Who’s No. 1 QB? Answer this week, Richt says (PLUS: more from G-Day)
(Updated 7 p.m.)
ATHENS – The G-Day game produced no immediate answer to the No. 1 question in Bulldog Nation: Who is Georgia’s starting quarterback?
“I know everyone wants to know what’s going on, wants to know who the starter is, and I couldn’t name the starter right now if I wanted to,” coach Mark Richt said after Saturday’s intra-squad game. “I really don’t think I could.”
But Richt said hopes to have a new quarterback depth chart by the end of this coming week.
Between now and then, he and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo will review video of the quarterbacks’ performances throughout spring practice, which concluded with the G-Day game.
And Richt cautioned that whoever is No. 1 on the post-spring depth chart won’t be guaranteed of keeping the position into the Sept. 4 season opener against Louisiana Lafayette.
In the G-Day game, won by the “Black” team 17-7 over the “Red” team before a crowd of 38,742, strong-armed redshirt freshman Zach Mettenberger had the best statistical performance of the three quarterbacks.
He completed six of 10 passes for 150 yards for the Black team, including touchdown throws of 20 yards to walk-on wide receiver Rhett McGowan and 39 yards to tight end Arthur Lynch.
Mettenberger, who is suspended from at least the first game of the season because of his arrest near Valdosta last month on five misdemeanor charges, worked only with the second-team offense and against the second-team defense Saturday. The other quarterbacks, Logan Gray and Aaron Murray, worked with both the first- and second-team offense.
“Mettenberger certainly had a nice day, there’s no doubt about that,” Richt said. “But I think they all did well.”
Gray completed seven of 13 passes for 102 yards and one touchdown — a 7-yard toss to wide receiver Kris Durham – for the Red team and three of four passes for 30 yards for the Black team.
Murray completed eight of 19 passes for 96 yards (with one interception) for the Red team and two of three for no net yards for the Black.
Mettenberger was not available for comment afterward, per Georgia’s policy for suspended players. Both Gray and Murray said Mettenberger had his best day of the spring.
As for their own days:
“I think I did decent,” Murray said.
“I thought it went pretty well,” Gray said.
Now they await word from Richt and Bobo on a pecking order.
“I think it’s a close competition. I think it’s a great competition,” Murray said. “I think all of us, throughout the spring, have really stepped up our game.”
Said Gray: “Obviously this game was big, but it wasn’t a deciding factor for everything.”
While the G-Day game gets the most attention because it is open to the public and televised, the other spring practices, particularly two earlier closed scrimmages, get equal or greater weighting from the coaches.
“After every scrimmage, you might say one guy did better than another one,” Richt said. “I think they all had their day.”
The upcoming depth chart “will gauge where we think [the quarterbacks] are right now, but it won’t necessarily be who will start when the first game rolls around,” Richt said. “It will indicate who will be where when we start [preseason] camp.”
——————————————
Georgia put its 3-4 defense on public display for the first time Saturday -– sort of.
To avoid giving opponents a peek at the new defense, the Bulldogs were extremely guarded in how much of the playbook they showed. (Virtually none, players said.) And to keep from exposing how the defense would react to certain situations, the offense was toned down, too.
Still, new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham seemed pleased, particularly with his No. 1 unit.
“The biggest thing I was pleased with was how we worked the game and adjusted to what happened,” Grantham said. He noted that one specific running play went for a long gain in the first half but was stopped for no gain when tried again in the second half.
Grantham said he was impressed with the play of inside linebacker Akeem Dent, outside linebacker Justin Houston and the cornerbacks.
Said Houston: “I think the defense did a great job, especially holding the No. 1 offense to seven points. It was a great confidence builder, especially since they have been sticking it to us all spring.”
Fans got a first look Saturday at Grantham on the sideline. He’s intense, to say the least.
“That’s what you want . . . a guy that’s got some fire in him,” Richt said. “Everybody knows my demeanor and has a little bit of a feel for that. I think it’s probably good to have somebody who’s a little more outwardly excited. I do get excited on the inside, but it’s good to have that energy on the sidelines.”
———————————————–
Just one penalty was called in the game. That particularly pleased Richt, given the Bulldogs’ No. 113 rank in the nation in penalties last season. . . Offensive tackle Josh Davis banged up his shoulder. The extent of the injury was not immediately known. . . . Tailback Caleb King didn’t play because of a strained knee. Richt said the injury isn’t a long-term concern. . . . Linebacker Richard Samuel did not play because of a concussion suffered at practice this week. . . . The Black team wore white jerseys (with black numbers). . . . Safety Nick Williams had the day’s high in tackles (7). . . . Not much was happening in the running game. Washaun Ealey had just 22 yards on seven carries for the Red team. Dontavius Jackson and Carlton Thomas ran for 43 and 41 yards, respectively, for the Black.
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359 comments Add your comment
We got a shot
April 11th, 2010
9:08 pm
Guys,
With our eazier schedule this year, I think we have a shot at the national championship.. What do ya’ll think. I mean the only team I am usually scarred of is the Gaytors and they don’t have St. Tebow anymore.
Future Dawg
April 11th, 2010
9:53 pm
I honestly think that Mett would be the best QB for the Georgia system, especially in a year (probably 2) with the Ealey/King combo. Murray can run, but i think that Mett has proven that he’s not a statue, and i really think that if we can pound the middle all game, Mett will be able to make the huge 3 or 4 throws that will open up when the safeties move in to cover the run. A.J. Green hasn’t been able to show off his deep catching abilities, but i’ve seen great flashes in that from him, especially during the ‘08 season with a gunslinger at QB. I don’t think that a small sense of scramble really equates to a successful collegiate QB. guys like Tebow and Vince Young can really run, not like Murray who can kind of run. Mett would win us a championship. Just run a GT like strategy with Murray in there against UL Laffayette and then put in Mett for the South Carolina game, using a similar strategy and then opening up the deep half of the field as the game progresses
superDawg
April 11th, 2010
10:04 pm
Where is Quincy Carter when we need him?
Reggie Ball
April 11th, 2010
10:07 pm
I can still play but Chan offered me a starting position for the Bills.
RedandBlack
April 11th, 2010
10:15 pm
You all are still not figuring Hutson Mason into the QB equation. He is a good gunner and strategist. When he comes in this summer, Mason will be giving Gray and Murray a lot of competition. Mettenburger should be the number one QB going into the summer, but even he may need to look out for Hutson Mason. That Bulldog can bring it. Go Dogs!!
Time Travel
April 11th, 2010
10:39 pm
GA: last title 30 years ago, but their fans have the arrogance like they won last year. Don’t worry dawgs–more of the same in 2010—another minor bowl and a blowout loss to florida—bank on it. Florida’s loaded again and will be playing in another bcs bowl. But look at the positives dawgs—you may be able to get the music city bowl this year with another win, instead of the dreadful shreveport bowl.
What a easy schedule Georgia Has
April 11th, 2010
10:54 pm
No Bama or LSU….Can’t beat UF as always. It’s hard to tame a KY Wildcat and GA Tech….flip a coin and lets see who will win.
30 YEARS OF FAILURE FOR UGA
April 11th, 2010
10:58 pm
AND STILL COUNTING. NO QUARTERBACK EITHER LOL….GOING TO BE A LONG SEASON AGAIN FOR THE MUTTS.
Mutt Nation says yes to no uf offence
April 11th, 2010
11:04 pm
just like urban said he would quit florida.
UGADAWG10
April 11th, 2010
11:09 pm
No 11dawg, Gray wasn’t the best Qb on the field on saturday. Mettenberger was the better QB on saturday. He was percise and crisp on his passes. If he had a little more help from his receivers he would have has about 50 to 75 more yards. He has a very quick release and if doing very well for a true freshman. Gray, being a junior, should be the standout number 1 QB but isn’t showing it at all. Instead he is having to battle it out with 2 freshmen. If it weren’t for his spring break screw up, he would be the favorite to win the QB job.
lopey lynn
April 11th, 2010
11:19 pm
One thing we all learned from last year, is you can’t win throwing a bunch of interceptions. there is absolutely no way Georgia will win more than 8 games with Aaron Murray as the starter right now. Murray is not adjusting to the speed of the game. Mettenberger annihilated the competition and di what the coaches asked him to do: protect the ball, score, and be accurate. Logan beat Murray, much to my surprise because he protected the ball better, little less accurate, but not much. But accuracy is not what will win games, it’sscording and ball protection. Murray might be good by the Fall, but right now he’s No. 3.
dizzy dean
April 11th, 2010
11:23 pm
Agreed. Zach impressed and went out and dominated. Saw shades of Tom Brady Saturday with Zach’s confidence and on the field command. Every time he went in, the team plowed down the field. Zach was like Matthew Stafford, without the interceptions. Nuts. Way cool.
UGA
April 11th, 2010
11:26 pm
I think they all did good. Mett appeared the best, but it was against second def. Gray was good, and Murray was too. His stats would have been better if all the pass that were dropped had been held on to. But What can you do? Hoping for the best and praying for success.
crazy legs jackson
April 11th, 2010
11:29 pm
murray had 4 or 5 overthrows Sat. I’m not sure if he was trying to make sure he didn’t get picked, show everybody his arm is fine, or just mis-fired on timing and routes. murray’s 10 for 22, O touchdown, with an interception in the red zone, didn’t impress me. I don’t get the hype about this guy–he hasn’t shown me anything. Logan was better than I thought, at the #2 QB, and Mettenberger was MUCH better than I thought.
lopey lynn
April 11th, 2010
11:45 pm
It’s going to be Mettenberger and Murray battling it out in the first few games against La Laf, S. Carolina, and Ark with real bullets to see who’s ready to go. That’s the best way to do it, have a 3 game playoff.
I would keep the starting QB for the South Carolina game an unknown to make it hard for Spurrier to prepare. Or I might announce that both would be playing, with equal reps, giving South Carolina twice as much to prepare for.
dizzy dean
April 11th, 2010
11:50 pm
Agree with whoever said earlier that Hutson Mason will challenge when he gets on campus in a few days. Mason’s big, accurate, scores a lot, and doesn’t beat the team with too many intercpetions.
UGA QB's ahead of Gatorade Player of the Year Brantley
April 12th, 2010
12:08 am
John Brantley would be #3 QB if he was on Georgia’s roster with his 58% accuracy Spring, 10 sacks, 8 fumbles, 5 td’s, and 2 interceptions. Zach and Murray are AHEAD with their 59%, and 64% completion rates. Good to know.
RED DOG 77
April 12th, 2010
12:27 am
Patrick……….Keep givin em hell my friend, I got your back…..Regards, RED
crazy legs jackson
April 12th, 2010
1:44 am
murray’s too much like Brett Favre. He got rushed, panicked, and threw it straight into the numbers of a defender for an interception, in the red zone, no less. We just can’t have that kind of guy for our QB. It’s the wrong mentality.
Bulldog59
April 12th, 2010
6:37 am
Murray hasn’t lived up to the hype in either scrimmage thus far. Missing a wide open AJ and panicking and throwing back to the middle of the field for an INT brought back memories of Joe Cox, YIKES. ZM was going against the second-team D. It would have been fun to see how he fared against the first-team D.
King Gator
April 12th, 2010
7:45 am
Never too early to start the excuse making for another 8-5 season Dawg fans. We may not have St Tim back but at least we know who our qb will be when beat Georgia in Jax. Go Gators!
Bulldog59
April 12th, 2010
8:07 am
If Florida is so great, how come Gators have to come to Georgia to find a job? Really tired of looking at blogs and seeing people living in our state, bashing one of the top state universities in the nation. Crawl back to the swamp you came from, please!
dawgmeister
April 12th, 2010
8:23 am
I didn’t get to see G-Day because of The Masters. After reading some of the articles and comments it seems that the starting QB is still up for grabs. The biggest thing was the fact that no MAJOR injuries came out of the game. It sounds like the defense is better but after last season it couldn’t get any worse.
another Dawg fan
April 12th, 2010
8:23 am
Zack Mettenberger had by far the best QB performance at the G-Day game. I was impressed with his arm strength, accuracy, decision making and ability to lead the offense.
Logan Gray was competent, certainly nothing outstanding. He’d be the man in the old “three yards and a cloud of dust” Dooley days. Gray showed that he was a weak throwing arm and is not going to be able to throw the ball down field to AJ Green..
Aaron Murray played like Joe Cos with a stronger arm. He was panicky and jittery!
Waushan Ealey looked absolutely excellent.
The defense looked excellent!
I thought Thomas was faster than that, where is that speed everybody thought he had and he is too small.
True Dawg
April 12th, 2010
9:05 am
Mettenberger did look good. He put the passes on the money. The ones he overthrew were at least where the reciever could either catch it or let it go, but it would NOT be intercepted. Gray looked solid. He definitely looks like he is in amazing shape. That being said, he was not as accurate and he seemed to have limited “QB Vision”. He didn’t appear to be reading more than 2 progressions. Murray (who only got to play in the second half) looked good. His first series was great. He had some passes during a scramble that looked like lasers. He has a lot more to show, I just think they weren’t showcasing it. Murray definitely looked like if he was given more of the play book he could make some serious things happen.
One thing I was very impressed with was Grantham. They would force a 3 and out and when they got to the side lines he was ripping and I mean RIPPING into the defense for any and all mistakes. He is definitely in the persuit of excellence. It was a welcomed sight and sound. I can’t wait to see the defense in full tilt. Even with a new scheme, we will definitely be better than last year. From last years G-Day to this year, there is a notable difference.
Only major dissappointment for me was Blair Walsh’s attempt at a 62 yard field goal. The crowd was about to explode and then he just dinked it like he really didn’t intend to try and make it. Kind of a let down, but I imagine he was just saving his leg and didn’t want to pull anything. It was pretty warm on the field.
All in all a great G-Day game. Barely enough to hold me over till the fall! GOOOOO DAWGS!!!!!
HungryDawg
April 12th, 2010
9:27 am
They all 3 looked pretty even, with Mett looking slightly better and Murray slightly worse. Hard just deciding the next QB
Real Dawg
April 12th, 2010
9:39 am
Mett—clearly the #1 QB after that game—he may be the best QB in the SEC.
HanDAWG
April 12th, 2010
9:52 am
Mettenberger had the best touch, arm strength and pocket presence – and I have been in the Murray camp so far. Logan was fairly effective; Murray was up-and-down; Mett was lights out. Didn’t help the lesser two performances that the first-team defense was not in a mood to give up anything. Had Durham held the late Murray long pass that hit his hands, stats would look different. Mett had a long ball over the middle dropped by Wooten. Stats are stats, but ZACH was impressive in his overall play.
HanDAWG
April 12th, 2010
9:53 am
http://www.bighairyblawg.com still has a bit of a hangover from the post-game festivities.
#1 BAMA FAN
April 12th, 2010
9:58 am
Good luck to the DAWG fans. I think the team and fans will have some good energy this year. I don’t know about the statements that the defense didn’t want to show some secrets. The 3-4 scheme is assignment football with a few twists. I still think the DAWGS will improve. RTR
Otto
April 12th, 2010
9:59 am
Murray when rushed made errors, overthrew several long passes, he was sacked despite having so called great mobility.
Gray was collected, manged the game well, had the best scramble of the day even if accord to G day rules it was a sack.
Mett was hitting receivers in stride no INTs and has been consistant in practice from the published stats.
Mett, Gray, and Murray would be my order. Yes Mett was playing 2nd team but playing 1st team should make you overthrow more lon targets than you hit.
IMO Mett looked better than Stafford on the field from the stands. Granted you don’t know if he changed plays as Bobo would want.
BigDawg
April 12th, 2010
10:24 am
Grantham…that D had better be terrific with all the dough you are making as an assistant. Otherwise we will fire you faster than Cleveland did!!!! With our ability to run the ball and eat the clock, we should be able to allow less than 10 ppg and be top 10 in total Defense.
South Georgia UGA Hick
April 12th, 2010
10:57 am
Mett got a bad deal in Remerton.
Remerton is a small incorporated old mill town
right in the middle of Valdosta. It has passed
Sunday liquor laws to generate taxes, which has
produced numerous pubs that students hang out
in. Remerton is about ten acres in size and has
four cops, most of which do carry one bullet.
They prey on students leaving pubs to generate
their income. THE REMERTON POLICE CHIEF
IS AN AVID GATOR FAN. I think Mett has done nothing
that scores of VSU students have been subjected
to, and should get a pass. I think he was set up.
South Georgia UGA Hick
April 12th, 2010
11:05 am
“Hey, Chief Remerton Gator, guess what?
Georgia’s probable starting quarterback
is at one of your local pubs. Want to give
the Dawgs some heart burn, set up and
wait on him to leave. ”
“Thanks for the tip Lizard, Sounds good,
will need a little help in identifying him, you
know it is the VSU spring football game,
and there are hundreds of students in our
pubs”.
“No problem, he is the tall guy at the end
of the counter”.
“Thanks, I will nail that DAWG.”
Dawgs
April 12th, 2010
11:09 am
Anyone who thinks that it was irrelevant that Mett went up against the 2nd team defense needs to go review tape. His first TD pass (to the corner where he threw the ball way too low) and his last incompletion (over the middle on a post) both should have been picked off and would have been picked in a real game against an SEC defense. He still looked the best, but he very easily could have had a 1TD, 2INT game in which he completed only 5 of 10 passes. And by all accounts that was his best day all spring.
I think Murray will be the starter from Day 1 and it will be his position to lose throughout the season. And I don’t think Richt will play anyone else unless Murray underperforms. Clearly Murray was nervous out there Saturday and made some bad throws, but from all reports, he’s the most accurate of the 3, and the best decision maker, so it should be his position to lose.
Go Dawgs
April 12th, 2010
11:33 am
Aaron Murray needs a lot more work before he is ready to play. Mettenberger looks to be making much more progress. Too bad Logan Gray didn’t switch to flanker because he can run. Gray does not have the arm strength to be an SEC QB.
hammertime
April 12th, 2010
11:55 am
Murray looks worse after a year under Bobo while Mettenberger looks much improved. Murry looks too small and the interception was thrown right to the defender because he couldn’t see.
hammertime
April 12th, 2010
11:57 am
Bulldog59, dumba$$ how many in the ajc circulation out of 6 million are UGA grads?
hammertime
April 12th, 2010
11:58 am
UGA QB’s ahead of Gatorade Player of the Year Brantley good to know Patrick, now put away the blowup doll.
Andy
April 12th, 2010
12:02 pm
Did we learn anything at G-Day?
hammertime
April 12th, 2010
12:07 pm
I was there andy and what we learned is your only hope is Mettenberger. Gray’s arm is not strong enough and Murray is both too short and simply not ready to lead a team against the likes of SC, Tenn, Fl, Aub, or Ala.
AltamahaDawg
April 12th, 2010
12:11 pm
Eh, remember last year when our starter looked worse than this years, third stringer? Remember last year when we didnt have enough players to make up two squads, half of them were swithing jerseys back and forth? Remember last year when you wondered if we could even score on our 3rd 4th stringers? Couldn’t catch the ball, couldnt run the ball. Needed a bunch of true freshmen to get on campus just to have a depth chart. Not to mention the 2 dozen to get back from Dr. Sawbones. We still won 8 games by showing up.
It’ll all going to work out.
KD
April 12th, 2010
12:32 pm
They said that was a little over 38,000 fans at the game, I was there, seemed like there was more than that, and how did they count, when the admission was free and there wasn’t any tickets.
hammertime
April 12th, 2010
12:34 pm
I would have guessed 45,000. Both endzones and South were full.
Popi
April 12th, 2010
1:01 pm
What will decide the starting UGA quarterback is whichever one (if any) haven’t been arrested.
Popi
April 12th, 2010
1:03 pm
How can anyone be proud of a UGA team where some thug gets arrested every few days?
When will Richt stop recruiting goons like this?
Drago
April 12th, 2010
1:11 pm
Mettenberger most likely is the starter, even if he can’t play in the opener. Just a hunch, but my hunches are usually pretty good.
I hope Richt has read him the riot act about his behavior. One more incident could end his college career before it gets started. What a freaking waste that would be.
True Dawg
April 12th, 2010
2:20 pm
38,000+ in attendance according to the announcers. 2 of which were me and my wife. Awesome day and a fun game.
Bdawg
April 12th, 2010
2:24 pm
I think some people are getting too caught up in the final statistics. Yes Mettenberger looked good. He stepped in the pocket good and showed improved foot work. However it was all against the number two D. Grey looked pretty good. Not amazing, but like a good solid number 2 guy. He completed little over 50% of his passes which is what he has done throughout this spring and in the previous two scrimmages. Murray on the other hand probably had his worse day statistacally and I think everyone is killing him because of the pick, but outside of that play I think he looked very smooth in his progressions, and seemed to have a good command of the offense. Like one guy said, he inparticular was hampered with most of the drops. Somewhere between 5 or 6 to be precise. If he gets just half of those caught his stats look a whole lot better. I say Murray/ Mettenberger 1A and 1B and Gray 2.
Bdawg
April 12th, 2010
2:25 pm
Meant to say worst day. I know how some people on here like to kill you for incorrect spelling. lol