Quarterbacks: Offense appears to be in good hands with Aaron Murray`
Fifth in a series breaking down Georgia’s 2011 football team by position groups. . . .
In Aaron Murray the Georgia Bulldogs trust, and for good reason after a phenomenal freshman season. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com)
THE QUARTERBACKS
- Returning starter: Aaron Murray (So., 6-1, 211).
- Others to watch: The competition to become Murray’s chief backup should be a good one between sophomore Hutson Mason, a lightly-recruited player who earned a scholarship offer with a record-breaking season as a high school senior, and true freshman Christian LeMay, an elite prospect of national renown who enrolled early in order to get into the mix.
- Key fact: Rarely is it that a sophomore quarterback is so roundly regarded as is Murray, but he appears to be gaining momentum as a consensus pick for preseason first-team All-SEC. His freshman season coupled with a blue-collar work ethic have excited the masses about the possibilities for improvement. As the meticulous researcher Phil Steele pointed out, Murray as a freshman had a higher higher pass efficiency rating (154.5) than Matthew Stafford did as a junior at Georgia, and Stafford ended up being the No. 1 overall pick in the subsequent NFL draft. Murray completed 61 percent of his passes for 3,049 yards passing — second all-time for an SEC freshamn — had a 24 to 8 TD to interception ratio and tied D.J. Shockley for UGA’s all-time record for TD responsibility with 28. Meanwhile, Murray did his best work at the end of the regular season, passing for 544 yards and 6 TDs with no interceptions against Auburn and Georgia Tech.
- Key fact II: The battle for backup duties is going to be interesting. Mason (6-3, 196) was solid in very limited as a true freshman, appearing in four games and completing 9-of-17 passes, including a TD pass on the very first attempt of his career (only the third QB in college football history to do that, joining Georgia Tech’s Taylor Bennett and Southern Cal’s Matt Leinart). LeMay (6-2, 195) put up some eye-popping passing numbers as a high school junior — 68.5 completion percentage, 3,296 yards, 48 TDs, 2 INTs — while leading Butler High to a 16-0 record and state championship. But he missed his entire senior season while protesting a controversial disciplinary suspension and the effect of the season off is unknown.
- Key questions: How will Murray perform without A.J. Green as a main target? Murray often joked that all he had to do was throw the ball high in the 6-4 Green’s general direction to complete a pass. He won’t have that luxury after Green was plucked away with the No. 4 pick in the NFL draft. But while Green caught 57 balls in nine games, Murray did manage to complete 152 passes to 18 other receivers.
- Recent developments: Murray was named to the Maxwell Award watch list for 2011.
- Outlook: Outstanding. What a difference a year makes. Coming into the 2010 season the Bulldogs had no quarterbacks with any experience. A year later they are relying on a 13-game starter and Freshman All-SEC selection in Murray, a tested backup in Mason and a bluechip prospect in LeMay. Freshman walkons Parker Welch and Greg Bingham provide additional depth.
- Your turn: What’s your take on Georgia’s quarterbacks?
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494 comments Add your comment
Hate do get dragged into this...
July 7th, 2011
6:33 pm
Hey now WDE…This clown cut and pasted what I wrote and I am absolutely a UGA fan. I disagree with your dismissal of Muschamp solely based on the fact that he has no previous experience as a head coach. Somebody had to give Vince Lombardi his first shot too…and he was pretty good.
If no school ever hired a coach with no head coaching experience eventually all the head coaches would die off and then there would be no head football coaches anywhere.
WDE
July 7th, 2011
6:38 pm
@Hate do get dragged into this… sorry I missed your name, as I said I’m not saying he won’t be a success but Bag Boy thinks he is without the second coming of CUM. I do think they will not be a power this year, but I could be wrong but I also think we have a better shot vs the Gators this year than I did last year. Go Dogs!
Tech Buzz
July 7th, 2011
6:42 pm
mark this down—Ga will not win 8 games this year and Tech will pull the huge upset!
Ralston Dawg
July 7th, 2011
6:45 pm
Fla’s run is over—muschamp’s going to get schooled by Richt and Grantham–book it. Ga 33 Fl 20! Dawgs—back on top!
SSIgator
July 7th, 2011
6:46 pm
WDE -
“I also think we have a better shot vs the Gators this year than I did last year”
They call that wishin’ and hopin” or whistling past the graveyard or on a wing and a prayer or any number of other such phrases. Maybe you should send your inspirational thoughts to da Preacher Man. Right about now I would guess he would try just about anything. Nothing else seems to work, but those uniforms last year were really swell.
LogicalUS
July 7th, 2011
6:47 pm
Murray is a solid SEC quarterback who requires a strong cast of players around him to succeed. He is not a gamechanger in the mode of Cash Newton.
Unfortunately for Murray and despite the sunshine pumping of the AJC, having lost the best UGA WR since Hines Ward and the most dependable possession WR in Durham along with the leading rusher for each of the PAST TWO YEARS, Washaun Ealey, and the thinnest OL in the SEC, it simply is not in the cards for Murray to showcase his talent.
SSIgator
July 7th, 2011
6:57 pm
Hey UGA fans, someone call Murray ASAP. At 7:00 pm tonight on CSS TV there is the replay of the 2007 UA/Uga game in which UGA wins. He needs to watch so he can see how to beat a team with a winning record. Nothing like seeing is believing.
stevo
July 7th, 2011
7:08 pm
My 2 cents…since Lemay missed a year of football, redshirt him at all costs. A 5 year plan is not all that bad for a QB who never played a down in his senior year in HS. Then LeMay would have 2 full years to play if Murray stuck around and exhausted his eligibility. Let’s hope Richt thinks long term. I guess we will find out.
MarineDog
July 7th, 2011
7:11 pm
@old time dog,
Not trying to be a smart@ss……..Why do you not like Richt?
RamboDog
July 7th, 2011
7:18 pm
Tech Buzz
mark this down—Ga will not win 8 games this year and Tech will pull the huge upset!
_________________________________________________________________________
Tech Buzz, if UGA only wins 8 games, how will Tech pull off a HUGE upset? Oh , I forgot, “ANYTIME” Tech beats us it is a HUGE upset.
9 out of last 10, get used to it Loser…many more beat downs coming, LOL
WDE
July 7th, 2011
7:26 pm
SSIgator I have a tape of the Bama UF game last year, I’ll let you have it cheap..talk about a pure beatdown no wonder CUM bolted. We do have a real good shot this year and you and the rest of the swamp dwellers darn sure know it.
Delbert D.
July 7th, 2011
7:59 pm
Aaron Murray is the #89 player in Rivals Top 100 Players cCountdown. Ahead of #92 Taylor Martinez, just behind #88 Bryant Moniz. Ben Jones is #77, though; I wonder if that will work out as the best QB-C combo.
FLA DAWG
July 7th, 2011
8:57 pm
Murray is a very good talent and I stated as much last year in preseason.
Last season his performance was that of a much more experienced college QB.
Imagine if he had had a quality O Line to give him more time.
Imagine if he had had a quality O Line to open holes for his running backs and keep the other D off balance.
Sadly the new kids are too green on the line and the OC is still Bobo.
But even more sadly is the fact that we have the same HC.
This season will be no better than last. We lose at least 5.
Dawgs had better be prepared for Boise State on Sept 3 because those boys are coming to play smashmouth football – and they just may win.
South Carolina will beat The Dawgs and by 10 or more.
If Richt loses the first two games he’ll endure an entire season of justifiable insults.
Then we lose to Florida (again). Wow – how is this guy going to show his face?
The man should have been unloaded last season.
bitter tonya hardin
July 7th, 2011
8:59 pm
gator swamp sCUM–hahah—and all the hater TROLLS————that includes delbert d. AKA-saban
——————all you freaks gall about georgia having weakness when in fact we could list
————————100’s of tree killers—pay for play –and gaytard—flaws
—————-bottom line stay in your on state punks———————-go dawgs—put a hobnail boot-haha
Troll Power Ratings
July 7th, 2011
9:24 pm
Wow! Trolls out in full force. FL Bag Boy – get a life, and thanks for caring. TECH trolls, please, come on guys, get real…
RedandBlackDAWG
July 7th, 2011
9:30 pm
You know, I just read an interesting article about obesity on the web, and Florida is just behind Georgia in percentage of obseity. Mississippi was first followed by Alabama. What was interesting was the fact tht Florida showed the biggest increase in the last year of all the southern States. Now, when did Charlie Weiss arrive in state, LOL. I was just wondering since his gearth seems to be high on the list of important things o talk about when discussing QB’s or for that matter, any position on one of these bogs.
RedandBlackDAWG
July 7th, 2011
9:31 pm
gearth=girth.
jack bull
July 7th, 2011
9:32 pm
sophomore slump, anyone??
RedandBlackDAWG
July 7th, 2011
9:50 pm
Jack Bull,
I think UGA will pass on that thank you.
Thanks chip Towers for your team analysis. I like that you point out the facts, and are realilistc and do not give the fans on here a rosey picture but a realistic one. It just appears that too many fans of other teams are all to eager to add thier two cents worth of comments that make very little sense. I guess though, that UGA fans should be glad in a way, since it defintily shows, that their are fans out there, that are worried about UGA. 57 more days and the fun begins. I guees then, we will see what side was right. New fodder for the staisticians on here for sure. I was always told that stats. are used heavily by people that are one of two things. 1. Too lazy to research things themselves so they find it easier to basicvally plagarize other people research. 2. Statistics do not assume any variables and do not allow for improvemnent, decline or conditions present at the time the statistics were evaluated. In summation, statistics ar like butts, everybody has one and some just prefer to speak from theirs, LOL.
Class of 93
July 7th, 2011
10:04 pm
Murray played terrible early against Florida and UCF after Coach did not go for 4 and 1.
RedandBlackDAWG
July 7th, 2011
10:07 pm
If you don’t know what the term means, “troll” refers to an online personality that uses his/her anonymity to “bait” users or turn valid discussions into full-blown arguments.
Snoop Dawg
July 7th, 2011
10:35 pm
We would do better to have Murray call plays in the huddle rather than Bobo screw it all up again.
Snoop Dawg
July 7th, 2011
10:40 pm
Mark it down Richt: the HC will be the reason that the UGA football team will turn in a losing record with the easiest schedule in modern times this year–in spite of world class raw talent that was wasted.
Athens is Hell
July 8th, 2011
12:12 am
troll exhibit ‘A’ = dawgfan and dawgmatic.
Oh, and Mark Richt is the Devil.
Good night Red Fokkers!
L.A. BULLDAWG
July 8th, 2011
12:58 am
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ANDREW LUCK OUT AT STANFORD, AARON MURRAY WILL BE THE BEST QB IN THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR! WITH TRUE FRESHMAN LEMAY BACKING UP MURRAY, GEORGIA WILL HAVE THE NUMBER 1 POSITION GROUP AT QB IN THE NATION! 12-0, BABY! FO DAWGS!
RED DOG 77
July 8th, 2011
1:28 am
@Snoop Dawg……Stop using Dawg in your name pal, cause you are no Dawg. Go jump on Nick Saban’s band wagon or mabe Auburn……..wait! Florida might just be the school for you……Snoop, my boy, you not only are no Dawg, you probubly never graduated high school…….much less attended The University of Georgia…..I did !…….and you my boy, can cram your negative Bulldog/ Mark Richt drivell where the sun don’t shine………….Regards, RED
RED DOG 77
July 8th, 2011
1:46 am
Regardless of all the Oline “hype” you have been reading, Aarron Murray will be just fine this year. Coaches will utilize Murray’s ability to throw on the run with a “moving pocket”….Two tight end sets will help with the blocking along with Caleb and Bruce Figgins……..As far as the competition for # 2 goes, Red Shirt LeMay and he still has two years to show-off his wares for the NFL……..but I’m not sure he /or his father is smart enough to do so…….sure would make him look awfully good to come in both barrells blazin’ as a rs jr………Aarron Murray will not leave early for the NFL……he is a 5 yr man and will probubly lead Georgia to a National Championship before his college days are over…………GO DOGS………RED
RED DOG 77
July 8th, 2011
1:50 am
@ LA BULLDAWG…………Yup…….I’m “Fo Dawgs” too!………your pal, RED
old time dog
July 8th, 2011
5:38 am
Marine Dog….. eYe just was never able to feel Richt was head coach material. He came to us young and appeared to put movement and some creativity to the offense. At that juncture he didn’t have to possess a defensive football mentality as he had a solid and effective coaching staff in place already taking care of that. As time and changes happened it became evident to me he was in over his head regarding many of the decisions/or lack of thereof, that faced him. eYe don’t feel Richt used too good discretion in choosing his assistants. Maybe wrong as for his reasoning but eYe feel he chose the buddy route and things began to sour. It appears to be a case where as Richt was still undergoing growing pains as a coach and a leader, so where his chosen assistants experiencing the same things. And to this day all are still in a stage of development including Mr.Richt. Maturing as an adult and as a head coach at a well respected university. Enough time has passed for myself to see that Richt does not have the type football mind and leadership that harbors a successful program. He utilizes gimmicks at the very times the team is looking for solidity and falls flat on his face. He is over his head and eYe think the administration even realizes it. Financially, he is cleaning our clock for what he truly is capable of. That is my reason.
Defensive line: Massive changes give Bulldogs great expectations in trenches | UGA sports blog
July 8th, 2011
6:00 am
[...] July 7 — Quarterbacks [...]
old time dog
July 8th, 2011
6:19 am
Marine dog… eYe am entirely too long winded apparently and apologize for this descretion of mine. eYe just wanted to clarify my attempt to explain a little better. Richt was a young offensive coach with Bowden and was learning from a good one in my opinion. He took the UGA job when he was still evolving in that realm but hadn’t been solidified enough to fully understand all the ramifications of what is necessary to operate a team from defensive standpoints, leadership roles, and being able to access his own strengths and weaknesses. In short, he lacked and still lacks a complete head football mentality. Thus the stupified posture and lack of expression on the sideline during game day. Too often his answers to spark a team have been junkets such as color of apparel, black outs, extremely poor taste in allowing the celebration of the entire squad during the Florida game, letting or at the least fostering of allowing his players to dance directly over the midfield logo of another team, boom boxes being played by players on the bench during games we were being beaten while they danced and laughed and a real disregard for leading and managing these young men. eYe feel his claim as a Christian is real but could be one of the biggest reasons he has been lucky enough so far to keep his job. That point alone still doesn’t override his obvious lack of ability. Can he still grow up? The truth is he has had adequate time and apparently doesn’t have the mindset required to do so. Several opposing coaches(Spurrier,Meyer,Saban)have even went on board to comment on how disappointing UGA is with all the fanbase, yearly talent, wonderful facilities and support Richt has had. They have also commented regarding the low life nature we have exibited over the past several years on the field and off the field. Richt has a whole lot of turning around to do to resolve what he fostered and allowed to getout of hand. The talent has invariably been there but no one has fostered it in the correct manner to let it grow correctly. eYe have been a UGA fan since a young lad thanks to my father taking me to games at Sanford. eYe am still a UGA fan today. eYe still pull for Richt to make us the right kind of coach but he has had enough time to solidify himself and his decisions and actions by now.
Thomas Brown
July 8th, 2011
6:24 am
429 plays Aaron Murray was the player on our Offense who had the ball on the play. So, it is not surprising at all then that 152 of the 429 went to players other than AJ Green. That is only 1 of every 3 Aaron Murray’s plays with the ball in his hands went to players other than AJ Green. Where the actual surprise is is that only 57 of the 429 Aaron Murray plays with the ball in his hands went to AJ Green. That is 13 percent of the plays where Aaron Murray had the football in his hands on that play as the only player who did have the ball, did he actually complete the pass to AJ Green. Selected 4th in the NFL draft one would think that the offensive coordinator and the Heisman Trophy Maxwell Award Quarterback would find a way to get the ball into the hands of AJ Green more than just 1 of every 8 plays. On the season, then, on 3 consecutive series, we actually got the football to AJ Green only 1 play per 3 series. Since we were mostly therefore 3 and out on the season, it is 1 completion to AJ Green every 3 times we got the ball. And, we wonder why we were number 72 in the nation at making 1st Downs. It is no different from the squandering of Knowshon Moreno the # 12 pick in the NFL draft, where the same offensive geniuses we have assembled on this coaching staff, 1st redshirted Knowshon so we only got to see him 2 years and then gone as the # 3 best running back in the nation coming out of high school and then to top that off when we were ranked # 1 by every single poll to begin the 2008 season, in the only 3 games we played against reasonable teams that 2008 ill-fated season on offense, we handed the ball to Knowshon but 14 times per game average in the only 3 games against reasonable opponents we played all of the 2008 season : 14 carries avg for Knowshon vs Florida, Alabama and Georgia tek – thus we scratch our heads how in the world did all 3 of the only 3 good teams 2008 score consecutive points of 29, 31 and 42 against us ? I have a clue for you, it is not because of the defense. We are idiots. Orson Charles will be the highest drafted player next from this football program. How many plays will we complete a pass to Orson Charles this season ? You want my guess ? In our pass-happy offense with no target other than Orson Charles I bet he ends the season with about half the catches AJ Green had last season. That’s my guess. And, I haven’t been wrong yet.
Dawgfan in FL
July 8th, 2011
7:37 am
@Thomas Brown-Did you take into consideration that out of the 429 plays you say Murray had an opportunity to get the ball to Green, Green wasn’t on the field for the first 4 games? If you only count the number of plays that Green actually played, I have a hunch the %s go up.
Lil Shane
July 8th, 2011
8:29 am
What’s up with all these ‘walk ons” ? UGA has way too many walk-ons.
Lil Shane
July 8th, 2011
8:30 am
Two walk on QB’s ? How many do you need when you’ve got 3 good ones already ?
Eldawg
July 8th, 2011
9:12 am
Still@theBar,
http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2011/07/07/quarterbacks-offense-appears-to-be-in-good-hands-with-aaron-murray/?cp=all#comment-159147
You must still be trying to pass the Bar exam. In our Justice system people are innocent until proven guilt. A jury finds a defendant either guilty or not guilty. You obviously don’t understand the difference.
You sir are rude, obnoxious, and as I’ve just shown everyone – ignorant. Now go away you little jerk.
Jim Bob
July 8th, 2011
9:51 am
I think Mason should be given more opprotunity.. Let’s not make the same mistake over & over by playing guys just because they were all this & that in HS –Play the guys that are BEST at theri respective positions –play to WIN! Mason would get the ball over the middle better than Murray, but Murray can excape trouble better than Mason.
BIG Joe
July 8th, 2011
9:57 am
Eldawg
Without going back & looking for the post you’re responding to, this is a UGA football blog, correct???
RedandBlackDAWG
July 8th, 2011
10:32 am
T. Brown,
Were the above comments a complaint about Murray or the offensive play calling? Not sure where you think, UGA needs to improve based on the statistics you cited. Do they reflect poorly on Murray or rather on the lack of variety of the offensive coach?
RedandBlackDAWG
July 8th, 2011
4:01 pm
And another one bites the dust. The learning curve for the UGA offense just took another hit, as Caleb King, let everybody on his team, himself and his future down once again.
Some folks on the offense are really going to have to learn on the run so to speak, now, so I hope they are ready and up to the task.
I am trying not to think, “What next”, because the way the off season has gone so far, I am scared to think of what it might be, LOL.
Jim C
July 8th, 2011
4:52 pm
Regarding Hutson Mason being only the 3rd college QB whose 1st pass attempt resulted in a TD: Didn’t Chris Collingsworth do it at Florida? He was a WR but he started at UF as a QB.
Linebackers: Promising group despite virtual makeover since last season | UGA sports blog
July 11th, 2011
9:10 am
[...] July 7 — Quarterbacks [...]
Nick Fairley
July 12th, 2011
8:27 am
I will say something shocking. Aaron Murray is a good QB. He actually is. Very accurate. Just short.
And in the end everyone knows one thing for sure, Aaron Murray might be a good QB, but he’s no Cam Newton.
I just took a bow.
bobby
July 13th, 2011
12:18 pm
At quaterback uga will be good with murray but murray needs the o-line to perform better, a strong running game, and two receviers other than king to play well.