Oct 10, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Sony Michel (1) runs the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
A season that started with immense promise has fallen apart quickly. The Georgia Bulldogs have lost two straight, dropped out of the polls and must face the remainder of the season without their top offensive weapon in running back Nick Chubb.
Chubb suffered a knee injury on the first play from scrimmage against Tennessee last week. Chubb, a sophomore, the team’s leading rusher and a top-tier Heisman Trophy candidate, is expected to undergo surgery in the next couple weeks. Georgia coach Mark Richt has said Chubb likely will miss the rest of the season.
On top of the loss of Chubb, Georgia squandered a 21-point lead and lost to the Volunteers. It was the Bulldogs’ second straight SEC loss.
They’ll try to regroup at home against the Missouri Tigers on Saturday. Sophomore running back Sony Michel will try to account for Chubb’s production on the ground. Michel, a smaller, shiftier back than Chubb, rushed for 145 yards on 22 carries.
“I think a lot — we are not reinventing our playbook,” Richt said. “We may emphasize some things more than others and just how much of a load Sony will take on, it will definitely be — he’ll be the primary guy. But how does that translate into number of carries and all that kind of thing; I think the key to that is really keeping an eye on him and just seeing how he’s doing.”
Missouri also comes in off a loss. The Tigers, who are starting true freshman Drew Lock at quarterback, lost 21-3 at home against Florida last week.
Richt said he remembers the difficultly of starting a true freshman quarterback, like he did with current Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
“Matthew (Stafford) took his lumps a bunch,” Richt said. “I remember a couple ballgames, it was rough. So I think it’s tough to start a true freshman for sure.”
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
–RB Sony Michel: The sophomore will carry the load, with Nick Chubb out with a knee injury. Michel rushed for 145 yards on 22 carries against Tennessee.
–QB Greyson Lambert: A transfer from Virginia who didn’t arrive in Athens until July, Lambert was inaccurate for the second straight game, both Georgia losses, completing 15 of 32 attempts for 279 yards and two touchdowns.
–WR Malcolm Mitchell: Hampered by injuries throughout his career, Mitchell was off to a good start to his senior season. Mitchell finished with five catches for 85 yards with a touchdown.
