One by one, Georgia’s running backs have gone down this season, plucked from the lineup like apples from a tree.

First, Keith Marshall went down after a 66-0 win over Troy, suffering a right leg injury. He hasn’t played since.

A week later, Sony Michel injured his shoulder. He hasn’t been back on the field since Georgia’s win over Tennessee.

Then, Heisman candidate Todd Gurley, the one man everyone thought the Bulldogs couldn’t afford to lose, was lost to a suspension as he was investigated for NCAA violations regarding selling his autograph. He’s missed two straight games, although the school has filed for his reinstatement.

Freshman Nick Chubb, Georgia’s fourth running back, is now handling the bulk of the carries for the Bulldogs. While Chubb is talented, drawing comparisons to Gurley even before taking over for the junior, but not many expected the Bulldog’s running game to carry on as if all was normal.

Yet here they are, running Chubb over and over the last two weeks with remarkable results: a 225 yard average in the two games without Gurley, with Chubb accounting for 345 yards on 68 carries. The funny thing about all this: no one is talking about the real driving force behind all of this, the Bulldogs offensive line.

A team doesn’t average better than 6 yards per carry on running back talent alone; it takes a talented group up front too. Georgia’s massive unit is just that.

Averaging 6-foot-5 and 298 pounds, John Theus, Brandon Kublanow, David Andrews, Greg Pyke and Kolton Houston (listed from left to right in their alignment) have been dominant all season. They’ve started all seven games together so far, building on a chemistry in their first year playing all together.

The line hasn’t just cleared highways for Georgia’s backs to sprint down; they’ve done a great job keeping first year starter Hutson Mason upright at quarterback, allowing 10 sacks through seven games.

Offensive line coach and running game coordinator Will Friend has got to be pleased with what he’s seeing. There aren’t many teams in the country who can say “next man up” and not skip a beat, even when going to their third and fourth options. For that, the Bulldogs can thank their maulers up front.

In the NFL, it’s customary for star running backs to show some appreciation to their offensive linemen, usually with lavish gifts or trips to Las Vegas. This is college though. Maybe instead, the next time a Georgia running back waltzes into the end zone untouched, he should turn around and hand the ball to the guys who got him there. It’s about time we see the big men strike a Heisman pose.