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
Bing
November 17th, 2010
11:08 pm
Murray’s National Rankings, in the When it Counts, categories:
4th Quarter Completion %:
84th best QB out of 120 teams
3rd Down Completion %:
78th best QB out of 120 teams
Red Zone Completion %:
86th best QB out of 120 teams
When it counts, Murray is actually AMONG THE WORST QB’s in the nation.
Which should have Georgia fans worried about 2011.
kral
November 17th, 2010
11:15 pm
That is dam.. impressive stuff there bing.. where did you pull that from not saying you’re wrong, would just like to go to where you found that data…Data is great, but if the QB hasn’t kept you in the game,or got you a lead,or lead you back to a tie ..then all that means your done anyway by the 4th…You can lose any game in the 1st, 2nd,3rd, or 4th trust me been there done that..to many factors are involved to isolate certain numbers or quarters..Take the Idaho game ..He was having a hard time in the beginning
Kenny Powers
November 17th, 2010
11:28 pm
@kral…guess you didn’t watch any games, or maybe you don’t jack…take off the red & black beer goggles and see the team for what it is…totally uninspired, no leadership until AJ came back…am I wrong? Just ask Boss Bailey why HE was asked to come back and speak to the team about what it means to be a DAWG…when was the last time UGA had some leaders? sure wasn’t Stafford or Moreno, wasn’t Cox…the team is now 5 and 6 with a goal of becoming bowl eligible and maybe heading to Shreveport again…wow, now that is something to hang your hat on and be proud of…you’re a good fan standing up for your team, enjoy your mediocrity
kral
November 17th, 2010
11:29 pm
Down and distance affects 3rd downs, a a good blitz call affects a play, a bad read by qb or reciever affects a play..a great defensive adjustment affects aplay, a great individual effort affects a play..he I could go on all night..with a list as long as any stats you come up with…stats are great.. but they are not human they don’t also point directly to reality which is pretty hard to show with numbers
kral
November 17th, 2010
11:32 pm
I’m impressed you know Boss bailey Your more amazing than I thought KP
kral
November 17th, 2010
11:36 pm
I don’t no when you were born dude, but I used to tape the greatLarry Munson on cassettes and listen to them the next week..the offseason..you’re right kp I have know clue when I write
kral
November 17th, 2010
11:48 pm
Hel.. Kp that means you must know Champ and Kenny Bailey all great defensive players at UGA..you must be From Folkston like the three bailey brothers
kral
November 18th, 2010
12:01 am
Oh! kp I don’t need beer goggles I see my Natty Lites Just fine..I do need glasses now to read and blog..Happened when I turned 40 ,But I do appreciate your concern for my eyes..as for mediocrity and the UGA program only time will tell…And from what I’ve read of your Powers I’ll not got to bet the bank on you
kral
November 18th, 2010
12:28 am
to bing impressed with stats would love to know where you got them would like to see those for myself..Not calling you wrong just would like to read them for my on personal knowlegde..Appreciate if you would publish them…kp, sorry dude if you come on a blog and make comments you can’t back up and I am there..I promise you I’ll rip you a new as…… Get the Picture
Community service
November 18th, 2010
7:27 am
Bing good stuff on those stats, can’t argue with them, but I disagree overall on Murray. I was a doubter, but the kid has done a great job as a 1st year starter. He has kept many plays alive for the line. It’s not him we have to be worried about next year. Losing Green and Houston, can’t replace players like that. Other guys can step up, but that takes time. Murray will be fine.
Alabama | MrSEC.com
November 18th, 2010
7:32 am
[...] go.”5. The Liberty Bowl would love to land Georgia if the Dawgs can beat Georgia Tech.6. Aaron Murray has been great… but his team hasn’t.7. Mark Fox’s team is 2-0 after surviving a scare from Colorado [...]
Obvious
November 18th, 2010
8:52 am
No AJ for 4 games and no defense.
AltamahaDawg
November 18th, 2010
8:56 am
Bing, are you saying that history has shown that NCAA football player across the nation never show any improvement in their play (and stats) between thier first and second year? Why would we assume 2011 wouldn’t look good from the QB standpoint? You just used the term “inexperience” as the issue.
Also not sure things like Longest pass ranking inside the red zone is that telling. Red zone is inside the 20 right? I’m thinking from top to bottom some of those stats, there is more circumstance than meaning. I guess a guy theoretically could have thrown 3 passes this year, completing just one, but for 20 yrds, and been both #12 and #1 somewhere in there.
The other facts that lead me to believe your stats are cherrypicking a bit and not really the clear picture is that UGA as a team is actually in the upper third of the nation as far as 3rd down conversion, and scoring, #12 in the nation as far as red zone scoring. Murray is #15 in the nation as a far as overall pass eff %.
And just the eyeball test would tend to lead most UGA fans to say we lost the games we did early, rather than later. Putting aside (your) stats, Murray has shown pretty good poise and guts late in the game. Can’t be said for everybody else though.
But to say Murray could always improve his own game in critical situations is correct. And UGA’s record is certainly in part due to having a freshman QB, who has made a lot of mistakes that really didn’t get a lot of attention at the time, but I would bet they did in the film room.
Brett
November 18th, 2010
8:57 am
Thing that gets me is, Washaun Ealey is BETTER than Lattimore in yards per carry, better in the fourth quarter, better on thrird down, and has 9 touchdowns in th red zone to Latt’s 12, Latt does average a yard better than aley in th red zone, but Ealey gets 80% less touches than Lattimore. Guess Georgia believes in the 2 back system, even if it means keeping a back off the field who’s better than Lattimore. Georgia doesn’t use playmakers the way other teams do, that’s why they never win it all. AJ, don’t even get me started. TE’s? Wasted. Murray can run and throw, yet georgia wastes his runnign talents for fear of him getting hurt? Branden Smith–where has his touches been this year?
Bing
November 18th, 2010
9:19 am
Murray lacks poise in pressure packed situations (3rd downs, 4th quarter, red zone). You could say he’s atrocious, awful, terrible, in those situations, and be accurate. My guess is Georgia doesn’t rep those game specific apps enough or realistically enough with Murray, because he’s not confident. Worst case, if a QB lacks poise, and is at his worst when his team needs him the most, you do not have a Tom Brady or Matty Ice, you have a problem. I don’t know if this can be improved or not. Newton has poise and plays great in the pressure packed moments, the more pressure, the better Cam Newton seems to play–it’s uncanny–but he does have an extra year of experience at Jr Coll on Murray, or he could just be the type of guy who handles pressure with ease and plays his best when his team needs him the most.
Nick
November 18th, 2010
9:24 am
It all comes down to the Head Ball Coach. We have a good team this year no doubt. Much better than a 5-6 Record. It is all about Coaching. We got out Coached by Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina and Auburn.
We had every chance to win those games and lost it because the head coach on the other side had discipline and the guts to make changes and tough calls when they needed to. I mean Meyer completely changed their offense before their game with Georgia and it payed off.
Our defense has played really well considering Willie was awful and Grantham inherited a group that was not set up to play the 3-4 and we have gotten better week over week. Give Grantham a year or so to recruit his talent an hopefully a new head coach that will bring some emotion and intensity to the team and our defense will be stronger that it has been in years!
When it comes down to it Richt is too concerned with being Everyone’s friend. The Dawg’s don’t need a friend they need a coach, a motivator, a disciplinarian, someone to bring some INTENSITY back to that locker room and sideline! Without that we will keep getting run over and as shown at the end of the Auburn game he might get someone hurt! Auburn was going after Murray and we did nothing, under Richt we take a knee and go home. I am not condoning letting players fight on the field but at least have some pride and stand up for yourself and your team!!!!!!!!!!
kral
November 18th, 2010
9:42 am
dear dear bingo you must have talked to some of Ga’s offensive starters and they told you that Murray was shaking, crying, and sucking his thumb in tough 4th quarter situations or you were in the huddle and could see the fear in his eyes…
Matt
November 18th, 2010
9:47 am
This is easy… 1. The Running game except for the one @ UK has been a complete 0.
2. 3-4 defense is going to take some time, Georgia was getting beat on big plays all over the place this season.
3. No number 8 the first FOUR games.
4. All those VERY costly fumbles in the early season by King & Ealey what a mess that was. I am guessing that ball security is fixed seeing as a ball hasn’t even come out since the UT game.
5. Play calling not gonna beat a dead horse as Scam would say but dang the begining of the season Bobo was calling plays at the exact opposite times,
kral
November 18th, 2010
10:04 am
My guess..Key phrase in your last blog..bingo..Pretty much everything you say is you guessing..dam…I wonder if you ever guess wrong.. Let’s see you quote stats so well…When you guess are you usually 75%”50% or 30% RIGHT OR THE TRUTH BE KNOWN MAYBE YOUR 100% WRONG ALL THE TIME
kral
November 18th, 2010
10:14 am
And you Matt, you must chart play calling , study game film, go to practice every day, and stand on the sidelines during the games ..yeahh right
kral
November 18th, 2010
10:41 am
Reference pt. 5 matt
AltamahaDawg
November 18th, 2010
10:44 am
Not sure by what standard you are giving Newton credit for his late game poise. He is a scrambling QB, whose best play is to dive for the 3 yards neeeded on 3rd down between the guard and tackle. He is , like Tebow, Unstopable at that. I just don’t know what uncanny poise it takes to do that. I guess that he doesn’t lose his mind and run the opposite direction. To me he has proven to be much more of a case of a pure physical specimem, than the purely subjective criteria you are referencing.
And has your point now become a direct comparison between Murray and Cam Newton. How did it morph to that? Would that debate not also apply to every single QB in the nation?
kral
November 18th, 2010
10:55 am
Nickie you must be a psycho-analyst to make such a determination about MR personality
Red and Black
November 18th, 2010
10:59 am
I do agree that there is a lack of discipline on the team and there has been for at least the past three years. Talent seems to be there. Look at the team with Stafford and Moreno, ranked #1 in the pre-season?
Sure this year the suspensions, especially AJ, played a huge role in the seasons downturn, but that speaks to the lack of discipline too. I think GA coaching staff must grasp that these young men need to be taught up front, that they are standing out as role models for young athletes, that they stand to be among a very minute % of athletes who could go on to play for pro teams and their stakes are higher. The expectations of them are higher and rightly so. Close scrutiny, no surprises like the bench warrant for Caleb King should come up without coaching staff knowing about it? A traffic violation? Are you kidding me? How did he miss the court appearance? I know the argument that the kids should be responsible, but the coaching staff needs to teach and hold them accountable. Players lacking maturity? Wow, imagine that, under those uniforms really are 18 to 22 year olds?
And just for the record, I believe those 18 to 22 year olds deserve to be able to play football in college with a relatively high security that they will be able to go on and lead HEALTHY lives after
college football is over. Teach ethics. Play hard, but NO dirty plays aimed at nothing but hurting
an opposing player. OK, yes, I am a grandma who has 7 year old grandson who is already talking about wanting to play football for the Georgia Bulldawgs! He deserves better than what Aaron Murray got in Auburn. Thanks Aaron for being the highlight of this season for this DAWG FAN.
kral
November 18th, 2010
11:02 am
Poor nickie…out coached…we got Malletted by Ark…Lattimored by SC..Burttoned by fla… and nuked by Newton..Give me a break
kral
November 18th, 2010
11:11 am
like what you had to say but you can ‘t mean that Ga players are not preached to about responsibility..and discplined when they do something wrong, i’m a grandfather of four with 2 more on the way RB
Red and Black
November 18th, 2010
11:47 am
Kral, I did not mean to say that I do not think that Richt and company have not done the right things about suspensions etc. They have. In fact, looking a other situations, I am pretty proud of the way our coaches did stand up and make some very tough decisions. I just think this has to go further. Character building exercises. I am not in any way proclaiming to have all the answers, I just think that these kids still need guidance and positive reinforcement of responsible behaviors. I don’t even claim to have the answers, but I believe that there must be a way to show these kids the right way and still keep em touch enough to play an awesome game of football in the SEC.
Red and Black
November 18th, 2010
11:49 am
Sorry that last sentence should read * tough enough to play…
Bing
November 18th, 2010
1:16 pm
I’m just being fair, Newton, in the When it Counts areas, is money: 4th quarter, 3rd down, red zone–among best in country, Murray’s just not. That’s poise–newton handles pressure with ease, Murray chokes.
Nub
November 18th, 2010
1:26 pm
Somebody name the yr the o line has done well from start to finsih ????????
BoboGottoGOGO
November 18th, 2010
5:37 pm
It’s because of BOBO…it’s time for him to GO-GO….or at the VERY LEAST turn play calling over to Richt…..
World Spinner
November 21st, 2010
5:18 pm
Head-scratcher: Aaron Murray has been great, yet UGA is 5-6 | Mark ……
Here at World Spinner we are debating the same thing……
GaCracker
November 21st, 2010
9:19 pm
The answer is elementary dear Watson. It’s the defense stupid (or lack of it). We you score 30 or more points and lose you got a big problem there don’t ya think!
justbob
November 22nd, 2010
5:02 pm
Just compare the RUNNING game of all those other best freshman QB teams with this one. My memory says they were all better to MUCH better. All Murray’s great stats don’t turn into wins if his offense doesn’t quite make up for the running offense PLUS those other QB stats. Running attacks don’t have ANY interceptions. An effective running attack scores more slowly but keeps the OTHER offense off the field – tiring their defense and resting ours. Did you watch the Falcons yesterday? You REALLY can’t figure this out???