National media loves this Dawg — why don’t all UGA fans?
Sporting News ranks Aaron Murray one of the top 25 college players in the country. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Matt Hayes of the Sporting News released his annual post-spring ranking of the top 25 players in college football, and two Georgia Bulldogs made the list, which was topped by Southern Cal quarterback Matt Barkley.
The first Dawg making the top 25 won’t surprise anyone: Jarvis Jones, who picked up an award as the nation’s top linebacker at the G-Day game, was ranked No. 5 on the list. The breakdown: “Disruptive edge rusher, sure tackler, defensive leader. The perfect combination.” And Hayes quotes an NFL scout as saying Jones is “the prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker. A top five [overall] guy.”
The other UGA player on the list? Aaron Murray, who some UGA fans don’t even think is the best quarterback on the team!
Hayes’ breakdown on Murray: “A fiery, tough competitor with good NFL measurables who has improved every season. Can he lead the Dawgs to a big season?” And an NFL scout says: “He still makes too many poor decisions, and his accuracy is a big question. But you love his moxie and intangibles.”
Hayes and the scout pretty well sum up the upside and downside of Murray, who was the subject of a heated fan Junkyard Mail discussion over the weekend that spilled over onto local sports talk radio in Atlanta Tuesday.
Why the disconnect between the way national sports media see Murray and the grumbling he inspires among some Georgia fans?
Part of it, I think, is the natural tendency of fans to complain about starting quarterbacks (ditto offensive coordinators/playcallers). I remember fans griping about Matt Stafford’s decision-making. And as rock-solid and successful as David Greene was, there was a minor QB controversy for a while early in his tenure, sparked by supporters of D.J Shockley, who thought he ought to get more playing time or be the starter. Remember?
I believe my friend Steve put his finger on it Tuesday when he said he thought the way No. 11 ended the season — with an error-filled implosion in the Dawgs’ bowl game against Michigan State — left a lingering dissatisfaction among fans. The what-have-you-done-for-me-lately syndrome.
But, as Steve said, Murray is still the best quarterback Mark Richt has. And, as Sporting News sees it, one of the best in the nation.
Like I said in Saturday’s Blawg, I think Murray has a lot of areas in which he needs to improve. But I don’t have any doubt he’s Richt’s best choice to lead the Bulldogs right now.
Got something on your mind concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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461 comments Add your comment
Hilton Head, Jr.
April 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
I’m thinking Saban and Miles would stick with what they have. So would Spurrier. That is a stupid post Lex.
DawginLex
April 25th, 2012
3:19 pm
Don’t remember him being at UGA or UF or being listed as one of the choices but that’s just me……………..
Dawgs All the Way
April 25th, 2012
3:20 pm
Many of the Murray’s issues are due to the play calling and being put into a situation where he has to make too many plays. Get creative with the offense and if he cuts back on fumbles then he will be a star!
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2012
3:20 pm
ga gator, noticed the same coincidence that I did.
hornblowermg
April 25th, 2012
3:20 pm
No mystery to this. Murray is just fine. I simply think that Mason is the better QB.
DawginLex
April 25th, 2012
3:21 pm
Thanks for the kind words Hilton Head. Thanks for not answering the question the way I posted it and twisting my words.
Thanks for being a good TROLL
ga gator
April 25th, 2012
3:22 pm
Lex you forget I go to all UGA home games with my UGA wife. I root for them every game except for the game in Jax of course. As for the picks you gave; I agree that any rational fan and especially the offensive minded coaches you mentioned would pick Murray. What a nightmare it would be if Murray had of picked SC and played for Spurrier. Murray’s skills remind me of Danny Wuerful with speed.
DawginLex
April 25th, 2012
3:23 pm
I forgot you are in a mixed marriage!
Joe
April 25th, 2012
3:23 pm
So you want to bench a 2 year redshirt starter for either someone that has not been on a football in two and three years?
Boulder Molder
April 25th, 2012
3:23 pm
Take a knee Lex. Get up in stages. You’ll be ok. I got you.
ga gator
April 25th, 2012
3:24 pm
First time I met her family I realized what Sidney Poitier felt like in “Guess who’s coming to dinner”!!
DawginLex
April 25th, 2012
3:24 pm
Later boys
Inmates have taken over the blog
bham dawg
April 25th, 2012
3:26 pm
top 10 pick next year if he was 6-4
Still@theKool-aidBAR
April 25th, 2012
3:27 pm
what
Boulder Molder
April 25th, 2012
3:27 pm
Take off Lex. You can’t lose your job to injury. Give your feelings time to heal.
every other sec coach
April 25th, 2012
3:28 pm
ill take him
ga gator
April 25th, 2012
3:29 pm
That is true bham dawg. I suspect a few of his forced throws which turned into Int’s were because of his height, especially the one in OT in Jax in 2010.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
April 25th, 2012
3:29 pm
Arron murray at FSU party during Bye week on the Satdurdaydownsouth web site
bham dawg
April 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
@still @theKool-aidBar… no way. that’s unbelieveable. no one has seen that picture. keep it on the dl. idiot
Homerville
April 25th, 2012
3:35 pm
Koolaid the photo should not surprise anyone. Richt knew Crowell was busted on Friday before the Fl game and didn’t suspend him until the week after. Richt knew another UF loss and his preachin behind would be gone and on the mission field and since Billy Graham doesn’t make 3 million a year it might be a good idea to keep his job.
bham dawg
April 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
@ga gator… no doubt. also if you see him try to throw a screen half his passes hit the back of a lineman’s helmet. height is not something you can teach but murray has everything else, he just needs to become more consistent and trust his teammates more. sometimes its like he feels he is the only person capable of making a play and he puts too much on his shoulders.
ga gator
April 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
bham dawg, Drew Brees adapted well and his height has not hurt him. Course then again if your team has hidden camera’s in the other teams locker room, you can make a lot of adjustments at half time and height might not matter!!
Bama=home of the T-bag special
April 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Someone tell me who sits a QB who wins 10 games during a season in the SEC, unless you are in the throes of a huge beat down your not sitting a 10 game winner.
bham dawg
April 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
@Homerville… you and everyone else knows that is bs about richt. If richt picked and chose when to suspend a player or not, don’t you think he would wait till after the mizzou game to suspend all those starters. once again idiot troll
SSIgator
April 25th, 2012
3:42 pm
Wow, another day of dog abuse on a UGA blog. Haven’t seen this kind of a beating since just before Michael Vick was arrested. DawginLex may never be the same again.
Homerville
April 25th, 2012
3:43 pm
Then tell me bhang, why did Richt deliberately postpone the suspension when he knew about it on thursday before the game? That is fact and not BS.
ga gator
April 25th, 2012
3:45 pm
It would not have made a difference homerville, if Crowell had of been suspended, Samuels would have had more carries and he was a beast in that game.
Dawg Haus
April 25th, 2012
3:45 pm
That’s a good way of looking at it, ga gator. I know I’m glad Murray isn’t wearing a USCe uniform.
ga gator
April 25th, 2012
3:46 pm
Out!!! it is starting to get snippy.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
April 25th, 2012
3:47 pm
Bham Dwag………..IF we all know it then WHY was 35:55minute Murray never made to sit a GAME? All the other players have had to SIT a game.
Homerville
April 25th, 2012
3:48 pm
ga gator, you dont think it would have mattered if Murray had been suspended?
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2012
3:51 pm
Are the procedures spelled out in school’s written policy on drug test related suspension also a “fact”?
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2012
3:53 pm
Bham, I’ll tell you who. People who don’t coach football teams for a living.
ga gator
April 25th, 2012
3:56 pm
Homerville, one more answer and I am out for the day; the answer is no; UGA would have beat us that day with a healthy Brantley; they were better, period. If we were not in their heads they would have beaten us by 20.
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2012
3:58 pm
er ah, I mean the other guy there……. b-home special.
bham dawg
April 25th, 2012
4:01 pm
@Homerville… supply some proof that is fact. then i might entertain your conspiracy. The drug test were takin on the thursday before jax. The turn around on the results is 3 days minimum which means they would have know results after the game. until you provide proof you are just another troll fishing.
dawgfan
April 25th, 2012
4:02 pm
I predict a National Championship for my Dawgs!
Bama=home of the T-bag special
April 25th, 2012
4:02 pm
@Still@theKool-aidBAR…one word O’Doul’s….that why Murray didn’t sit.
Charlie Hayes
April 25th, 2012
4:03 pm
Sure, he is game smart, but he doesnt make the needed throws when they count the most. That is his biggest issue. Maybe he will change this year with another year of experience under his belt. I was wrong about DJ Shockley. I thought he would be a horrible QB after watching him play in mop up games in 2004. Boy was I wrong…Maybe I am wrong this time and Murray will be top Dawg this year…..
bham dawg
April 25th, 2012
4:04 pm
@Still@theKool-aidBar… sit for what? He is holding a beer damn. Not to mention he turned 21 the same week.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
April 25th, 2012
4:08 pm
WHY does the UGA georgiadogs.com not have the years of 1990-1995 history listed on the site?
Boulder Molder
April 25th, 2012
4:11 pm
those were georgia’s “salad years”
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2012
4:12 pm
Homerville, how far back in your closet do we need to dig to find those old FSU caps?
bham dawg
April 25th, 2012
4:17 pm
football knowledge is not a priority for this blog. bashing and trolling is what the ajc bloggers do best. screw football who cares just make fun of people. ajc=worthless
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2012
4:17 pm
I thought the school’s policies as it relates to drugs and alcohol, only covered actual occurances.
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2012
4:21 pm
If we are going to suspend him for Virtual Offenses, I would bet anything there is an underage follower with bad intentions somewhere in all those re-posted tweets of his.
Dawg Haus
April 25th, 2012
4:24 pm
Unfortunately, you’re dead on, bham dawg. I just ignore the haters, trolls and negative Nancies and chat with the folks who want to talk football. Maybe that’s why I’m not the most frequent poster on these… Hope you’re having a good one!
UGAKev from Columbus
April 25th, 2012
4:25 pm
I think you could start any three of those QB’s with our defense this year and possibly go undefeated. I would be more concerned wih our OLINE holding up and our running backs producing.
Dawg Haus
April 25th, 2012
4:27 pm
Seriously, Kev. There are areas of concern for the Dawgs that need to be addressed, but QB isn’t one of them.
Snake Plisskin
April 25th, 2012
4:30 pm
Wow…haven’t been on here for a while, but I see the fans are still looking for a bandwagon…this site just brings a out the crazies…the biggest thing is that he isn’t from Georgia, and nothing that he does will ever be good enough for some of you huckleberries…hopefully, he’ll graduate early, pull a Russell Wilson, and play his last year for some fans that appreciate what he can do…it slays me that no matter who the QB is, and what therr skills are, UGA continues to play “balls to the wall” until they get a lead, then sits on a lead, and allows the other team to get back into a game…then they attempt to turn everything back on and get after it again…2nd half game plan; run up the gut, run up the gut, obvious 3rd and long situation (here comes the blitz)…run, run, blitz, errr I mean pass…all QB’s pad their stats against lesser foes, but UGA hasn’t been able to line up and go Mano-a-mano for a 4 full quarters against hardly any ranked teams…hope some of you knuckleheads get your way and they put Mason in, and Murray transfers can his senior year and play at a school that needs a quality QB and not a “Game Manager”…besides, it’ll give some of you more time to find the bandwagon, or maybe it will be the typical UGA mantra “just wait until next year”…