Head-scratcher: Aaron Murray has been great, yet UGA is 5-6
The good news: This quarterback is a real keeper. (AP photo)
Had you told me on Sept. 3 that the Ides of November would find Georgia under .500, I’d have had two thoughts. The first: “Ain’t no way.” (For the record, I picked the Bulldogs to finish 9-3.) The second: “If there is a way, it’ll be because Aaron Murray isn’t ready.”
And that’s what makes Georgia being 5-6 so confounding. More than simply being ready, Aaron Murray has been good bordering on great. A redshirt freshman, he’s already the third-best quarterback in the SEC, and the league’s best is Cam Newton, the finest player among collegians, and its second-best is the splendid passer Ryan Mallett. Murray is 15th nationally in passing efficiency. (Newton and Mallett are second and fourth, respectively.)
Heck, we can make a compelling case that Murray has been the best freshman quarterback in Bulldog annals, and those annals are inscribed with the deeds of some fairly fine frosh.
- Aaron Murray, 2010: 173 completions in 285 attempts; a completion percentage of 60.7; 21 touchdowns against six interceptions; 2,580 yards passing.
- Matthew Stafford, 2006: 135 completions in 256 attempts; a completion percentage of 52.7; seven touchdowns against 13 interceptions; 1,749 yards passing.
- David Greene, 2001: 192 completions in 324 attempts; a completion percentage of 59.3; 17 touchdowns against nine interceptions; 2,789 yards passing.
- Quincy Carter, 1998: 176 completions in 290 attempts; a completion percentage of 60.7; 12 touchdowns against nine interceptions; 2,484 yards passing.
- Eric Zeier, 1991: 159 completions in 286 attempts; a completion percentage of 55.6; seven touchdowns against four interceptions; 1,984 yards passing.
(We should stipulate that Zeier and Stafford didn’t begin their freshman seasons as the No. 1 quarterback. Both, however, played in the season opener – Zeier as the No. 2 behind Greg Talley, Stafford as No. 3 behind Joe Tereshinski III and Joe Cox — and both became No. 1 for good in October of those respective years.)
OK, those are the numbers. Murray already has the best completion percentage (tied with Carter), the second-fewest interceptions behind Zeier and the most touchdowns, and he’s within reach of Greene’s school record for passing yardage by a freshman. But here’s the weird part:
The Bulldogs were 9-3 in both Zeier’s and Carter’s freshman seasons, 8-4 in Greene’s, 9-4 in Stafford’s. How is it possible that a team returning every offensive starter save the quarterback could see that new quarterback perform so ably — and still be 5-6? (And of those six losses, only the Florida game, in which Murray threw half of his total of six interceptions, could be debited to the quarterback — and it must be noted that even on his worst day Murray led the rally that forced overtime.)
Not much about this Georgia season has made sense, but this part makes the least. The one offensive variable has come up trumps, and still the team enters its final scheduled game needing to win to become bowl-eligible.
Here’s how addled I am: I’m tempted to say, “Put Murray on Florida and the Gators would have won the SEC East,” or, “Put Murray on South Carolina and the Gamecocks would be 9-1, not 7-3″ … and then I realize the team he’s on finished behind those two. Maybe you can make some sense of it. Obviously I can’t.
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384 comments Add your comment
TBone
November 17th, 2010
11:33 am
This year should not have come as a BIG surprise if you look at the recruiting class ram=nkings for the past few years. While UGA may have been ranked fairly high nationally, we were 5th or 6th in the conference. That’s middle of the pack; what’s the surprise?
Brand New Bama Fan
November 17th, 2010
11:34 am
So Auburn fans. You constant whining that Bama is protected and Auburn is vilified by the SEC will be put to the test. When Fairley cheap shots McElroy with either a body splash or a really, really late hit at full speed and a spearing helmet, and I say when, because it’s definitely not if, but when it happens, then you’ll know for sure whether all of your incessant whining about the preferential treatment the Beloveds get is actually true or not. If Fairley is given unnecessary roughness personal fouls for the first time this season against Bama, then all your orange-headed step-child insecurities will be validated. On the other hand, if he continues to just get a late hit penalty on one out of three, then your constant whining is just sour grapes after all.
By the way, if any of you Fairley apologists had stopped defending his indefensible actions long enough to think for a moment, you’ll notice nobody has an issue with late hits from any of the other Auburn defensive players, just Fairley. The reason is that none of the other Auburn players took late hits because they all are not trash like this log. He is an individual piece and reasonable people can see that it’s not an indictment of the whole team, just Fairley. On the other hand, many of you morons that defend his actions are simply defending his actions because he’s on your team. Blind defense of any player against overwhelming evidence is a sure sign of inbreeding.
And yes, there was retribution by some UGA O-line. I’m not talking about chop blocks, those happen, but the supposed eye-gouging in the pile. I don’t condone it. I can only assume they felt they had to go outside the rules to protect their QB because Fairley was going outside the rules to hurt him. Also, anyone who says it’s not illegal unless the refs call a foul is just an f-ing moron and is impervious to a logic.
AltamahaDawg
November 17th, 2010
11:34 am
Clearly if the defense was in year two, UGA wins 3 more game at least, everything/everybody else being exactly equal.
Pulpwood Smith
November 17th, 2010
11:34 am
Crappy defense and no running game to control the ball and the clock….thta’s why we’re 5-6…that and we didn’t decide to start playing until the Tennessee game.
braves fan
November 17th, 2010
11:35 am
it’s the defense, it’s still terrible, and has been all year……couldn’t stop USC, Colorado, Arkansas, Florida (who had scored 7 points at home the week before to MSU), and got absolutely shredded by Auburn…..the defense stinks, and all of the excuses “don’t have the people to run the 3-4, or give it time to lear the 3-4″, are just that, excuses…..first year defensive coordinator at Miss. State seems to be doing well……if UGA didn’t have the people to run the 3-4, then why was a coach hired to put the 3-4 in??? i thought we got a new defensive back coach too??? why are our corners and safeties never in position and always getting toasted??? someone said earlier, and it’s true, if you score 30 points a game, you ought to win those games.
Buck Blue
November 17th, 2010
11:35 am
I agree with the Evil Genius…Georgia seems to get all of that talent. What happens when they get to Athens. Of all colleges and universities, Georgia has the fourth most formers players now playing in the NFL.
By the way Jason13, they all say that they are pleased with their personnel…even up to the moment that they have to let them go — even at the White House level. CMR’s problem is that he never was a head coach of anything before UGA hired him. I lost a lot of respect for CMR when in the 2002 season he stated before the first game against Clemson that he was going to alternate David Green and D. J. Shockley. Well, Shockley went in and juked his way into the end zone. We hardly heard from Shockley again. Finally, in the third quarter, I left the game. (Hadn’t been back since either.) I got up to the top of Baxter to get in my car and heard the roar of the crowd. Turned on the radio in the car and found out that Richt finally put Shockley back into the game, and he took us down for another go-ahead score.
When I saw CMR just allow Shockley to ride the bench for three years before taking the team to a SEC Championship and winning Co-Player of the Year in the SEC along with Jay Cutler, in my mind I was pretty much through with Richt as a coach. He’s a nice enough fellow, but I don’t know if he has the gonans to stand up to the Gridiron Boys.
Wondering
November 17th, 2010
11:38 am
Is this blog still reserves for guys that: never played football, can’t get a job, can’t get a date, and live in their parents basement?
Hurt Kurbstreit
November 17th, 2010
11:38 am
Here’s the problems. The running game was slow to develop and is just now starting to be decent. The defense gave up a lot of big plays in the 4th quarter, especially early on. AJ Green was ineligible for 4 games. That’s a big loss. Georgia didn’t pull the close games out in the 4th quarter like they have in past years. The SEC is very balanced in the east this year and any little thing can make the big difference. It was no disgrace to lose to AU, Ark and SC. Shouldn’t have lost to Miss State although they are good this year. Losing to Colorado was a joke. This was the year to beat Florida.
Hurt Kurbstreit
November 17th, 2010
11:40 am
Wondering – This is the place. You’ll fit right in.
Mobile Dawg
November 17th, 2010
11:42 am
If you’ve read my comments over the last three years you would know. Stick around Mark Bradley for CMR, Act Eleven:
Will
November 17th, 2010
11:43 am
This season has been an epic disaster on all fronts. From our pathetic AD to our horrid coaching decisions, nothing has gone right and a loss to GT would not surprise me at all. I have seen many of the quotes after the Auburn game and there seems to be allot of finger pointing and blame going on. You may now have a divided lockeroom which is not good.
Next year will not be better unless Grantham finds some studs in JC. We are in major trouble again on the defensive line and at linebacker. Akeem Dent has been the only player this year that has been a bright spot on defense and he is a senior. UGA is looking at another 6-6 season in 2011.
Roy Barnes
November 17th, 2010
11:44 am
If you morons would have voted for me, I PROMISE you UGA would not have lost another game. After firing Bobo, I would have brought Kirby Smart back to UGA as OC. I know he is DC at Alabama. Nevertheless, his talents can best be used as OC.
But, that was not to be because you morons did not elect me.
Do you miss me yet?
John Wang
November 17th, 2010
11:45 am
Richt is the Wade Phillips of College football…..nice guy but no discipline…….12 arrest this year alone and the high number of penalties in each game hurt them. I’d guess he has 1 more year before the axe falls…….nice guys never finish at the top of the BCS polls
Buck Blue
November 17th, 2010
11:46 am
Columbus Dawg: I think that you’ve about got it right. The money people will control this thing. Yep, there’s a few Leeburns and Lumpkins and Woodruffs in Columbus. Few people know this. The middle class of Columbus pretty much line up with Auburn, and the elite and effete line up with UGA. It’s a split time. The Georgia-Auburn game was played at the old Memorial Stadium in Columbus through 1958. (For the record, the Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic is still played there every year.)
The money people did not want D. J. Shockley as the quarterback over David Green. This is what I was talking about. Heck, they probably didn’t want Richt to recruit Cam Newton as a QB. Donnan just didn’t genuflect before the money people at UGA. That’s was his main problem at UGA. I don’t think that Donnan even made cameo appearances before that gnostic group called “The Gridiron Society,” the group which really has its hands controlled by some arrogant Germans.
ole glory
November 17th, 2010
11:47 am
I’m not a fan because I’m calling for CMR head? Let me ask you this! Is a 2 year Murray better than a 3 year Stafford and Mereno? It’s always next year with you people. The writing has been on the wall since 35-0 halftime Alabama. Why wait after next year and be in an,even bigger hole
JDW
November 17th, 2010
11:49 am
Its really not hard to figure out…its the defense specifically points allowed
Year Points SEC Rank
2003 13.5 2
2004 16.1 4
2005 14.6 2
2006 17.1 4
2007 21 3
2008 25.6 10
2009 26.4 10
2010 22.1 7
Get back to the top of the conference in points allowed everything else is ok….
ramfan
November 17th, 2010
11:49 am
how about the fact that the rest of the team (outside of green and houston) is real average. is there another “great” player on this team? maybe the kickers, but that doesn’t win sec titles.
Jude Law
November 17th, 2010
11:49 am
Mark, havent you read the blogs lately?? its Nick Fairley’s fault that the Dawgs are 5-6…
EDawg71
November 17th, 2010
11:50 am
What the hell happened to our OL this year? Searels has done some great work in the past but this was not his finest hour. NO run game to speak of. Run the ball with any amount of decency and we win at least 3 more of those games. My words of wisdom to the OL…if you were ticked at the end of the Auburn game, bottle that up and use it. Play with anger, aggression and a sense of urgency
saban
November 17th, 2010
11:50 am
The Gods have decreed 7 years of plague on the Dawgs.
Get used to 6-6 puppies.
Wondering
November 17th, 2010
11:50 am
Hurt Kurbstreit @11:40
Which ones fit you?
Unemployed?
Never played football?
Can’t get a date? or
do you live in your parents basement?
Wondering
how2fish
November 17th, 2010
11:52 am
Hurt Kurbstreit your 11:38 post was dead on!
saban
November 17th, 2010
11:52 am
When you fired Willie Martinez it was all over.
gdawginkalamazoo
November 17th, 2010
11:53 am
Buck,
“I don’t think that Donnan even made cameo appearances before that gnostic group called “The Gridiron Society,” the group which really has its hands controlled by some arrogant Germans.”
Why would Donnan want to appear before a bunch of Tennesse Volunteer supporters?
jawga boy
November 17th, 2010
11:53 am
Mark, you’ve been stuck at the typewriter too long. Try this one…….. Hell he didn’t have all his players for the first 6 games! Woulda, shoulda, and damn coulda!
Dawglasville
November 17th, 2010
11:53 am
The defense sucks. Pretty simple.
ramfan
November 17th, 2010
11:53 am
hurt–why was the running slow to develop? the backs are experienced and so is the line. they just are average players.
St. Clarkston
November 17th, 2010
11:55 am
My prediction is that this time next year, we’ll be in the same place with about the same record, with
the same coach.
Ben
November 17th, 2010
11:56 am
Mark, not sure if it’s been said yet but also factor in:
1) turnover margin is WAY better this year
2) Penalties are down
3) Defense is over a touchdown allowed better
4) Kickoff coverage is light years better
Yet, here we are. Most confounding and frustrating season in my 35 years as a Dawg fan.
how2fish
November 17th, 2010
11:57 am
saban WTF would you know about Gods you spawn of the Devil !
gdawginkalamazoo
November 17th, 2010
11:58 am
Buck, I liked Shockley as much as the next bulldog fan but can you really argue with Greene? Only the winningest QB in college football up until last year. Shockley is one damn good dawg and always will be IMO.
Buzzboy
November 17th, 2010
11:58 am
Tech may not have a player starting on either side of the ball and special teams that would start at Georgia. So if we were to beat you guys in Athens, you should be ashamed. Of course, UGA had far superior athletes in 08 so who knows.
EDawg71
November 17th, 2010
12:02 pm
It’s the system Buzzboy, not the “superior athletes”. Just ask your pompous a$$ of a coach CPJ. He’s already said he doesn’t need superior athletes. Some may argue after Tech’s latest season.
This is very simple, gang
November 17th, 2010
12:02 pm
We all recall the two or three over/underthrown balls in the SC game, that had only ONE of them been caught, it results in a TD. This does not include the behind his back pass to Orson Charles at the SC 4 or 5 that he almost caught anyway and we easily woulda/coulda scored on that one too. Also, we did not let Murray play his game.
The MSU game with Ealey’s dumb fumble and resulting confusion. We were snake bitten by that and one o0r two other dumb things.
The Arkansas game was a result of a high powered, high octane passer vs a new, and lacking confidence D for UGA. Plus, we also fumbled another one at the 3 in that game. Our D choked late in that game, due to lack of experience and THAT has to get MUCH better in 2011.
Colorado ……… Walsh made one FG and shanked another and then that dumb Caleb KIng fumble. Folks, AJ not playing blew the doors off of UGA’s game mental readiness to start the darn season. This is huge. AJ HURT UGA this year.THAT is how he will be remembered …………….as a selfish PUNK clothing salesman.
Florida game? Aaron Murray simply CHOKED.
Auburn game? UGA won 4 years in a row and for that series …………..it had to happen and they happen to have ( with cheating ) a great QB that makes their O go. See the FBI report about to be released.
We have to endure this through 2011 …………. then if it continues ………..we throw the baby out with the bath water.
GO Dogs.
UGA class of 71 & 73
Ragu
November 17th, 2010
12:03 pm
Murray’s a two-bit punk who had one good season. You watch, he’ll be another Reggie Ball.
Or, just as likely, he’ll do a Mettenberger and be dismissed from the team.
SlimG
November 17th, 2010
12:07 pm
Mark buddy, think ur a little wacky on this one. Murray, remember those early games, south carolina comes to mind, nobody trusted this kid, but now I’ll agree he is getting better. Still, no luck this year + green QB= Disaster…….
jumbeauxtiger
November 17th, 2010
12:08 pm
I wish we had Murray as he has surprised me with as well as he has played. He is a smart quarterback and will be a great one. Maybe we will sign his main competition from last Spring, Zach Mettenberger, who is visiting LSU this weekend.
I think Georgia’s problem is a lack of discipline on and off the field. Richt is responsible. If Miles was 5-6 right now he would be gone and he won a national title 3 years ago.
Richt is making huge bucks and with the talent the Dawgs have, they should have won the East, especially with the Gators rebuilding this year.
The bottom line is Georgia should be no worse than 8-3 and maybe 9-2.
Georgia has the facilities, support and huge talent in the state. They should be much better and should not be down to the last game to become bowl eligible.
Yellow Jacket 89
November 17th, 2010
12:08 pm
Mark,
Why no columns about the dancing competition, Dancing with the Stars.
Most dawgs fans secretly love the show.
In fact, the only things that rank below watch the dawgs play are:
1)Dancing with the Stars
2)Jerry Springer and
3)Sponge Bob
Alum
November 17th, 2010
12:08 pm
FIRE BOBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Derek
November 17th, 2010
12:11 pm
Read a lot of sportswriters…Most concur–UGA would be insane to fire Richt. Why does the AJC not get this? Especially why does Jeff and Mark not get this? Even a column like Mark’s column today–insinuates that CMR should be fired. Just say it, don’t skirt around the issue. Its time to lay off. AD has made it clear–CMR will not be fired. So, what is the point of continuing to question his coaching. The AD and RIcht meet regularly. They are working on things at UGA. Leave them alone. The short-sightedness in our culture today is sickening. It is abundantly evident at the AJC. That is one reason that many people can’t even get the AJC (in real paper) in their communities. Where is Lewis Grizzard when we need him?
SECWasteManagement
November 17th, 2010
12:11 pm
4) GT Football games
5) GT Basketball games
chris
November 17th, 2010
12:11 pm
The defense is still using the excuse that they are missing assignments. We could have kept Martinez and played defense this well. Also, it took half the season for the Offensive line to Gel which I don’t get at all. This was suppose to be our strength. This is the 2nd year in a row the UGA has been a slow starting team. I think Spring and Fall practice have to be done with more intensity next year and come out of the gates fast.
Last…..I don’t think our running backs are all that great. They don’t break tackles or make people miss. I hope we land the huge running back recruit that visits UGA for the Tech game. We NEED HIM BAD!!!
SECWasteManagement
November 17th, 2010
12:12 pm
jumbeauxtiger,
If you get Mettenberger have fun. He attended the same high school I did. Kid is a stiff.
Jim 007
November 17th, 2010
12:13 pm
No Dicipline
Poor Coaching
Major Questions on lack of endurance & recruiting
dawgfacedboy
November 17th, 2010
12:13 pm
Coaching, plain and simple. We battle with the other top schools in the country for the same players. Just about every starter wearing red and black was highly sought after by just about every other major college in the country. Yet in the past 5 years the vast majority of those players never pan out. Look at the other schools pulling in top 10 recruiting classes. What kind of seasons have they had?? Bama, Florida, and LSU all have NCs. Ohio St. Texas, and OU are all in the National Championship mix every year.
The only other school that does less with more is probably FSU. UGA has a plethora of talent and athleticism on that field. Always has.
Ogeechee Dawg
November 17th, 2010
12:14 pm
Not just one reason – but several as to why UGA is 5-6:
1. Defense is not good – SC, Arkansas, Florida. etc – all had late drives that we could not stop. Auburn made us look real bad – for a reason – we are bad.
2. Too convservative play calling. Bobo/Richt did not learn from 2006 – when our play calling cost us the South Carolina game as we were protecting a QB. It’s one thing to be smart – it’s another thing to be stubborn.
3. OL just not very good – of which we were running behind to control the game. which is why I am amazed that we continue to do the same thing – need to mix in more screens – TE looks, etc.
4. Fumbles at key moments.
5. Average running backs – these guys are ok backs – but not great would not be starting on any other SEC team except for maybe Ole Miss and Vandy.
6. Discipline – how many total games did starters not play this year to serve our their suspensions? Embarrassing.
7. Boils down to coaching, teaching, preparation, execution – discilpine – and we have been found lacking in all catagories.
What is even more amazing is this has been the easist schedule we have had in years – NO Alabama, NO LSU, Tennessee in total rebuild, KY with a coaching change, same as Vandy. Florida in transition – and South Carolina is good but not great. OOC included the worst B12 team and two buy a wins. Yet we are 5-6.
Why are we 5-6? because we suck. Our record pretty much tells the story. This train came off the tracks – but the derailment started years ago.
Richt will be given next year – but what happens if we are 8-4?
If you think UGA will be 9-3 – forget it.
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
November 17th, 2010
12:14 pm
Mr.Obvious:
LEAVE IT UP TO SOMEONE REALLY STUPID TO POINT THE FINGER AT AN OFFENSE THAT SCORES 30 POINTS A GAME…MR. OBVIOUS, YOU ONLY REPEAT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TOLD YOU CAUSE IF YOU COULD ASCERTAIN FACTS YOU WOULD NOT COME UP WITH SUCH A STUPID SUGGESTION….
robdawg
November 17th, 2010
12:15 pm
Murray has been mostly outstanding under not the best circumstances. Bobo’s playcalling has been way to predictable for several years now. Pass on first down, run on 2nd down. Zero imagination. Our opponents know exactly what we are running. At Florida, Bobo forgot we had aj on our team. All we heard was that he was being double teamed. All great receivers get doubleteamed. That does not mean you do not throw to them. Jerry rice, Michael Irvin, larry Fitzgerald were doubletramed every week and yet their coaches still found ways to get them the ball. It takes a little creativity. At auburn, after aj catches two long tds, Bobo decided that rather than keep going deep, lets run the wildcat. Then later rather than going deep to aj, Bobo decides to run screens. Our problems are coaching. We got outcoached at Arkansas, Colorado & Florida. We were in position late to win all three of these games & found a way to lose. These were all due to coaching blunders. Arkansas – we have the ball at midfield with a minute and a half to go with a first down. All American kicker ready to win the game. Worst case, we should go to overtime. Colorado – outcoached the whole game. Florida – we tried to give it to them in the last two minutes of regulation. Why would you evear throw out of your own end zone – which was almost picked. Then why on earth would you put someone back on your goal line to field a punt with 5 seconds left in regulation. Let the ball hit the ground & go to overtime. Then in overtime, we have an all American kicker & Florida has a punter. No way we should lose this game. But after flollowing our pattern, pass on first down & run on 2nd down, we do the worst thing you
can do,# throw in a crowd & turn it over. I also failed to mention losing to msu where we clearly were outcoached. Our problem is coaching & discipline.
dawgfacedboy
November 17th, 2010
12:15 pm
We are recruiting the wrong kinds of players???? Plenty of other schools recruit the same players. All of the top schools are going after the same kids, you get some you lose some. Other schools are winning with the same kinds of recruits.
Erk
November 17th, 2010
12:21 pm
Turnovers at critical times (USC, MS, Colorado & Fla), new defensive scheme and too many blown coverages and big plays given up on defense. Verdict is still out on Grantham. Strength & conditioning program must improve.