Does Georgia have edge on Florida? Yes — Aaron Murray
Aaron Murray can quiet a lot of critics if he leads Georgia past Florida. (AP photo)
ATHENS – Have you heard? The Georgia quarterback can’t play in big games. He can’t beat great teams. He melts in big moments. He is 0-4 against top 10 teams, 2-8 against ranked teams. He lost to South Carolina. Twice. He’s no David Greene, no D.J. Shockley and he sure ain’t no Buck Belue.
This is how the story about Aaron Murray gets spun. Not that he has thrown 75 touchdown passes in 2½ years, or that he threw for over 400 yards the week after his father had cancer surgery, or that Georgia has won six games this season not in spite of its quarterback but because of him — because the six wins certainly can’t be attributed to special teams or the soft-as-nougat defense (paraphrasing Shawn Williams).
Here is the problem with “the book” on Murray. It’s short-sighted. It’s the cheap-and-easy pop that goes an inch deep instead of Butts-Mehre-wide. The 0-4 and 2-8 records technically are accurate. But that’s a program statement. Since 2008 – two seasons before Murray started a game — Georgia is 1-9 against top 10 teams and 6-14 against top 25s. Does Murray get blamed for that, too, or is that on coach Mark Richt and his staff?
We do this with quarterbacks. They’re the lightning rods. They’re the can’t-win-the-big-game guys until schleps like John Elway or Peyton Manning win Super Bowls, and then we move on to the next guy. We look at a guy like Murray leading four second-half touchdown drives in the loud, zoo-like surroundings at Missouri and think, “OK, that was impressive.” But then Missouri devolves into an 0-4 conference newbie and we think, “OK, that wasn’t a big deal.”
This week it’s Florida. Murray was asked the inevitable question of trying to win the big game. He responded appropriately: “I just ignore it. I’m not playing Florida myself.”
I imagine his psychology degree and post-graduate work has enabled him to remove the emotion from the process in matters like this.
On Florida again: “You can’t go in there stressed. I have to be positive in my thoughts and let her rip. Sometimes, maybe I try to be too perfect or too cautious, thinking about not throwing an interception. My goal this week is to trust my abilities, trust my preparation and just go out there and let it rip.”
Georgia has only one edge over Florida. It’s at quarterback and nowhere else.
Murray is better than Jeff Driskel. He has thrown for more yards (1,914 to 929) and more touchdowns (16 to 8). But Driskel doesn’t play on a team that has underachieved relative to its perceived talent level. He has benefited from the Gators having a great defense. The Gators physically beat two highly ranked teams, LSU and South Carolina, so nobody is questioning their quarterback’s leadership or resolve.
Murray is not the same kid who looked unnerved in Jacksonville two years ago. He was intercepted on the Dogs’ first play, committed two more turnovers in the second quarter that led to Florida touchdowns and threw third interception (fourth turnover) in overtime, enabling the Gators to win 34-31.
“He was just a young quarterback who made some freshman mistakes,” senior Marlon Brown said. “But he’s overcome that.”
Last season’s meeting was better but still not great. He completed only 15 of 39 and had an early interception, but he threw a pair of fourth-down touchdown passes and led the Bulldogs to a 24-20 win.
“People ask do you get a little nervous for Florida? I’m not nervous. Since that first year, once the game gets going I don’t worry about all the extra stuff any more.”
He has evolved as a leader, fortunately in a less combustible way than Shawn Williams (who might’ve been on target when he labeled his team’s defense “soft” but he effectively threw teammates under the bus when he mandated lineup changes).
Murray has taken a more cerebral approach in his leadership than Williams. His graduate work in industrial-organizational psychology led him to study the qualities of NFL quarterbacks like Tom Brady. For one project, he surveyed teammates and coaches on where they believed he fell short as a leader. Their feedback: Murray needed to be more vocal. So he has been this season, without cutting off anybody at the knees.
“In some instances I need to be more demanding and vocal,” he said. “I have to make sure guys are accountable.”
He was beat up physically and emotionally recently. Georgia had lost to South Carolina. His house was egged by lunatics. His father underwent surgery. He even got a speeding ticket driving back to Athens from Florida following the bye week. But he tried to stay upbeat publicly.
“Fake it ’til you make it, I guess,” he said. “Especially as the quarterback, I have to make sure I have a high energy level. Running around, screaming and yelling and having fun, making sure guys see that I’m ready to go.”
It’s opportunity week. Georgia can take control in the SEC East. Murray can put to rest criticism about big-game performances. Quarterbacks are defined by games like this, fair or unfair. Here’s Murray’s chance to rewrite “the book.”
By Jeff Schultz
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412 comments Add your comment
sHOTHOLIC
October 24th, 2012
8:21 pm
unemployed due who has nothing else to do but blog 100 negative posts per day
thinking that tearing uga down will help them win games
Raiderbeater
October 24th, 2012
8:24 pm
I will always root for the Dawgs….no matter how bad they are.
I’ll believe they can beat Florida when I see it though……all those other highly touted games they were beaten in any different?????
You can’t flip a switch.
They were never coached up in the first place!
Erk Russell's Dog
October 24th, 2012
8:24 pm
Shotholic=mackdaddy same dumbass posts. And WTF was so negative about my only post tonight .I said the Dogs would go .500 against the only two ranked teams left on their schedule .A better record than they have had against ranked teams in recent history.
DawgNole
October 24th, 2012
8:24 pm
Thomas Brown
October 24th, 2012
6:36 am
It’s Mark Richt’s fault, not Aaron Murray’s that he has not prepared a back-up Quarterback for us since 2004. 2004 was nine (9) years’ ago.
Thomas Brown
October 24th, 2012
8:07 am
2006 ? 2006 season was 7 seasons’ ago.
Thomas Brown
October 24th, 2012
3:43 pm
I rooted for little Aaron Murray in 2010.
2010
2011
2012
That was three (3) seasons’ ago now. I’m over it now.
Thomas Brown
October 24th, 2012
3:55 pm
Not since 2004 which was 9 seasons’ ago has this coaching staff prepared a back-up QB.
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It’s obviously the least of his issues, but has anyone else noticed TB’s “funny math”? Anyone else here think 2004 was 9 years ago, 2006 was 7 years ago, and 2010 was 3 years ago?
The irony is that he brags incessantly about finishing in the” top 5%” of his class. Safe to say his field of study wasn’t math–or sports, for that matter.
MackDaddy
October 24th, 2012
8:25 pm
Dawgnole = Erk = raiderbeat
all the same guy
uasing fake names
DIRTYWHITE BOY
October 24th, 2012
8:26 pm
UGA ISN’T MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT FL. 2 YEARS IN A ROW.
DawgNole
October 24th, 2012
8:31 pm
MackDaddy
October 24th, 2012
8:25 pm
Dawgnole = Erk = raiderbeat
all the same guy
uasing fake names
_______________________
“uasing” fake names? LOL
MackDaddy = Dumbazz
Erk Russell's Dog
October 24th, 2012
8:35 pm
Finally a first ,actually got blocked on this site. Arguing with a moron. I repeat I only post under one name on this blog. And you can look it up!
DawgNole
October 24th, 2012
8:36 pm
I love UGA
but try to post under fake names to help UGA win
DIRTYWHITEBOY
October 24th, 2012
8:37 pm
This is another fake name I use, another is DawgNole
Thomas Brown
October 24th, 2012
8:38 pm
I love UGA, but act like I don’t to help them win.
Erk Russell's Dog
October 24th, 2012
8:39 pm
I like Mark Richt, face it he’s a better coach than Muschamp any way you measure it.
But on this blog, I act like I hate him.
Ed
October 24th, 2012
8:41 pm
“Tackle” someone. Well stated Jeff, what a concept. I would add to that “block somebody”, and if we pull both off, there’s a chance the South Carolina debacle won’t be repeated. I didn’t say win…that would almost be a happy bonus at this point. I’ll settle for not being embarrassed on a national stage.
Deja Vu
October 24th, 2012
8:43 pm
Georgia will do what they always do and lose another big game. This tired story has been played out too many times to expect otherwise. Mark Richt is the appointed team leader and he doesn’t want to win bad enough, and the teams play is a reflection of his attitude. UGA has never had a talent problem. Until they get a coach that absolutely demands greatness from his players, UGA football will never reach its potential.
Ed
October 24th, 2012
8:43 pm
Sorry to use all these fake names, I get “bored”, I don’t have a job or anything, so I “blog” a lot.
Erk Russell's Dog
October 24th, 2012
8:43 pm
@8:39 Watch it now. Posting under someone else’s handle is pretty shady. CMR may be a better coach than CWM but it is really to early to know.If CMR goes up 2-0 on CWM then you may have proved your point.
Erk Russell's Dog
October 24th, 2012
8:45 pm
@8:43 I am a pro at positing under fake names. WRT is better than QST with a SRY.
Deja Vu
October 24th, 2012
8:50 pm
Kidding about the 8:43 post. Truly, UGA beat Florida last year, and beat Auburn and Tech, who were both ranked at the time. UGA will reach its potential this Saturday.
This is another fake name I sue, ya’ll like it?
BullDawg's Momma
October 24th, 2012
8:53 pm
Bulldawg,
Get off the computer son, time for your roman noodle dinner with water with pepper. Come on up and get it or the dog will finish eating your supper.
Erk Russell's Dog
October 24th, 2012
8:55 pm
Scultzie I think the integrity of your blog has been compromised by interlopers from Gator Nation posting under false names. Back to the swamp you slimy reptiles.
Erk Russell's Dog
October 24th, 2012
8:57 pm
Sorry Jeff .should have been Schultzy .
Fake name #1,000,000
October 24th, 2012
8:58 pm
All right, now I will make up a bunch of fake names,. and post a lot of negative stuff about Mark Richt
ready……
here I go………
JB at home
October 24th, 2012
9:19 pm
Michael Bennett,,,, Now Abry Jones…..Two fine Dawgs gone……And just left the Message boards of the Vols. They are counting on a loss to Cocks and if they are the first to lose to Mizzou, Dooley gone before season ends.
fan
October 24th, 2012
9:38 pm
I’d like to see Oklahoma stomp the ever loving $hit out of that trash from South Bend Indiana. That bunch wins a few games, and all you hear on every sports channnel is they’re back and great they are. I’d like to see that bunch line up against SEC teams.
DawgNole
October 24th, 2012
9:41 pm
Erk Russell’s Dog
October 24th, 2012
8:43 pm
@8:39 Watch it now. Posting under someone else’s handle is pretty shady. CMR may be a better coach than CWM but it is really to early to know.If CMR goes up 2-0 on CWM then you may have proved your point.
__________________
Same coward did it @8:36. Never understood the motivation of those who post under the names of others. Must be ashamed of what they’re posting.
DaRon
October 24th, 2012
10:08 pm
I’m loading up on the Dogs and 6.5 points—this will be easy money with my man in Vegas—$500 cash!!! Dogs roll—Murray lights it up! Ga 33 Fla 20!
King Gator
October 24th, 2012
10:14 pm
Georgia Advantages:
Murray’s a better soccer player than JD
Better dancing team after td’s (problem – not enough td’s )
Tops in Infighting
AD Dui’s
Losses in Lib Bowl to UCF
Go Gators,
sissy
October 24th, 2012
10:19 pm
The number 1 problem with this whole bunch is not 1 player or coach on the field fears their HC.
Ghost of Ron Zook
October 24th, 2012
11:14 pm
Gayturds #1 in Jorts worn by fans, coach challenging fans to a fistfight, players kicked off team for discpinary reasons, losses to Missy State.
Spumoni
October 24th, 2012
11:27 pm
AJ,
Sorry to disappoint you, but I’ve used only ONE name on this blog. And this is just my 3rd post.
I’m actually a GT fan. Have been all my life (40+ years). Graduated from GA State in ‘95.
I’ve got a pretty decent eye for sports, and what I said about UF beating UGA by double-digits isn’t b/c I’d root for the Taliban if they were playing UGA, it’s b/c it’s true… IF UF still has anything left after playing SC, Vandy &LSU the past 3 weeks. UGA got their doors blown by SC, then had 2 bye weeks to get ready for UF. YES, 29-24 vs UK means UGA was doing more prep for UF last week than UK. UK, in case you haven’t noticed, is absolutely horrendous!
UGA’s weakness is it’s OL …. UF, if healthy, ready, and gassed-up, will do similar to UGA what SC did. Sorry, but it’s true.
ATLien
October 24th, 2012
11:35 pm
While I’m somewhat worried if Murray can get it done, I’m more worried about Bobo and Richt and their continuous ability to call a totally inept football game thus taking defeat from the jaws of victory. If UGA loses this game they will be the biggest frauds of all time. Murray has impressive stats but none of them come against top quality competition. Bobo I hope you’re staying up late thinking of ways to utilize Murray’s strengths. Please don’t call a very cautious scared game!!! If Murray is really the man the ball needs to be in his hands to get it done
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
12:04 am
MT October 24th, 2012 5:48 pm
“Thomas Brown Dude you preaching to the choir, I have been ready for Richt to go for years,however Im not gonna be like some Vols fans were a few years back pulling against their own team just so Phat Phil would get fired. I just think we shouldn’t run down our team,defense, Aaron Murray etc.the guys playing the game.If and when Richt does get fired some of these same guys will still be around.Also like to say, I don’t hate Mark Richt, I just don’t agree with his approach to coaching.”
______________________________________________
I am with you on everything MT, except that I am supposed to run in here and say that David Greene set the UGA Record with 42 wins and Aaron Murray is the better quarterback. No. No, he’s not. Or, that there is a single guy in the secondary who knows a bloody thing about covering one receiver on one down. Or, that all the suspended defensive players make the defense a tight-knit group with no regrets about 2012. I am not into all these lies. We both know what we see. They play Favorites around here, ever since Mark Richt took this cushy job where fans are not supposed to call it like it is and fall victim to his daily B.S. about how the special teams aren’t going to be all walk-ons playing like this is some little league baseball team where every player has to play as much as every other player, no matter how good they are. If the coach only sends one guy out there to play, 29 will transfer-out, which is what we have. If Mark Richt has to go to the Press to whine to the press that this other player has not been good and is not ready, I have supreme issues with all that. If all we do all off-season is kick players off the team and force them out and not call the police when 3 of the coaches’ recruits of his Dream Team steal over $ 500 cash and other valuables, please do not expect me to come on here and hold the players’ hands and tell them it’s ok, they can come back after they serve some time in JUCO military school to learn their lessons. Because it ain’t happening.
This is my alma mater. My school is being denigrated by the actions of these guys on and off the field. I am not supporting the coach, the players, or any of the one-sided fans who want my posts censored because I dare to call it like it is. MT, I have no problem if you want to support that. But, you cannot come in here and say that this other school has this player who did this or that, if you will not say just because this guy is a Georgia Bulldog, that he is totally incorrect in his own priorities, too.
I am not trying to act like some great teacher or father-figure to them. I absolutely abhor what has continued to go on on our football team on and off the field for 12 seasons. To the nitwit who cannot figure out that 2001 – 2012 is 12 seasons, get a grip son. For 12 seasons’ now, we’ve purposely played the wrong players, lied to the fans, and acted like we are the best coach in college football, when in my book the Macon fan was right Mark Richt told I know what the hell I am doing. No, he does not.
So, if all I am every going to see is Aaron Murray, please do not expect me to have to come in here and not say what is the truth about the 4-eyed plodding midget ballhog who thinks he can run the football. I am tired of it when in 12 games to-date, the better quarterback on the field that day, was not Aaron Murray.
But, you are welcome to MT.
Diamond Dawg
October 25th, 2012
12:16 am
Jeff, I Just wanna make sure I take pics of all the moniker names on this site that give UGA no chance what soever. In the event that we really turn the tide and show up like in 1985 or 1997. Click, Click Click!
LOL!
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
12:35 am
Diamond Dawg, you have never posted one post on these blogs, ever, in your lifetime. If you think by beating a team I still hold-out hope for putting-up 4 or more losses 2012 season, that Mark Richt or Aaron Murray, or both, are going to TURN-THE-TIDE on what has happened again all 2012 season including the entire off-season because the coach purposely hid from us all the off-field issues as best he could hide them all from us and including in every single game except the Vandie game all 2012 season, then perhaps I should share with you where we will be on-the-field after we win :
_____________________
That would make us then :
_____________________
(1) 10-Losses out of last 11 games vs SEC teams who put-up winning SEC Records
(2) 16-Losses out of last 19 games vs teams who made any top 25 poll
(3) 14-Losses out of last 18 games vs teams who made any top 10 poll
And, we would still have all these off-field issues which have left us with 65-scholarship recruits remaining plus 1 transfer-in to play Ole Miss and Georgie tek and whoever our bowl opponent is as the # 5 SEC team in every single solitary poll, the same as we were last season. To the nincompoop, that is 2011 – Jeez, mental age 8.
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
12:36 am
TURN-THE-TIDE means have a complete reversal of the circumstances. Uh, no. A win over Florida does NOT accomplish this.
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
12:41 am
We are like the vols : 1-win doesn’t fix it.
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
12:58 am
PonGT October 24th, 2012 5:20 pm
“Once again, you overlooked the main ingredient to UGA’s inability to win the “BIG” games. The problem is the inability to make adjustments as the game goes along. Florida’s OC will make adjustments as the game proceeds, especially at halftime. UGA’s OC makes no adjustments, just abandons whatever has been working and throws bomb after bomb after bomb …. resulting, more often than not, in 3 and out for the offense, putting the soft playing and tired defense on the field late in the fourth quarter. Is it any wonder that Murray has that ‘deer in the headlights’ look?”
__________________________________________________
PonGT,
When you get through making excuses, is it ok if we point-out ?
(1) Aaron Murray has been on this team practicing since December 2008. That was 5 seasons’ ago. He has been here practicing 5 seasons. He practiced (I do this for the idjit.) 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Again, for him : 2008-1, 2009-2, 2010-3, 2011-4, 2012-5 seasons.
(2) Aaron Murray watches film, not lifts weights nor runs.
(3) Aaron Murray with all this vast experience, knows this offense. If he does not, then, they need a different offense because he is not stupid like all his coaches. In fact, he is smarter than all his coaches by a long far wide-margin. He just isn’t a gym-rat.
(4) Aaron Murray and Aaron Murray alone, checks out of the playcall from the sideline into whatever the hell he wants to check-out of.
(5) Aaron Murray and Aaron Murray alone, stands there and sees or cannot see over the players to see what he sees. He then keeps the playcall from the sideline.
(6) Invariably, the playcall which is the one we execute or discombobulated by what the other players see and then try run discombobulated as we are every down on offense, is a playcall which is going to FEATURE little Aaron Murray.
(7) Him passing the ball and giving Todd Gurley 15 touches a game, or him running the ball and giving Todd Gurley 15 touches a game.
(8) Open your eyes. Watch the games. Better yet, come to one of the games sometime and keep your eyes on him. He’s NOT a leader on or off-the-field to his football team he is the sole recipient of being the Starting Georgia Bulldogs’ Football Program Quarterback in which 12 other quarterbacks have been BETTER than he to-date, and counting.
All these EXCUSES for a guy who what ? The main ingredient is little Aaron Murray. Why do you think the coaches say our execution is discombobulated ? We play the WRONG players.
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
1:06 am
_________________________________________________________
“He doesn’t care about not getting all the attention. He’s a team player.”
_________________________________________________________
ding, ding, ding, ding
7576DAWG
October 25th, 2012
1:09 am
Looks like we have another reason why it is crazy to have this game in Jacksonville. 25 mph winds and 80% chance for rain. If the game was played in Athens, since we are the host team this year, the game wouldn’t have the potential for being a disaster for one of the teams or both teams only because of the weather.
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
1:17 am
Joey October 24th, 2012 4:27 pm
“I’m hoping, but I ain’t believing. Mark Richt cannot beat a team with equal talent.”
__________________________________________________________________
Correct. Coaches by the Numbers keeps up with that. They use Scout.com recruiting rankings, as there isn’t anything better. Then, they line-up those rosters of the 2 teams. And, Mark Richt loses more of the games than any coach in America, playing a team with equal talent. He is also not all that spiffy against teams with lesser talent. In the Mark Richt era, he is # 158 at beating teams with equal talent, and # 82 at beating teams with lesser talent.
What I love is the vocal minority who run in here and say he wins 9 point 6 wins a season.
Pardon me, these are 14-game seasons nowadays, and he cannot beat his way out of a wet-paper-bag. Knows what the hell he is doing. Hell no.
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
1:34 am
7576DAWG,
In this pass-happy offense of ours, that is not good for us and G-R-E-A-T for them. It’s great for their offense which is only run; and it’s great for their defense – since they have players who can make plays in their secondary – something we haven’t had here since Todd Grantham got here. It does mitigate that they will not be able to pass against our weak secondary, however. But, it just emphasizes the issue that even the # 100 offense Kentucky can run the ball right up our guts on every play and we have no answer. Ah, but our fans love going to JAX to get drunk in November in JAX of all hell-holes and at the worst possible time, so that our players can play in the stadium where the Gator Bowl is held every year, and so the Florida fans can come tell us all why the game must stay only there. Home team, my hind end. We gave up our entire football schedule for my seasons’ tickets for this game on what has been the best weather we have ever had here in my lifetime right now.
MariettaGator
October 25th, 2012
1:52 am
Good luck with that game plan Honey BoBo…
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
1:54 am
http://cinesport.ajc.com/atlanta-ncaa-colleges-uga-gtech/mark-richts-biggest-game-at-georgia/
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
1:59 am
http://cinesport.ajc.com/atlanta-ncaa-colleges-uga-gtech/looking-at-uga-florida-nd-oklahoma/
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
2:06 am
Mark Bradley, a control-freak, makes just a string of sophomoric comments about Georgia Bulldogs’ Football, not the least of which is national championship 2012
http://cinesport.ajc.com/atlanta-ncaa-colleges-uga-gtech/is-uga-being-underestimated-vs-florida/
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
2:18 am
Thanks for the URL Link :
“Cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy, who forced a fumble of South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw on the game’s first play last week, said the Gamecocks had several. He said they are still studying the Bulldogs, but already have found a couple targets. “Their running backs,” he said.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/24/3064235/gators-oc-brent-pease-calls-jarvis.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy
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Don’t tackle little Aaron Murray, if you think the running backs might fumble. He will flip the ball to you, and run behind the 300 lbs DL unable to catch-up with him the entire length of the field, not that he or we would want him to. I’d also say watch-out for our punt-returners, the walk-ons, you know ? And, while we’re at it, why not mention the remaining wide receivers – all of whom drop the ball except for Jay Rome, Malcolm Mitchell and Chris Conley – none of whom have been thrown the football all season long. His comments are as fatuous, therefore, as Mark Bradley’s. If I were going for causing a fumble, I’d target Aaron Murray, then the punt returns and lastly the wide receivers other than the 3 listed. We haven’t taught our ball carriers how to hold a football all 12-years.
Whiznot
October 25th, 2012
2:35 am
Georgia’s coaches are the pits of the world–Murray is a roll-out QB who is not allowed to move or drop back far enough to see the field. I hope for a quick death to this era.
Fred
October 25th, 2012
6:11 am
I think UGA can take down Auburn this year….GO DAWGS!!
Gator Jim
October 25th, 2012
7:10 am
I “like” that Aaron Murray is your QB and “like” that Coach Todd is your Defensive Coordinator.I also “like” that Dawg Fans are soo eaten up over a rivalry that I feared was dead after so many thrashings byCoach Superior and Ol’ Urb. It’s ironic that a former walk-on, defensive captain for the Dawgs is the latest, and possibly greatest Gator coach. Go Gators! Enjoy the show, boys, I know that I am…..
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2012
7:21 am
Will Muschamp walked-on to Florida 1st, only Steve Spurrier never showed-up; so, he walked-on here instead. So, not really.