Aaron Murray will give Georgia what it has been missing
It's Aaron Murray's show now, and Georgia will go as he goes this season. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
ATHENS – Success in game one of season one shouldn’t be used as much of a barometer because, fact is, Georgia shouldn’t lose its opener to Louisiana-Lafayette. Blow this, and it will be apparent the Bulldogs’ problems are much bigger than a freshman quarterback.
But it’s easy to come away with a good feeling about Aaron Murray. Maybe it’s the fact he is more head than arm. Maybe it’s because he frequently exchanges text messages and studies game tapes of David Greene, who seemed almost robotically perfect as a college quarterback. Maybe it was just the way Murray reacted when Zach Mettenberger, who figured to be the other half of Georgia’s starting quarterback battle, was kicked off the team in April for sexual battery.
“It was upsetting to me and I talked to Zach for a little bit about it the day it happened,” Murray said. “But it made me step up more in terms of knowing I had to take that leadership role. Logan [Gray] had moved to receiver. Zach was gone. The young guys hadn’t come in yet. I was really the only guy. It was my job. I had to step up and make sure I was doing all the right things.”
Freshman quarterbacks can make coaches want to cover their eyes. Mark Richt admitted his frustrations Tuesday with Matthew Stafford, noting that, “Guys with that kind of arm strength and that kind of ability can’t help themselves sometimes.” They spend too much time trying to be the super hero.
If the Dogs are successful this season, it will be because Murray plays more like Greene, who set an NCAA record with 42 wins (later surpassed by Colt McCoy’s 45) and an SEC record for 214 consecutive passes without an interception (that one still stands).
Improvement by the defense with new coordinator Todd Grantham obviously is important. So is exceedingly more resolve and discipline among players who have accounted for too many penalties on the field and too many arrests off of it.
But ultimately, a football team follows its quarterback. The Dogs won SEC titles with Greene and D.J. Shockley for a reason. Or two reasons: intelligence and leadership. Under Stafford, they won frequently but were sporadic at times for lack of the same.
When Richt was asked what he has learned from working with freshman quarterbacks, he said: “What I’ve learned is that you’re better off starting slow with a smaller package [of plays] and repping him over and over again. Hopefully you have success and you can grow as you go. Most of these guys were pretty good playmakers in high school. Sometimes they feel like they need to make a play, [like] they have to do something spectacular. [But] it’s not just ad-lib. You don’t have to be a hero.”
And then this: “Greene was really the only one who went through it unscathed, or close to unscathed. He was very disciplined in what he did. Stafford wanted to make plays. He was about doing great things. Guys with that kind of arm strength and that kind of ability can’t help themselves sometimes. If you look at Stafford, we struggled with him. At the end of [his freshman] year, when he quit turning it over, we won. We beat No. 5 Auburn. We beat Tech. We beat Virginia Tech. He just finally kept from trying to be that hero.”
Murray has watched several of Greene’s game tapes, as well as highlight packages of the same plays being run by Greene, Shockley and Stafford and himself ( in practice).
Murray on Greene: “He was always extremely smooth in everything he did. He was always so poised.”
His biggest challenge now? Staying calm. When asked if he gets nervous before starts, he said: “I wouldn’t say nervous. I’d say juiced up. It would be a good thing if I was on defense. I’d probably try to take someone’s head off.”
But he has learned ways to calm down, he said, listening to “some mellow, slow-jam country music. No Eminem or any rock.”
He’s going to make mistakes. As Richt said, “He’s going to be finding his way.” When he gets there, so will Georgia.
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♦ Braves may have an opportunity to trade Troy Glaus
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245 comments Add your comment
JC
August 31st, 2010
5:18 pm
404:
Hope you’re right. Bombs to AJ Green and the Olson if they crowd the box, Murray will torch them.
East Town
August 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
If Murray wavers, Mason or Gray can light em up.
DawgMike
August 31st, 2010
5:20 pm
Just saw the tail end of Herbstriet’s predictions show on ESPN. yes, that’s right, they gave him his own prediction show and he picked FL to win the SEC over Auburn in Atlanta then face …..
wait for it..
wait for it..
The Ohio State for the National title and of course, win it.
What a myopic homer he is.
Bob Horner managed his money well...
August 31st, 2010
5:20 pm
I say what BugKiller said…the dawgs will be fine…the game in Columbia is HUGE!!!!!! I think Cox was bad and Willie was too….we’ll find out in 12 days….
HYY
August 31st, 2010
5:20 pm
Big test, only tst, Oct. 30, Gators. But they’re down this year, lost 70% of offense, Cooper, Hernandez, Tebow, etc.
404
August 31st, 2010
5:21 pm
Very easy to stop Green and Orson. They aren’t any good
404
August 31st, 2010
5:21 pm
2009 Ark vs UGA
Ark: Total Yds: 485
Rushig: 77
Passing: 408
UGA: Total Yds:530
Rushing: 155
Passing: 375
Looks like Ark’s Rush Defense was pretty good vs UGA.
Cox & Mallet just aired it out.
Dont see Murray being able to air it out vs. Ark.
Result: UGA Loss
r_u_ready_for some fooooosball?????
August 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
git-r-dun bobby
Wheeler Fan
August 31st, 2010
5:23 pm
Watched Mason play at Lassiter on several occassion.
Mason is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy-over-rated
Paul
August 31st, 2010
5:24 pm
Not convined Murray knows his role this season. He loks more like a Stafford, look at me, kind of guy. Could try to be a star. If he’s more like Greene, Ga goes on a big run, but doubt it happens with Murray, more likely Gray, Gray’s a team first dude.
Really?
August 31st, 2010
5:25 pm
404 – While you are looking up stats why don’t you see who was at RB for UGA in that game. His name is Richard Samuel and he now plays LB. King and Ealey didn’t play in that game and we had a starter or two out on the O-line. Nice try!
JC
August 31st, 2010
5:25 pm
Georgia will pound defenses that crowd the box with TE deep routes. Best set of TE’s in the country at Ga.
LMAO
August 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
Paul – you should be coaching with that bright insight that you just shared with us!
404
August 31st, 2010
5:27 pm
Um, erally?
I recall that UGA had the same O-Line?
Didnt seem to help much.
404
August 31st, 2010
5:28 pm
Really? – I only state stats that back up my opinions.
Really?
August 31st, 2010
5:32 pm
404- well you recall wrong! Justin Anderson and Vince Vance played on the O-line during that game. Josh Davis was recovering from shoulder surgery.
Really?
August 31st, 2010
5:33 pm
404- That is obvious!
Natureboy809
August 31st, 2010
5:33 pm
Is 404 REALLY trying to make fun of an offense that put up 52 points on his Razorbacks with Joe Cox leading the way?
mike Jay
August 31st, 2010
5:33 pm
404, so everyone who played in the Ark and UGA game in 2009 will be playing this year except joe Cox? No new coaches or defensive schemes or anything? Hmm I had no idea….
Sorry guy!
August 31st, 2010
5:39 pm
404- so because we now have a totally different o-line and a totally different RB as 2009 we will still struggle to run the ball against Arkansas. You may want to stop commenting on here because you have no idea what you are talking about.
Really?
August 31st, 2010
5:39 pm
404- where you at?
asheville dawg
August 31st, 2010
5:40 pm
It’s about time people realize that St. Stafford was not that great of a college quarterback. He was good, but to be great you have to win something tangible at the end of the regular season. Like a division, or conference title. He still hasn’t done that since high school.
Let’s hope Murray (and Richt) learned from other folks mistakes.
ReddJonn68
August 31st, 2010
5:42 pm
Why do we want this kid to be an, almost there guy ? We want a, get us over the hump, type guy ! How many Sears trophies did Greene win & what type of pro career did he have. QBs can run a system to perfection, but they must have that something extra too take it up a notch. I’m sick of just enjoying winning seasons, we need a guy who has that type of intangible to simply win the big games. Heck Murray is probably better than Bama’s QB, but who cares? When is Richt gonna start talkin about the big hardware ? The QB is an extension of his head coach.
Natureboy809
August 31st, 2010
5:42 pm
@asheville dawg – A QB can not play defense. For all of Tebow’s accolades, don’t forget that in his HEISMAN year, Florida lost 4 games because their defense wasn’t very good. Give Stafford some of the defenses we had under BVG, and see how much he accomplishes.
Red Panties Rick
August 31st, 2010
5:43 pm
Well, at least this year the excuses will be different.
“We lost because we’re breaking in a freshman quarterback.”
I also think that a pre-game flag football contest utilizing red panties as the flags might prove to be a real crowd pleaser…..
Drew
August 31st, 2010
5:45 pm
asheville dawg – I agree you have to win a big game in college to be considered a good QB
Regards,
Drew Brees
Red Panties Rick
August 31st, 2010
5:46 pm
I know I am beating a dead horse cause you guys have already hired a new Ad but I have nothing else to make fun of you guys about. Sorry
T3
August 31st, 2010
5:49 pm
BREAKING NEWS AT ESPN
NCAA has DENIED Masoli’s petition to play in 2010.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
ROTFLMAO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hereby CHANGE my previous SEC prediction.
Ole Miss will now replace LSU as my predcition
to finish DEAD LAST in the SEC-West.
Somebody better call the local Emergency Room in Oxford.
Nutt may be in there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Dal
August 31st, 2010
5:51 pm
Headline: Aaron Murray will give Georgia what it has been missing
What UGA has been missing?
Does that mean Murray will magically render his moron teammates literate, and bring an end to the thuggery?
I doubt that very much.
Mark????
August 31st, 2010
5:51 pm
Lay off the pain killers bro! You write that Nesbitt, a proven leader and senior, is not qualified for the Heisman but in the same day, you say Uga’s redshirt freshmen is just what the doctor orders.. What’s up my man?
cabbage patch
August 31st, 2010
5:56 pm
last time dawgs started a rookie qb, they lost 4 games.
just sayin.
1eyedJack
August 31st, 2010
5:58 pm
404, Mallet ain’t going to light up anything while he’s standing on the sideline watching the Caleb and Washaun show.
cabbage patch
August 31st, 2010
5:58 pm
and the time before that they won the SEC Championship.
just sayin.
Holy schnikees
August 31st, 2010
5:59 pm
4 days til season starts and old missy just found out
they aint go no QB.
nutt must’ve just shat his trousers
cabbage patch
August 31st, 2010
6:02 pm
Let me know when was the last time UGA won the sec
with a True Freshman or a RS-Freshman QB??
let me be fic that: last time UGA started
a True-Freshman or a RS-Freshman, UGA lost 4.
1eyedJack
August 31st, 2010
6:07 pm
cabbage patch, poor logic, you can’t extrapolate anything from that. Two entirely differnt teams.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
August 31st, 2010
6:07 pm
Well, I’m back after spending an hour or so dodging the paint guy, and while I was gone somebody threw five UGA diplomas and two Dean’s List certificates in my house. Jeez! Some people have no respect for my abode, much less my, uh, posterior.
1eyedJack
August 31st, 2010
6:08 pm
“different”….I don’t give a damn for a man who can only spell a word one way.
cabbage patch
August 31st, 2010
6:11 pm
just sayin
the LAST time uga started a True Freshman or RS-Freshman at QB
UGA lost 4 games.
Facing: usc-e, arkie, miss st, fl, auburn with RS-Freshman QB.
bad odds.
cabbage patch
August 31st, 2010
6:24 pm
I am an idiot
just sayin
what if...??
August 31st, 2010
6:30 pm
I was married to Beth Galvin and we named our boy Calvin..???
what if...??
August 31st, 2010
6:31 pm
I was married to Patty Pan and we named our boy Peter..???
RC
August 31st, 2010
6:32 pm
Murray can throw 20 Interceptions, as long as he throws 80 touchdowns.
what if...??
August 31st, 2010
6:32 pm
Aaron Murray throws for 275yds and we beat the cocks by 2tds….???
CHDawg
August 31st, 2010
6:34 pm
How I rate our QB (5 outstanding; 3 avg; 0 just terrible): determination and drive to win, work, and improve (Tebow was a 5 star on this one)– I give Murray 4.75. Mind for the game and playbook–4.75. Arm strength–4. Quick release–5. Speed–3.75. Size –2. Vision (from tapes of HS and two G-days) 4.5, but this one remains to be seen at this level. Overall, I expect Murray to start strong and improve all year long. I see him competing for the Heisman at some point in his stay at UGA, but I see 2010 as our best chance to win the NC, imho. This team looks better than the ‘08 team that was rated #1 to me, but we will soon see!
what if...??
August 31st, 2010
6:34 pm
I had studied in HS…I’d be a nuerologist and not be on this blog @ 6:34pm…I’d be doing brain surgery….
Bozo
August 31st, 2010
6:47 pm
You guys don’t see it.
Murray has the “It” factor.
He’s gonna end up with an passes to interceptions if around 2.5%.
He’s gonna throw @20x a game, 240 passes, 6 interceptions.
Just like all the great QB’s. Murray is a future Drew Brees.
It’s on like Hong Kong!
Cullen
August 31st, 2010
6:49 pm
Jeff-
What kind fo year do you think Murray needs to have for Georgia to win the SEC East?
Accuracy?
Td’s?
Interceptions?
Yards?
Beast from the East
August 31st, 2010
7:05 pm
Sounds like a good kid with his head screwed on right. He just needs to remember that he does not have to win games. He just has to manage them and not make the dumb mistakes that many first year QB’s often do. If he does, then the Dawgs have an excellent chance at being undefeated heading down to the WLOCP.
We’ll see you guys down there.
Good luck, Dawgs and GO GATORS!
CHDawg
August 31st, 2010
7:19 pm
What if?? It is “neurologist”–I would learn how to spell before trying to insult another person’s intelligence! Also, it is a football blog where people share their opinions on football. You seem to think it is an insult blog. You might give me a reason why I’m wrong, rather than demonstrating your poor spelling skills and lack of upbringing. UGA’s O line is made up of roughly the same guys we had in ‘08. They have grown up. The O line is actually the key to the offense imho. Position players count, but most people don’t understand how important the line is to the offense. So, I have reasons for my post.