Veteran Durham ‘just can’t wait to see’ what Aaron Murray does
MACON — Kris Durham started his Georgia football career with Matthew Stafford and will end it with Aaron Murray.
Durham graduated early from high school and enrolled at UGA in January 2006, along with the fellow freshman Stafford. Fast forward to June 2010. Stafford is a multi-millionaire NFL quarterback, and Durham is the grizzled veteran of the Bulldogs.
The wide receiver from Calhoun received his bachelor’s degree last month. “That was probably one of the highlights of my life, getting that degree,” he said. This week he began graduate school, starting work toward a master’s degree in education. He wants to teach and coach. But first, he has one season of football eligibility remaining because he was redshirted last fall while rehabbing from shoulder surgery.
Durham represented UGA’s offense at the “Pigskin Preview” event at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon on Tuesday, and the fifth-year senior exuded enthusiasm each time someone mentioned Murray, the redshirt freshman quarterback.
“Aaron is a special guy,” Durham said. “He’s very, very intelligent. He’s going to bring a new energy. I’m excited to see what he does. He’s a fiery competitor. I just can’t wait to see what he does.
“He gets in there and studies and knows what he’s supposed to do. And he’s a great leader. I mean, you don’t usually see that in a freshman, but he’s definitely taken his leadership role as the quarterback of the team.”
Given the attrition at the position –- Zach Mettenberger’s dismissal and Logan Gray’s quasi-move to wide receiver –- the Bulldogs are banking on Murray. Coach Mark Richt mentioned Tuesday that spending this summer with the responsibilities of being the No. 1 quarterback should allow Murray a smoother transition than the true freshman Stafford was afforded in 2006.
“Along the way, there are going to be bumps in the road, [but] hopefully we can minimize those,” Richt said. “The fact [Murray] is surrounded by a lot of veteran players on offense should help.
“If he doesn’t try to be a hero and he just manages the game well and does the things we’re asking him to do and minimizes any play that starts out poorly and respects the football –- if he does those things, I think we’ll be fine,” Richt said. “If we can get him started on the right foot and gaining some confidence, we’ll let him grow in increments. But the worst thing we could do is just throw so much on him that he’s drowning. You don’t want to set him back.”
Murray, as you know, has never thrown a pass in a collegiate game. But with starters returning at the other 10 positions on offense, Durham envisions Murray leading a balanced unit.
“I feel like the run game is going to open up the pass game, and the pass game is going to open up the run game,” Durham said. “But it all starts with the offensive line. Since we have such a veteran offensive line, I feel like they’re going to be our rock. . . . We can’t do anything without them. Whatever we do, the offensive line is going to be the key.”
Durham, who at 22 is three years older than his quarterback, says the Bulldogs are fueled by last season’s 8-5 record, their worst under Richt.
“You work and build a foundation and start all over again,” Durham said. “You start from scratch. That’s what we’ve tried to do this offseason.”
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180 comments Add your comment
Murray the Midget
June 9th, 2010
10:31 am
hartdog…I mean hartdawg (sorry, I still can’t get used to the way they spell, or even talk, around here). Spikes would not have scared me at all!! Besides, I have little eyes. Sometimes people even mistake me for Chinese.
DawginOH
June 9th, 2010
10:32 am
Haters- we all have a record of 0-0. At this point, every team in the SEC has something to prove. So chill out. Those folks at the Gainesville Sun must write terrible stuff because it seems like all the Gator fans would rather come here to trash Georgia rather than talk about the upcoming season in their own forums, where people actually care about what Gator fans think.
And to all the Dawg fans ripping on Murray, who do you expect to do better for us this year? LeMay might be the man coming in next year (who knows?) but for now all we as fans can do is support the man who will be leading our offense next season. If I remember correctly, David Greene wasn’t a very sexy pick coming in as a freshman either. All he did was set a winning record that took until last season to break.
Go Dawgs! Go Murray! GATA!
hartdawg
June 9th, 2010
10:33 am
You must think UGA will be 5-6 going into the Tech game. If thats the case then yes we will be 6-6.
rumblin wreck
June 9th, 2010
10:35 am
Let’s project out 12 games what Murray did on G-Day.
Over 12 Games Here are Murray’s numbers:
1) Accuracy
119 for 264 passes= 45%
2) TD’S
O TD’s
3) Interceptions
12 Int’s
Not sure why Durham’s excited about seeing what Murray can do. From what we saw on G-Day, not good at all.
bill_in_atl
June 9th, 2010
10:44 am
Matt Stafford was under 50% in G-Day games in his career. He seemed to turn out ok.
DJ Shockley was 9 of 24 combined in his first two G-Day games. He turned out ok.
Your projections are garbage, but I think you already know that.
rumblin wreck
June 9th, 2010
10:45 am
Murray had what, 54 passes over 3 Spring games/scrimmages? 3 Int’s.
Let’s project that Int-to-Passes thrown number of 18 out over 12 games:
20 passes a game, 240 passes, 13 int’s
25 passes a game, 300 passes, 17 int’s
30 passes a game, 360 passes, 20 int’s
Joe Cox Int-to-Passes Thrown Comparison:
Joe Cox threw an Int every 20 throws. Murray throws an Int every 18 throws. Joe Cox is 10% better than Aaron Murray. Scary.
hartdawg
June 9th, 2010
10:54 am
Is project the only word in your vacabulary. I know its hard to do but how about projecting a formula for beating UGA more than once a decade. And if i remember correctly Ealey and King beat Tech last year not Cox. If Murray can hand the ball off Tech is doomed again. Project a way to stop the run.
Richt's subconscious
June 9th, 2010
10:55 am
October 30th
October 30th
October 30th
October 30th
October 30th
October 30th
rumblin wreck
June 9th, 2010
11:02 am
Murray’s accuracy was good over Spring, as far as throwing the ball to his own teammtes, around 60%. He was not efficient with the football.
It’s the lack of TD production—throwing a TD every 27 throws, and the abundance of interceptions—throwing an interception every 18 throws, that have fans “anxious” to see what Murray will do in the Fall.
Has any starting QB at Georgia ever finished the 3 Spring games/ scrimmages with a .67 td to int ratio?
.67 td-to-int ratio
TD every 27 passes thrown
INT every 18 passes thrown
Let’s say Murray does 270 passes over 12 games and performs just like he did in the 3 Spring Scrimmages.
Looking at 10 TD’s, 18 INT’s, if projected over 12 games.
10 TD’s, 18 Int’s.
hartdawg
June 9th, 2010
11:03 am
UF needs to worry about Oct.2 first.
BG
June 9th, 2010
11:04 am
Murray was Mr. Florida his senior year. This kid is going to be very special. Every major college in the US wanted this guy.
bill_in_atl
June 9th, 2010
11:05 am
These projections remind me of the dumbarses who projected the Braves to hit .195 as a team for the season because of two bad weeks of a 162 game schedule. It’s that stupid.
I’m starting to wonder if the people posting this are actually this dumb. I had assumed it was just being done to get a rise out of a few UGA fans, but now I’m not so sure.
BG
June 9th, 2010
11:06 am
Rumblin Wreck, UGA will beat tech with their running game. Remember 2009?? Lol
hartdawg
June 9th, 2010
11:12 am
So Mr. Nesbitt you would like to enroll at Ga. Tech. Well if you just spell project and use it in a sentence we will get started with your enrollment.
Hershall Walker and Aaron Murray
June 9th, 2010
11:17 am
Walker was a true freshman and he did quite well his first year without even practicing in a so called spring game ( Aaron in 2010 did only fair) or for that matter, the entire first spring. He also never threw a pass at Georgia in his first or second year ………….same as Murray. Comparsions end here.
So …………what is the big deal? Murray either has it or he doesn’t. Time will tell. I suspect that his leadership and his on the field smarts and ability will be what the doctor calls for. This is what makes the football season so much fun to look forward to. It is called …………..being a fan.
All of the UGA detractors are non college educated and they hate UGA becauuse they are jealous.
GO Dogs.
smoore54
June 9th, 2010
11:25 am
We’re really going to make predictions based on the G-Game? LOL! Should be about as accurate as baseball’s spring training analysis.
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
11:35 am
Murray can put it on a dime boys! Ya’ll better watch out for the kid, he’s gonna light it up.
Gilbert
June 9th, 2010
11:36 am
Every SEC team, from South Carolina to Arkansas to Florida, even to ACC Ga Tech, is going to stack 8 in the box to stop the run, and blitz Murray when he tries to pass. Until he proves he won’t panic, this is what his Spring performances got him.
I don’t see Georgia running against 8 man SEC fronts from South Carolina, Miss St, Tenn, Ark, Auburn, Florida & I don’t see inexperienced Murray handling blitzes well.
hartdawg
June 9th, 2010
11:41 am
UGA and great QB’s go hand in hand.
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
11:43 am
He’s got an arm like a cannon!
Reality dawg
June 9th, 2010
11:47 am
Hard to get excited after the last few years. I wouldn’t spend a lot of time arguing with UF fans. 3 wins in 20 years is pathetic. Different coaches and players on both sides, yet things do not improve and the few wins we do get are followed by years of a$$ whippings. Talking smack to UF fans is like Vandy fans talking smack to us.
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
11:49 am
It’s a new era baby, the Murray era!
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
11:54 am
hey Reality dawg,
noone is really a Gator fan. After they loose a few this year they will all buy miami caps. Their just fair weather kids. It will be “all about the U” by the time we get to Jax.
Me
June 9th, 2010
12:06 pm
Hobnail Boot…Do us all a favor and get a clue about college football. The last thing any Gator fan would do is root for the “U”. The bad bad bad feelings go back a long way, including the famous “Gator Flop” to give John Reaves (father of Layla Kiffin) the NCAA passing record back in the early 70’s. Perhaps we’ll be seeing you wearing a GT hat soon??? Well, that’s how dumb you sounded with that post.
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
12:15 pm
Sorry, gosh a GT cap. I guess I was way out of line.
Bulldog59
June 9th, 2010
12:15 pm
rumblin’ wreck, “Richt has Charlie Weiss syndrome”?
Did Charlie Weiss beat GT 8 out of 9 times too? I didn’t know they named that type of domination a “syndrome”
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
12:18 pm
Bad feelings way way back to the 70’s huh?
Never look back .........we can't anyway
June 9th, 2010
12:21 pm
I rarely look back over any events and I am over 62 and have enjoyed life and life as a UGA student in the late 60s early 70s. I rarely replay UGA games. Next is what I usually say after a W or a L.
Oklahoma State sort of caught UGA fans and the coaches and the players flat footed. THAT GAME, for sure, I would like to re play. The opening drive UGA looked decent and they did for maybe another series or two but the gas went out of Jumping Joe Cox ( flu bug ) and with that, the team sort of just laid down. Yes, their illegal wide out was decent but no better than any UGA faced all year, including board hands Thomas of GT.
With the OSU loss UGA was immediately behind the eight ball and with a freshman/sophmore team of no leaders, beyond Cox. We showed it again vs KY and UT. It is behind us now.
This year should be one of atonement because the stars from last year are more mature and I suspect very hungry. This edition of UGA could be one to remember. Over the years, I recall fabulous UGA years with true soph ( inexperienced ) QBs and we did quite well. A Murray is a soph in knowledge, although only a red shirt frosh. In 68, 71 and with David Green in 2001 ?and plenty of other years, UGA did very well with a complete team AROUND their untested QB.
It is a team driven sport. UGA has some playmakers on D for the first time since Pollack, Jones roamed their D side of the ball. This is the area where UGA has been deficient and it has been addressed.
Go Dogs.
Major League B Ball
June 9th, 2010
12:26 pm
MLB has just robbed tech of their only respectable football commit so far. ONE ? kid but he took a giant pass. Cannot blame him. His HS had better team that at tech. He knew it.
Were we not told by CPJ that Al Groh would do wonders for tech’s recruiting with his NFL ties?
Well ……………….where are they????
San Francisco Dawg
June 9th, 2010
12:30 pm
Is it true that Georgia State’s recruiting class is better than Tech? Just asking as it seems to be true…
Can y'all say fullback?
June 9th, 2010
12:31 pm
UGA’s fabulous two fullbacks will neutralize any blitz packages thrown at Murray. He will badly hurt them with QUICK dump off routes to his NFL bound TWO fullbacks ……….not counting the young man from SWD HS.
With Ealey and Calbe and one of the F backs in the backfield, that will solve that problem.
Go Dogs.
Lunchtime links: Dogs eager to see Murray | SportsTalk South
June 9th, 2010
12:34 pm
[...] Georgia senior receiver Kris Durham says redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray will bring a new energy to the Bulldogs’ offense. [...]
How2fish
June 9th, 2010
12:43 pm
rumblin wreck news flash we can start a cornerback at QB and again stomp a mudhole in the Buggish AZZ..again causing the Wattle Neck Goon to attempt a forward pass..and again after the game claim he has bigger fish to fry before giving his fan base the key to the best way to commit suicide…by punching a Bull Dog in the face..in the game of Bug crushing we don’t need no stinking QB.
Urban Meyer
June 9th, 2010
12:48 pm
The Pope said he would pray for me this year! Maybe I won’t have a nerveous breakdown again. Hope our Gators are as tough as I am!
How2fish
June 9th, 2010
12:51 pm
San Francisco Dawg with the addition of the QB from Bama they answer at this point is YES!
jason
June 9th, 2010
12:58 pm
Interesting all the talk about Murray getting blitzed and sacked by these SEC defenses. UGA’s OL gave up the fewest sacks of any SEC team last year, and thet return pretty much their 2 deep rotation. Stack 8 in the box and White and Charles will pick the defenses apart underneath and down the middle. Not saying Murray won’t have the Frosh mistakes; he will. But these defenses also won’t have as easy a time dominating Murray or UGA’s offense eithe, and the SEC DCs know this.
The Hobnail Boot
June 9th, 2010
1:07 pm
That’s right!! put 8 in the box and see what happens to your cb’s, Green on one side-King on the other. I smell toast big boy.
Tuff guys alwayz typecast someone as a midget from the basement of their mommy's house
June 9th, 2010
1:07 pm
Remember all the midget jokes about Emmit Smith and Barry Sanders or even little Joey Hamilton, I don’t either b/c each of them went on to have respectable football careers fueled by heart and desire instead of listening to naysayers. Competitive fire is hard to guage, (unlike someone’s height, weight, reach), just ask the coaches who did NOT offer David Pollack a scholorship.
Al_abama
June 9th, 2010
1:08 pm
The only thing special about Aaron Murray is that the chump will be history by mid-season. You look at his cherry-picked high school videos and think he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, but the truth is that you’ll wish Joe Pox was back at QB.
Murray is another goon who will have his head handed to him on a platter once UGA gets into its SEC schedule. Or maybe he’ll be arrested like so many other felons on the UGA football team.
Maybe if Richt called Zach and begged him to come back…
Adonisdaking
June 9th, 2010
1:11 pm
GO DAWGS!
59bulldawg
June 9th, 2010
1:12 pm
It’s going to be great to have Durham back. I hope he’s right about Murray!
Lou
June 9th, 2010
1:12 pm
What should bother Georgia fans, true, the O-Line didn’t give up many sacks, but maybe that’s because every time Joe Cox was blitzed, he threw the ball to the other team instead of taking a sack? It’s the poor decision making that has some already seeing Murray as “Joe Cox Jr.” after Murray’s disastrous Spring. Murray, like Cox, doesn’t like to take sacks, which means, he will throw the ball, whether the guy’s opne or not, whether a defender is in his face or not. That’s the scary part. Poor decision making.
P.S. Florida took almost 30 sacks, but only threw 5 interceptions. Sacks are tons better than picks.
Post
June 9th, 2010
1:15 pm
Georgia’s schedule is SOOOOOO much easier this year.
Only 1 top 10 team, instead of 4 top 10 teams last season.
If Richt misses this easy schedule opportunity, his window may close.
How2fish
June 9th, 2010
1:23 pm
Al_abama got any extra text books hanging around? Since your talking thugs?
steve
June 9th, 2010
1:24 pm
http://www.nautiques.com/videos/index/university-of-florida-s-head-football-coach-urban-meyer/category:Danny%20Harf
59bulldawg
June 9th, 2010
1:26 pm
Al_banana, better hope Saban wins it all again this year. He’s probably headed back to the NFL in 2011. But that may be fanciful thinking with your schedule son. You can’t live off last year’s laurels beyond the first second of game one in 2010. You play @LSU and @Arkansas, and have Florida and Penn State at home. I’d say you probably win only two of those four. Plus I hear that Star Jackson brought the Alabama playbook with him to GSU. Wouldn’t that be funny to see the upstart Panthers take out big, bad Alabama?
DawgDad
June 9th, 2010
1:28 pm
Aaron Murray is not David Greene, Matthew Stafford, D.J. Shockly, or Joe Cox. He is Aaron Murray. We haven’t seen him under fire in a game; we don’t know what to expect and won’t until the season starts. He’d better be athletic and smart with the football or he won’t last long in the SEC. Can’t expect him to manage a game like an experienced QB, but looking at what Richt did with David Greene there is plenty of upside potential even for this season. With a veteran OL, GREAT receiving corps, some talent at TB, and Richt/Bobo coaching him up, what more could a QB ask for? There is only one Florida, and remember, UGA did beat Florida with Tebow not too long ago.
I’m looking forward to this season. I like a tough schedule with lots of hand-wringing excitement, and I don’t buy into the line that only one team in the nation has a good year and everyone else goes home a loser. Dawgs figure to be better this year; I think they will surprise a lot of people if the defense stiffens and Murray can get the ball out to the talented receivers.
Lunchtime links: Dogs eager to see Murray | theSPORTSpage Arkansas
June 9th, 2010
1:29 pm
[...] Georgia senior receiver Kris Durham says redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray will bring a new energy to the Bulldogs’ offense. [...]
Uncle Bus
June 9th, 2010
1:31 pm
Key to stoppiung blitz:
1- Have higher per yard pass when Blitzed
2- Have higher accuracy when blitzed
Do those 2, and defenses won’t blitz you.
Drew Brees is the best at beating blitzes, study his game film, and he’s blitzed less than anybody because of his accuracy and yards per pass go up.
Accurate reads, quick decision making, and fast release are keys. Read, decide, & release.
debo
June 9th, 2010
1:31 pm
What a bunch of scared gators and bugs! Let’s break this down shall we?
1st-G-Day stats-First of all Joe Cox looked great at his G-Day scrimmage and we see how that turned out. Sure Murray had a bad g-day game, but so did the previous all time winning QB in college football. Fact is G-Day doesn’t mean squat. Fail.
2nd- Murray couldn’t beat Cox out of a job.-This one’s an easy answer and shows that these scared bugs and gators just run their mouths instead of do some research. Murray had a lingering shoulder injury that had to have time to heal up. NOBODY would put in an injured true freshman.
How many yards per game did Ealey and King wrap up in the last 5 games?
Don’t worry nerds and reptiles…you guys are absolutely right. You should be scared.