By Jeff Arnold
Todd Gurley dominated much of the conversation about Georgia football in 2015. Up until his suspension for getting paid for autographs he was the Heisman front-runner, a shock considering Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota had been all but given the trophy before the year even started. Because of his stellar play he was leading a team with an underperforming quarterback to, seemingly, an SEC Championship game birth. Obviously this was all derailed in the first game back for Gurley where he tore his ACL and subsequently screwed Georgia for the rest of the season, but his performance, and the numbers he was putting up, in the few games he did play were staggering and seemed as if they would be impossible to replicate. We know now that this assumption was wrong. Sophomore Nick Chubb has the ability to match Gurley’s numbers and and will be a Heisman finalist at the end of the season.
You’ve heard it before. An outrageously talented Georgia running back is the state’s most valued natural resource and is the only reason the Bulldogs have any shot at being competitive in the toughest conference in college football. Last year it was Todd Gurley, this year it’s Chubb. Although you could point to Gurley’s demise being a freak injury, there is no doubt that the NFL level work load had some impact in his body breaking down. Although the comparison may be fairly obvious, both players are star Bulldog running back’s who keep their teams from offensive mediocrity, they are more different than you think. In fact, this difference is the reason Chubb is better both now, and in the long run. Todd Gurley’s style of play and his physical size both hurt him. He is a power runner who also happens to be blessed with incredible speed and vision, the perfect trifecta in a running back. The problem, however, is that he runs vertical and leaves his legs open to getting hit time and time again. This running style, combined with his above average height for a power back (Gurley stands at 6’1″), leave him more prone to injuries and, although it was somewhat of a freak injury, it is impossible to deny that his style of play, along with the NFL level work load that he was tasked with, aided in his body braking down on him.
Nick Chubb is a much more prototypical running back, which, in this case, is a very good thing. He is smaller than Gurley at 5’10” but also has more relative mass weighing in at 220 lbs comparatively to Gurley’s 220. He is just as fast, if not faster than Gurley and can run through defenders, but he doesn’t do it in a way that is as violent. Also, although it may dilute Chubb’s stats, having Sony Michel as his back up will help Chubb’s season as a whole. Instead of being pretty much the only rushing option, he is just the better one.
Through 4 games last season Gurley had 6 touchdowns, was averaging 152.5 yards per game, and was the leading Heisman contender. Chubb’s numbers this season have been eerily similar. He too has 6 touchdowns and is averaging 149.75 yards per game. In addition to this he has also tied Herschel Walker’s record of rushing for 100 yards or more in twelve straight games. All signs are pointing towards Chubb not just being more durable than Gurley, but also just as productive on the field. The thing that could theoretically put Chubb over the top is his performance in this weekend’s matchup against Alabama. If Chubb comes up big and breaks Walker’s record, against the almighty Alabama of all opponents, it will all but guarantee a trip to New York as a Heisman finalist. It’s all in Chubb’s hands, now he has to make sure to not let it slip through his fingers.
Update (October 11, 2015):
Chubb is out for the season. Sony Michel is going to tear a knee ligament at some point within the next 12 months.
