Georgia Football has the running backs to share the load

Georgia Football rotated their running backs very effectively in the big game against South Carolina and that should continue this season.

Georgia Football fans like to boast about how their team is RBU. With Sony Michel and Nick Chubb now in the NFL, there was a lot of commentators thinking that things might not be so easy in 2018. That was especially true with Zamir White missing the season due to a knee injury. But in the biggest game of the season so far, the Dawgs once again went to a running back rotation.

D’Andre Swift continues to be the starter and got the most touches in the game. However, the Dawgs didn’t lean on him as a bell cow in the way that many teams might do. Despite running the ball 52 times in the game, Swift only had 12 of those carries. That was because they had two other backs who deserved to see the field themselves.

Elijah Holyfield had perhaps his most impressive game as a Bulldog. He showed himself to be a powerful inside runner while also having the bust to get to the outside and make big gains. On 9 carries, he accounted for 76 yards and a touchdown. He clearly showed that he’s a solid 2nd option to Swift and he’s going to continue to be a weapon as the season goes on.

Brian Herrien was the one who surprised me the most this week. He saw time last season and looked ok, but I never really thought he looked dangerous. He was a different player this past week, showing an ability to run up the gut, outside the tackles and be a pass catcher. He scored a TD on a great inside run and would have had a second on a wheel route if SC’s linebacker hadn’t decided to commit pass interference rather than get beaten.

Holyfield and Herrien both showed that they deserve to continue to get reps this season. Then there is James Cook who would have been more involved in the gameplan if he wasn’t suspended for the first half. He actually got 11 carries, but that was only in the 4th quarter when the Dawgs were milking the clock rather than trying to score.

Between those four, it’s unlikely that any running back gets more than 15 touches in any game. A lot of schools might think that is a bad thing. They might suggest that this type of backfield would prevent these guys going pro. Personally, I think that this is what the NFL is looking for. Great backs that are showing their skills but not getting overused by their schools. This system is going to help each of these guys reach the next level while also proving the Dawgs with a truly dangerous offense.

Cook is now the only back who hasn’t scored a TD this season. I doubt that is going to continue for much longer and I’d very much look out for him this week. Between these four, the Dawgs seem to have a stable of backs that together can wear teams down. So long as they keep rotating the ball and don’t lean too heavily on one of them, this running game is going to continue to be hard to stop.