ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia football coach Mark Richt knows he has a good thing in Nick Chubb.
Richt also knows he doesn't want to be too reliant on the sophomore tailback, especially if it's unnecessarily hindering the growth of the passing game under new starting quarterback Greyson Lambert. Chubb already leads the Southeastern Conference with 309 rushing yards.
"We need to be free to call whatever we think is good and not feel like we have to run for X amount of yards or that we have to get the ball to Chubb so many times," Richt said Tuesday. "When I called plays over the years, you certainly wanted to use your skill players the best you could and use the talent that you have, but you need to feel free to attack the defense in the game the way we attacked it all week in the film room.
"We need to call what we believe in and let her rip."
Georgia football coach Mark Richt has posted a 136-48 record through 14 seasons and has taken the Bulldogs to 14 bowl games.Georgia's 39 passes and 23 completions are the fewest of the 13 SEC teams that have played two games.
"We can throw the ball," Chubb said. "We've just got to get settled in. There have been some protection things that we've messed up on and haven't given him enough time, but we'll keep working on it. We'll get better."
Lone interceptor
The only player on Georgia's roster with an interception against South Carolina is senior inside linebacker Jake Ganus, who was a UAB freshman in 2012 when he snagged a Connor Shaw pass inside Williams-Brice Stadium.
That was among the few highlights for the Blazers, however, as they lost 49-6.
"It was probably one of my better games," Ganus said. "That was back during the Marcus Lattimore, Connor Shaw, Ace Sanders, Bruce Ellington days (for South Carolina). I was playing safety and was having to guard those guys one-on-one in the slot, so that was definitely a memorable game for me."
Shaw was not intercepted by Georgia in 2012 or 2013, and Dylan Thompson was picked off last year by then-senior Damian Swann.
Change of plans
Georgia had expected to study South Carolina quarterback Connor Mitch this week, but Mitch separated his shoulder in Saturday night's 26-22 loss to Kentucky.
Perry Orth, a redshirt junior from Ponte Vedra, Fla., filled in admirably against the Wildcats, completing 13 of 20 passes for 179 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He is scheduled to be the first former walk-on quarterback to start for Steve Spurrier since Florida's Noah Brindise late in the 1997 season.
"What I learned about him is that he's tough and a very accurate passer," Richt said. "He looked like a great competitor. He didn't look shell-shocked in any way, shape or form. He looked like he was ready to play, and I'm glad we got to watch a little film on him."
Said senior nose tackle Chris Mayes: "He's still playing within the same scheme."
Odds and ends
Despite losing four of the last five meetings, Georgia still holds a commanding 47-18-2 series lead over South Carolina. Chubb said he injured his ankle on his last play at Vanderbilt but that he could have returned to the game. Bulldogs players will wear prostate cancer awareness stickers on their helmets this Saturday in honor of former SEC commissioner Mike Slive, who will be attending the game. Senior receiver Malcolm Mitchell was among 11 Bowl Subdivision players named Tuesday to the AFCA Good Works Team that recognizes community service.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.