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.
Find me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
461 comments Add your comment
Stephen A.Dogg : Richt's ACC offensive IQ doesn't work in the SEC for Georgia.
April 25th, 2012
8:48 pm
@ kerryb: As a Georgia fan I wish Murray would have stayed in his home state and went to Florida. So you can count UGA and UF fans that would have been glad about Murray being a gator.
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2012
8:48 pm
No more padding Murray’s stats against weak teams???? when did that happen before?
Lakedawg
April 25th, 2012
8:50 pm
Why does it seem to me that Bill King who preofesses to be a Dawg fan to continue to write article after article seeming to be negative towards the Dawgs????
bitter bad thrower
April 25th, 2012
9:10 pm
bill queen stinks—like murry—fumbles—int’s
this dawg want hunt!!
April 25th, 2012
9:10 pm
Stats are for losers. And that is exactly what Murray and Jones are. Neither one has big time stats against top teams. Murray has proven over 3 years that he can’t get the job done in a big time game. His pathetic performance against S.C, LSU, Boise St, and Mich. St, says all you need to know about him. Sure he throws 4 or 5 t.d’s against Miss, or Auburn, which is nothing without Cam, but what does this clown do when the lights are shinning for big games????? He wets the damn bed time after time. Yet all of these UGA fans rave about his stats. My GOD people wake up. If the guy could protect the damn football, UGA would have won 3 or those 4 games. As for Jones, he is just like Murray. He shows up against inferior competiton. He had no sacks against S.C, Boise.St, LSU and Mich St. Yet he is an all-american. Hate to burst his bubble, but big time players make big-time plays in big games. He didn’t do that. The other coaching staffs took him out of the game, and that is not what big time players allow to happen. Remember a guy named Pollack, he would always make big plays in big games regardless of what the opposing team’s coaches did to scheme against him. Jones hasn’t proven he can do that. Maybe he will next year, but to have 4 sacks against one of the worst tackles in the SEC, the punk from Florida doesn’t mean jack. As for Murray, this guy will never and i mean NEVER take UGA to a championship. His lack of accuracy, lack of ball protection, and lack of arm strength is terrible. Too bad Richt and Bobo don’t realize this.
bitter bad thrower
April 25th, 2012
9:12 pm
0-10 against top 25 teams———————–why would any free thinking person
——————————–think things will change////??????????
—————————————————————————”O”—–go dawgs
bitter bad thrower
April 25th, 2012
9:16 pm
———-like ive stated in the past———coach bobo like hudson mason——richt rules the QB starter
Brainiac
April 25th, 2012
10:11 pm
@ This dawgwant hunt:
You don’t know big wood from brush dude.
You have proven that you belong to the single digit IQ club(probably as president). J Jones will go in the 1st or early 2nd round in the NFL draft and Murray will be drafted.
ALL coaches at UGA football pay more taxes than you gross each year so if you had any credibility you wouldn’t be working that late shift a Krystal Burger. You would be coaching somewhere.
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chuck
April 25th, 2012
10:24 pm
Murray would be fine IF UGA had an average OC. The problem is Bobo is horrible. He has ZERO feel for the game. His way too conservative play calling in the 4th quarter is a joke.
Somebody needs to chart how many times this year a Bulldog position goes like this:
1st down – try and throw a low percentage pass 30 yards down the field.
2nd and 10 – TB up the middle.
3rd and 12 – Another 30 yard pass incomplete.
Brainiac
April 25th, 2012
10:49 pm
@ Animal Lover:
Just stick a sock in it loser!!!!!!!
Andy
April 25th, 2012
10:52 pm
Be careful now and don’t point out any stat that are not favorable to UGA are you will not be considered a dog fan.
Andy
April 25th, 2012
11:06 pm
What does the amount of taxes the UGA coach pay have anything do with GA won-lost record?
MuttBarker
April 25th, 2012
11:11 pm
Seen this Spring game highlight video? This is a QB.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7840621
MuttBarker
April 25th, 2012
11:26 pm
Lovin this Spring game highlight video #2, another superb QB, like the way Bama uses their running backs in the passing game. AJ McCarron from Alabama looks better than last year…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llSCTzj6Aco&feature=related
GTBob
April 25th, 2012
11:29 pm
Not a billionaire…..not even close, but yes a millionaire. Have multiple textbooks and can’t risk losing tens of thousands by telling you more.
Yes, we all believe you Neutral. You are a millionaire author who can’t reveal his book for some reason. I am an author too. Only my books have sold over 10 million copies. There I beat you in the imaginary jobs race.
Lamar
April 25th, 2012
11:32 pm
Look, I like Murray and I liked him ever since he was a freshman 2 years ago. The problem with Murray is, he played better his freshman year than he did as a sophmore. OR HE HAS NOT IMPROVED SINCE HIS 1ST START! Now in fairness to him, he had a BETTER RUNNING GAME his freshman year, which took pressure off him. As a Sophmore last year, THE RUNNING GAME WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO KEEP DEFENSES HONEST, which I think made him throw more to make up the difference from a year ago. This will be his junior year, and with the running game being better, (AND IT SHOULD BE), I think his numbers will improve, BUT I WOULD NOT BET MONEY ON IT! Some QB’s just tend to make throws they know is wrong, if he can improve HIS DECISION MAKING, we will have a great year, if not, the FIRE RICHT will continue. Lets face it guys, GA has the talent, AND ALWAYS has , but until they COACH UP THE TALENT TO ITS POTENTIAL, they will never show their potential and we will be saying at the end of the year, (Like we always do), WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR IT WILL GET BETTER!! BUT, BUT, BUT, THIS IS THE YEAR IT WILL HAPPEN, IF IT EVER IS GOING TO HAPPEN! THE TEAM IS LOADED, NOW LET THE TALENT GO!! GO DAWGS!!
Still@theKool-aidBAR
April 26th, 2012
12:14 am
HERE sorry
Still@theKool-aidBAR
April 26th, 2012
12:18 am
You Dwag Fans cussing BILL KING are fools. He posted QUESTIONS from UGA FANS. He posted his thoughts and was honest. HE is BEING a FAN BLOGGER. He is supposed to give a HEART FELT response from the other fans and His OWN feelings. Leave Bill Alone or don’t read. He is a DAWG from the grey hairs in his beard to the Bones in his toes. If you think any different then you are a fool.
DawgNation
April 26th, 2012
4:11 am
I do not believe I am going to type this but Still@ that was a great post.
YEAR OF THE DAWG
April 26th, 2012
6:11 am
Murray made some bad decisions but if you watched the LSU and MIchigan St. games. The second half you can’t throw it from back. Our fat O-line killed us in the second half !!!!!!!
Neutral
April 26th, 2012
6:38 am
@GT Bob and Kool-Aid
Good morning guys, sorry I missed your typically sarcastic and erroneous posts last night, but I had better things to do. To add insult to injury……I have 17 faculty in my department and 3 are GT grads. Don’t you love it when Techies call a BullDawg “BOSS”……kinda like in football!!!! Have a great day.
Old Dawg
April 26th, 2012
6:45 am
I don’t think our losses were all on Murray – I fault our coaching. Who told Murray to throw that pass that lost the Ga-Fla game two years ago? Mike Bobo! Who keeps Murray in the games longer than he needs to be and won’t allow other QBs – Mark Richt! Murray’s Mistakes are only the outward manifestation of the coaching problem. Weak o-line? Why are the coaches not telling Murray to drop and cover the ball and take the loss, rather than throw an interception or get sacked and fumble.
I don’t keep a stopwatch with me while watching games, but it seems to me that Murray takes a long time to throw. Now whether that is him, or whether it is his receivers not getting clear, I don’t know.
#1 SEC
April 26th, 2012
6:46 am
Murray–will light it up this year–Ga has a good offense and maybe the best D in the SEc. The dogs should win the east easily again and beat alabama for the sec title. The dogs are back!
wr29te
April 26th, 2012
7:00 am
With all of these wan-a-bee coaches advising CMR the he will have it all figured out by Sept.1st
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2012
7:18 am
Andy, for such a professed ” dog fan”, you really seem to go out of your way to completely invent exagerated accusations in order to put them all down. And never anything good.
What’s the saying: with friends like you, who needs enemies.
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2012
7:25 am
Actually Durham was WIDE open on that UF play. Could have been the winning call. Murray made a bad throw. many of his ints were not really on him, but that one was. (although he was scrambling away from an unabated pass rush). And you know he has the final decision to throw the ball.
Old Dog
April 26th, 2012
7:34 am
AltamahaDawg – So you are saying that the Florida loss two years ago was totally on Murray? He could have taken the loss (or thrown it to the sidelines) and let our (then) #1 kicker kick a field goal?
Old Dog
April 26th, 2012
7:37 am
So it sounds like Mark Richt should be having second thoughts about keeping Murray at starter. When you keep putting someone in and they keep underperforming, is that the QBs fault or the coach’s fault for putting him in?
Kyle
April 26th, 2012
8:19 am
Murray plays all year….8-4 (Missouri, Carolina, someone really stupid, and Tech (their due)….)
Kyle
April 26th, 2012
8:21 am
Murray implodes at Missouri like he did against Sparty in the bowl game and CMR gives mason a chance…..at least a shot at 11-1……..
kt
April 26th, 2012
8:48 am
Should be interesting to watch what happens at QB in 2011.
kt
April 26th, 2012
8:59 am
The Penn St S & C Coach, helped Penn State dominate teams in the second half of games. Using his high intensity training was the key. Penn St outscored opponents 116 to 79 in the 2nd half in 2011, and won the 4th quarter, 55 to 39. I’d look for this team to be in much better condition, Murray’s 2nd half play was rough, he looked tired, so the new S & C coach should benefit Murray, and the whole team to play better in the 3rd and 4th quarters.
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2012
8:59 am
No, plenty of players made key mistakes in that game. I never believe any game boils down to any one play. Murray, IMO, was the reason we were in that game at all.
And I’m not understaning your question.
You said it was a simply a matter of a poor call. I’m saying it was a pretty good call, and the WR was open.
Murray’s biggest issue it trying to force a play. He did on that play. Always has been. I personally think that is a fairly expected drawback of a very talented young QB who has to come in and start on a team that has had some difficulties surrounding him with realiable, consistant support.
On the other hand if we didn’t have a QB who could could what Murray can do, we would have lost just as many games in the past 2 yrs.
Retrospect
April 26th, 2012
9:00 am
Will UGA be wearing their Nike clown costumes again this year?
ARdawg
April 26th, 2012
9:01 am
Altamaha
That is determined only by the RS freshman sitting on the bench and whether A) He has that special talent and ability or B) the team has a deficiency at his position
Just wonderin'...
April 26th, 2012
9:05 am
A few comments about UGA:
1. Four different SEC teams have won the last six BCS championships.
2. UGA was not one of those teams.
3. During that period, UGA did not win the SEC championship.
4. Red panties and hashbrowns.
In other words, UGA has sunk into total irrelevancy both regionally and nationally.
So why is UGA paying Mark Richt millions of dollars a year?
ARdawg
April 26th, 2012
9:07 am
I guess being how the donuts are made, the Tech trolls are available in full force?
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2012
9:08 am
Are you suggsting that Mark Richt should have anticipated that mistake and pulled Murray, and stuck in Mason to run the team during the OT period of the UF game 2 years ago?
What coach would have ever done that?
In fact, what exactly defines” keep him in longer than he needs”? When exactly IS the right time to pull your All-SEC starter and put in a way less experienced and somewhat less talented back-up QB during the later stages of a tight ballgame against a tough oponent? Obviously the play JUST before an interception. And If frogs could fly, they wouldnt bump thier behinds when they jump.
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2012
9:16 am
Yes, I have already agreed with that part AR. And Richt has been as willing as anyone, BEFORE and after Moreno, to subscribe to that theory, too.
Which leads me to the confusion over your point. Maybe I just don’t understand the term “wake up call”. Just doesnt seem to me to apply here.
PowerDawg
April 26th, 2012
9:21 am
Jhughes and DestinDawg must be smokin’ out of the same bowl. Green did not play in the MSU game last year, Huhgesie.
Subject to injuries? Really, Destin? The guy hasn’t missed a play in two years, much less any games. Toughest SOB to ever play the position as far as I’m concerned…
bill
April 26th, 2012
9:26 am
Here: I will sum up all the comments. I am an expert at everything in Div. 1 football and I have to say. blah,blah, blah, etc. If you do not agree with me then you are a &**&&^%^%, &^%^&, etc. See I am a genius. Now wait while I rip my shoulder muscles out patting myself on the back.
Game Changer
April 26th, 2012
9:28 am
GA vs MISS ST 2011 IN ATHENS
Aaron Murray Second Half Stats:
Completions: 2 for 9 23 yards total
1 Interception returned 72 yards for a TD MIss St
AARON MURRAY: LOL
CLOW
April 26th, 2012
9:28 am
We lost our 4 biggest games last season, largely due to his own mistakes. That is why we are skeptical.
Old Dawg.
April 26th, 2012
9:35 am
To all you Murray haters get ready to eat your words. With a good running game and not trying to win the game himself He will be awsome.
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2012
9:37 am
Imagine last year IF King and Ealey were still on the team and doing well. And Malcome had had some monster games already. Plus a few other reserves.
Now imagine IF Crowell come in, was far less known as he is, and not as highly rated. Not overly recruited. Came in out of shape. Lost in the playbook. Had shown nothing noteworthy in camp. Nobody on the staff had thought him ready to play.
That’s the Moreno decision in a nutshell.
Now imagine if none of that was the case, and you had Crowell as a TF.
I believe that You would have done exactly what Richt did in both cases.
Game Changer
April 26th, 2012
9:50 am
Imagine this: Richt’s job is head man of football and to win, many shortcomings are overlooked when WINNING. He is also responsible for image, and control of those he recruits to GA. He has been a failure for several years now on and off the field and yet GA extends a new lengthy contract, only at the Univ of GA.
ARdawg
April 26th, 2012
9:58 am
Altamaha,
The wake up call IMO is, there really aren’t “that” many reasons to redshirt as usually claimed. All have 4 years of eligibility. For those destined for the next level few need more than that
Kyle
April 26th, 2012
10:15 am
One thing I will give Murray- OT interception aside, he seems to play well in Jax- he has brought us back from double digit UF leads that had not happened during their “streak”….the problem is, he cant beat any “good” teams. His stats are against sub par teams most of whom have losing records. We will see if that changes this year, but I honestly dont have much hope of it. We are great at making excuses about everything……..with a freshman kicker and punter coming I can just bet that will be our excuse this year……as well as using them for an excuse when Murray screws up….”well if we had a good punter murray would not have thrown the interception on the 15 yard line-………same story- different year
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2012
10:17 am
So the wake up call for a coach that does not normally RS a RB if there is any possible to get something out of his freshman year, is to never do it under any circumstanc, even though you agreed with it was perfecly logical in the case that you chose to use as any example?
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2012
10:17 am
Just messing with you, buddy.