5 biggest questions the Georgia Bulldogs face heading into opening week

Aug 1, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running backs

(3) and running back

(4) watch a drill during practice at the University of Georgia. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 – Are there too many mouths to feed in the Georgia backfield?

Think about what Georgia has in terms of running backs right now; Todd Gurley – All-American, Keith Marshall – All-American caliber when healthy, Brendan Douglas – better than half the starters in the conference, Sony Michel and Nick Chubb – two freshman with All-Conference (at least) potential. And if you get through all those you still have A.J. Turman, Kyle Karempelis and Kyle Vagher standing around.

That, my friends, is a plethora of quality tailbacks of whom you can feed the ball. But is it too many?

Some backs are most effective when used regularly and get stronger as they get more carries through a game. Others can come off the bench and turn on the jets from the word go. Then there are considerations of health, and wanting to break up the carries between all those backs.

It could be immensely advantageous for Mark Richt, and on the other hand, it could be a huge problem. Gurley needs to be the focus. He’s the workhorse and the biggest offensive threat the Bulldogs have. As long as he’s effective, the rest of the group can be split up to give him needed rest. Marshall, who is coming off a season-ending injury in 2013, should also be treated with kid gloves until he’s 100 percent.