Quarterbacks: Dogs need a solid (and injury-free) season from Aaron Murray
(Fifth in a summertime series looking at Georgia’s football team by position.)
TODAY: QUARTERBACKS
- Returning starter: Nope.
- Depth chart: Redshirt freshman Aaron Murray is No. 1, would-be wide receiver Logan Gray No. 2 and true freshman Hutson Mason No. 3.
- Attrition: Joe Cox (24 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions as last season’s starter) graduated, and redshirt freshman Zach Mettenberger was dismissed from the team.
- Key fact: The three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster have thrown a total of 12 collegiate passes (all by Gray, a junior).
- Key fact II: Murray was rated the No. 3 quarterback prospect in the nation coming out of high school and was named MVP of the prestigious Elite 11 quarterbacks camp.
- Key questions: How smoothly will Murray make the transition to No. 1 QB? Will he be able to heed his coach’s don’t-try-to-be-a-hero refrain and protect the football as Georgia tries to dramatically reduce last season’s turnovers (28)? And after being sidelined from throwing in practice for four weeks last season because of triceps and forearm tendinitis, will he be able to stay healthy? (As for the latter, Murray has said he’s more focused on “shoulder maintenance” this year to keep the arm strong and fresh.)
- Recent developments: It was no surprise that Murray emerged from a three-way competition in spring practice as the No. 1 quarterback, but his grip on the job was unexpectedly tightened by two post-spring developments. First, Mettenberger was kicked off the team shortly before pleading guilty to misdemeanor sexual battery. Next, Gray considered transferring before electing to remain with the Dogs and divide his time between quarterback and wide receiver. (It remains unclear, even to the coaches, exactly how that QB/WR juggling act is going to play out.)
- Outlook: Murray is a smart, hard-working and very talented player for whom Georgia won a recruiting battle against Florida and many other schools. He passed for 4,013 yards and 51 touchdowns as a junior at Tampa’s Plant High School and returned early from a broken fibula and dislocated ankle to guide the team to a state championship as a senior. So his credentials are strong. The only thing is, he’ll be a (redshirt) freshman starting at quarterback in the SEC, no easy task. The key to his season –- and perhaps Georgia’s — is whether he can minimize mistakes while growing into the job. With returning starters at all other positions on offense, Georgia needs Murray to be solid, not necessarily spectacular.
- Your turn: What say you about the quarterbacks?
———-
Links to previous entries in this series:
Monday: Defensive line.
Please follow @ajcuga on Twitter for the latest on the Bulldogs.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
361 comments Add your comment
Davis
June 20th, 2010
6:00 pm
Murray will be more of the same this summer. Lots of interceptions like Cox.
Dunn
June 20th, 2010
6:04 pm
Hutson’s thrown for over 8000 yards, and over 80 touchdown’s the last 2 seasons, leading Lassiter to it’s 1st regional playoff game in school history. He’s accurate—over 72%. Throws very few interceptions–only threw 5 in the season against 55 td’s. If any of you think there’s no QB competition, you havn’t seen Mason play. Mason’s Georgia’s Gatorade Player of the Year, the last few winners were Eric Berry & Branden Smith. Hutson broke all kinds of records in the state of Georgia.
get real...
June 20th, 2010
6:23 pm
Hey Dunnfus…get real…the coaches can’t start working with the team until August…the first game is September 4th…the team has only the spring and 1 month to get everything together…ever wonder why freshman get redshirted…wonder why Marlon Brown had problems adjusting…now with that being said, perhaps Mason will be ready by the 5th or 6 th game, but until then Murray, or Gray will have the ball, and in all likelihood it will be Murray…might as well get behind your starting QB (even if he’s not from the state of Georgia…pathetic fans)
Dunn
June 20th, 2010
6:30 pm
Aaron Murray, “The Phenom”, Spring Statics over 3 Spring Games:
1) 59% completion over 3 games
2) 2 touchdowns
3) 3 interceptions
4) G-Day stats: 45% completion, 0 Td’s, 1 Int
Like I said, Mason will be the starter.
secsecsec
June 20th, 2010
6:44 pm
Dunn you could do the same with ealey’s spring stats. Carlton Thomas had a better spring game than Washaun Ealey.
Washaun Ealey: 22 yards on seven runs (3.1 ypc)
Carlton Thomas: 54 yards on eight runs (6.75 ypc)
So does that mean Carlton Thomas will be the starter and that Ealey sucks since he only managed a measley 3 yards per carry?
Of course not!!! We all know Ealey is good for more than 3 ypc when it counts.
Spring game numbers are, ultimately, meaningless. You play your own team!
Spring stats...
June 20th, 2010
6:55 pm
Hutson Mason’s spring stat’s. 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Dunn
June 20th, 2010
7:23 pm
Wow, how bout throwing an interception in EVERY SPRING SCRIMMAGE!!! How bout dat Murray, 3 for 3, can he keep up the interception streak all season?
Throws a lot of interceptions, not many td’s, but let me find something positive…uh….uh…….he talks like a big-time QB.
Rafferty
June 20th, 2010
7:24 pm
Why can’t Georgia find a QB who doesn’t throw interceptions anymore? What’s happened to the offensive coaches? Where’s the coaching on ball protection, let’s fire some people.
Dunn
June 20th, 2010
7:26 pm
Uh, yes, 22 yards on 7 carries, if that’s accurate, stinks.
Dunn
June 20th, 2010
7:43 pm
Comparing Ealey or Green, proven performers against top SEC teams, is different than comparing Murray, who is unproven against top SEC talent.
Regardless, if the QB competition is over, Mason needs to transfer.
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2010
9:14 pm
Sounds like Mason is a pretty good player. Didn’t he sign with the good guys? What’s the problem?
GR82BAG8R
June 20th, 2010
9:26 pm
Georgia has one of the best OL’s in the SEC. Once he settles in, and gets past the SC game, Murray will surprise a lot of doubters.
If the OL fails to protect him early, though, he could get easily rattled. Murray’s and Georgia’s success depends on the OL. He is talented enough to succeed if he has the time and trusts his OL to protect him long enough to mature and get comfortable playing SEC football.
BuLLdawg
June 21st, 2010
5:47 am
10-3 or 9-4.
# 3 vs SEC East
# 4 vs SEC, maybe # 5
Might as well get behind Aaron Murray
Aaron Murray is smaller than DJ Shockley, who still hasn’t thrown an NFL pass.
Aaron Murray is not nearly as fast as DJ Shockley
Aaron Murray’s arm is no where in the same world as DJ Shockley
DJ Shockley graduated Cum Laude
DJ Shockley had 4 years preparation for his 1 year as Starter
and got injured during that 1 season as Starter
Do not come in here and presume to compare Aaron Murray now to DJ Shockley 2005
What we have seen of Aaron Murray, he is not ready
Now, you put up what you think our record will be when this season is over.
I figure with this soft schedule that we will end the season # 19 in The Final AP Poll Top 25 at 10-3 or 9-4 (depends on his injuries)
Turn a blog about the Dogs need a solid and injury free season from Aaron Murray where is solid but doesn’t try to do too much into a discussion that Caleb King against good run defenses, has done NOTHING since he got here with him the Starter the last 5 games in a row ?
Excuse me, that is about Caleb King before the headlines for this blog hit the Internet. He just has to get on the field, hold onto the football, take advantage of the carries he’s given, and do something for us in the big games.
The only real big game is # 5 in all the polls, Florida. There are no other ranked teams. Lose to South Carolina and they will be ranked in all the polls. Lose to Auburn and the same. Lose to all 3 and we won’t be ranked. Lose to Georgia tek and don’t come in here telling me with 15 seniors and 4 or 5 juniors gone after this season, that we will be great in 2011. Lose to Arkansas and we will not be ranked. Lose to South Carolina in Game 2 and we won’t be ranked.
Those are all beatable teams, including Florida – if we just had a QB prepared for this season. This was our season. I will be more than happy to go back and play back your posts of prior years of how great we are going to be in 2010
not 2011.
Now, you have already before the season started started up with your typical mantra of get behind the QB here
which has let us down since after DJ Shockley
and wait till next year 2011 in this case June 2010.
The polls are very important.
If you start out ranked # 1 in the nation, play 3 good teams, lose to all 3, you will still be ranked after the season.
If you start out # 24 and lose game 2, you are not ranked.
You will have to beat a good team to get ranked. There is only 1 good team on the schedule, and they are 7-2 vs Coach Richt already.
By the way, 2011 is not going to a QB from Charlotte because he committed the exact same thing that Michael Grant did in the same place with the same circumstances and UGA Admissions will not let him in.
Defensive line: Do Dogs have a nose for the new scheme? | UGA sports blog
June 21st, 2010
6:02 am
[...] Quarterbacks. [...]
Shaw
June 21st, 2010
8:59 am
can’t wait to see Hutson Mason on the field. Gonna light em’ up. the guy’s a TD machine.
Brunswick Tech
June 21st, 2010
10:38 am
how come there is not a write up on UGA’s awesome golfer and his top twenty finish in yesterdays US Open? you guys are sad, he deserves so much better than what you guys give….shame on you, and congrats to him on a wonderful finish!
Brusky
June 21st, 2010
10:39 am
Logan Gray is the safest pick to QB the Dogs. Aaron Murray is the riskiest due to interception+injury prone, Hutson Mason is the 2nd riskiest due to inexperience in the system. Richt must be betting that Murray will make massive improvements in August over his atrocious Spring. Richt’s also betting Murray will SUDDENLY go a season injury free, whihc Murray has never done. Richt’s alos hoping Murray won’t try and be a hero.
Gray is less injury-prone, he’s not going to try and be a hero, and as he’s shown on G-Day, he’ll protect that football. Gray already has his teammtes trust, Murray doesn’t have any except Orson Charles’, who’s hoping Murray will turn back to the high school version of Murray.
PowerDawg
June 21st, 2010
1:16 pm
Dunn-
What are you, some kind of Mason groupie?
Go ahead and “break out” your spring stats, chucklehead. I was there. I saw the game. So what?
The G-Day game is just one scrimmage. They run them all spring and fall. Plus, they run a ton of 7-on-7 drills for the offense to work on timing. Murray has performed better OVERALL than his competition in practice.
During G-Day, his particular play package required him to attempt a large number of low-percentage plays, such as deep passing routes and long out and ups. No one, including your beloved Mason would have done any better.
These types of plays take a lot of practice and repetition to become proficient.
You don’t get either in spring practice. Now that Murray will take the majority of the snaps in fall practice, he will improve dramatically. In every area he is required to.
But I guess this is garbage to you. Of course, since you have more experience at judging QB flesh than anyone on the UGA staff. Richt has only coached two Heisman Trophy quarterbacks, a QB with average arm strength at best to the most D-1 wins in his career (until this last season when McCoy took the honor) and the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft.
He thinks Murray is a pretty good choice to take over. As does the aforementioned McCoy
How many snaps has Mason taken under center? In LHS’s offense, they throw it 60 times a game. Does he even know how to hand off the ball to a RB? Does he even know how to sell a play-action fake? Can he toss it to back on a sweep? All I’ve seen him do is stand back there in the shotgun and throw it…mostly to the same recievers over and over again and…against mediocre HS defenses.
Mediocre is probably a very generous description.
If you don’t want to support AM, then don’t. But he is now the leader of this team and chumps like you need to get used to it.
He might struggle in the beginning, but he will become a great QB for us. So GATA or get the he11 out of the way!
Brusky
June 21st, 2010
1:56 pm
I’m going with Hutson Mason as the guy who’ll end up starting, only because Gray kind of took himself out of the summer competition. Mason is clearly more accurate than Murray, and is injury free, you just can’t get a hit on this guy. Gray will be there if anything happens to Mason that surprises me. Like the team, I’ll withhold any support for Murray until he finally does something on the field.
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
1:58 pm
Coach put Murray as #1 on depth chart only. Coach CMR is looking forward to Mason getting in there, Mason will take a lot of reps this summer, and will be ready to go, as folks like Buck Belue have pointed out.
But if the QB competition is over, Mason should transfer.
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
2:05 pm
We learned last year, that whatever you did in HIGH SCHOOL as a QB dn’t mean squat. We ain’t lookin for another Joe Cox. We want change we can believe in.
Pang
June 21st, 2010
2:10 pm
Mark Richt’s trying to force a marraige between Aaron Murray and the team. Talk about AWKWARD. The team wanted Mett or Gray, Richt wanted, BEFORE THE SPRING, DURING THE SPRING, AFTER THE SPRING, Murray. Forced marriages don’t work in football. The team ain’t following Murray.
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
2:17 pm
Mason threw 8 TD’s in a playoff game, became tied for 3rd most td’s throw in one game in the HISTORY OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
2:18 pm
Aaron Murray
G-Day stats:
45% completion
0 Td’s
1 Int
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
2:42 pm
Aaron Injuries:
2008 Broken Leg, missed 7 games
2009 Shoulder, out for season
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
2:52 pm
Aaron Murray is so entrenched into being “The PLAYMAKER”, that he ingores RISK when it comes to injuries or interceptions. He abandons TEAM goals in pursuit of INDIVIDUAL goals.
schmeckdawg
June 21st, 2010
3:51 pm
Hey all of you nay sayers, do you remember a red shihrt freshman by the name of David Greene? He turned out OK!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
6:46 pm
Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly has proven that 2 or 3 star QB’s work harder than the primma donnas, they got that chip on their shoulder. I like Mason over Murray by game 3.
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
6:49 pm
As Jamelle Hollieway proved for Okla back in 1985, you can win as a TRUE FRESHMAN QB in college football, in fact, you can win a National Championship.
Experience doesn’t matter, good decision making does.
AltamahaDawg
June 21st, 2010
9:21 pm
Dunn give it a rest. At this point, you just appear to have an agenda. Stop pretending to KNOW what Murrah thinks, you don’t. Stop pretending to KNOW what Hudson would do if he was behind center on those same set of play in a G-day game, you don’t.
The list is endless of starting QBs who were far less than stellar at a spring game, both UGA and other programs.
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
9:46 pm
Tell you what, you give the “Murray is great” a rest, ok pal?
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
9:54 pm
Ok, so Murray’s 3 Spring games don’t tell us about his decision making skills when it comes to interceptions? You need to stop pretending Murray will be great, when he didn’t even look ok over the Spring. Murray was the worst QB on the Georgia roster, wake up. You appear to have an Anti-Mason Pro Murray agenda.
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
9:58 pm
The problem with the myth that a true freshman QB can’t play great, or that you need “college experience” to win a National Championship, is a myth that was crushed in 1985 by Jamelle H. at Oklahoma. If you want to cling to your odd myth, feel free. But I’m a huge Mason fan who feels Gray or Mason gives Georgia the best shot.
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
10:04 pm
I guess Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly who thinks a 2 or 3 star QB has a chip on their shoulder and plays better than a “supersstar” is clueless and you know more than him?
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
10:11 pm
AltamahaDawg -
Let’s say fans would have taken your advice last year, to just blindly support the coaches decision to start Joe Cox or to stay with Willie Martinez. Both were WRONG decisions. Someone should have spoken up back then. Sometimes the coaches get it wrong, they have blind spots, see Joe Cox’s 16 interceptions or Willie’s defensive stats for further details if you want to cling to your myth theory.
Dunn
June 21st, 2010
10:33 pm
Tim asked for our opinion, I gave mine. I guess anyone that has an opionion has an agenda, too funny.
This article asked 2 questions, and then for my opinion.
I am paraphrasing:
1- Do I think Murray will be able to stay injury free?
Of course not. Murray hasn’t for the last 2 years, and I think his instinct is to freestyle caution free and as a dual-threat running QB, and due to his past history, there’s a high chance he’ll get injured.
Will he be able to not try and be a hero and just manage the game?
Absolutely not. He’s had 2 Spring’s now to learn, and this Spring has not been able to do it over ANY of the 3 Spring scrimmages. Couldn’t finish ONE GAME without throwing an interception. He threw more interceptions over the Spring scrimmages than Gray or Mettenberger, looks like a repeat of last year, perhaps worse with his frequency of interceptions. Didn’t see him getting the ball to playmakers on short passes, saw him throwing it 20-30 yards down the field.
Ross
June 21st, 2010
10:47 pm
I would have thought turnovers owud have been THE most important thng for CMR after last season’s 28 to’s but CMR feels the guy who threw the MOST int’s gets the #1 spot so far. I’d like to hear more about why Richt thinks interceptins arn’t a big deal.
Olson
June 21st, 2010
10:50 pm
I can’t remember the last time UGA won an SEC Championship without a QB from the state of Georgia. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the SEC Championships come form a guy who loves UGA.
Kasey
June 21st, 2010
11:01 pm
Most experts say Georgia will be weak at QB this year, not so much because of talent, more because no starting games. Sounds abour right.
Greg
June 21st, 2010
11:14 pm
Guys & Gals–can someone tell me what they have sseen that Murray’s done since he’s been at Georgia that makes Murray so great?
ugagrad74
June 21st, 2010
11:58 pm
Let’s not forget…..We have one of the best offensive lines in the country, the best receivers in the country, and we recruited the third best quarterback in the country. Let’s give the kid a chance (1st game) to believe in himself and those around him will help he become the best in the country. Was David Greene surrounded by the amount of tallent Murry has around him? Go DAWGS!
Chase
June 22nd, 2010
12:26 am
The UGA QB has to earn that trust from coaches, teammates & fans. It’s not a given. Needs to go out on the field and perform like he knows how to score enough, stay healthy, and do some ball protection. Murray blew his chances when he’s been in front of fans, and throwing so many bad balls/interceptions over Spring, and by getting injured so fast last season. Gray looked sharp both G-Days, and has stayed healthy, but blew his chances when put in some real games like Florida. Mett looked great in front of the fans on G-Day, stayed healthy, but blew his chances with off the field decision making. Havn’t seen Mason play yet.
enjoyed your write up PowerDawg...
June 22nd, 2010
9:01 am
Olson said…”I can’t remember the last time UGA won an SEC Championship without a QB from the state of Georgia. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the SEC Championships come form a guy who loves UGA.”
And there’s the rub against UGA and why you will never be considered more than an also ran in major college programs. With that type of attitude, you won’t be winning any recruiting wars against the USC’s, Ohio States, Oklahoma’s, Texas’, Florida’s, etc for the elite players. These are top tier programs that get first choice and then there’s the next level with the Georgia’s etc. Remember, that the last time you got some top tier players going against these elite schools, was with Aaron Murray who then helped bring in Charles, Brown, some offensive linemen, and other receivers who wanted to play on an up and coming program. You’re delusional if you think the best players in the nation come from Georgia, QB or any other positions….Texas, Florida, California, Ohio, have the most “multi-star” recruits per state and UGA must be able to attract some of these skill players. If not you jokers will be bragging about averaging your ten win seasons since CMR, you averaging top 5 recruiting classes under CMR, having no depth at skill positions where an injury has you saying the famous “Wait until next year” mantra. Try getting behind your team, your coaches, all of your players, and yes that includes the named QB going into the fall.
Jamelle Holleway
June 22nd, 2010
9:41 am
True he is the only TRUE freshman to win a NC, but if Troy Aikman hadn’t broken his ankle (injury prone as he was LOL), then Holleway wouldn’t have even sniffed the field. He didn’t beat anyone out. Oklahoma had to go back to the wishbone, because of Holleway’s abilities…running. Aikman then transferred to UCLA where there was a more passing type of offense. Not saying Mason can’t win the job, but it won’t be in the first few games. Heck, he wouldn’t even have a chance to work with the coaches until August, and with the first game being Sept 4th, I think you’re asking a little too much. If he has always been in the spread, then he has to learn how to take the snap under center, drop back while looking down-field, work on his foot work, learn how to fake hand-offs, or just hand the ball off, pitching it, etc., knowing where all the skill players are on every play, and just learning the whole playbook. Think it’s time to back off with some of your analysis because you’re just off base at this time. Give the season a few games before giving up on the team.
Inside linebackers: Sorting out the ‘Mike’ and the ‘Mo’ | UGA sports blog
June 22nd, 2010
10:01 am
[...] Quarterbacks. [...]
PowerDawg
June 22nd, 2010
1:08 pm
I retract my previous assessment of Dunn-
With that much adoration, he must be Mason’s daddy.
Maybe it’s not adoration. Maybe it’s hero worship. Maybe it’s unrequited love. Who knows?
It’s way off the weird chart, though.
All I do know is that Hutson may turn out to be a super college quarterback, but he too has never taken an SEC snap. Not even a G-Day snap. He has MINIMAL knowledge of the playbook.
And he’s going to come in and become the starter by the third game? GMAFB!
I know he set some significant GHSA records at Lassiter. I for one, am glad he chose to come to UGA. But, high school stats and achievements don’t mean squat, right? At least that’s what some other genius posted a few entries back.
Mason may seriously contend for the starting job next season. But that will mean that Murray was a complete and utter failure, which is unlikely. And LeMay will be in the mix then, too.
2011 will be interesting to say the least. Who will come out on top? Who will tuck tail and run to another school because they can’t or won’t compete?
Yep, it’s gonna be somethin’ to watch.
For all you doubters and non-believers, the bus leaves at sundown. Be on it.
unDunn
June 22nd, 2010
1:56 pm
Richt and Bobo are making a lot of money to manage this program. I have faith in them to do the right thing. Murray will be great…if not corrective action will be taken. Support the Dawgs program or go help the North Ave team with your sage advice. You are wasting my time scrolling thru your negative dribble.
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2010
10:19 pm
So go with your most expereinced QB, not to mention that no other QB existed on the team that could have started….and that was my ill-fated advice? Who should have said something and what exactly would that have been? Direct snap to the full back every play?
And yes I still believe that you actualy go ahead and play out the season with the coaches that are on the staff once the season starts.
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2010
10:22 pm
“if you want to cling to your myth theory.”. say what?
Defensive backs: Will three new starters and new coach spell new results? | UGA sports blog
June 24th, 2010
6:01 am
[...] Quarterbacks. [...]