Photo by Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Notre Dame Football
ND Vs...UGA RBs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel
May 22, 2017
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Aside from USC, Georgia is the most talented team Notre Dame will play this season. That doesn't mean they are going to be the best team or even be the toughest game for the Irish. It just means they have several players that can impact a game all by themselves. At no spot do they have more impact players than in the backfield.
Their running back room contains several playmakers. They have four backs returning that could start for most teams in the SEC and have a true freshman, D'Andre Swift, that could make an instant impact for them this fall. Alabama may be the only program in the nation that can match or surpass them in terms of top end talent and overall depth.
Things could change by the time they reach September, but the assumption is that they are still going to run with a mostly one-two punch at the position despite that depth. The duo of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel is as good as it gets in college football.
Both have had seasons where they have rushed for over 1,000 yards. Both are capable of carrying the team on their back at different times. Believe it or not, though, both also have some deficiencies in their game.
Here's some ways that they are going to present challenges for the Irish and also some ways that Notre Dame can potentially combat them.
I'm a little surprised Chubb didn't enter the Draft, but he may have chose to stay because of how deep the running back class was. He might have got lost in the shuffle with Leonard Fournette, Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, and others this year. As a pure runner, I think Chubb is as talented as any of them, though. He can do dynamic things for someone that is 228 pounds.
This is versus Florida as a true freshman and the jump cut here is ridiculous. The defender has him squared up in the hole and he gets back outside in an instant before hitting the turbo button. Even if he didn't finish the run by breaking tackles in the secondary for a touchdown this would have been impressive. His burst is awesome.
Even after the injury he suffered as a sophomore, it hasn't changed his feet or his vision. They are still outstanding and he rarely misses an opening for a big play.
This is back from when he was a freshman again, but he's still the same guy. He can see the cutback opportunity and take advantage of it. If Notre Dame isn't gap sound up front, then he is going to gash them.
He fumbles the ball at the end of this run and I'll get back into his and Michel's issue with protecting the football later.
A lot of guys can be tackle breakers when they get into the secondary, but Chubb is more than that. He rarely gets taken down by the first defender and Notre Dame is going to have to gang tackle him to make sure he doesn't break loose.
Even in a game against Alabama in 2015 where he had pretty much no running room the entire day, he continued to run hard and break tackles.There were not a ton of big holes against North Carolina when Georgia played them at the beginning of 2016 as well. That didn't stop Chubb make something out of nothing on several occasions like this one.
The edge defenders for Notre Dame need to squeeze the play down, but can't lose contain or else he'll take advantage.
There were a lot of plays like this where Chubb was boxed in and had no holes to run through. Eventually when he got some space in the second half he started to wear the Tar Heels down. He ended up rushing for 222.
He acted as a closer versus TCU in their bowl game as well. They shut him and the Georgia offense down almost the entire day, but Chubb is someone that gets stronger late in games. In his three seasons he has averaged 6.2, 7.3, and 6.2 yards per carry in the 4th quarter.
A Nick Chubb 4th quarter run isn't that different than a Steph Curry 4th quarter corner 3. It's like a dagger for teams that are trying to get their offense back on the field.
The Irish can't let Georgia get the lead late in the game so Chubb can't take over.
One thing in Chubb's game that Notre Dame can exploit is his pass protection. He is a willing blocker, but not a very good one. That may be why they leak him out of the backfield so much, but he's not a natural receiver either. If he is in the game on 3rd down and long, that's going to be an opportunity for Mike Elko to bring havoc with a blitz and get in a favorable situation.
Whether it is a linebacker or a defensive back blitzing, Chubb has trouble sustaining his block just like he did against Alabama on this play in 2015.
I'm not sure we'll see much of Chubb on 3rd down, to be honest. They may just elect to use Michel there more and if they do, we can expect to see him used as a receiver often. Although he is similar size to Chubb, Michel plays like a smaller back.
I mean that as both a compliment and a knock on him. He isn't going to get yards when nothing is there like Chubb can, but he can break long runs if he gets a crease and is a serious threat as a receiver.
If they are in the game together at the same time, look for Georgia to get Michel in a favorable match-up. He's going to beat a lot of linebackers one on one and can even beat cornerbacks like he did on this play against South Carolina.
He had 26 catches two years ago and 22 last season. They're going to want to get him more touches if Chubb is the main workhorse in the backfield and this is a way to do it.
The thing that makes Michel such a great compliment to Chubb is that he doesn't need a ton of carries to make a big impact. He isn't the 4th quarter closer. He is the change of pace that can make defenders miss.
Notre Dame can't be fooled into thinking they'll have it easier with Chubb out of the game or this kind of thing can happen.
His lateral agility makes him extremely slippery.
I didn't fit it at the end of the previous GIF, but Michel actually fumbled at the end of that play. He was fortunate it went out of bounds and wasn't recovered by the defense. Fumbling is actually an issue for both him and Chubb. Michel has 10 career fumbles and Chubb has 8.
There will be chances for Notre Dame to takeaway the football from them and both get a bit casual with protecting the football when they get to the second level. Every opportunity they get. the Irish need their defenders to try and strip the football from these two.
Obviously the strengths outweigh the weaknesses and as a combination, they compliment each other very well. I think a big key in this game will be for Notre Dame to play with the lead late rather than try and come from behind. They can't let Chubb and Michel take control of the game and they will if they have a lead in the second half.
They are going to get their yards. They've had 26 career 100 yard games between them. But if the Irish don't let these two take over, then Notre Dame has a lot better chance of coming up on the winning end on September 9th.
Their running back room contains several playmakers. They have four backs returning that could start for most teams in the SEC and have a true freshman, D'Andre Swift, that could make an instant impact for them this fall. Alabama may be the only program in the nation that can match or surpass them in terms of top end talent and overall depth.
Things could change by the time they reach September, but the assumption is that they are still going to run with a mostly one-two punch at the position despite that depth. The duo of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel is as good as it gets in college football.
Both have had seasons where they have rushed for over 1,000 yards. Both are capable of carrying the team on their back at different times. Believe it or not, though, both also have some deficiencies in their game.
Here's some ways that they are going to present challenges for the Irish and also some ways that Notre Dame can potentially combat them.
Got him, got him...gone
I'm a little surprised Chubb didn't enter the Draft, but he may have chose to stay because of how deep the running back class was. He might have got lost in the shuffle with Leonard Fournette, Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, and others this year. As a pure runner, I think Chubb is as talented as any of them, though. He can do dynamic things for someone that is 228 pounds.
This is versus Florida as a true freshman and the jump cut here is ridiculous. The defender has him squared up in the hole and he gets back outside in an instant before hitting the turbo button. Even if he didn't finish the run by breaking tackles in the secondary for a touchdown this would have been impressive. His burst is awesome.
Tremendous feet and vision
Even after the injury he suffered as a sophomore, it hasn't changed his feet or his vision. They are still outstanding and he rarely misses an opening for a big play.
This is back from when he was a freshman again, but he's still the same guy. He can see the cutback opportunity and take advantage of it. If Notre Dame isn't gap sound up front, then he is going to gash them.
He fumbles the ball at the end of this run and I'll get back into his and Michel's issue with protecting the football later.
Tough, physical runner
A lot of guys can be tackle breakers when they get into the secondary, but Chubb is more than that. He rarely gets taken down by the first defender and Notre Dame is going to have to gang tackle him to make sure he doesn't break loose.
Even in a game against Alabama in 2015 where he had pretty much no running room the entire day, he continued to run hard and break tackles.There were not a ton of big holes against North Carolina when Georgia played them at the beginning of 2016 as well. That didn't stop Chubb make something out of nothing on several occasions like this one.
The edge defenders for Notre Dame need to squeeze the play down, but can't lose contain or else he'll take advantage.
There were a lot of plays like this where Chubb was boxed in and had no holes to run through. Eventually when he got some space in the second half he started to wear the Tar Heels down. He ended up rushing for 222.
He acted as a closer versus TCU in their bowl game as well. They shut him and the Georgia offense down almost the entire day, but Chubb is someone that gets stronger late in games. In his three seasons he has averaged 6.2, 7.3, and 6.2 yards per carry in the 4th quarter.
A Nick Chubb 4th quarter run isn't that different than a Steph Curry 4th quarter corner 3. It's like a dagger for teams that are trying to get their offense back on the field.
The Irish can't let Georgia get the lead late in the game so Chubb can't take over.
Not a great pass protector
One thing in Chubb's game that Notre Dame can exploit is his pass protection. He is a willing blocker, but not a very good one. That may be why they leak him out of the backfield so much, but he's not a natural receiver either. If he is in the game on 3rd down and long, that's going to be an opportunity for Mike Elko to bring havoc with a blitz and get in a favorable situation.
Whether it is a linebacker or a defensive back blitzing, Chubb has trouble sustaining his block just like he did against Alabama on this play in 2015.
Michel is better in the passing game
I'm not sure we'll see much of Chubb on 3rd down, to be honest. They may just elect to use Michel there more and if they do, we can expect to see him used as a receiver often. Although he is similar size to Chubb, Michel plays like a smaller back.
I mean that as both a compliment and a knock on him. He isn't going to get yards when nothing is there like Chubb can, but he can break long runs if he gets a crease and is a serious threat as a receiver.
If they are in the game together at the same time, look for Georgia to get Michel in a favorable match-up. He's going to beat a lot of linebackers one on one and can even beat cornerbacks like he did on this play against South Carolina.
He had 26 catches two years ago and 22 last season. They're going to want to get him more touches if Chubb is the main workhorse in the backfield and this is a way to do it.
Can make defenders miss
The thing that makes Michel such a great compliment to Chubb is that he doesn't need a ton of carries to make a big impact. He isn't the 4th quarter closer. He is the change of pace that can make defenders miss.
Notre Dame can't be fooled into thinking they'll have it easier with Chubb out of the game or this kind of thing can happen.
His lateral agility makes him extremely slippery.
Fumbling is an issue
I didn't fit it at the end of the previous GIF, but Michel actually fumbled at the end of that play. He was fortunate it went out of bounds and wasn't recovered by the defense. Fumbling is actually an issue for both him and Chubb. Michel has 10 career fumbles and Chubb has 8.
There will be chances for Notre Dame to takeaway the football from them and both get a bit casual with protecting the football when they get to the second level. Every opportunity they get. the Irish need their defenders to try and strip the football from these two.
Obviously the strengths outweigh the weaknesses and as a combination, they compliment each other very well. I think a big key in this game will be for Notre Dame to play with the lead late rather than try and come from behind. They can't let Chubb and Michel take control of the game and they will if they have a lead in the second half.
They are going to get their yards. They've had 26 career 100 yard games between them. But if the Irish don't let these two take over, then Notre Dame has a lot better chance of coming up on the winning end on September 9th.
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