ATL All Day
Fansided

UGA’s Better Playmaker in 2015: Michel or Mitchell?

By John Buhler

facebooktwitterreddit

It’s no secret new UGA Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer plans to run plays for sensational sophomore tailback Nick Chubb early and often in 2015.  Every Heisman hopeful needs that perfect sidekick.  We’re talking about the guy who can make enough big plays on his own to somehow draw attention away from the team’s star player so he can shine the brightest when the ball is in the star’s hands.

-= Related: UGA’s Top 5 Players Heading Into 2015 =-

UGA has plenty of weapons to choose from on the offensive side of the ball, but the two I envision that could serve as the perfect complement to Nick Chubb in 2015 are sophomore RB Sony Michel and senior WR Malcolm Mitchell.  Between Michel and Mitchell, who is the better playmaker for the Dawgs this fall?

Live Feed

Dylan Raiola will be fine wherever he lands, and so will Georgia football
Dylan Raiola will be fine wherever he lands, and so will Georgia football /

Dawn of the Dawg

  • Georgia Football: Rumors swirling that Dylan Raiola will flip to NebraskaDawn of the Dawg
  • Georgia Football: College Football Is Dead, and I Don't Feel So Good MyselfDawn of the Dawg
  • Taking a look at the SEC Blueprint at SyracuseSouth Bound & Down
  • The Georgia Bulldogs were robbed of a spot in the College Football PlayoffSouth Bound & Down
  • Ranking every Georgia College Football Playoff game of the four-team eraDawn of the Dawg

    • Malcolm Mitchell has rare speed and great hands on the outside as Georgia’s primary vertical receiving threat.  We’ve seen him stretch the field on Aaron Murray’s passes and make plays in space for Hutson Mason  He’s even talented enough of an athlete to play in the secondary if called upon, as he played corner for a bit his sophomore season.  Talent-wise it’s all there for Malcolm Mitchell.

    The issue for Mitchell is that he is almost never healthy, missing significant time each of the last three seasons.  He even had to take a medical redshirt a few years back as a myriad of injuries derailed his season.  But Malcolm can change his perception as an often-injured liability and play out of his mind as the Dawgs’ primary receiving option in 2015.  Let’s hope that he can stay healthy and help deliver a strong vertical game for UGA that was not possible when Hutson Mason was the quarterback.

    Sony Michel was actually ahead of Nick Chubb on the UGA RB depth chart heading into 2014.  Both five-star recruits were part of the UGA Recruiting Class of 2014.  Many thought that Chubb would serve as the thunder to Michel’s lightning these next few seasons.  But Sony had a debilitating shoulder injury against Troy University that prevented him from having a more promising freshman year for the Dawgs.

    To me, Sony is more than a change-of-pace back for Georgia.  Though Chubb will likely receive more carries than Michel in 2015, I still believe that Sony can certainly get 1,000 yards on the ground if Coach Schottenheimer elects to run the ball a ton this season.

    So if I had to choose the perfect complement to Nick Chubb this season, I would lean towards it being Sony Michel as opposed to Malcolm Mitchell.  With having a more established rushing attack than an aerial attack heading into the fall, I think it favors Michel given that a starting QB still has not been named for Georgia yet.

    More from UGA Football

    With a new QB under center this fall, I think Coach Schottenheimer will gradually ease his way into the passing game and rely on the run a little more as the season begins.  The last thing UGA wants to do is throw momentum killing interceptions given how dominant the running game has been these last several seasons.

    I wouldn’t be surprised if Mark Richt elects to run the ball 50-65% of the time this season given the dynamic depth of UGA’s RB corps.  With more opportunities to shine, I believe that assuming no injuries Sony Michel will be Georgia’s second best weapon on offense behind only Nick Chubb in 2015.

    Next: Georgia Bulldogs: Don't Sleep on These 3 Players!

    More from ATL All Day

    Home/UGA Football