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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♦ McGarity: It’s ‘unfair’ to give coach specific win mandate
♦ McDavid’s win is painful reminder of Atlanta Spirit’s birth
♦ Matt Ryan confident but admits he, offense could be better
♦ Braves may have an opportunity to trade Troy Glaus
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245 comments Add your comment
aarh
August 31st, 2010
11:24 pm
Go Gators! – Richt’s won 2 SEC Championships since he’s been at UGA. what do you mean 2 in 30 yrs. That’s wrong! There was a guy names Herschel walker there when they won it for 3 straight yrs. from 80-82. I know FLs. been better lately, but they weren’t all that good until Spurrier got there. UGA still has more SEC championships than FL. does. FL. got most of theirs fairly recently. Just saying…
swamp jacket
August 31st, 2010
11:27 pm
Ya’ll forget that opposing defenses will be loading up the box and try to make Murray beat them. So there will be more pressure on him than you want.
college football
August 31st, 2010
11:30 pm
Just wondering, how da drug situation over at georgia tech these days?
Athens City Police
August 31st, 2010
11:58 pm
U – U
G – Get
A – Arrested
Murray Rules!
September 1st, 2010
12:10 am
Murray was better than brantley in high school and played for a bigger program. He’s the real deal—the Dawgs O will be better than bama’s O last year and Grantham’s 3-4 D may be the best in the SEc. UGA upsets florida—book it!
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
September 1st, 2010
12:21 am
I just wanted to say congratulations, Jeff! That was actually a very good column!
Pago Pago Dawg
September 1st, 2010
12:28 am
We agree with TampaGaytor, UF will just re-load and win it all again.
kaput
September 1st, 2010
12:39 am
you people are so damn dumb . . .
Innocent Bystander
September 1st, 2010
3:55 am
Jeff no one can accuse you of ever going out of your way to endear yourself to Georgia fans. But this column went a long way toward doing just that.
I hope you’re right.
I think you are.
sprouse27
September 1st, 2010
5:19 am
Yeah Mark, he’ll get there. But sure might have been helpful if he’d gotten a few snaps last year. Still boggles the mind that we played Cox all last year and did NOTHING to prep a new QB for this year. Urban Meyer seemed to think that was a good idea with Brantley, but hey, what does he know? Course, I don’t make 3 million a year to coach UGA, so what do I know……
GaCracker
September 1st, 2010
5:28 am
Please stay healthy Aaron. It looks pretty bleak at QB depth.
Dawgbreath
September 1st, 2010
5:36 am
Murray’s going to be a good one. Just not this year.
SickandTired
September 1st, 2010
6:16 am
Georgia fans are Georgia fans because they live in a world where they praise the #1 pick in the draft because he was the #1 pick in the draft. That’s in lieu of recognizing from a football standpoint that the #1 pick in the draft never won anything in his tenure in Athens other than a certificate for time spent in bars downtown. They chew up Greene and Shockley just to stand in awe of the arm strength of Stafford. They overlook the stupid throws he made to get them beat to marvel at the 70 yard heave downfield that hit nothing but the turf cause he couldn’t throw a deep ball in the ocean. Part of the defenses problems other than Martinez was the fact the offense didn’t move the ball because of Staffords errant throws or worse to the opposition players. But hey, call me crazy, I’d rather have a steady hand on the tiller like Greene rather than a shaky hand on a coeds rear end downtown running my team. But I’m not a Georgia fan that thinks making the annual trip to Jax is a good think because I can get my drink on out of town and at the same time let the Gators bend us over and not even get the courtesy of a reach around.
TampaGator
September 1st, 2010
6:24 am
Who Knew?…..
If you haven’t noticed….the coaches give interviews after the practices…and they are saying great things about Brown and all four of the Gator running backs, Hines at TE, and Brantley. As I said, I read the Georgia blogs but don’t come on a say a lot of negative things about the Dawgs. I just find the one poster (he was back on again as “Murray Rules!”) funny. I am sure he/she is a great Georgia fan….just a little unrealistic in his view of the experience and talent of one, John Brantley. Georgia is going to much, much improved this year….but I don’t think you can win the SEC with a talented RSFresh QB (Murray)….but you can win the SEC with a very talented RSJr QB (Brantley). Florida has simply re-loaded with a lot of very talented and fast players. Bama is going to have their hands full with Auburn…but Florida may be better than both of them on both sides of the ball this year. But it has to be proved on the field…and it all starts this Saturday…doesn’t it.
Slaw Dawg
September 1st, 2010
6:42 am
True……Murray will give Georgia what its been missing…..the first midget to play in the SEC. He will be bad and Mason will be even worse when called in for back-up. Its going to be a lonnnnnnng season boys and girls. Richt will be on the hotseat and gone by 2012.
dawgma
September 1st, 2010
7:12 am
Aaron Murray will be the best QB to hit UGA since Greene BECAUSE he is an unassuming winner with work ethic, desire, and a winning attitude…I hope?
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
September 1st, 2010
7:25 am
Murray will be fine this year and go beyond expectations. May not be the best QB in the SEC, but will be good.
» SEC: Ole Miss regroups after Masoli a no-go John Clay’s Sidelines
September 1st, 2010
7:32 am
[...] Aaron Murray will give the Bulldogs what they’ve been missing, says Jeff Schultz of the AJC. [...]
Atticus
September 1st, 2010
7:55 am
Greene and DJ won because they had good defenses too. Van Gorder left and the defense was pathetic. Look how many games Georgia lost with Stafford where we scored a lot of points. Those are all wins if VG is still the DC.
Dawgs Rule
September 1st, 2010
7:58 am
TampaGator,
I’ll take our Fr RB, Boo Malcome over Mack Brown ALL DAY. I saw the 2 of them play several games last year and it was VERY apparent who the best RB was. Here’s a hint: his initials are NOT MB!!!!
LawDawg
September 1st, 2010
7:59 am
Slaw…….
That “midget” will certainly light your team’s a$$ up this year. If he’s a midget you must be a dust mite!!
LawDawg
September 1st, 2010
8:01 am
Tampa,
“experience of Brantley”? Are you freakin’ kidding? Mop up duty vs. Sisters of Mercy does NOT count as experience.
Atticus
September 1st, 2010
8:05 am
I just LOVE how they say Chris Rainey is Percy Harvin. What a joke. Harvin was one o fthe best players EVER in college football. But we’ll just plug Rainey in and it will be fine. NO. Your offense was not the same without Harvin and that is WITH Rainey. He can’t hold a candle to Harvin. And now the offense won’t be able to get all the 3rd and shorts it used to. Losing Mullen, losing Harvin and Tebow and losing Strong….but none of that matters, it is business as usual for UF.
Dude, last year the east was pathetic. Florida couldn’t help but win every game. It will still be down this year. But they will NOT be the same team.
Vixzilla
September 1st, 2010
8:08 am
Good write up Jeff!
Pappy
September 1st, 2010
8:08 am
“What kind of year do you think Murray needs to have for Georgia to win the SEC East?”
Dream on, dawgturd.
how2fish
September 1st, 2010
8:13 am
Dog Nation let the Tide and Gator fans talk hey they have earned that by their teams actions on the field the last couple of years..I tip my hat to them and their programs..but as they say hope springs eternal. We will have to play lights out and get lucky.. lucky enough to stay healthy this year. The Gators are the team to beat in the East we all know that but our biggest challenges this year IMHO will come in week 2 and 3 brutal two weeks with a new DC and QB..we get thru those two with wins and don’t trip over our feet and we will have a good shot in Jax but we have a job of work to do prior to that..here’s wishing the 2010 Bull Dogs the best..now GATA!
SC Fan
September 1st, 2010
8:16 am
Aaron Murray is another Joe Cox, mediocre at best, and grossly overhyped.
Time to give Zach a call!
how2fish
September 1st, 2010
8:17 am
Pappy.. Wow you must have spent hours thinking up that snappy retort..please back under your rock.
James T. Kirk
September 1st, 2010
8:27 am
So you mean Murray will give the mutts 13 wins and a world championship? LOL!!!! Good one Jeff!!! They don’t even have a Highsman candidate this year!!
hotbobby
September 1st, 2010
8:33 am
Before we get too far ahead thinking how good our O is going to be this year, remember, Miss State, Vandy, and FSU scored more on Tech’s D than we did. There are way too many questions to be answered before we start talking about how good we will be this year. Like, do we have the studs on D to stop a good O? Or, will Prince Richt have the jewels to stop all this extra curricular activity? Is Murray the golden child? Is Grantham, our 11th choice, really the man? The list could go on and on!
Steve
September 1st, 2010
8:40 am
Andre Woodson of Kentucky has the SEC record of 325 passes witout an interception, not David Greene with 214.
Tide Roll
September 1st, 2010
8:44 am
Jeff, You act like we won national titles with Greene and Stafford. We still got hammered by Florida like 49-10 with these guys. What’s missing is a physical offensive line. Each year Bobo and Richt, two former Qbs, more interested in showing fans how they outsmart the other team than simply wearing them down physically, make absolutely insane decisions regarding Uga’s offensive line. Rather than playing personnel that would allow them to physically dominate another team, they make personnel decisions that actually weaken the line. Then, year after year, they go to down to Jacksonville and get dominated on the line of scrimmage. Two of the three times we beat Florida, Robert Edwards, and Moreno scored three touchdowns ON THE GROUND. Richt and Bobo ignore history and go down there with the intent of getting in a shootout and get absolutely killed.Florida’s offensive line consists of Xavier Nixon and Marcus Gilbert at tackle, Carl Johnson and Maurice Hurt (from Milledgeville) at guards, and Mike Pouncey at center. Richt counters inredibly by moving Bean Anderson and Kiante Tripp to defense (after assuring Tripp that he would be a first round pick at offensive tackle). He then puts Trinton Sturdivant and Chris Burnette as backups, and after Florida beats us again will make some incredibly dumb statement like, “Well, here we are again.”! Richt and Bobo are too cocky to beat Florida. they have their own personnel agendas and its reflected in their decisions pertaining to the offensive line. Stafford and Moreno were 1st round picks and you’re still getting killed by Florida. Your problem is you offensive line.
joe
September 1st, 2010
8:51 am
Don’t think so…the pick 6’s, fumbles, missing open receivers…all have been there for several years and are destined to continue all the way to Shreveport.
Francoeur needs to take a hint or he'll go nowhere in career | Jeff Schultz
September 1st, 2010
8:53 am
[...] ♦ Aaron Murray will give Georgia what it has been missing [...]
Cardinal Sin
September 1st, 2010
8:58 am
Hey Bug Killer
We do not live in the past but the present, and that lack luster program that you seem to back has not won a NC in 30 years yet you all a few years ago were all thinking that you would waltz to it but CHOKED!
I’d keep the trash talkin to myself when it comes to GA as you can’t back it up, as you will get BEAT DOWN again this year in JAX!
Gators win the East in 2010!
Enough Said!
David
September 1st, 2010
8:58 am
That’s right Jeff, say something good for the home crowd.
You don’t believe that crap any more than I do. Do you think he handled Joe Cox last year very well?
He basically handed him the job and then let him fry.
Gatorbait 17-3
September 1st, 2010
9:00 am
how2fish
Another classy post at 8:13 am. Unlike some of the dawgs you are grounded
in reality.
For those who think Murray is better than Brantley just don’t know any better.
Brantley is a 4th year junior and “mop up” duty is one heck of a lot more experience
than Murray, who has not throw a pass in competetion in 2 years. When Brantley played
after Tebow was hurt in the Kentucky game, he was 4-6 with 1 TD and no INT.
These are Brantley stats from 2 years of mop up duty; I think I’ll take his record against
the HS QB the dawgs are starting. I would bet even money, Murray has never even had a day in practice or your G-day game where he has completed 71% of his passes against your scout team.
At least Brantley’s mop up duty was against real opponents that were much better than the Georgia scout team.
Brantley
CMP ATT YDS CMP% YDS/A TD INT RAT
2008 36 48 410 75 8.54 7 0 194.9
2009 18 28 235 64.3 8.39 3 1 163
Total 54 76 645 71% 8.45 10 1 178.95
LawDawg
September 1st, 2010
9:00 am
James Kirk = Ebonics king!!!
LawDawg
September 1st, 2010
9:01 am
Cardinal Sin,
which is it? Stanford, Florida? Go ahead and spin the wheel and decide which team you will root for today.
Cardinal Sin
September 1st, 2010
9:05 am
I have always supported the Gators, so do not know what you are referencing? There must be another on here with the name Cardinal Sin!
Gatorbait 17-3
September 1st, 2010
9:06 am
LawDawg
Tell me again how much better Murray is than Brantley, and how you came
to such an informed conclusion. I hope you work pro bono, your advice isn’t worth paying for.
LawDawg
September 1st, 2010
9:06 am
Fishbait,
you are making all of us tremble at the mere thought of your boy Brantley. You also have the “new” Harvin and “new” Heblow in waiting. Also a “new” Strong coaching the D. I would bet, even money, that you have a “new” AK47 shooter and a “new” use a dead girl’s credit card player. Please, no more talk about Brantley…..we can stand to be frightened anymore. BTW, this article does NOT include your new QB anywhere in it.
Call IT
September 1st, 2010
9:06 am
Hey, I support the Gators and Cardinal Sin is correct! So what is your beef LawDawg, pink panties?
Enough Said!
E-Dawg
September 1st, 2010
9:07 am
How many games has brantley won? (hint: 0). But in Gainesville, he’s the second coming of Joe Montana and Joe Namath, just because his dad played at uf. The Dawg D will eat him alive.
LawDawg
September 1st, 2010
9:08 am
Fishbait,
where did I mention “how much better Murray is than Brantley”? I didn’t. I’m just sick of your drivel about Brantley. Mop up duty does not constitute greatness as you are professing!!
LawDawg
September 1st, 2010
9:10 am
CallIT,
“pink panties”….teeheehee. Man, your maturity is off the charts. I bet typing that sent you off for a private moment huh?
Gatorbait 17-3
September 1st, 2010
9:10 am
LawDawg
Thought so, you know nothing and only classless people call people names when they can’t win an argument——–you wouldn’t be a bleeding heart liberal would you?
LawDawg
September 1st, 2010
9:11 am
Cardinal Sin = Call IT…..”Enough Said!”
LawDawg
September 1st, 2010
9:14 am
Fishbait,
“thought so”? what? When were you born, 1990? You won an argument? By claiming greatness upon your mop up QB? Isn’t there a fishbait site you can blog onto? Quit frightening all of us with your tough talk about mop up boy!
Gatorbait 17-3
September 1st, 2010
9:28 am
LawDawg
Do you seriously think a freshman who doesn’t even know the playbook completely,
Richt’s own words, ” we need to go slower and not ask him to do too much” ( or very close to that) can compete with a 4th year junior who knows it inside and out. Not to mention being mentored for 3 years by one of the greatest college players of all time. Who mentored Murray, oh I forgot that outstanding fella Cox.