Richt advises uneasy fans: Just watch Aaron Murray’s tape
Most people who follow Georgia football had figured since the end of last season that Aaron Murray probably would be the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback in 2010. What no one figured, of course, was that his competition would dissipate as it has.
But with Zach Mettenberger dismissed from the team and Logan Gray shifting part-time to wide receiver, Murray seems suddenly solidly entrenched as the Dogs’ 2010 quarterback.
“We’re thinner at QB than we expected to be at this time,” coach Mark Richt told a Bulldog Club gathering this week, “but if you want to feel good about it, just go back on the Internet and do a little search on Aaron Murray and watch Aaron’s high school tape. And I think you’ll get just as excited as you were the day he . . . committed to Georgia.”
Murray in spring practice, watched by Mike Bobo (AJC photo/Brant Sanderlin)
(If you want to heed Richt’s advice, by the way, you can find plenty video of Murray’s high school days on YouTube.)
Richt has said that Murray, a redshirt freshman, would have been No. 1 on the post-spring depth chart even if Mettenberger had not been kicked off the team, and Gray’s desire to play wide receiver seems to speak volumes about how he saw the chances of surpassing Murray at quarterback this summer.
In high school in Tampa, Murray was a Parade Magazine All-American and MVP of the prestigious Elite 11 camp for the nation’s top quarterback prospects. But fresher on Georgia fans’ minds is his underwhelming performance in the G-Day spring game.
Richt seemed to be trying to ease those concerns during the Bulldog Club meeting at the Walnut Creek Shooting Preserve near Macon this week.
“His skill set -– you would take Aaron Murray every single year that you are recruiting a quarterback,” Richt said. “He’s got a very quick release. He’s an accurate passer. I know in the G-Day game he wasn’t super-accurate, but you got to admit we threw a lot of very low-percentage balls that day. He’s an accurate passer.”
Murray will be the only newcomer on an offense that returns starters at the other 10 positions. He’ll have the luxury of an experienced line, two talented tailbacks and one of the nation’s top wide receivers.
Murray “is to the point, in my opinion, where he just needs to play,” Richt said in an interview. “The biggest thing for him is to understand that you don’t have to do anything spectacular. You don’t have to put the team on your shoulders. You’re not required to carry this football team. You’re required to do your job. And part of your job is to not try to be a hero.
“My biggest thing is: Don’t turn a bad play into a catastrophe. If it’s a bad play, throw it away, take a sack, whatever you got to do.. . . Let’s not be flippant or casual with that ball.”.
Georgia committed 28 turnovers (17 interceptions thrown and 11 fumbles lost) last season and had an atrocious turnover ratio of minus-16 (28 lost, 12 gained). Richt calls turnover ratio the most important statistic in football.
“If we just turn that around, we win a minimum of 10 and probably 11 games [last season],” he said. “So we got to get better at that.”
That will require forcing more opponent turnovers, which is up to Todd Grantham’s defense, and protecting the ball better on offense, which starts with Aaron Murray.
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254 comments Add your comment
TROTTINGHOME
May 15th, 2010
6:29 pm
Defense will make all those weak teams look else where next year.
And Florida will lose this year to the DAWGS…mark it down….37-21
TROTTINGHOME
May 15th, 2010
6:32 pm
Teresa you ain’t close. and anybody who thinks she is is going to sinking with her.
SOOHSO
May 15th, 2010
6:34 pm
Trottinghome, are you talking about basketball?
dogbiscuit
May 15th, 2010
6:34 pm
Hey wait a minute I seem to remember a certain red headed clod who was supposed to have been really great in high school. This is not high school. Course a middle school kid starting for UGA would be better than Cox… Lets hope the new DC has the horses to run a killer defense.
mini me
May 15th, 2010
6:39 pm
I can’t see Austin Powers over all these big football players where could he beee???
dogbiscuit
May 15th, 2010
6:40 pm
excuse me I slipped and spelled horses wrong for anyone who couldn’t figure that out maybe a Tech Grad….
Me
May 15th, 2010
6:53 pm
Jeff, Mike and “Ahead of Florida” are all really Patrick who can’t use his name anymore due to severe lack of credibility. And if Georgia is indeed “ahead” of Florida, it’s not because of any recent events. Again, a case of the dawgs grasping at ancient history to show they are still in Florida’s class…which they’re not even close last 20 years…
LPSA
May 15th, 2010
6:56 pm
We, the Little People Society object to the use of the term “midget”. Please, from this day forward refer to him as “Murray the Munchkin”.
Murray the Munchkin
May 15th, 2010
6:58 pm
10-4 my good little buddies. Why does my name always go so well with labels of vertically challenged people??
Delbert D.
May 15th, 2010
7:01 pm
It seems like taller guys with longer legs and arms would be easier sack targets.
Browndog
May 15th, 2010
7:09 pm
Success in 2010 depends on the O line and not Murray. If the O line does its job, Murray will do his!
harold
May 15th, 2010
7:10 pm
ALABAMA AND NICK SABAN AND FLORIDA AND URBAN MEYER ARE SO FAR AHEAD OF RICHT AND GEORGIA FOOTBALL IT IS LAUGHABLE! THIS KID WILL NEVER PAN OUT IN THE TOUGH SEC. HE WILL BE LIKE JASPER SANKS AND GERALD RIGGS. ALOT OF EXPECTATIONS——BUT NOT A BIG TIME PLAYER!
robdawg08
May 15th, 2010
7:20 pm
Tim, ask Richt is Murray BETTER than Joe Cox ? If not we are looking at 7-5 or 8-4 at best. What happens if 3rd game of season Murray gets injured ? Logan comes in after practicing at WR all spring. Recipe for a disaster…
One, two, free, fo, fi, them der Gator don't take no jive!
May 15th, 2010
7:32 pm
I’m a little baffled that Richt would point to high school film. I mean, dont’ all 3-5 star recruits have some pretty good film from high school? Seems pretty silly to me.
I’m sure Murray will have some good games and bad games, as just about all first year starters do. I suspect Brantley will have a poor game or two himself.
I think the Dawgs season will rely on how well Richt has changed the mentality of the TEAM. Penalties, turnovers and the sideline dancing were all due to poor discipline and lack of accountability. The season’s success or failure lies on the shoulders or the coaches….not the players. UGA has always has the talent…..just need to coach ‘em up!
jasont13
May 15th, 2010
7:33 pm
Funny how people are all fascinated with how tall Aaron Murray is. He was one of the most highly recruited QB’s coming out of high school. He didn’t play last year because he was coming off a broken leg with a dislocated ankle. One more thing about his height. Josh Nesbit and Aaron Murray are both listed at 6′1″ so Tech fans you have no leg to stand on.
One, two, free, fo, fi, them der Gator don't take no jive!
May 15th, 2010
7:41 pm
The more I think about it the crazier it sounds. Why would the HC at a major SEC program feel he needs to sell his starting QB to his fan base by sending them to “You Tube” to watch his high school highlights?What’s next……home movies from his grandma?
DawginLex
May 15th, 2010
7:43 pm
Teresa go fix my dinner and stay off of the football blogs sweetie.
Murray will be fine because he will be able to make plays with his feet as well as his arm.
GT BABY
May 15th, 2010
7:52 pm
BLAH BLAH BLAH…..SHUT UP GEORGIA FANS
INDEPENDENCE BOWL
1980
KENTUCKY
7-5
Logan Gray
May 15th, 2010
7:53 pm
I’m out of here. Oh, wait. He doesn’t look that good. USC may knock him out.
Dawghater
May 15th, 2010
7:59 pm
And Joe Cox was the next All SEC QB this time last year. Keep dreaming!
DawginLex
May 15th, 2010
8:01 pm
Shut up GT Baby
30-24
8 out of 9
Reuben Houston
Joe Hamilton
GT BABY
May 15th, 2010
8:04 pm
DAWGINLEX-
INDEPENDENCE BOWL 1980
KENTUCKY
BLACK OUT AGAINST ALA
FLA 17-20
7-5
1980
1980
1980
METTENBERGER
5 OFF SEASON ARRESTS
ALWAYS SOME EXCUSE LIKE THE REFS OR INJURIES
WHINNEY CRY BABY FANS
RED PANTS WEARING CLOWN HAIR FRAT BOYS
LIST GOES ON AND ON
GT BABY
May 15th, 2010
8:05 pm
OH YEAH, I FORGOT ABOUT ALL THE RAPE CHARGES
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA
GT BABY
May 15th, 2010
8:06 pm
AND 4 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS TO YOUR 1
4>1
GT BABY
May 15th, 2010
8:11 pm
barkin dog- all i gotta say is 1980
4 is better than 1 idiot! how bout yall georgia fans and players stop raping people, k?
kgator79
May 15th, 2010
8:12 pm
Aaron Murray reminds UGA fans of Drew Brees huh? Based off what? Being similar in height? Or you heard someone on tv say it? Always love when an ESPN talking head makes a comment regarding a player, the next thing you know everyone and their brother come up with that same scouting report on the kid and act like they have seen all kinds of film on him.
GT BABY
May 15th, 2010
8:13 pm
GEORGIA FANS ARE THE WORSE! IT’S SO FUNNY READING ALL YOUR BS ABOUT YOUR TEAM. I CANT BELIEVE YALL THINK YALL HAVE A GOOD TEAM. YALL ARE A SECOND TIER TEAM AT BEST, GET OVER IT 1980
SickAndTired
May 15th, 2010
8:29 pm
Poor Murray. My heart goes out to him and his family for what they are about to go through with the Dawg Fan Base. Word of advice, don’t wear your sons picture on a button or his jersey when you sit in the players family section. It really galls me when I see supposed Georgia Fans ragging on the players families in the stands. Mark Richt, good man, wrong man for the job in Athens. He’s out on the rubber chicken circuit selling his starting QB to the main stream idiots. That does not bode well, but he knows the deal….whether he’ll admit it or not, it’s time for him to give Georgia a National Championship in the next tow years or he needs to be gone. With the salary he makes, hehould have done better with the talent that’s been there. Honestly Dawg faithful, don’t you think if Saban had taken the Georgia job that UGA would be in better shape today?
Georgia: The Wisconsin of the SEC
Georgia deserves better.
robdawg08
May 15th, 2010
8:30 pm
1 shared national championship in modern era Techie. We won ours OUTRIGHT. 8 of 9 ass whippings should have you back under your rock…
robdawg08
May 15th, 2010
8:31 pm
Take yourself back to your Techie blog. You aren’t welcome here on the Dawg board.
robdawg08
May 15th, 2010
8:33 pm
Murray won’t be reading blogs. Joe Cox didn’t and he was annihilated by us last year.
GT BABY
May 15th, 2010
8:33 pm
SICKANDTIRED-YOU’RE EXACTLY RIGHT! GEORGIA FANS ARE WHITE TRASH IDIOTS WITH NO CLASS!
GT BABY
May 15th, 2010
8:34 pm
ROB-WE GOT TO ORANGE BOWLS, WHERE DO YOU GO? OH THATS RIGHT, INDEPENDENC BOWLS.
robdawg08
May 15th, 2010
8:35 pm
I always stomp on a yellow jacket twice. Once to kill it and the second time in honor of Georgia Tech…
college is forever
May 15th, 2010
8:35 pm
http://www.collegelunchboxes.com The Dawgs are on the verge of a very special time in their program. The Bulldog faithful will have plenty to be proud of for many years to come starting in 2010. Check out the UGA classic tin lunchbox, great for Fathers Day. Go Dawgs!!!
robdawg08
May 15th, 2010
8:37 pm
You got to Orange Bowls playing in the weak ACC. We were the 4th best SEC team and would have beat the top ACC team easily.
BamaDog
May 15th, 2010
8:40 pm
While it’s great that Murray has great film from high school, I think the G-Day game is a much better indicator of where the QBs stand. Murray and Gray looked about even but Mettenberger clearly had the best game that day. The whole Flip Flop Bar thing in Valdosta seemed odd the way it played out but most people are in agreement the Mettenberger had to move on. I agree w/Tampa Gator that Murray’s short passes are fine but his longer throws seem to have too much arc and are often up for grabs. Time will tell if he can make it in the SEC.
GT BABY
May 15th, 2010
8:42 pm
ROB- WEAK ACC? WHY ARE THERE 5 OR 6 ACC TEAMS IN THE TOP 25 THIS YEAR AND ONLY 3 IN THE SEC? HMMMMMMM OH YEH, BECAUSE IT’S TOP HEAVY!
KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT 1980
UGAgrad71
May 15th, 2010
8:47 pm
Hey, you Tech nerds! Which conference has produced 3 of the last 4 national champs? Hint, it isn’t the A she she. Get a life!
GT BABY
May 15th, 2010
8:52 pm
UGAGGGRAD- IT’S CALLED A TOP HEAVY CONFERENCE….FLA AND ALA. UGA SUCKS. EVERYONE KNOWS YALL SUCK SINCE YALL WERE RANKED PRESEASON #1.
AND AT LEAST TECHS CRIME IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM LIKE GEORGIAS PROBLEMS
Sportsrealist
May 15th, 2010
8:56 pm
You sorry GT fans! You run your mouth on every UGA post, but at some point you realize, like all GT fans, that your a half rate, wanna-be football program that deep down inside wishes that they could be a program like the Dawgs. You know, it’s never too late to switch…..I mean everybody deserves to feel like a winner sometimes.
Ursula
May 15th, 2010
9:03 pm
Florida will give UGA the usual beatdown in Jacksonville this year. Florida is a perfect example of how worthless recruiting classes are as indicator of the team’s success.
It’s real simple, folks: coaching makes a team. Florida has it. UGA does not. So stop getting your panties in a wad over your recruiting class.
As long as Mark Richt is head coach, UGA will never win the division and play in the SEC championship or play in a BCS bowl.
At least the Dawgs will continue to lead in penalties and arrests. That’s something.
ScoutDawg
May 15th, 2010
9:07 pm
Hey Geek you are right, we suck. Our number 5 and our number 6 beat your number1 and 2. Yeah nerd your right we suck.
NOBODYYOUKNOW
May 15th, 2010
9:15 pm
Just admit it folks. UGA or GT ant gonna be no powerhouse this season. GT lost some of their best to the pros and UGA has to many unanswered questons. I know UGA has some good experianced players returning but leadership is a queston mark. I’m no gator fan but they’re gonna be tough.BAMA is the team to beat. LSU, AUBURN, TENN. S. CAR, OLE MISS.ARKANSAS, who knows what to expect from this bunch.
Weak Schedule
May 15th, 2010
9:17 pm
Arizona State–LOL for Dawgs FINALLY playing a tough out-a-confernce team for first time since 1965.
kgator79
May 15th, 2010
9:20 pm
5 or 6 ACC teams in the top 25 this year? Wow! could have swore the top 25 polls came out in August. Must be some great poll you got in the middle of May. Then again this is the same stuff you hear every year from ACC fan “how many teams are in the preseason poll”. Lets see, we are going on 10 years now since an ACC team was actually mentioned in being in the National title hunt near the end of the season. Even the Big East has had programs in the conversations late in the season more recently (West Virginia, Louisivlle ect..) Facts are, without the Florida schools, the ACC is pretty much irrelevant on the national scene. Nobody cares to watch a bunch of North Carolina schools attempt to play football.
kgator79
May 15th, 2010
9:22 pm
UGAgrad…I see you graduated from UGA, so I will help you out with your math. 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 are 4 out of the last 4 national championships won, not 3 out of 4.
Freddie
May 15th, 2010
9:24 pm
“As long as Mark Richt is head coach, UGA will never win the division and play in the SEC championship or play in a BCS bowl.”
In a nutshell, that sums up the problem very nicely. Mark Richt is the problem, not the solution.
The Truth Hurts
May 15th, 2010
9:26 pm
No one outside the redneck confederate state of Georgia gives a rat’s a** about UGA and its sorry football team. Every year there is a big song-and-dance about how many starts their recruits have, how good their team looks, how they beat up on lesser SEC teams, etc. but at the end of the day UGA never has been and never will be anything more than a mediocre football program. UGA cannot hold a candle to some of the other storied programs in their own conference, state, and nationally.
Pipe down bullfrogs – you are irrelevant outside your state!!
Teh Troof
May 15th, 2010
9:34 pm
Look for the 2010-11 dawgs to be insular, entitled, christian mamas boys who fold at the first sign of adversity.
Richt is over and will never win the SEC, much less the MNC.