There’s more than one way to keep a quarterback happy
Does Logan Gray really want to play receiver? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
What to make of the Logan Gray situation?
If it were simply a case of the apparent loser in the battle for the starting quarterback job threatening to go elsewhere to play, you’d have to conclude he wasn’t thinking too clearly.
First of all, Mark Richt isn’t likely to change his mind about who his starter is just because of the threat that the backup might go elsewhere. That didn’t even work for D.J. Shockley’s dad, and D.J. was a helluva lot more talented QB than Gray is.
Secondly, even if you view it from the perspective of what’s best for Gray, rather than the program, it doesn’t make sense. Gray is one injury away from starting for an SEC team. If he leaves, he can either drop down to a lower level for two years of potential playing time or give up a year of eligibility if he goes to another Football Bowl Subdivision team. And what are the odds he’ll waltz in as a one-year QB and start at such a school?
Gray’s high school coach, A.J. Ofodile of Rock Bridge High in Columbia, Mo., who was in contact with the player on Monday about all this, put it pretty well in the Athens Banner-Herald: “I think it would be a very hard decision for him to [transfer] based on the situation. He’s at the school that he wants to be at. Even in this situation, which is probably a worst case scenario, he’s probably an ankle injury away from being the starting quarterback at the school he wants to be at. It’s not like he could transfer to another comparable school without losing a year and most people don’t want a one-year quarterback.” (I added the italics for emphasis.)
However, it’s not clear that this is really about Gray chafing at being the backup QB. Gray talked to the coaching staff after last season about switching positions, probably to receiver. While the decision was left in his hands, he apparently was encouraged to stick with the QB competition at least through spring practice. Had Zach Mettenberger not been kicked off the team, Gray most likely would have gotten his wish come August.
But Macon/Columbus beat writer David Hale says that he understands the problem is that while Gray “truly wants to play receiver now,” that’s “not much of an option at UGA apparently.”
Which is kind of puzzling. Why would that not be an option at UGA? Richt himself said just last week that Gray still might play somewhere other than quarterback: “As far as another position goes, the bottom line for Logan is I want him to be in the best position to help Georgia win, and whether that’s No. 2 quarterback or getting some reps at receiver or something, that remains to be seen. But we just want to get him in the best position to help Georgia.”
While that made it pretty clear Aaron Murray is his QB of choice, it also indicates a willingness on Richt’s part to let his backup QB get playing time at another position. And it’s not like it’s a practice that’s unheard of. Texas A&M’s backup quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, is also his team’s leading receiver.
So if that’s the rub, if Gray really wants to be playing receiver, why not let him? Sure, it’s not an ideal scenario: If Gray gets hurt playing receiver and then Murray gets hurt, the Dogs would face playing a completely inexperienced true freshman at quarterback.
But if Gray transfers elsewhere, that’s still the situation. And the Dogs could use a little more depth at receiver.
So why not roll with it, let Gray follow the Tannehill model and keep him happy while still having an experienced backup?
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199 comments Add your comment
AltamahaDawg
April 27th, 2010
6:00 pm
… but I get that a lot.
Paul (You doesn't have to call me Johnson).
April 27th, 2010
7:00 pm
Wow! This site has become the most popular place for GT, UF and UT fans. I can understand GT and UF fans because the records of wins and losses are so lopsided in favor of UGA,, but UT has a winning record against Georgia. Maybe it’s because they are becomming a threat to them .
Shreveport Sam
April 27th, 2010
7:47 pm
What does the Loch Ness Monster and a Georgia quarterback have in common? Well, there’s lots of talk about them, but they’re damn sure hard to find…..
SOUTHGADAWG88
April 27th, 2010
7:49 pm
Anybody see where Hernandez at FLA failed multiple drug test for marijuana while at school?I see where UGA changed their drug and alcohol policy today to be less stringent.I bet that SI article opened some eyes in Athens.
Bill King
April 27th, 2010
7:50 pm
Allan in Texas:
Nope, I’m not on the radio.
dancing with the dawgs
April 27th, 2010
8:10 pm
After the south caroling game Gray will be the starting qb. Murray can’t handle the heat.
Rod
April 27th, 2010
8:12 pm
Allen deserves a prize. Of all the post in here Bill replys to to Allen. “Nope Nope, I’m not on the radio.” Lewis Grizzard would be ashamed of Bill Kings blogs.
AnnMarie
April 27th, 2010
8:27 pm
One thing is very clear – UGA needs at least 4-5 quarterbacks to ensure that at least one of them is not in jail on game day. No other school in the country is even close to UGA in arrests. UGA’s thugs and drunks are making a laughingstock out of our state, and a lot of people are sick and tired of it.
IMMEDIATELY fire Adams, Evans, and Richt, and bring some decency to UGA.
Flu like systems
April 27th, 2010
8:28 pm
I don’t think anyone has really worked with Gray to prepare him for taking over. Last year it was said that he had problems with the playbook. Well that may, or may not be true, but something sure wasn’t right last year. Cox gets flu like symptoms and still starts and plays the whole game, was Gray lacking in something that he wasn’t trusted enough to run a dumbed down offensive scheme that they had to use with Cox and his limited mobility and arm strength. Could he not beat out a guy whose arm was so torn up that he had to rest it every Wednesday. Something was lacking with Gray last year. Maybe he has picked up his game over last year, but perhaps it was a case of “too little too late”. Murray and Gray’s style complement each other nicely and you would be able to stick with the game plan regardless of who is behind center. This would not have been the case with Met, who could drop straight back, or hand off the ball. Not saying Met isn’t going to be a good QB in the right system, but you have two greyhounds on the track, while Met was that ol’ hound bringing up the rear. Has anyone seen Murray play, or is all this hate just from you Ga goobers who don’t like anyone from outside the state boundaries. By the end of the season you’ll be glad that you have Murray.
toole
April 27th, 2010
8:48 pm
Kerry Meir from Kansas was a QB before he became a receiver.
Jimmy
April 27th, 2010
8:53 pm
If Gray does transfer, this just proves that in today’s world, you better win big or players who are not receiving playing time will leave your program in a heartbeat.
UGA needs to start adjusting their recruiting philosophy. They need to start looking for players who want to be a part of the University of Georgia. Instead of looking for players who want to use the university as a stepping stone to the NFL.
UGA Alumnus
April 27th, 2010
9:36 pm
To Cory @ 10:51, Good Riddance! I can’t stand fair weather fans!
The Truth Hurts
April 27th, 2010
10:35 pm
Put him at Defensive End. He has about as much chance of being successful there as he does at QB.
Stinger
April 27th, 2010
10:48 pm
Get your brooms out and start sweeping Dawg fans. Yeah BAY BAY !!!!
6-5; 25-6; and 6-4 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It hurts so bad.
Stinger
April 27th, 2010
10:50 pm
Gray is history. Take it to the Bank. You have no QB once Murray gets hurt and Murray isn’t much either. Bottom line is 4-8 season. Be happy to get it, cause it only gets worse for here.
Halsey
April 27th, 2010
11:07 pm
If a QB can’t be a threat with his arm, he’s not a double threat. I’m not saying Gray can never be a Div 1 quality passer, but he hasn’t shown it yet. Teams will just stack the line against him and force him to pass.
KimZ's Package
April 27th, 2010
11:17 pm
what up dawg?
uuugh...
April 27th, 2010
11:20 pm
Columbus Tiger – WAR EAGLE!!! : Umm…I was at that Florida beat down and there would have been a riot had the Florida fans rushed the field. Our fans should not have done that at your field and I would like to apologize on behalf of reasonable bulldog fans everywhere–it showed a lack of class. Class usually starts at the top though and Spurrier throwing in the 4th qtr only because nobody had ever put up 50 in Sanford Stadium showed a serious lack of class by the head of a program–not just a bunch of rowdy drunk students. That lack of class is one of the many reasons we UGA fans despise Florida and all their fans.
It should also be noted that I cringe every time our kids dance during the games. No class. I hope Grantham whoops these idiots into shape for a change!
uuugh...
April 27th, 2010
11:23 pm
Oh…and before the Florida A-holes jump on, the celebration penalty? Also classless…but much less so than Spurrier’s lifelong hatred for the dawgs for wrecking his Heisman season.
Tick Tock
April 27th, 2010
11:48 pm
Another dog player arrested. Tick tock. How long till the next one gets arrested? Weeks, days. hours, minutes, seconds??? Tick tock. Its only a matter of time before another thUGA player gets arrested.
KimZ's Package
April 27th, 2010
11:53 pm
I heard UGA has a TUFF schedule this year for an Untested QB! Richt coached 2 Heisman QB’s and it shouldn’t be a problem. HAHAHA! Wait! Richt taught Charlie Ward to run the ball and avoid getting tackled. He taught Charlie Ward to run around until the D broke down so he could chuck the ROC to a WR that got behind the Defense. Did Richt teach C. WARD to play Basketball too? HAHAHAHAH. I heard RICHT taught Weinke to be a RICH 30yr. old QB with a Baseball arm to be a QB too. Where are Ward, Weinke, DJ Shockly, D Green, and COX? We know where Fat Matt is. He is in the 4th ring of HELL. Not OAKLAND but close.
TO PATRICK M. SULLY: don’t put UGA bowl games as being on your TOUGH SCHEDULE. If UGA played Clemson, VT, West VA, Wisconsin, and Texas Tech in the Regular season, then UGA would not be in a BOWL game most years. UGA plays 3-4 games a year.
2010 Schedule AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
W LA-LAF don’t worry the suspended player will be back soon
W USC UGA always wins this one
W Arkansas Good Offense but still no D
W Miss St Ga. Tech beat them the last 2 yrs.
W Colorado 3-9 last year LMAO TED Turner’s Buffs they ain’t
W/L VOLS Mom & Dad Dooley might have some MOJO for the son.
W Vandy Again Ga. Tech beat them last year.
W Kentucky Will UGA fans travel 2 see all the 4th Qtr this YR?
L Gators What color and gimmic will Richt tey this year? LMAO
W Idaho St 1-10 last year LMAO so hard Larry Muson sounds Sober.
W/L Auburn Its a toss-up since Vince (the Auburn MAN) came to UGA
W Ga. TECH Dawgs don’t fear no BEE do they?
So UGA has an EZ 9 win season and bowl boung again. AHHAHAHAH. What a JOKE. UGA has a NATIONAL CVHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE every year, but you can’t win the SEC East and cry that the SEC is too TUFF. HAHAHAHAHAH Keep telling yourself that DAWG fans.
Pago Flyer
April 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
Is it true that Logan couldn’t beat out Joe Cox to play? If he couldn’t beat Cox to start????? Wake up!
KimZ's Package
April 28th, 2010
12:02 am
Cox couldn’t beat out yhe Rented Stadium seat on the 50 yardline that has been there for 5 years, but Richt gave Joe LameCOX the JOB. Don’t blame LOGAN! Blame the man with the bad hair and nice shades that deflects all critizm to BoZo and last year Willie. Your Coach is a JOKE. He Made Charile WARD a great NBA Point Guard and all the other QB’s great Clipboard Holders in the NFL. Hey! They did get paid.
snoopy bird dog
April 28th, 2010
12:14 am
Bring back the “Junkyard Dawgs” defense ala Erk Russell. I wrote on blog back in september that we would be 2 games over 500 for 09. Wasn’t off much!! This year, 2010, we will win 10 games. Look at the schedule and you will seen a nice easy ride. Bama Stan seems to be on target. I read some of the blogs and wonder if the sports writers or the blogger are aware of what they were like in the late teens and college. I’ll bet they have some skeltons in their closet and that they had a few beers and did not get caught. They claim convicts and arrest are for thug UGA but they probably were just as guility of college days and experencing the taste of life.
Another mind bender of past football at UGA is that a running back by the name of Lake moved to ILB in I think the early 70’s and did extremely well with the transition. Do not forget that Dickey Clark was a quarterback before switching to defensive end.
I do not understand how these bloggers can critize CMR and Garner when thay could not do the job.
Remember the Peter Princible “man tends to be promoted into job beyond his capabilities.” It is easy to critize until you are in that position. CMR and Garner are assets to the UGA program and tend to try to develope the young at heart who need to experience the lessons of life.
Young kids make mistakes in life. They have to grow up and sometimes they need to learn from their mistakes. For gosh sakes, please quit being so critical of a good man, staff and program that we have at UGA. Other programs do not get the pubilcity shown by the AJC staff towars the kids at Georgia. The Athens police seem to target the sports teams, The sports teams are a small percentage of the entire student body. I have been a life long fan thru down years and great years. The good years by far out weigh a few bad years. Dooley had his ups and down and I still love the motivation supplied by the late great Erk. Dooley would not have been a success with out him. The head buts on the sideline of the Jax game will always be remembered as UGA football.
You TECH intruders needd to celebrate on you own blog. It is sad to be a hater!! People live all their life in a disgrunted life of hate. I pull for Tech when they do not play UGA. Go GSU (is that Georgia State or Georgia Southern), Valdosta State, GMC, West Georgia. Yea, pull for the state of Georgia.
KimZ's Package
April 28th, 2010
12:46 am
Snoopy is not a Bird Dog! Snoopy is a Beagle. Damn, I didn’t know a UGA fan was so Uneducated or overeducated to not know about hunt’n and fish’n. UGA is the Land Grant College in the State! Ain’t it? ABAC is better at the Agricultural part of A&T than UGA but UGA has the Technology covered right? AHHAHAHA Not even close. Well, UGA makes Lawyers, Journalists, Fake Blonde Bimbo Wives and Vets. 3 out of 4 are Blood/Money sucking Tramps. My Dog is well cared for though. Wait. My vet is from AUBURN. Why do we need UGA agasin? I know Black kids have to pass a class and play a sport. Sorry I forgot.
RED DOG 77
April 28th, 2010
1:13 am
Just damn, folks……….Logan Gray aint goin nowhere but between them beautiful “hedges” this fall. All he is doing is playing his cards right ! and while I personally believe in “team” dude just wants to get on that Sanford stadium sod and play some football……….who could blame him?……….Bill, thanks for the Texas AM info, and yer dern tootin, why not WR and back-up QB…..Nope, kids not going, but I will assure you who is coming to UGA……..Christian LeMay, he will have the best QB coach in the nation, CMR, and a head coach he is in cynch with spiritually, and a good chance to unseat a 10 to 11 game winning QB in 2011…………Gotta love whats going on in Athens , Georgia…………….Its a fire!!! and it’s burning out of control, ……….It’s the GEEEEOOOOOORRRRGIA BULLDOGS !!! SIC’ ‘EM WOOF………WOOF WOOF……..WOOOF !!!!!!
Mongrelssniffthis!
April 28th, 2010
2:17 am
This is a QUOTE… from a paid professional at the University of Georgia…a coach, a molder of young men, and a representative of the university:
“We’ve had our way in this series for a long time and it been good,” Georgia coach David Perno said. “They’ve got a good team. They’re tough.”
Who hires such an illiterate?
UGA!
Mr. Gray, get out of there as quickly as you can, and before any of this rubs off on you!
Save yourself! Your local community college can provide you with a better command of the native language.
What a grand collection of inbred, knuckle-dragging, mouth-breathing, inept, losers!
Go Pokes!
Voice of the People
April 28th, 2010
5:30 am
The baseball game on Monday night at Turner Field was a humiliating one as Georgia Tech thoroughly trounced UGA in the three-gane sweep. Diehard UGA fans were aghast at the level of domination in baseball this year. “This completely blows away our wins in football and basketball,” whined Fred Angeli, a longtime Dawg fan. “This is really humiliating,” he added.
Other UGA supporters were hard to find after the game, but of those left, the moody was ugly.
Senator Blutarski
April 28th, 2010
6:07 am
We definitely need a back-up who could be solid, whether Gray or Murray. If Gray does the “Hines Ward route”–play wide receiver and also quarterback when needed, we have additional depth. At wide receiver he could also do an end-around with the option to run or throw the ball. Could even try some wild-cat variations with Murray and Gray both in the backfield together.
HAHAHAHAHA
April 28th, 2010
7:49 am
BREAK OUT THE BROOMS!!!! TECH just swept the puppies. The muts are such a joke of a baseball team! Give us a call next year if you are worthy!
jd
April 28th, 2010
7:51 am
The first I heard anything involved with this was when John Kincaid started talking about it. Is this something he started just to stir up the pot of controversy to have something to talk about? He would rather stir up a good controversy any day than report positive things about the program. But I guess that is his place on the air waves.
broom boy
April 28th, 2010
8:20 am
6-5 .. 25-6 .. 6-4
We Run This State !!
Rock
April 28th, 2010
9:51 am
Georgias going to loose 5-7 games regardless who the QB is. If I were Chrisitan LeMays dad I’d be worried as to how much pressure is going to be on his son. The SEC is a lot bigger than any one player and having the weight of the Dawg program and possibly Coach Richts future on my sons shoulder is is a lot of pressure for one young man. I expect LeMay to committ to the Dawgs but I’m not sure that committ sticks come December 2011 when the Dawg faithful have been through another rough season and the prospects of 2012 not looking much brighter.
How2fish
April 28th, 2010
10:16 am
Rock your a moron of the first water..what kid that signs to be a QB at a SEC school doesn’t want that pressure ?? If he doesn’t he’s not cut out for the role in the first place..say what you want about Joe Cox he never backed down from the pressure and gave the best he had, nor did David Greene , Matt Stafford etc.
JACKETS SWEEP UGA AGAIN
April 28th, 2010
10:24 am
MAN THIS IS GETTING OLD GUYS, WE JUST SWEPT UGA AGAIN LAST NIGHT AT TURNER FIELD…..GET SOMETHING BESIDES FOOTBALL BECAUSE YOUR SPORTING PROGRAM IS PATHETIC. PLUS YOUR FOOTBALL IS KNOWN AS CHOKERS ALL OVER THE NCAA’S. 6-4……6-4…..6-4…..6-4…..I KNOW IT HURTS
JACKETS SWEEP UGA AGAIN
April 28th, 2010
10:26 am
(((6-5)))- (((25-6)))-(((6-4)))…….YEAH! WHO RUNS THIS STATE
flagboy?
April 28th, 2010
10:56 am
Couldn’t agree more Bill! Let’s find a way to keep this kid happy! Can you believe some idiot posted this just about a month ago??
______________________________________________________________________
What I questioned was the wisdom of using one of your quarterbacks for such a job — which not only takes away from his QB preparations (the Georgia coaches noted that two years ago Gray fell behind Joe Cox in practice in part because he was spending time on special teams) but also exposes him to possible injury if an opposing player fails to observe the fair catch signal. . . Bottom line: As long as Gray is a quarterback, even if he winds up as the backup, there are more reasons for not using him on special teams than there are for doing it.
___________________________________________________
Oh wait. . that was you. You posted that back in March. So, question. . . how exactly is the chance for getting hurt on the chance someone ignores a fair catch more likely than getting reps at WR? And another question. . . if special teams are normally coached in their own practice period, wouldn’t L. Gray be missing more time repping QB if he did the “dual threat” at WR during offensive practice? But. .that was one of your arguments for why he just couldn’t be a Punt Returner. Go back and read your “bottom line”.
Pick a side and go with it instead of changing with the wind.
Rock
April 28th, 2010
10:59 am
“Rock your a moron of the first water.” Wow, unintelligent comments from a Dawg fan, I’m shocked. Hey “how2fish,” what does that comment mean? Sure, every kid wants to come into to a major Div. I program with the pressure of turning a program around and possibly having to save his recruiting coaches a#$, how stupid I didn’t see that. Most 18-19 year olds love stepping into those types of pressure situations. See Matt Barkley, Terrelle Pryor, Matthew Staffords, Jordan Jefferson, etc… freshman years, they were just loving it.
flagboy?
April 28th, 2010
11:01 am
Mongrelssniffthis!
April 28th, 2010
2:17 am
This is a QUOTE… from a paid professional at the University of Georgia…a coach, a molder of young men, and a representative of the university:
“We’ve had our way in this series for a long time and it been good,” Georgia coach David Perno said. “They’ve got a good team. They’re tough.”
Who hires such an illiterate?
_______________________
Methinks you put too much faith in the staff of the AJC. Head back over to Cynthia Tucker’s area of the AJC.
flagboy?
April 28th, 2010
11:08 am
Rock, not that it matters, but that Barkley kid at USC. . I am the only one that just can’t stand him?
Watching his crap in the USC/UCLA game . . . hard to like that team.
South Georgia UGA Hick
April 28th, 2010
11:18 am
Logan, come on down to VSU and play with a winner, VSU, located in Jeff Schultz’s “Valdosta surrounded by nothingness”, but was recently voted by Relocate America as one of the top 100 cities in America to live.
The fans are great, savvy and appreciative of their players and coaches; we don’t have a liberal newspaper blog preying on delusional fans which is more of a problem to their schools than their
players and coaches. Dawg fans on this blog have sunk to the same level as the Gator fans back in the 70’s and 80’s, burning their coaches in effigy, etc. Good that the true fans are smart enought not to be sucked in by AJC on their sports blogs. Anyway, we could use your talent down here.
How2fish
April 28th, 2010
12:32 pm
Rock your right sorry to toss that right over your pointy little head..how about this ..now pay attention I’m typing very slowly so you’ll be able to follow along..Your a first class Moron..better?? And as a matter of fact MOST of those QB’s loved the chance to play as freshmen that’s why they go to practice , workout sessions and class you MORON they want to PLAY!
How2fish
April 28th, 2010
12:35 pm
Oh and Rock i don’t want you to go away mad or uninformed so.. First water –
Meaning
Of the highest quality.
Origin
From the gem trade. The clarity of diamonds is assessed by their translucence; the more like water, the higher the quality. This comparison of diamonds with water dates back to at least the early 17th century, and Shakespeare alludes to it in Tymon of Athens, 1607. The 1753 edition of Chambers’ Encyclopedia has this under an entry for ‘Diamond’:
“The first water in Diamonds means the greatest purity and perfection of their complexion, which ought to be that of the clearest drop of water. When Diamonds fall short of this perfection, they are said to be of the second or third water, &c. till the stone may be properly called a coloured one.. http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/137550.html
FLA DAWG
April 28th, 2010
1:19 pm
Gray has good hands but performed poorly as QB (though his play time was limited at best). I wish the young man well and hope he turns into a stellar QB if that’s his goal.
Now, bring on Murray and the new season and let’s watch him mature into a good college QB.
How2fish
April 28th, 2010
2:01 pm
FLA DAWG couldn’t agree more.
Camden Mark
April 28th, 2010
8:34 pm
Don’t jump to judge how good/bad a QB either one of these boys will be Bill, you don’t know.
Live game under fire will tell and its unfair to Logan to place it on last year under those lost circumstance’s/bad situations he was thrust into last season.
Gray rules!
April 28th, 2010
10:09 pm
Logan Gray will beat out murray for the starting job in august—bank on it!
how2fish
April 29th, 2010
7:15 am
Gray rules! really if he transfers that’s going to be tough won’t it?
James T. Kirk
April 30th, 2010
8:06 am
Why would any player be happy in that joke of an offense UGA runs lead by Mike BooBoo!!! Why do you think Tech had 4 guys taken in the first round and UGA didn’t have it’s first player drafted until the 6th round?