Will Murray flourish or wilt in the spotlight?
Let's go ahead and put the ball in Aaron Murray's hands. (Johnny Crawford / AJC)
I know many UGA fans at this point are tired of talking about the Zach Mettenberger situation, especially since it doesn’t look like we’re going to get the full story about why Mark Richt kicked him off the team any time soon.
There are a lot of rumors circulating, but no one in a position to confirm what happened is talking. Suffice it to say from what we’ve seen of Richt over the years, you have to assume that when additional information about what happened in Remerton reached him, it crossed some boundary that made tacking on a few more games’ suspension not enough punishment. Possibly the head coach found out he’d been lied to.
I do know one thing: Richt wouldn’t throw this kid’s UGA career away lightly. He’s bent over backwards to near-contortionist levels to give players a second chance in the past.
He anguishes over having to deal with wayward players. After the Touchdown Club of Athens meeting last week, I was thanking him for the classy way he’d handled the taxi incident allegations and the sorry saga of Montez Robinson. Richt said he appreciated it and shook his head over the Robinson affair. You always hope that you can turn a kid like that around, but sometimes you can’t, he said with a sad look on his face. “And you wonder why you couldn’t connect with him completely.”
Added Richt: “I really hate that it was so public, too.”
Well, I said, that’s the other side of the coin for big-time college athletes. He agreed. Some, he said, love the spotlight and flourish in it. He was probably thinking of Jeff Owens, David Pollack and others. And then there are those who don’t like the attention at all. “Take A.J. Green,” Richt said. “He doesn’t want anything to do with all that. He just wants to play football.”
Mettenberger, obviously, fell into the group who didn’t handle the spotlight well. And whatever he did, his story is, I think, over at UGA. I’ve heard speculation that maybe he could go away to Georgia Military for a year like Odell Thurman did and then come back to Athens, but I think that’s highly unlikely. Usually when that’s a possibility, Richt says so from the start. Plus, Mettenberger probably would just as soon start over at another program.
So we’re left with Aaron Murray and Logan Gray. Some still hold out hope that Gray the “athlete” will prove to be an SEC-caliber quarterback, and there’s always that possibility, but if he winds up as the Dogs’ starter, I think you’re talking more of a caretaker QB until Murray develops or someone else steps forward. Sort of Joe Cox with less of an arm but more scrambling ability.
No, it’s more than likely that Murray is UGA’s best bet behind center. A year ago, everyone was sky-high on the prospect of him playing quarterback for the Dogs. But the fact that he’s a bit short and has been injury-prone, plus his lackluster showing this spring, has cooled fans’ ardor for him quite a bit.
I’m hopeful, though, that he’ll yet rise to the occasion, as Erk would say. You know he’s a tough competitor just based on the way he came back from a broken leg to lead his high school team to a championship. He showed some really good moves at G-Day but kept overthrowing wide-open receivers. Perhaps the competition with the strong-armed Mettenberger had Murray pressing too hard.
We’ve seen that situation at QB before. Remember how awful D.J. Shockley looked at times when he was battling the cool field general David Greene for playing time? Richt usually built a certain number of guaranteed series into games for Shockley (when he was healthy), but D.J. often looked like he was trying too hard, as in that awful interception he threw against Florida. And when he had to relieve the injured Greene against Tech. (Greene, you’ll recall, had to come back in to save the game.)
Once the job was his, however, Shockley relaxed and became the superb quarterback Richt had always thought he could be.
Perhaps that will be the case with Murray, too. Which makes me think it might be better if Richt and Mike Bobo go ahead and make Murray a clear-cut No. 1 on the suddenly tiny QB depth chart as soon as possible, rather than let the battle go on deep into August. So he can get that monkey off his back and settle down.
The spotlight is on Murray now. Keep your fingers crossed he’s able to handle it.
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331 comments Add your comment
Dawghater
April 20th, 2010
1:32 pm
Hey “sammiamm” notice Murray played in “4A”. Would that be the highest or lowest class in high school?
Starring Punk Johnson and The Middle School Option Veer
April 20th, 2010
1:37 pm
Oh well we may lose but 2 things are certain
Tech will lose against UGA and
2. Tech’s Janitorial engineers will continue to pick up trash after all UGA home games this season!!!
Finish the Drill
April 20th, 2010
1:38 pm
All you haters i think are jealous at least we have two talented qb’s to choose from. Mett only played with second team offense and deffense so he wasn’t a clear favorite. We will RUN the ball with success this year. By the time fall rolls around we’ll have our quatarback and we will be fine. Ya’ll can keep talking smack all you want to. Won’t matter cause there won’t be a 7-5 season or a 5-7 season. All you people who post your handles as SEC followers or whatever if that was the case and you were a football follower instead of a dog hater you would know we are stacked except we have a rookie quatarback. It sure is easy to throw when you have Aj Green and Kris Duraham, and a senior offensive line, and two incredible tail back, plus tight ends out the ying yang. so hate all you want we’ll see what happend when we take on ole steve spurier. Karma a mother all those years losing to him at FLA now he gets beat by georgia regulary. I really see a 10-3 or11-2 season. I think Auburn sneaks up on us, FLa could go either way. tenn gets drummed, and theres always that tough unpredictable SEC game that could be close. plus a bowl game . So ready hope the boys stay healthy and get after it GATA GO DAWGS!!!!! Go luck Murray and Gray may the best man win and who wants to be a bulldog the most.
Preston
April 20th, 2010
1:39 pm
I don’t think he’d have received over 50 FBS scholarship offers if he weren’t up to the task. Murray was going to be the starter anyway. Mett would have been a great backup but we’ll be fine with Gray backing him up. The only thing that sucks is Gray would’ve been a great WR, which is where he would’ve wound up.
EASTsiders
April 20th, 2010
1:40 pm
Mett was the guy and Dawg Nation knows it……now they will have to “settle” for another good QB. South Carolina should be an experience for Murray if he is indeed the starter, first SEC defense, in a hostile enviroment, and only his second game in about 20 months.
CHDawg
April 20th, 2010
1:40 pm
Hater,
I believe in FL 6A is largest and it goes down to 1B, so 4A would be a district with larger schools…could be wrong.
BurningRedBleedingBlack
April 20th, 2010
1:47 pm
Murray will be fine guys!!! Yes he looked rusty and its was spring mind you. He knows the dawg nations wants him to lead us back to the SEC and he wants that. Remember that he grew up in TAMPA and was surrounded by FLA fans they all wanted him to go to FLA and he chose UGA for a reason. I think Bill has alot of key facts. After time and knowing the pressure is off, with more practice he will blossom into a great qb. i’m not saying he’s going to win the heisman trophy, cause he got alot of growing to do. I felt he had some jitters in the g game. One thing i did notice he had a strong arm and his head was alwasy reading the feild which impressed me, that mean he smart and we all know he can run alittle so let support him and give him till the season and let Richt do what he;s done before and devlop ad QB GO DOGS!!!!!
Preston
April 20th, 2010
1:49 pm
droopy, I’ll guarantee you there was NOT another arrest or it would be public knowledge. It’s something stemming from the trouble in Remerton. I have a hunch but I won’t speculate because it’s simply not fair to anyone involved.
BurningRedBleedingBlack
April 20th, 2010
1:51 pm
forgive me for the grammar errors. I’m trying to type on my laptop riding in a car.
Cosmos
April 20th, 2010
1:52 pm
It just goes back to that old saying – “What ever happens in Remerton stays in Remerton”. Surely, one of the AJC reporters can bribe a Remerton policeman and get some more info for the readers. I’m guessing that we are going to see a combination of qbs playing with Murray starting.
PMC
April 20th, 2010
1:58 pm
If his past is any indication of his future success Murray will handle the spotlight just fine.
ga gator
April 20th, 2010
1:59 pm
Murray is from 4A Tampa Plant which is the second oldest High School in the most affluent area of Tampa. The amazing thing is Plant loses probably 6-7 starters per year to Tampa Jesuit which is a 3A power. Plant won the championship in 06, 08 and 09 with 3 different starters, Marve, Murray and Ely. Marve and Murray were seniors and Ely was a junior who also filled in for Murray when Murray was injured and Ely was a Soph.
ga gator
April 20th, 2010
2:00 pm
By the way, my opinion is Murray will be successful because he is a good athlete, is very coachable and has Tebow like leadership skills.
how2fish
April 20th, 2010
2:03 pm
ga gator if I remember when CUM was recruiting Murray he spoke highly of his leadership skills.
BurningRedBleedingBlack
April 20th, 2010
2:03 pm
ga gator, thats a huge compliment! Tebow was one of a kind on the field and off, FLA has produced some very skilled qb’s in the past, i hope murray plays at least half as competitive as tebow. I think he will play great if he can stay healthy.
mcdawghna
April 20th, 2010
2:05 pm
no worry about Murray! The hype is true!……have seen him in person and he totally reminds me of David Greene, but he can scramble……Has a very strong arm and is extremelly intelligent….He stood well above the rest in spring practice and had his worst day at G-day as opposed to Mett’s best…….as long as he stays healthy, we’re going to be fine MARK MY WORDS!…..The D will be fine as well….TG is the real deal!……as far as the trade school geeks go, beat us this year and what would that be?….maybe your second victory in the last 20 yrs over us…..STOP IT!……you’re an average team in a very weak conference…….Hell, UGA has won as many BCS games as your whole conference has…..Let me stop and laugh for a minute…………………..and if the best you can do is cry “another 7-5 season at UGA”, well, that on average still beats yours over the last 30 yrs!….hahahahah………oh, and by the way, there is a reason that noone else runs your high school offence……cause over the long haul, its unsuccessful!
Bubba Dump Stadium at the historic Grant
April 20th, 2010
2:05 pm
Sewage is overflowing the field
All Tech engineers report to Grant field for clean up duty
We at least need one section of the stadium clean so we can allow all our fans to watch us play
Mikey
April 20th, 2010
2:09 pm
I feel for AJ Green- all that talent and this will be his last year.
he truly only had his freshman year with someone that could get him the ball…
Alphare
April 20th, 2010
2:12 pm
Coach Richt has the utmost respect of every one because of the way he handles adversities forced upon him by so many young men.
WonderDawg
April 20th, 2010
2:13 pm
Colt McCoy had a lot to say about how impressed he was with Murray a couple of months back, and NONE of those sentences ended with, “but he is just too short.”
17 of 20
April 20th, 2010
2:15 pm
Murray is GATOR-BAIT
KimZ's Package
April 20th, 2010
2:18 pm
Sounds like AJ Green will be just like Tech’s Calvin Johnson. No QB to get the ball to him. Also sounds like UGA is going to that High School Type Football TECH plays. Run the ball and pass 10-14 times a game. WOW this will be fun JACKING the dawgs for not have a foward passing game. DID you dawgs see the pics of the Beautiful Bulldog contest? Wow not one was ALL WHITE just like your football team, but not UGA I-UGA VII.
Danny Forde
April 20th, 2010
2:19 pm
Heck if he wuz at altbamer he’d be a hero fer that Rmerting stuff. Look at what stbler and namuth got away with.
ga gator
April 20th, 2010
2:24 pm
How2 and BurningRedBleedingBlack, the leadership thing is exactly why Meyer was so upset in not getting him. There are hundreds of QB’s out there who can throw a ball thru a wall, but very few natural leaders and you have got a jewel. I hope he has success and only one loss every year just like I do the Dawgs.
KimZ's Package
April 20th, 2010
2:26 pm
UGA will be #3 or #4 in the SEC East this year.
urbanecryer
April 20th, 2010
2:28 pm
Hey Spokesturd, worry more about Urban’s tender heart. One meltdown already and the season hasn’t started. No more miracle Tim tears to heal him when he vapor locks next time either.
larry
April 20th, 2010
2:29 pm
Logan Gray will start the season at QB and when South Carolina puts it on UGA this year(SC 31 UGA 20) and Arkansas (ARK 42 UGA 31) then Coach Richt will think about the change
sammiamm
April 20th, 2010
2:29 pm
dawghater–you mean division, do you not?
A: 2 from the top
Class is as class does.
Just sayin…
Hello BuLLdaug
April 20th, 2010
2:34 pm
Are you guys not afraid about the murr fragile thingy?
how2fish
April 20th, 2010
2:35 pm
larry Ark couldn’t stop us last year….and we couldn’t run the ball what makes you think they will this year? And have your checked CMR’s record against the Visor…
Spike
April 20th, 2010
2:35 pm
UGA haters, underestimate Murray at your own risk.
Evansdawg
April 20th, 2010
2:36 pm
Murray has personally witnessed this Mettenberger debacle. I think it serves as a harsh setting of an example to show Murray to keep his cool and not be overly taken by the attention of the media. This could be a great thing to have happened to Murray, if he takes notice of the situation and learns from it. That is SCR’s responsibility to make sure his young QB recognizes that.
Evansdawg
April 20th, 2010
2:36 pm
That should be “CMR”, not SCR. Sorry.
chazzo
April 20th, 2010
2:41 pm
I always thought Murray was #1 anyway. And, yes he will do fine. It is unfortunate that Gray will have to be the #2 QB. Like the Vice President, he will just have to be there in case. It seems a waste of talent. That’s where Mett cost his team. Gray cannot sub out at receiver now. I don’t know. Can a backup/specialist receiver and punt catcher also be your #2 QB? If both these guys were to go down, there would be a true freshman or walk on QB.
Standing on the sidelines
April 20th, 2010
2:42 pm
Murray better work out for Richt’s sake. If he doesn’t and Logan proves not up to the task, then Richt and homeboy may want to start looking in the yellow pages for realtors. If it turns out that M. did not transgress more than already published accounts relate, Richt may have pulled the trigger too soon and been and may have shot himself in a lot worse place than the foot. The upcomming season will really be interesting. I wonder what old Willie’s thinking?
larry
April 20th, 2010
2:44 pm
how2fish- Both games were high scoring last year and both teams have their QBs back which we all know is the most important position on the field,(they are going to stack the box and make the QBs win the game and braquet A.J) and i dont see Gray or Murray throwing 5 td passes against ark next year, if it wasnt for Cox UGA would have lost those two games, Everyone needs to quit hatin on Cox (not saying you are)
Billy O
April 20th, 2010
2:44 pm
Both qbs will play in the first game…..whoever plays the best will start against USC.
chazzo
April 20th, 2010
2:44 pm
KIm Z,
It could be SC or Kentuck playing in Atlanta, you know. But, I just plain think you are wrong. Dawgs take Jax to decide the East. From there, I just can’t say.
Jimmy
April 20th, 2010
2:45 pm
With all due respect Bill, because I generally really enjoy his blog and you are dead on with your perspective, but I think to describe Murray’s spring as “lackluster” is not only harsh, but innaccurate. To obseerve that he had a lackluster G-Day would be accurate. The stats released for each of the other scrimmages demonstrated that Murray was in fact having a very good spring. Also, comments such as the one from AJ Green stating that Murray took coaching better than the other qbs in the competition seem to indicate that he has developed well within the system and has the confidence of the team’s top star. At 6 feet he is no shorter than other very good qbs such as Colt McCoy and Drew Brees. I don’t seem to understand some people’s willingness to so easily dismiss this kid’s accomplishments both in High School and the Elite 11 Camp, where he was selected as the best all around qb at the camp. He is athletic; has a big arm; and seems to be a natural leader. These are all legitimate reasons to sincerely be excited about the prospects of this kid playing qb at UGA for the next 4 seasons.
how2fish
April 20th, 2010
2:45 pm
Standing on the sidelines are you high ? Gloom and doom from the techies gotta love it..run along back to the Joke by Coke its almost time for the daily 3pm mugging.
dawgster
April 20th, 2010
2:48 pm
This is for the idiotic posters who think Murray is too short, I’m assuming that you wouldn’t have given Doug Flutie any chance, and he did pretty good for himself…While his height may cause some adjustments at times, his mobility and leadership should more than compensate for that…Just for the record, I also watched the G-day game from the endzone area also..His height had nothing to do with his play that day…No, not a great day, but this was spring game and the whole package that the dawgs will run was not even in play…I;m not going to name a whole list of QB’s that are have been listed at his height who have been very succesful, but it is extensiver…His success or lack of success will not be measured because of his height…
chazzo
April 20th, 2010
2:48 pm
Larry,
Thank you for giving Cox some much overdue cred. You are right, and he did it without an established running game and a mixed and matched O line.
USC, Ark, and good ol’ Tennessee. Nobody better assume these are Ws. They will be hard fought games.
UGAAlumnus
April 20th, 2010
2:49 pm
Look, we need a QB with good judgement. And someone who spends their spring break in Remerton, GA clearly is lacking in that area.
JB
April 20th, 2010
2:51 pm
I’m afraid we will playing a true Freshman by mid season. Aaron will be hurt ” from running too much”
( Tebow was 6′4” and 250, Murray 5′10” maybe 200) and Logan will go in and just not be able to move the chains. Richt will have no choice but to “try ” the kid from Lassiter High. Ouch !
Bill W.
April 20th, 2010
3:05 pm
JB, 5′10, 200? He’s 6′1, 210. Number 1, The Dawgs do not run the wishbone or that type offense, number 2, Murray as a a better arm than Tebow. Apples to Oranges..
"Sort of Joe Cox with less of an arm"
April 20th, 2010
3:05 pm
God help us.
Cotton
April 20th, 2010
3:05 pm
Anyone that thinks Murray doesn’t have the ability to be an All-SEC caliber QB at Georgia might want to take a look at this link. He rates #2 All Time in the Rivals AMP ratings. Note some of the names below him and how their college careers have/are playing out. I’ve got no worries with Murray. Think a mixture of Shockley-Greene. See you fellas in the Dome!
http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/amp-top-10-camp-performances-at-qb-81187
dawgnation
April 20th, 2010
3:05 pm
I met Murray waiting in a line at a restaurant in Athens and he seemed to be very humble and well mannered. He also seemed to be more than happy to take a picture and talk to me and my family. He was taller than I thought he would be after hearing from people who have never seen him in person – I am 6-5 and he looked taller than 6-1 to me – and no he did not have elevator shoes on.
UGADAWGZ
April 20th, 2010
3:06 pm
There was more than one spring scrimmage and Murray was good in them. He did not have a lackluster spring just a bad G-day
G
April 20th, 2010
3:15 pm
What is all this little QB crap! Didn’t a 6′0 QB just win the Super Bowl? If the kid can play, he can play.