No Todd Gurley, No Problem; Georgia Offense Proves It's More Than 1 Player

The Georgia Bulldogs did not have their star running back Todd Gurley for Saturday's game against the Missouri Tigers.  It didn't matter—not one bit.

Gurley, who was suspended indefinitely on Thursday afternoon by the university, had been the heart and soul of the Bulldogs offense through the season's first five games.  The fear heading into the game was that his absence would prove insurmountable for an offense that depended on him for more than one-third of its total production.  As it turns out, this offense is much more than one player.

In Gurley's absence, Georgia remained committed to the ground game; on the day, running backs Nick Chubb and Brendan Douglas combined for 51 carries.  The most obvious takeaway of the day was that Chubb, a true freshman, is much more than a potential star.  He's one already.

The first-time starter racked up 143 rushing yards while carrying a load that was statistically heavier than anything Gurley had toted in his career.

Douglas, who played well as a substitute for an injured Gurley in 2013, also held his own as a running back and provided one of the most exciting moments of the game with an airborne touchdown in the third quarter.

Though less obvious, the play of the offensive line was equally laudable and spoke volumes about the multidimensional nature of the offense.  Gurley, who had emerged as a Heisman front-runner, may have garnered headlines this season, but perhaps it was the offensive line that deserved the credit all along.  After all, its ability to block for two less-talented running backs on Saturday against a Top 25 team was downright impressive.

And while Georgia remained run-heavy, senior quarterback Hutson Mason put together a stellar effort in the passing game.  Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo did not get desperate without his star, and he put his quarterback in positions to make plays throughout the afternoon.  The result was Mason doing what he does best: completing short- to mid-range passes and letting his receivers make plays.

Completions	Attempts	Yards	Total Touchdowns	Turnovers
22	28	156	2	0

Mason attempted 28 passes and missed on just six of them, but the dispersion of his efforts is not to be ignored.  In total, five receivers hauled in more than one pass.

Despite marked success against Missouri, however, the best news of the day for the offense had little to do with the Bulldogs' ability to get past the Tigers.  Instead, the most meaningful takeaway for this unit should be prolonged confidence.

From a game-planning perspective, Saturday's play-calling looked strikingly similar to what one would expect had Gurley been in the game.  From a production standpoint, the results were pretty comparable as well.  There was no Gurley on Saturday, and that was not a problem on Saturday.  And it doesn't figure to be an issue moving forward.

With or without Gurley, this offense is capable of running the football and relying on the pass to spice things up.  With or without Gurley, this offense can score points—even on the road and even against ranked opponents.  With or without Gurley, this offense can win football games.

To be sure, Jeremy Pruitt's defense performed at a truly elite level on Saturday.  While not necessarily expected, however, such a disruptive effort was in line with what fans hoped for from the Dawgs defense.  Conversely, there was no preconceived notion as to what this offense would look like without Gurley.  Now after a stellar offensive showing, that bar has been set high.

This offense was always more than just one man, but the Georgia faithful didn't know that until Saturday.  Now everyone—fans, players, coaches and opponents alike—is well aware.  That's quite a difference from Thursday afternoon, but more importantly that's a good thing heading into the second half of the season.

Georgia will need strong offensive performance to navigate a still-tricky schedule.  

Date	Opponent
Oct. 18	Arkansas
Nov. 1	Florida
Nov. 8	Kentucky
Nov. 15	Auburn
Nov. 22	Charleston Southern
Nov. 29	Georgia Tech

Against Arkansas next week, controlling the clock and keeping the Razorbacks ground game on the sideline will be a priority.  Behind a stout offensive line, Chubb and Douglas are up to the task.  

Against Florida, a turnover-free effort will give the Dawgs the best chance to win.  They had one on Saturday.  

Against Auburn, the performance may need to be perfect.  Errors against Missouri were few and far between.

This Georgia Bulldogs offense can play—even without Gurley.  That revelation is every bit as good as his suspension is bad.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand.  All stats courtesy of NCAA.com.