It was fair to be skeptical.

After all, it wasn’t like Georgia’s offensive line set the world on fire in 2016. The Bulldogs ranked ninth in the SEC and 50th in FBS in rushing yards per game. For a backfield that featured Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, those numbers weren’t good enough.

It didn’t help matters that Georgia struggled to run the ball effectively in its spring game and even allowed five sacks. That led to some saying that the offensive line could be what held the Bulldogs back from winning the SEC East.

There was reason for long-term optimism up front with three incoming freshman offensive linemen who ranked inside the top 100 overall recruits in the 2017 class.

But if the Bulldogs were going to get things figured out with that position group, it was going to fall on the veterans to lead the way. Guys such as Isaiah Wynn and Lamont Gaillard had to provide stability for a unit that was mediocre far too often in 2016.

It’s safe to say that skepticism is a thing of the past in Athens.

Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia isn’t sitting at 6-0 as the No. 4 team in America without the vastly improved play of the offensive line. Period.

Wynn and Gaillard did indeed provide stability, but plenty of newcomers joined the fun, too. First-year starter Kendall Baker solidified the left guard spot, redshirt freshman Solomon Kindley was a nice addition at right guard and true freshman Andrew Thomas lived up to his blue-chip billing.

We saw just how good this unit could be on Saturday at Vanderbilt when it plowed the way for 423 rushing yards, which was the program’s highest total in 30 years. Wynn earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors and the Georgia offensive line earned the game ball.

Michel led the way with 150 yards on the ground while Chubb finished the game with 138 yards and two touchdowns, which was his highest single-game total of the season.

“There’s just holes everywhere,” Chubb said after Saturday’s win. “I think it really relates to the mindset. We came in knowing that we weren’t great last year running the ball, and everyone bought into it. Everyone worked hard in the offseason, and it’s starting to show and pay off.”

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The numbers support what Chubb’s eyes told him. Besides the fact that Georgia is already within one rushing touchdown of matching its 2016 total, the Bulldogs’ backfield has been getting all sorts of running room.

Last year, Chubb averaged 1.4 yards before first contact. This year, he’s averaging 2.9 yards before first contact (via Pro Football Focus’ Josh Liskiewitz). Not surprisingly, Chubb is running like the guy who set the SEC ablaze in 2014 and the first part of 2015. Behind Georgia’s improved offensive line, Michel is also averaging 2.6 yards before first contact.

As a result, Georgia is ranked No. 11 in the FBS with 268.3 rushing yards per contest.

“That’s what the SEC is about,” Michel said after Saturday’s win. “You want to try to run the ball. You want to try to stop the run. I think that’s how we prepare. That’s how we practice, and I think that’s how we can continue to build our identity as a football team.”

Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

It’s what Georgia has been all about. There hasn’t been much of a need for Jake Fromm to throw very much because of how successful the ground game has been and how rarely the Bulldogs have trailed in games.

When necessary, the offensive line has been solid in pass protection, too. Georgia’s 1.17 sacks allowed per game ranks No. 20 in FBS.

But the Bulldogs actually allowed two sacks against Vanderbilt, one of which resulted in a Jacob Eason fumble in the fourth quarter. Coach Kirby Smart said that concerned him because Georgia was going to play better teams in the second half of the season.

He’s right. Showdowns against Auburn, Florida and even an improved Kentucky defense will test Georgia’s ability to protect Fromm. If the Bulldogs win the East, an SEC Championship matchup with Alabama or Auburn would certainly fall into that category.

Allowing two sacks and being “concerned” might sound nit-picky, but Smart is demanding perfection of the unit. As well as his offensive line has played, there’s no guarantee Chubb sustains his nearly 7 yards per carry. There’s no guarantee the defense sustains its 5.7 points allowed per SEC game, either.

In the beginning of the season, it seemed like a stretch to forecast the Bulldogs’ offensive line as a “strength.” Through six games, it absolutely is.

One thing is for sure. Whether he admits it or not, Smart should be a lot less concerned about his offensive line now than he was two months ago.