Does Aaron Murray have the makings of a championship QB?
Can Aaron Murray become an elite quarterback for Georgia? (Associated Press)
It’s tough finding a consensus lately among Georgia fans on quarterback Aaron Murray.
In his second season behind center for the Dogs, Murray completed 218 of 371 passes for 2,861 yards (a 58.8 percent completion rate) and broke the single-season school record for touchdown throws with 33. He also ran for two scores, giving him the UGA record for single-season touchdown responsibility.
And in the SEC, he ranked second in passing (220.1 yards per game), second in total offense (229.6) and fourth in passing efficiency (146.4).
Stats like that are why Murray made some All-SEC teams and is routinely cited by national sports media as one of the best QBs in the conference. It’s a major reason the Dogs will enter next season highly rated.
But closer to home the excitement over Murray’s passing numbers is tempered by frustration over his penchant this season for devastating turnovers against South Carolina, LSU and, most recently, Michigan State.
Of course, the argument can be made that Murray’s tendency to fumble or throw a pick 6 at the worst possible time might be at least in part attributable to the sketchy protection he was getting from Georgia’s erratic offensive line and, in the last couple of games, the lack of a consistent running attack.
Looking ahead to next season, the OL remains a big question mark amid a rebuilding process, but the arrival of Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley ought to help boost the ground game and loosen up defenses a bit. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has said an improvement in the running game will make Murray a better quarterback, and I think he’s right.
(Of course, it also would help if, in third-down situations, playcaller Bobo didn’t tend to obsess on downfield plays, keeping Murray standing in a crumbling pocket too long.)
On top of having a better rushing attack, if the progress of past Georgia QBs is any indication, Murray’s decision making ought to improve considerably in his third season as well, which should help him get his ball security issues in check. He’s a good on-field leader and showed in the Florida game this year he can make big-time throws in tough situations, especially those two fourth-down touchdowns.
Overall, I believe the national media types are correct in thinking Murray has the makings of a championship quarterback. What do you think?
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610 comments Add your comment
Skokie Dog
January 18th, 2012
2:29 pm
If he regresses again next year as he did between the 2010 and 2011 seasons, then obviously he won’t be a championship QB.
Dap01
January 18th, 2012
2:32 pm
It don’t matter, he is a DGD and I will pull for him and the Dawgs. A great article could be titled? Does oversigning help keep championship qb’s?
Rodney
January 18th, 2012
2:33 pm
I also think the play calling for the new groups of backs is critical. We should have the toughness to go inside and the speed to go around the corner. Really would love to bring in a replacement for offensive Coordinator
DawginLex
January 18th, 2012
2:34 pm
Yeah but only Reggie Ball is in the UGA Athletic Hall of Fame out of that group you listed…………..
Still@theKool-aidBAR
January 18th, 2012
2:39 pm
Can 35.55 minute MURRAY really be a Heisman Candidate? Can a 16-11 QB really be the BEST in the SEC? Best thing for the Dwags might be for Murray to have a year just good enough to make him go to the NFL. Maybe Richt & Bobo can Anoint a New QB for the next 4 years with little to no competition for the job again.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
January 18th, 2012
2:41 pm
DiLex only the Dwags would do that. i bet after the game in the DOME LSU has Murray fast tracked for their HoF. I know UCF have Richt & Bobo in their HoF after last years Bowl game.
LOL
DCH
January 18th, 2012
2:44 pm
Murray is not the problem. The problem is the offensive play calling putting Murray is a bad situation where he must take chances.
Jim
January 18th, 2012
2:45 pm
Murray is a good fit at UGA we a good coaching staff, a good record of 10 win seasons and a good tean. What the fans want is to see us go to the next level. To get there something has to change. You make the call!
?
January 18th, 2012
2:45 pm
Any truth that South Carolina has retired Quincy Carter’s number?
Jim
January 18th, 2012
2:47 pm
Run the wishbone!
Still@theKool-aidBAR
January 18th, 2012
2:47 pm
?………..I think Q. Carter’s # is 420.
DAWG07
January 18th, 2012
2:47 pm
I am a hugh fan of Murray but he must improve particularly in the big games. May have some competation from the other quarterbacks in the spring and that is good for Murray and the team.
GO DAWGS!
Rodney
January 18th, 2012
2:48 pm
Are they any chance a divisional 2 program would want Bobo as head coach? I think he is awesome guy and want the best for him but really want a change at OC
Hairy Dawg
January 18th, 2012
2:48 pm
Murray’s been damn good. He screws up sometimes in big games, but our whole damn team has been doing that. Whether he’s only here one more year or not, it’s hard to complain much about how he’s played. If we can ever get a really good O-line in front of him, he might play better in the big games.
Gary
January 18th, 2012
2:49 pm
If guys would catch the ball and know their routes the pressure situations might not be their. If you add a running game it might help. The real question is will CMR open up spring try outs for some of our new recruits or is Murray the starter no matter what. If we have more talen behind him they should play. No one should have a spot next year. Everyone should have to earn their spot.
UGA_85
January 18th, 2012
2:50 pm
Amazed at the comments from “fans” about college kids. Mark richt has open competition for every position, but to earn that position requires much more than just physical abilities. if Murray is not the best for the job, I am confident he will lose the job. You just might not agree with Richt as to who is best. Since he has the data to make that decision and we don’t, I will trust him.
I agree with Bobo. A solid run game will help Murray. The coaching staff is to handle that task.
Finally, we had young players in many positions last year. Less complicated plays are sometimes chosen and become a drawback because not everyone knows assignments.
DawginLex
January 18th, 2012
2:53 pm
You are only HOF material if you directly lead your opponent to victory 4 years straight in a rivalry game.
Gary
January 18th, 2012
2:55 pm
I think a good article would be about medical defferments and oversigning. Compare the numbers of Bama and LSU to the rest of the SEC. Maybe interview a couple of those medicals and see if they think they got a fair deal. I am not saying Bama does not play by the rules, but they certainly take advantage of any rule they can regardless of how it looks. Compare Bamas numbers prior to Saban. He is still a great recruiter to get the kids he does but he sure is able to find a lot of spots on his roster.
Vampire Bill
January 18th, 2012
2:57 pm
Murray does a lot of things well but seems to lose it at the absolute WORST times. He has great stats but you take away the the creme puff stats and it’s not that great. I respect and admire his work ethic and will root for him but no, in my humble opinion he’s not Championship material.
Hybrid Hyena Catfish
January 18th, 2012
3:01 pm
does a bear poop in the woods?
Still@theKool-aidBAR
January 18th, 2012
3:03 pm
DiLex So who else is a UGa rival and who has done that? Any Auburn players in there? LOL maybe a few boys from your neck of the woods at Kentucky?
Alphare
January 18th, 2012
3:06 pm
no, Murray is not.
The bigger the game, the more he will score for the other team instead of his own team.
SSIgator
January 18th, 2012
3:08 pm
Bill King the day after UGA losing to MSU in the Outback Bowl:
“an all too familiar scenario made even worse by Murray’s poor decision-making when pressured”
So Bill, now you are agreeing with people that think Murray the Midget has the markings of a championship QB? Did you forget what you wrote? What has changed since January 2nd? Lay off the Kool-Aid. It is clouding your judgement.
Nahila
January 18th, 2012
3:09 pm
Because Murray lacks good height, UGA is using the shotgun offense so he can obtain a better view of the field and buys an extra second or two for the receivers to get downfield and for Murray to see them and read the defense. When you use the shotgun offense the running backs can see a hole opening to run thru better if there is one, however, if the OL cannot hold the blocks long enough, then the backs are not going to gain much yardage. There is not much room for the fullback if one is even in the game to lead block either and using the shotgun does limit your type of plays you can effectively run as the defense gets an advantage in reducing the effective offensive plays based on downs and yardage to go. That means also that UGA has to send in other offensive players better suited for the called play and the DC of opposing teams have already reviewed the film and can figure out what plays will be or could be run by the formation and/or the type of players/positions are in the game for that down. UGA needs to take advantage now of all these quality backs and run more plays with a 2 back set and big blocking TE’s we will have next year. The running game will open the passing game and Murray should roll out some to buy the time he needs to look downfield for his open receivers, just do not roll out all the time and not always to the right. UGA also needs some trick plays with wideouts or backs being able to take a pitchout and throw downfield to open receivers. A great winning team keeps the opposing defenses off balance with better variety of plays, UGA needs to improve in this area. what can you say about the Defense this past season, they would have been better if the Offense had more ball control thus run far more time than the opponents, then the defense would be fresher the second half where due to not building more depth on the defense, it wore down in the 2nd half. With more games with lesser opponents this coming season, maybe more second and third teamers can develop some experience which will be useful against the SEC teams which are games we need to win to become SEC Champions recognizing that we need to win all the games to be considered for National Champions.
Jeff
January 18th, 2012
3:10 pm
well Bill- the first thing we are going to have to quit doing if we are to EVER challenge for- let alone win, a championship and that is QUITMAKING EXCUSES FOR POOR PLAY AND DECISIONS. TYHE QB IS THE LEADER OF THE TEAM- THE O LINE DID NOT MAKE HIM THROW THE BALL….HE COULD HAVE TAKEN THE SACK. THE O LINE DID NOT MAKE HIM FLING THE BALL OPENLY AS HE WAS TRYING TO AVOID A SACK THUS COSTING THE GAME CLINCHER TD VS SC. MURRAY MADE POOR DECISIONS PLAIN AND SIMPLE. IF WE ARE GOING TO WIN- HE HAS TO STOP OR OUR COACHING STAFF HAS TO GET THE B…. TO SIT HIM
G-Dawg
January 18th, 2012
3:12 pm
Anyone got any scoop on Whitehead?
RxDawg
January 18th, 2012
3:12 pm
Well… he’s pretty on the stat sheet. But he ain’t clutch either. So who knows? I think if you give Murrary a running game then he just might be.
gt4ever
January 18th, 2012
3:13 pm
He is one HELL of a Quarterback! Period…
Kyle
January 18th, 2012
3:14 pm
I hape great hope for next year- until I read these comments- the coaching staff (Bobo) still has their head in the sand. so the running game is going to help murray not make stupid decisions????? well, that he doesnt have the ball to make a stupid decision with- I guess that is a true statement. bottom line…..TELL ME ONE TEAM WITH 9 OR MORE WINS THAT MURRAY HAS BEAT? 0…zero…zilch…….
Dawg4
January 18th, 2012
3:14 pm
I wonder if it has anything to do with the good teams being good enough to make him and GA look bad…I know in those games Bobo chokes. He did a great job in the AU game in the second half handing the ball off to the RB. Duh!!!
Alphare
January 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
Bill,
“Stats like that are why Murray made some All-SEC teams and is routinely cited by national sports media as one of the best QBs in the conference. It’s a major reason the Dogs will enter next season highly rated.”
Murray is ranked 2nd in SEC because UGA and ARK are the 2 teams that play like Big12, throwing the ball all over of the place instead of strong running game. I bet he is 2nd behind ARK’s QB. So, he basically ranks last in the SEC with the Big12 style of play.
WDE
January 18th, 2012
3:26 pm
@SSIgator we don’t need a championship QB to beat the gators, you know it, I know it, the whole world knows it…must be great to spend all day beating on a program that has bypassed yours.
gbal
January 18th, 2012
3:28 pm
Look – Just make it clear that the competition is open and the best man in Spring and Summer camp is going to start game 1. If there is not a clear winner (including Mason) then AM gets the nod as the starter based on seniority.
Then … The first time we have problems with the multi T.O.’s from the position as is SC, Miss ST., LSU, MS …. we are ging to have confidence in the back up to make a change…. quickly.
This is a tough confrence to win. And it is extremely tough to go undefeated or one loss. However, this is what it takes to win championships and we gotta go for it every time. We gotta pull all the stops in every game for the W
If AM gets over the T.O.’s and maintains… he continues and is the MAN. Once he shows he has not gotten over it, we say well… he showed the tendancy for the TO and we lost 3 and barely hung on to 2 last year… cant do that again…. Make the switch NOW! No more training… He has had 2 years….
Bama’s Sopho QB — What did he do? WIN – no TO’s. Just cant keep this entitlement mentality next season. Other players are not allowed to do this and they know it when one is singled out as the man… regardless.
WDE
January 18th, 2012
3:33 pm
@Alphare man that was right third world stupid that was….your outdoing yourself slow down or you’ll use up your annual stupid allotment before the season even starts.of course in your case you’ll automatically qualify for the extension.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
January 18th, 2012
3:33 pm
gbal that is not the RICHT & Bobo way or it doesn’t seem to be. South Carolina didn’t do so bad kicking the Sr. Starting QB to the curb and kept right on rolling until Lattimore got hurt.
gbal
January 18th, 2012
3:34 pm
With our weak schedule, we gotta prepare and play every down and game as though we are playing BAMA or LSU in the SECCG. Every week.
Win or loose, after every game we gota ask …” Would we have handled LSU or BAMA today”? If NO…. We fix the problem even if it means changing QB. i.e. the mess at Miss ST…. 4-5 ints… at half time a change should be made…. But we get the W… Would we have beaten LSU or Bama today?…. NO…. Why? and make the change. a new QB starts the next game.
All that's needed is leadership
January 18th, 2012
3:35 pm
And that’s starts with Mark Richt…….always pretty good, never dominant. You get what you demand. Most Alabama fans are cross eyed retards, but they do a pretty good job of letting their AD know that mediocrity will not be tolerated. When Georgia fans DEMAND excellence, they’ll have it. The University is positioned to win at the highest level nearly every year. Moreso than any other school in the league save maybe Florida. But they are not well coached. I submit the five years Willie Martinez was allowed to remain as DC and the fact that Mike Bobo is still OC after a mountain of evidence that he is grossly unqualified to be an offense coordinator. Top 10 recruiting class after top 10 class………and 2 Conference Championships in 11 years and NEVER appeared in a BCS Championship game. A larger sample size is not needed.
Richt is a good coach, but he’s not an elite coach. I don’t know that there are any elite coaches to be had right now, but Richt is only pretty good. And as long as he’s at Georgia…….now going on 12 years, Georgia will be the same………always pretty good, never dominant. It is what it is. And that saddens me I love the guy and HE IS an Elite Human Being.
gbal
January 18th, 2012
3:38 pm
Still – I know it’s not but it should be. It is with other position players… and should be with AM. gota go for it every game dude and not just take a chance with damage control if AM starts to go bad. Thats wher we get conservative and predictable.
Oh am I going to live to next season???
lawdawg
January 18th, 2012
3:41 pm
If we fail to win a championship next year, SEC, MNC, or otherwise, it will not be because of Murray.
DawginLex
January 18th, 2012
3:46 pm
SSI
He beat the gators but that just confirmed the thought that he has never beaten a good team
dangerranger6969
January 18th, 2012
3:47 pm
Fire Mike Bobo and that will fix Murray problem of not being a big game QB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Over-rated QB and Team
January 18th, 2012
3:47 pm
Top 20 teams love to see Murray as UGA QB because it’s a gauranteed win. Most, if not all, of his wins were against teams will lossing records. But then again, that’s UGA over the last two (2) years…can’t beat a good SEC team or an average BIG 10 team.
Big D
January 18th, 2012
3:52 pm
He is better than average. Better than average college quarterback arm, better than average runner for a drop back QB. He is simply not great. He drew a very weak schedule and had problems against good teams. Can he improve? Sure. Will he? Who knows. He will never be great but LSU and BAMA both proved they could win with average QB’s.
bob
January 18th, 2012
3:53 pm
UGA played 4 fairly good teams,thats all,they lost them all.If they play another weak schedule,which they are next year,he will have great stats again.They still loose to good teams!
gbal
January 18th, 2012
3:54 pm
Agree with “All thats needed”. And critize if you like, but I am just not satisfied with being pretty good when we could be elite. I really believe we could.
The “Happy with the win” post game, even when we played like crap… creates this Prety good is good enough attitude. Does Saban or CSS give those comments. NO! It we won, but we stunk it up and have a lot to fix!
Saban expects perfection and works like hell to insure his team seeks the same.
slydog
January 18th, 2012
3:55 pm
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/599045-national-champion-and-heisman-qbs-do-they-equal-nfl-excellence
Just use this list as a reference. He has the talent to win at least an SEC title. Stafford never won an SEC title, just to counter, but David Greene did. Nick Saban has won 3 with Matt Mauk, Matt Flynn, and AJ McCarron.
bobby
January 18th, 2012
3:56 pm
the problem with murray is he’s inconsistent.
dawgsfan
January 18th, 2012
3:57 pm
Aaron Murray is a good Quarterback. He will get better this next season. But UGA will never win a championship AS LONG AS BOBO THE DODO is calling the plays. Bobo is the reason we lost four games this season. Look back in the years before Murray. Who did Stafford beat that was a quality team? He could only beat UF once and could not make it to a SEC championship game. He also had one lose to Georgia Tech, one to Tennessee, one to Vanderbilt, and one to Kentucky. Stafford was and is an excellent Quarterback but he was playing under Bobo’s play calling too and that was the reason he never won a championship at UGA. As long was “BOBO the DODO” is calling the plays UGA will never be a championship caliber team. Look at UGA when Mark Richt was calling the plays, we had far better results. Bobo needs to go.
7576DAWG
January 18th, 2012
3:58 pm
Murray is in his 3rd year at Georgia and every time CMR or Bobo talk about him they seem like they are talking to an adult or a fellow coach. It’s okay to show respect but CMR and Bobo doesn’t need let Murray think of himself as an equal. CMR and Bobo have earned their place as a coach but Murray still has a ton to learn and he is still a kid in college and that distinction need’s to be evident to him.
slydog
January 18th, 2012
3:58 pm
If Richt/BoBo jsut look at film of the Saints, they have similar personnel on the college level. Aaron Murray needs to move around in the pocket more and throw in rhythm. He is not a “stare down the barrel” type of QB. However, this type of QB fits Richt’s scheme better. That’s why Hutson Mason “appears” a lot smoother in this offense over Murray. But leave no doubt, Murray is the better talent if used properly. He is more dangerous running and on the move. Just look at the film.