The unspoken question: Who leads the QB derby?
(UPDATE: Report on Saturday’s scrimmage, including the quarterbacks’ performance, is here.)
ATHENS –- Each day, Georgia’s quarterbacks meet with their position coach, Mike Bobo. One topic never comes up in those meetings: a pecking order among the three quarterbacks competing this spring to be the Bulldogs’ starter.
“Coach Bobo really isn’t telling anybody, ‘You stand here,’ ‘You stand here,’” Logan Gray said.
“No, Coach Bobo hasn’t said anything, him or Coach Richt,” Aaron Murray said.
The three quarterbacks -– Gray, Murray and Zach Mettenberger –- have evenly shared snaps with the first-team offense in the seven sessions of spring practice so far. And they will do so Saturday morning when the team holds a closed scrimmage in Sanford Stadium, undoubtedly the most important day yet in their competition.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Murray said. “Coach Richt was talking after practice [Thursday] that this is going to be the first test for everyone, [the time] to see where everyone is at, what we have learned and where we have come after two weeks of practice.”
The scrimmage will be Georgia’s first of three allowed by the NCAA during spring practice.
“This is my third spring, so obviously I’ve found out scrimmages in the spring are what are judged probably the most and the biggest,” Gray said. “With this being our first one, and with the quarterback competition going on how it is right now, obviously it’s going to be really important.
“But I don’t want to make it the end of the world,” Gray added. “If one of us has a not-so-good day, I don’t think that’s just going to kill us, or put somebody out of what’s going on. But I think everybody is going to be excited to go out there and go live for a long period of time and make plays at all positions.”
Gray’s view of the competition so far is that all three quarterbacks have had “really good days” and “days there could be improvement.”
The coaches’ silence about any sort of day-to-day pecking order is by design.
Said Richt: “Coach Bobo in the first meeting told them, ‘Men, don’t worry about the depth chart. Don’t worry about what the media might say. Don’t worry about what your hometown might say. Just focus on becoming a better quarterback each day.”
Gray said the quarterbacks have been able to focus on day-to-day progress, rather than fretting the high-profile competition.
“We’re just all three of us trying to get better and correct the mistakes we’re making,” he said. “I think all of us have done a good job of trying to come out and work hard every day and take care of our business.”
For his part, Gray believes he has improved his passing accuracy.
“I felt like I’ve had some really good days where I’ve been hitting my targets better maybe than I did in the past,” he said. “I just have to keep on running the offense on a consistent basis so the coaches know every single time I’m in the huddle hopefully something good can happen.”
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239 comments Add your comment
Dawgforlife
March 26th, 2010
12:46 pm
ohhh sounds like mansup is getting tired of the criticism of the kindergarten ACC conference….well, hate to add on…but, any of the following: Fla, Ala, Ga, LSU, or Auburn, and maybe even South Carolina, would be the team to beat in the ACC if they were there. Before you pop back some campy retort; remember, it was proven on the field last year. Both participants in the ACC title game (which winning is something like the 10 dollars you get for second in a beauty contest in Monopoly)were beaten by a team on the SEC list I just gave you…and Tech was thumped at home…by the poor old lowly Dawgs ya’ll love to rail on so badly.
Gratefuldawghead
March 26th, 2010
12:47 pm
Who ever can hand off to the running backs, and can hit AJ Green DOWN FIELD on the stride will be the QB
Tech can fill Our blogs but can’t fill thier high school stadium HAHAH
Richt is 3-1 against Bama!
GO DAWGS!
JC in Powder Springs
March 26th, 2010
12:53 pm
This is the exact same stupid mistake Dawgs made with Stafford, Tereshinski and Cox a few years ago. Instead of picking the obvious choice (Stafford then, Murray now) and giving him time and repetitions with the starting offense, we’re going to split all the snaps evenly. It’s less of an issue in spring camp, but the Dawgs would be much better off to pick THE STARTER before summer camp and get him ready for the season.
Steve
March 26th, 2010
12:55 pm
Again- after the debacle of the Florida game…..”Joe Cox still gives us our best chance to win” If Logan was going to be our QB, we would not have heard that for sure…..Logan is a true Dawg and I love him, but he will not be our QB
Milburn Drysdale
March 26th, 2010
12:57 pm
Before you can “blink and eye” Gump, you will be back to the days of 4-8. Shoot, Auburn may have already caught and passed Bammer. Bammer is the Tennessee of the West, they have a good team for about 2 years, then revert back to losers.
snoop dawg
March 26th, 2010
12:58 pm
Georgia will win the Sec East hands down. If their are any crocodiles i meant gators on this blog respond i dare you
TommyP
March 26th, 2010
1:00 pm
It’s Aaron Murray, folks. Coaches can say what they want but Murray is a special talent.
He’ll challenge David Greene’s wins record before he’s done.
Dawghater
March 26th, 2010
1:02 pm
If all these QB’s were so much better than Joe Cox then where were they hiding?
Papadawg
March 26th, 2010
1:02 pm
Not concerned about the offense, how’s the defense looking
Joe
March 26th, 2010
1:03 pm
Typical BAMA fans just a bunch of rednecks in suits. It’s unfortunate that UGA can’t pay their players as much. Move Gray to receiver and Murray QB take the redshirt off of Mason and problem solved. As far as Mett goes just get him some nadi light and let him play.
Gratefuldawghead
March 26th, 2010
1:09 pm
What Papadawg said !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lunchtime links: Meyer has issue with truth | SportsCentral Arkansas
March 26th, 2010
1:10 pm
[...] Georgia’s scrimmage on Saturday could answer some questions about who’s leading the Bulldogs’ quarterback derby. [...]
Dave In Tampa
March 26th, 2010
1:11 pm
I also agree what Papadawg said
athenian
March 26th, 2010
1:12 pm
Usually when a team doesn’t know who the #1 QB is at this stage of their spring practice it means none of them are very good. I suspect all 3 are pretty average and they will just flip a coin…or maybe the “phenom” from Lassiter will be the starter.
uga_b
March 26th, 2010
1:14 pm
Well Tim, now we can’t say it is an unwritten question…
BG
March 26th, 2010
1:16 pm
Mr. Florida will be the starter.
ohmy222
March 26th, 2010
1:16 pm
chosen any games for BLACKOUT?? Just wondering who will benefit this year.
Paul Johnson
March 26th, 2010
1:18 pm
The quarterbacks for Georgia all suck cuase if they didn’t they would have played as a freshmen ala matt barkley for usc. Tech will destroy markie mark and the boys
cantondawg
March 26th, 2010
1:20 pm
Theitaliandawg,
It’s amazing how shortsighted and forgetful people are. You say that Moreno was clearly our best back his freshman year and that’s not correct. UGA had Thomas Brown and Kregg Lumpkin. TB was a dynamic back for us and a leader in many way. We were loaded at RB that year and it was wise for CMR to give KM a redshirt year to mature…Please when you state something have proof to back it up instead of pulling it from your butt.
snoop dawg
March 26th, 2010
1:21 pm
@Paul Johnson All you techie nerd can just STFU and choke and this dawg sausage if you no what i mean *30-24*
jasont13
March 26th, 2010
1:22 pm
You guys crack me up. First off have any of you played or coached football before? Probably not, they only reason Aaron Murray was not the QB last year was due to having shoulder and bicep tendanitis. As for Alabama they’ve played in Shreveport more than the Dawgs have, and if UGA doesn’t play big boy football then why is UGA 3-1 against Alabama since 2001?
Dave In Tampa
March 26th, 2010
1:23 pm
Paul Johnson : What ever little troll. I guess just like you have beaten him 8 out of the last 9 years.
jasont13
March 26th, 2010
1:25 pm
I believe Richt is very close to the vest when it comes to announcing starters especially at QB. Logan is not even in the running especially if they approached him to change positions. And last but not least, football practices are closed to the public so for whatever we know Aaron Murray could be taking 75% of snaps with the first team and they are just giving lip service to the press.
Johnboy
March 26th, 2010
1:27 pm
Paul Johnson is that bacon I smell? Oh sorry it’s you A$$.that still smoldering after last years beat down in the ATL.
cantondawg
March 26th, 2010
1:28 pm
ItalianDawg,
You are also very wrong on Joe T starting. He was a senior who had been at UGA for five years. CMR put him in their because he was familiar with the system. MS was a true freshman. Yes, MS was more talented but UGA had the rb’s that year to fuel the offense and it was wise to start off with a Senior instead of a true freshman. MS won the job halfway thru the season but if i were a coach i would start experience over a true freshman everyday. When MS became mature enough to start he was given the starting job. The coaches work with the players everyday and i can tell you that mistakes get you beat quicker than mismatches.. That’s why they didn’t initially start MS because they knew he would make freshman mistakes. JT was a senior who would not make those mistakes but wasn’t as talented. As coaches, you take the player who would make the less mistakes especially when one is a senior and the other a freshman..Perhaps if you had ever played football before you would know this.
It never ceases to amaze me of these people who use hindsight to make criticisms but leave out important facts…if you state something studid you need to be told it’s stupid where you won’t do it again.
jasont13
March 26th, 2010
1:30 pm
Hey Paul Johnson did Tech’s true freshman QB suck? I can anwer that for you. Yes he did and I remember the UGA game, 8-16 80 yds 0 TD 1 INT UGA 34 GT 17
larry
March 26th, 2010
1:31 pm
Chipperdawg “I trust the one that gives us the best chance to win will be the Game 1 starter.” Great Point!! you should coach the quarterbacks
jasont13
March 26th, 2010
1:31 pm
Cantondawg, it puzzles me that people who have never played a sport or more less football give so much insight and think they know everything.
what about #3
March 26th, 2010
1:36 pm
put in shockley…!!!
Paul Johnson
March 26th, 2010
1:38 pm
Hey johnboy I went to miami for my bowl game you went to louisiana sounds fun cause your rooms are reserved for next year after i put that whoopa$$ on your scary i cant tackle bulldogs
Platoon
March 26th, 2010
1:38 pm
QB platoon. Murray starts; one of the others is a change of pace every 3-4 possessions. You heard it here first.
cantondawg
March 26th, 2010
1:39 pm
jasont13,
I agree with you on AM injury issue keeping out of the season. But, i would also like to further the issue. Going from hs quarterback to Sec qb is a big step. AM was having to learn new terminologies and new defenses and reads. This is something that doesn’t happen overnight. It takes experience and alot of practice. Qb is a different position than RB or OL or DL. The qb has to make gametime decision on plays and reads that could either make or break the team. I never question a coach’s decision to bring a qb along slowly. If you throw someone in there when they are not ready then your risk destroying their confidence and them making mistakes and costing you the game.
Unfortunately, most of the people on this board never played football. I played H.S, college and even coached at an NAIA school and i can tell you that the coaches will put the very best players on the field. If a player is not playing it is because of two reasons. 1) the person ahead of them is physically superior to them or 2) the person is front of them makes less mistakes than them.
Mike Pouncey
March 26th, 2010
1:43 pm
snoop dawg, you couldn’t win it with prettyboy stafford, what makes you think you can with Logan I throw pick 6 to Gators Gray, Aaron I cant play a whole season Murray or Zach rothlesberger Mettenberger as your QB. Even the Zooker is wishing he was back in the SEC East.
Paul Johnson
March 26th, 2010
1:43 pm
Where are all the big bad dawgz at know dont run and hid in your lil outhouses in athen i dare anyone to talk smack
Eaassyy
March 26th, 2010
1:45 pm
PJ, how bout winning a bowl game. Do that and beat us in the same year then you can run your mouth on this board all day long. until then work on the moobs and turkey neck.
Paul Johnson
March 26th, 2010
1:45 pm
Mike p if you dont sit your fat a$$ down i will piss on you
Mike Pouncey
March 26th, 2010
1:47 pm
Paul Johnson, your bad team came in 4th in the SEC East behind S Carolina and Georgia. Your the one to talk about a fat a$$.
70 Dawg
March 26th, 2010
1:48 pm
Cantondawg, Thank you for those comments. You are 100% correct. As far as the Bama fans who are so proud of their “dynasty”, can anyone tell me how many losing seasons they had in the last decade? If you said 3, you forgot about those 21 vacated wins for 2005, 2006 and 2007. So the answer is 6 seasons. Aren’t you glad we have CMR and his winning tradition?
thatsAllweGot?
March 26th, 2010
1:50 pm
That looks like slim pickins at QB!
I’d say if Gray doesn’t get the nod
its gonna be a very long year in Athens.
HELP US
Rodney Garner
March 26th, 2010
1:53 pm
I have done a great job at providing depth and competition at every position.
Anonymous Dog
March 26th, 2010
1:54 pm
Yes, the GT Dog is hiding behind an alias today…
I absolutely know for a FACT who the next UGA QB will be FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS! Think back, all the way to 2001. David Greene. Matthew Stafford. Joe Cox. Look at their pics. Richt loves goofy looking QBs. Based on this criterion alone, the QB for the next four years has to be Mett.
Remember, you read it here first…
snoop dawg
March 26th, 2010
1:54 pm
Hey Mikey P i guess you are a croc fan.UGA will win the east and go undefeated and take all your women in JAX
Mike Pouncey
March 26th, 2010
1:56 pm
I love you delusional doggies snoop.
The ol possum
March 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
thatsAllweGot? I thought slim pickens was dead?
Lunchtime links: Meyer has issue with truth | theSPORTSpage Arkansas
March 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
[...] Georgia’s scrimmage on Saturday could answer some questions about who’s leading the Bulldogs’ quarterback derby. [...]
bulldogmaniac
March 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
I disagree about not naming a starter until opening day as another poster said.
To me, you are taking valuable reps away from the future starter by giving 3 guys equal reps.
Move Grey to special teams / WR, name Murray the starter and give him ALL of the reps with the 1st team!
snoop dawg
March 26th, 2010
2:00 pm
Mikey what are you bandwagon croc fan i been a dawg since 82 i was 4 your boi timmy tear drops is long gone urban want to commit suicide it so down hill for the crocs
The ol possum
March 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
You boys amaze me. Very few if any of you played organized football past HS and coach, seen Murray play except last spring and yet you know more than the coaches and have crowned the kid the second coming of Green/Stafford who will break all of Tebows records and lead jawja to the promised land.
Mike Pouncey
March 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
It doesnt matter who is coach/Qb; even the Zooker owned the humpers.
Too Easy
March 26th, 2010
2:06 pm
To any Bama naysayers: Dawgs irrelevant vis a vis Bama? In the modern era, the Dawgs have NEVER lost to a team the caliber of Louisiana Monroe, which UA did just a few short years ago. Also, how many in a row to AU? You weren’t even relevant in your own state. This may be your time, but LA-Monroe could be just around the corner AGAIN for you.