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What Trevor Etienne draft decision means for Georgia running back room in 2025
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What Trevor Etienne draft decision means for Georgia running back room in 2025
ATHENS — Trevor Etienne ended up spending just one season in Athens.
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I suspect he saw the weakness in our O line of future as a drawback. I wish him well and thx for kicking UT butt twice
"Georgia won’t just give Frazier all of Etienne’s carries. A running back can’t sustain with that level of wear and tear, especially against Georgia’s 2025 schedule."
Meanwhile, in the actual real world that we live in, D'Andre Swift logged 200 carries in 2019, Nick Chubb 225 carries in 2017 and Alabama's Najee Harris had 250 carries against a 13 game season that was 10 SEC games, the SECCG plus Notre Dame and Ohio State in the playoff, the toughest 13 game stretch in college football history.
The issue isn't wear and tear. The issue is that Kirby Smart since bringing on Monken in 2020 has de-emphasized the running game. From 1000 yard rushers 2016-2019, with a pair of them in 2017 and 2018 (and the only reason for no dual 1000 yard rushers in 2016 was a combo of an injury to Michel plus OL issues that made having at least 4 future NFL draft picks starting this season look mild by comparison) to no single RB getting 900 yards since and this is despite UGA playing 14-15 games a year. It's why a future NFL Pro Bowler in James Cook only got 113 carries in 15 games in 2021. Not due to his being a backup, because Sony Michel got 156 carries in 14 games in 2017. Rather, the starting tailback Zamir White got fewer carries per game in 2021 than the backup Michel did in 2017.
So, UGA's starting RBs getting less yards per game since 2020 than the backup RB got in 2016 on a much less talented team isn't due to trying to prevent "wear and tear." It is a change in offensive philosophy. I guess from making the RBs the focal point of the offense to making the TEs the focal point? Great when you have Brock Bowers - and even more so when you have Bowers AND Darnell Washington - but when you don't i.e. 2020 and 2024 not so great.
And yes, RB recruits have noticed, both out of high school and out of the transfer portal.
Without a competent offensive line, Herschel Walker couldn't break 1000 yards in a season. Until our offensive line can play at a high level, consistently, then the running game will suffer. True, we've gone more towards a pass-heavy offense; however, it's still predicated on the play action, and without an adequate running game, that facet of the offense is less effective. It begins in the trenches, whether with the offensive line or defensive line, and until our offensive line shows marked improvement, the running game will be subpar.
Two things need to happen. First, the OL has to get it's schitt together. Second, the current group of RB's simply has to step up.
Go Dawgs!
The real world I live in is 2025. Not sure why the real world “we” live in would be 2017-eight years ago….We don’t have three-surgeries-ago Nick Chubb, or multiple-concussion-retired Sony Michel, or bone-on-bone-kneed Todd Gurley on the 2025 roster. Maybe those three guys are more important examples of why NOT to carry 200+times a season in college than why they SHOULD carry the ball that many times. It’s more important for players to be able to walk and talk after football than be crippled and live with CTE.
Very well said. How many championships did UGA win during 2016 -2019 when UGA had 1000 yard RB's? Right, none.
Relying on 1 bell cow RB, getting 200 plus carries, to last through 15+ games is not wise nor CKS's RB by committee philosophy. What regularly used UGA RB has made it through an entire season w/o getting injured the last few years?
I remember not long ago when the CFB world was hailing Saban for changing his offense from a running dominant to passing dominant attack. People were complaining about UGA being slower to adapt.
CKS has said he is looking for an offense with "more explosives". Seems to me the smart way to run an offense is to maximize the offense based on the players that comprise the offense. To not have utilized a talent like Bowers to his fullest would have been plain bad coaching.
In '23 CBeck had about 4K yards passing. You can't run a single RB into the ground. Not a good look for a college coach. 5* RB Zamir White had 2 knee reconstructions while at UGA. If you ask James Cook why he is a pro bowler now he'd tell you because he wasn't injured or over used in college.
CFB is a passing league. That is why OSU is favored over ND by 10 pts. If you can't score points in bunches (primarily by having "explosives") you probably aren't winning championships.
I thought ETN was a good player. He didn't do much this season in terms of long runs. Probably due to injury for overuse since UGA had so many RB's injured in '24. Would I like to have him in '25? Yes. BUT more importantly UGA has to get back to having a dominant OL. A dominant OL makes it possible to have a good running and passing game. Regardless of who is running or catching. That is CFB in 2025.
I along with all UGA fans, wish that Trevor would have stayed, but I respect his decision , and I wish him the best. I also wish Carson the best , I think he made the correct decision, if the offensive line at Miami is good as they say, he will have a great year. UGA needs to fix the offensive line, they have great freshman , who have the size and a year under their belt to get better. We have several KJ BOLTON players, in the fold, that will surprise, at many positions. Gunner will be fine, we have running backs, that will be elite, when they get a little playing time. The receivers we have gotten the portal , will be a great help. Delp,and Lucky will be awesome next year , and Dillon Bell, and his brother will be great .PLUS I can't list enough Defensive players , that are coming back. MVP, SEC Championship , is Coming back!! Georgia has a great future, even with the tough schedule ahead next year, same ole song ,but they are coming to Athens ,this time. GO DOGS
UGA fan of 68 years from the home town of UGA, Bless Sonny Seiler, and his family for continuing on the tradition
W are blessed to have a great coach, and I think all the talk about the dropped pass's will be forgotten next year, things in life tend to even out, and we are due!!
Just an after thought , the Dawgs won the SEC Championship!! 16 teams UGA # 1. amor fati well said JJ .