Chubb, running backs continue to encourage offensive line

It would be easy, and even convenient, for Nick Chubb and Sony Michel to point fingers at Georgia’s offensive line for failing to open much room this season.

Instead, the two veteran running backs continue to offer their line words of encouragement.

Against Florida, Georgia combined for 21 rushing yards on 19 carries, a season low and something that hasn’t been seen in quite some time. Georgia built a reputation as a downhill running team, and it has been a surprise to see the Bulldogs struggle so much running the ball.

But the offensive line is still trying to work through a third offensive line coach in as many seasons along with the new scheme that was implemented during the spring. And with that, Chubb, Michel and company have given thrown positive words their way.

“They’re telling us to keep on doing what we do and go out there and work hard,” guard Dyshon Sims said. “They motivate us and keep us going at practice.”

Georgia’s offensive line has replicated a roller coaster all year. It opened the season paving Nick Chubb for 222 rushing yards and the offense as a whole for 289. It then couldn’t spring for Chubb for a 100-yard day until the Bulldogs played South Carolina on Oct. 9. And Georgia ran wild over the Gamecocks in a 28-14 win while looking like one of the better rushing attacks in the conference.

Since that win, Georgia has totaled 96 yards combined in losses Vanderbilt and Florida.

This week, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said Chubb said he is definitely upset at the way the season has gone, to which the star running back mostly agreed.

“It’s more about winning games mostly, but I guess that has an effect also,” Chubb said. “The season’s not going as well as we all wanted it to. It is what it is. Now we have to keep pushing forward.”

Saturday’s game against Kentucky should be an opportunity for Georgia’s offensive line to find some success and move the ball on the ground. Statistically, the Wildcats rank ninth in the SEC by allowing 196.5 rushing yards per game.

But it wasn’t like Nicholls State, Missouri and Vanderbilt possessed top-of-the-line run defenses, and Georgia struggled considerably against each of those teams.

Much like Vanderbilt with linebacker Zach Cunningham, Kentucky linebacker Jordan Jones will be important to take care of at the second level if Georgia’s to find success running the ball.

“There are a lot of technical aspects that not only do we have to improve on but you have to give the other team some credit when they beat you, when they whip you,” Smart said. “There’s been both cases. That’s what we’ve got to continue to improve on is making sure our guys can whip their guys.”

It could prove too tall of an order for Georgia to suddenly get its running game going the way it used to be during the final four games. But with offensive line coach Sam Pittman returning, there will be continuity at this position group for the first time in four years.

In the meantime, Chubb and Michel are going to do their best to talk up the linemen who are unexpectedly in a transition year, with hopes of a strong performance out of them against Kentucky.

“That just means they have a lot of faith in us, and we definitely trust in them,” Sims said. “That just makes us go out there and give more effort for them in practice. We’ll see how that works on Saturday.”　

This story was originally published November 3, 2016 at 8:01 PM with the headline "Chubb, running backs continue to encourage offensive line."