right, Nick Chubb up the middle.
Chubb finished the game with 42 touches. He churned out 174 total yards and a touchdown, all but replicating Gurley's per game production. For some comparison, the Tigers finished with 50 yards total on the ground -- Chubb racked up 143 despite splitting carries with Brendan Douglas and Bobo taking his foot off the gas late in the fourth quarter with the game already in hand.
That's how you replace 35 percent of your offense on two days' notice.
Of course, Chubb is not exactly some walk-on in this scenario. The bruising runner was one of the top running back recruits in the country for the 2014 class, creating even more hype when eye-opening photos surfaced of the imposing teenager competing at a high school track meet. Chubb, of course, split backup carries with Michel and Marshall earlier this season, racking up 224 yards and two touchdowns.
But still, he gave Georgia everything it needed ... and more.
"Nick did a great job. He's a tough kid. I asked him (before the game) how many times he carried the ball in high school. He said 35 times," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said. "I said, 'Well, we may get it at least that many.'"
The Bulldogs' defense certainly didn't hurt the offense's efforts, becoming the first team to shut out Mizzou since 2002, but with the team's No. 1 question answered empathetically, the final outcome was never in doubt.
Georgia (5-1, 3-1 SEC) has four straight SEC games on the horizon, two coming against SEC East opponents, and with Gurley's future undecided, this was an encouraging win and a step forward for a team that has to be considered the East division favorites to reach Atlanta.
