Chubb and Michel could be Bulldogs’ key

There’s a big story developing in Athens. No, it’s not that quarterback battle. And it’s not about the new head coach.

There’s more to this month of August than when Jacob Eason might get his first start at quarterback or how Kirby Smart is going to do running the program. Something else has been lost in the shuffle.

Entering preseason practice, Georgia didn’t know how the running backs would do this season. Nick Chubb is coming back off a knee injury, while Sony Michel broke his left arm in early July.

That was a bit of a problem. For an offense with a suspect offensive line, an unsettled quarterback situation and a new system in place, the last thing needed was to have more questions about the area with the most talent.

But something great has happened. In the past few weeks, the worry about Chubb and Michel seems to have subsided. Instead, both seem on track to be ready in two weeks against North Carolina. Both have had solid preseasons. Both seem healthy. And both seem to be running well.

What a lift that would be if there was no concern about the running backs. It would give Smart and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney more confidence to do give Eason a chance early in the season. Sure, Eason might struggle, but if the running backs are doing well, it lessens the pressure on Eason to put up 300-plus yards a game through the air.

Chubb is just a special player. He had 745 rushing yards through the first five games of last season when he hurt his knee on his first carry in Knoxville. He was on pace for 1,800 yards before his injury, and there’s a chance Chubb would have been in the Heisman conversation if he had stayed healthy.

When Chubb replaced Todd Gurley in the starting lineup two years ago, he went nuts. Chubb ran for 1,323 yards in eight starts. That’s an average of 165 yards per game.

When Michel replaced Chubb as the starter last year, he had 885 yards in his eight games. Michel was good, but he wasn’t great like Chubb. It showed how significant the loss of Chubb was and how important it is to have him back this season.

Having both back and healthy would be such a huge advantage for Georgia. The Bulldogs likely would have one of the best running back combos in the country. But it could also make the quarterback situation a bit more manageable if there are troubles there.

Let’s say Eason struggles as a freshman, which will likely happen at some point. If Chubb and Michel are doing well, Chaney can simply let Eason turn around and hand the ball off to his two running backs. It is that simple, and that’s why Chubb and Michel’s health is the biggest key to Georgia’s season.

There are a lot of things that must fall in place for Georgia to be good in Smart’s first season. The offensive line remains a headache. There’s not enough depth there, and that might not help Chubb and Michel at all.

But as we get wrapped up in the daily story lines and rumors about which quarterback will start Sept. 3, let’s realize the importance of the good news about Chubb and Michel. It would hide a lot of ills if those two are ready to go for Georgia this season.

This story was originally published August 20, 2016 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Chubb and Michel could be Bulldogs’ key."