Notebook: QB Aaron Murray’s struggles coming mainly versus elite defenses
Aaron Murray says balance and footwork -- not nerves -- led to his poor first-half performance against Florida. (AJC photo by Bob Andres)
ATHENS — Aaron Murray is every bit the video junkie. But unlike normal, he dreaded getting up this past Sunday morning to head over to the football complex to review the tape of Georgia’s game against Florida.
Well, the first half at least.
“It was not good,” Murray said, but smiling and laughing as he did. “I tried not to go in but I had to get in here and watch the film. Definitely, there were some errors.”
Definitely.
The Bulldogs’ record-setting quarterback was breaking some personal records on infamy as he threw three interceptions in the opening two quarters against Florida. But Murray rebounded with a 45-yard touchdown pass in the second half and Georgia held on for decisive 17-9 win over the Gators.
Murray’s final line was not one of his better ones: 12-of-24 passing for 150 yards, 1 TD and 3 interceptions. But coming out with the victory helped salve any wounds Murray might have felt.
“It’s definitely one of the top ones for me, regardless of personal stats in the game,” said Murray, who hails from Tampa and was heavily recruited by the Gators. “All that doesn’t matter. I play to win games and that win was probably the biggest one I’ve ever been a part of since I’ve been here.”
While Murray contributed significantly to winning the game, his performance against the Gators continued a trend of struggle in big games against elite defenses. That’s certainly not unusual; the best defenses are going to make quarterback look worse – but a lot of Murray’s mistakes against Florida weren’t necessarily made under the duress pressure. They were simply bad reads or bad throws, neither of which Murray normally does much.
The first one Murray tried to force into triple coverage, the second was badly overthrown and the third was delivered late and off target over the middle. Here’s Murray’s explanations:
- Of the first interception, an attempt to tight end Jay Rome, Murray said: “I saw a window but it was a very, very tight window and the safety didn’t really back off at all. He pretty much sat on the route and I should have checked down to my fullback and gotten a nice little three- or four-yard completion.”
- Of the second one, an overthrow on an attempt to split end Marlon Brown over the middle, he said: “That was probably the worst throw I’ve ever made in my life. That was just me trying not to make a mistake on a pass and trying to throw it like a dart instead of throwing it like a football. “
- Of the third one, a hard over-the-middle throw for receiver Rantavious Wooten: “My feet just weren’t right and I was trying to throw it across the middle.”
Murray said his film study revealed it was mainly a matter of fundamentals. His tendency is to get off balance and neglect his footwork, which he is concentrating on improving in practice this week. But there is also evidence that Murray may be a little too pumped up and/or pressing in the Bulldogs’ most important games.
In his two games against Top 10 opponents South Carolina and Florida this season, Murray has completed 23 of 55 of passes (41.8 percent) for 259 yards and 1 touchdown with 4 interceptions. In his games against everybody else this season, Murray has completed 129 of 168 passes for 1,805 yards and 16 touchdowns with just 3 interceptions.
He has thrown 7 picks in three games against the Gators and had two interceptions in each of the Bulldogs’ final two games last season against LSU in the SEC Championship Game and Michigan State in the Outback Bowl. Both were Top 10 opponents.
“I don’t know,” quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo said. “The guy has performed so well over his career. The SEC Championship last year, he was on point in the first half and we didn’t help him out catching the ball. The bottom line is you’ve just got to relax and show you can play the way you’ve always played and be confident.”
Murray doesn’t believe he’s pressing more in big games, though he did say Bobo told him at halftime “to calm down and relax.”
“I’ve played in a lot of big games,” Murray said. “The locker room was all positive as far as my teammates and other coaches and I wasn’t stressed and freaking out. I just knew I had to clean things up. We were still up 7-6 at halftime so I knew I just needed to settle down a little bit and I’d be ready to go.A lot of my inaccuracy had to do with my feet not being on balance and that’s pretty much the reason. Come the second half, you could definitely see my footwork getting back to what it’s been during the entire season before and that’s when I started hitting more receivers.
The bottom line is Murray got the job done on Saturday, and his coaches and teammates have been unwavering in their support.
Asked if they’d considered making a quarterback change at any point in the game, coach Mark Richt snapped: “Aaron is the guy. Period.”
Jordan Jenkins’ stock is up
Richt confirmed on Wednesday that Jordan Jenkins has solidified his status as starter at “Sam,” or strongside, outside linebacker opposite of Jarvis Jones. Junior Chase Vasser is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury and senior Cornelius Washington has been playing primarily at a down lineman position since senior Abry Jones was lost for the season with an ankle injury.
Besides, Jenkins is playing lights out. The 6-foot-3, 257-pound athlete from Harris County has now started three games and, despite limited playing time early in the season, he’s second on the team in sacks (3), tackles for loss (6) and quarterback pressures (13).
“We’re going to play him as much as he can,” defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. “He’s really come on and produced and really had a chance to have a sack the other night and he’s done some other good things. So we’ll continue to play him and try to get players that can make plays on the field.”
Having Jenkins opposite of Jones has proved particularly effective as teams are running away from the Bulldogs’ All-American only to find Jenkins at the ready. Occasionally, Grantham will pair them on the same side.
“Those two guys have got a pretty good pass rush, a pretty good twitch, get-off, and it allows them not to be able to say that they can totally go to this guy,” Grantham said. “If they do, it’s going to leave somebody else one-on-one. By doing that, though, a guy like Cornelius Washington went inside and that was really big for us. I thought Cornelius did good inside, so at times we had as many as three outside backers in there, maybe four every now and then.”
John Jenkins sidelined, Hall out
Starting nose guard John Jenkins was help out of practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury he suffered in practice on Tuesday. Richt indicated the 6-foot-3, 358-pound senior will be able to play against Ole Miss on Saturday.
“We think he’ll be fine but we didn’t want to put him out there today,” Richt said. “We think he’ll be ready.”
Richt said starting fullback Merritt Hall (ankle) did not practice and is likely out for Saturday’s game. He said junior Zander Ogletree, who played every fullback snap against the Gators, will start instead.
Etc. . . .
Cornerback Damian Swann was in a non-contact, green jersey but is not expected to miss any playing time this week. . . . Richt said Jamie Lindley handled all the kickoffs against Florida because Georgia wanted to attempt an onsides kick, Richt said. He won’t necessarily handle them against Ole Miss, however. “I don’t think Marshall (Morgan) is done with that,” Richt said. . . . Since it has been more than a month since the last home game, the Bulldogs expecting a big recruiting weekend. Among the unofficial visitors will be Grayson defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, the younger brother of Ole Miss linebacker and leading tackler Denzel Nkemdiche.
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337 comments Add your comment
Double Secret Probation
November 1st, 2012
5:53 am
L.A. Bulldawg, AJ McCarron is playing rings around Murray this season. I am no Bama fan, but the truth is the truth. It will be interesting to see if LSU can slow Bama down this weekend.
No. 1 Braves Fan
November 1st, 2012
5:57 am
If Murray`s struggles come against elite defenses, UGA will beat GT 51-17 or they can name the score they want.
Ramad Ashad
November 1st, 2012
6:01 am
Murray is no Joe Cox. That’s all I have to say about that.
BB
November 1st, 2012
6:02 am
Why allow Nkemdiche free tickets to this game just so that he can cheer on his brother? UGA has no chance whatsoever of signing him. Give that ticket to someone that is truly interested in our school. There is no upside in having recruits that we are pursuing spending time with a young man cheering on our opponent in our stadium.
gomdawg
November 1st, 2012
6:03 am
I think Murray just needs to have fun and get a little more moble.
GO DAWGS
Tide Roll
November 1st, 2012
6:04 am
He’s way overrated, and self-centered too. Richt and Booboo and this kid are killing you. Nick Marshall would have been real nice but y’all had him covering punts and kickoffs!! And the kid who could get you there, ANTHONY JENNINGS, has basically been ignored and is headed to two time National Champ LSU, which, by the way, rolls back on your schedule next year. You’d think that alone would be enough for Richt to go after the kid. Doesn’t he recall what CAM NEWTON did to y’all? Anyway, missing on Marshall and Jennings borders on bizarre. Hell, Jennings won the Elite 11 regionals, and is a UGA LEGACY!. Marshall went for over 600 yards total offense in a single game and you had him on your campus! I mean, you can’t make this stuuf up. It would be funny if it weren’t so pitiful. 32 years. No wonder.
Old Boy
November 1st, 2012
6:09 am
Is Richard Samuel still on the team? What position is he playing now? It absolutely sucks how many times he was jerked around and now he is not in RB or FB rotations.
nobody
November 1st, 2012
6:28 am
It would help if his receivers put a little glue on their fingers…dropped passes continue to be a real “not talked about” concern…as for AM, he just needs to trust his instinct and start his progression if his primary target appears covered….. instinct should prevent him from ‘forcing’ such throws.,,,
Brad
November 1st, 2012
6:30 am
The problem is that he is a midget. He looks like he never goes to the weight room. He is a shrimp. Please don’t
Destin Dawg
November 1st, 2012
6:35 am
Hutson Mason had huge passing yards at Lassitter H.S. was Parade mag 2nd team All American… and Murray chokes….. needs to be benched when ( not if ) he screws up… that would be good for both Mason and Murray ’s attitude .. competition raises the bar !!!
Old Dog Class of 80
November 1st, 2012
6:37 am
“coach Mark Richt snapped: “Aaron is the guy. Period.””
This is why we need a new head coach at UGA. Blind loyalty with no interest in winning.
LagDawg
November 1st, 2012
6:40 am
Murray is a good QB. With proper coaching he could have been better. Bobo is not developing the talent at the QB position. Stafford played on sheer talent. He constantly overthrew WR and it was never corrected until he reached the NFL. Mason is more of a pure QB than Murray, but again to CMR loyalty and promises to certain players, the best QB is not in the game. CMR refuses to accept the fact that Murray is to inconsistent and does not show up against top level defenses. I really feel bad for LeMay He will never pan out, due to lack of a proper QB Coach and I truly feel that this will hurt the program with top passers in the long run. Look at the way that UGA is being shunned by top TE because they don’t utlize that position anymore. Imagine that, TE U does not use the TE anymore. Still feel the need for a coaching change. The schedule will get tougher in the next few seasons and CMR is not the coach to lead them into this. It will again be too many excuses and will continue to falter in the game planning department. Just call it like I see it. Too much talent on the team to not be motivated to win every year.
bubba4dawgs
November 1st, 2012
6:57 am
Murray simply needs to learn to make quicker decisions! If the receivers aren’t, he needs to throw the ball away, run if there is an opening or simply tuck it and go down if he can’t throw or run. Murray’s problem is that he tries to make something out of nothing and even the best pro qb’s aren’t too good at that. It’s been said many times, Murray needs to settle down. Drink some “calm juice” before taking the field. Sometimes, it is frustrating to watch when he’s not on his game and you want to say “pull him out”! Richt, being a quarterback himself, knows better than any of us about what Murray is going thru. He’s performed so well so many times, he deserves the chance to fix his problem. If he doesn’t, he won’t play very much, if at all, at the next level! GO Murray! GO DAWGS!!
tell me again
November 1st, 2012
6:59 am
Murray’s fine. The Dawgs are fine. Some of you nut bags are acting like we have Tech’s record. Relax and enjoy the great run.
Old Dawg
November 1st, 2012
7:08 am
One question: how many of Aaron Murray’s critics have ever taken a snap during a college football practice, much less a game?
Unless you can answer yes, then you need to calm down. He’s thrown a lot of TD passes. He’s led his team’s to 17 wins in the last two years. Does he have interceptions? Yes.
But back to my original question. Unless you’ve been in that role, you really need to chill and get a life.
MA English 75
November 1st, 2012
7:15 am
I sincerely hope Murray doesn’t read this blog. He can’t win with y’all. He’s damned if he wins and damned if he doesn’t. He is not “God-awful,” and I don’t see how ANYONE can complain that he is a terrible QB. He isn’t Matthew Stafford (he doesn’t have Matthew’s build, for one thing), but he is a GOOD QB. Leave him alone.
JB
November 1st, 2012
7:16 am
I like Murray. He loves Georgia, and that’s good enough for me………….But, I’m glad he’s getting his masters, because David Greene could not make it in pro ball…….And he’s no David Greene.
JB
November 1st, 2012
7:18 am
And this QB and team misses Micheal Bennett very much.
Dr. Don
November 1st, 2012
7:19 am
Some players rise to the occasion in big games. They are the elite. Some players don’t rise to the occasion in big games. They are not the elite. AM seems to fall into the second category. He is still a “good” or “really good” QB but definitely not elite.
OrlandoDawg
November 1st, 2012
7:22 am
Will be in Sanford giving the Dawgs a standing ovation Sat.!!! Crowd will be loud and strong celebrating the team and coaches!!! Go Dawgs!
Tide Roll
November 1st, 2012
7:22 am
It’s the same thing, over and over. Greene instead of Shockley. Murray instead of Cam Newton. Murray instead of Nick Marshall. And failing to create a legitimate competetion for the QB position between Murray and LeMay is criminal. Richt’s obsession with this Murray kid borders on bizarre. Ramsey instead of Anthony Jennings, Nick Marshall, Joshua Dobbs, Jonathan McCrary, or Deshaun Watson. It’s the same thing year after year. And is the main reason you haven’t won a National Title since Moby Dick was a Minnow. And as long and Richt and Bobo continue to allow their personal preferences and biases, especially regarding who they recruit and play at Quarterback, outweigh what’s best for the team, you won’t win another.
Pete
November 1st, 2012
7:22 am
Lets be very clear about Murray- his quote…”I don’t play Florida by myself” no, Murray, you dont but you almost single handily lost this game for us. Facts are facts, they ONLY reason we won this game is because the Fla QB played just as bad as you did…..HE is a freshman…..YOU ARE NOT. While this win was great, the fact still remain you do not play well against good teams. That our HC took all options off the table to have a back up for you is INSANE. Yes, we beat Fla…..but guess what film boy……IT WAS BECAUSE OF Florida’s pathetic play and our Defense………Next big game for you to blow in………………….OLE MISS!
Jim
November 1st, 2012
7:27 am
While Murray contributed significantly to winning the game,
REALLY?????????????????? Are you kidding me????????????????????? REALLY?????????????? what game did you watch???????? One pass to Malcome that works………..MURRAY Contributed to what??????????????????? BS!!!!!
Jim
November 1st, 2012
7:29 am
Asked if they’d considered making a quarterback change at any point in the game, coach Mark Richt snapped: “Aaron is the guy. Period.”
This is WHY we need a coach…..do you think Spurrier would have said that????Saben????? This mindset will cost us dearly…if not this week……in the SEC Championship- which I am not sure we even make that
CHDawg
November 1st, 2012
7:32 am
Let’s not forget that it was Murray’s passes that produced the winning 4th qtr drive. That was about the only time we went pass-first in the whole game. He had a terrible first half, but the Gators were the #1 ranked team by the BCS computer–they are pretty good, and their D is the strongest asset. Bottom line: Murray is a winner. He fought against his bad day and found a way to beat the number two team in the country with the rest of his team. We also had the dropsies. Almost all of our receivers dropped balls they should have caught. However, I think the real story here is how much better our line played. If they keep improving, look out. The Dawgs better get ready, as Ole Miss looks good to me. They got the closest to Bama of any team this year; they aren’t afraid of playing good teams. Great win, Dawgs.
Jim
November 1st, 2012
7:32 am
He has thrown 7 picks in three games against the Gators and had two interceptions in each of the Bulldogs’ final two games last season against LSU in the SEC Championship Game and Michigan State in the Outback Bowl. Both were Top 10 opponents.
“I don’t know,” quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo said. “The guy has performed so well over his career. The SEC Championship last year, he was on point in the first half and we didn’t help him out catching the ball. The bottom line is you’ve just got to relax and show you can play the way you’ve always played and be confident.”
These statements show how utterly stupid this coaching staff is…….Murray pads his so called stats against losers and when we play a great team in a huge game he folds……..its just a matter of time before it catches up to us again……..Florida played horrible- that is why we won…..
CHDawg
November 1st, 2012
7:52 am
It could be worse than signing autos between frying sessions at Waffle House…he could be a know-it-all, washed-up Pop Warner star, who lives on the AJC blogs venting his frustrations. Or he could think he knows more about QB’ing than Richt and Bobo. I’m sure this guy knows more about medicine than his doctors, more about flying planes than his pilots, and more about everything than pretty much everybody.
JB
November 1st, 2012
7:59 am
Tide Roll…… Sad, be we agree. Mark is more worried about the fragile mental state of a QB ( IMO because of his own life struggles as a young QB being pulled for a better player his entire playing career)than the success of UGA football………If nothing but his sub conscience . Sprurrier as example ALWAYS has a #2 QB ready to give it a whirl if the starter is floundering. Richt. Never.
JB
November 1st, 2012
8:03 am
Watch McCarran of Bama play Saturday night. Reminds me of Brady at New England. Difference. Saban has him in an offense that let’s him succeed and not totally dependent of HIM winning the game. The short passing game and effective running game of Bama is the best in College football. That offense is not fancy, it just works. Very few 3 and outs….and we are the king of three and outs.
BobDawg
November 1st, 2012
8:06 am
so Tide Roll, should the Falcons be playing John Parker Wilson??? with your analogy, maybe??? Your QB is playing behind a Mtn O-Line and has all weekend to throw… He locks on to the first receiver also like most college QB’s…
JB
November 1st, 2012
8:06 am
The next guy at Tennessee will have a great OL. They blew South Carolina off the ball all night. and I believe they all have 2 years left.
BobDawg
November 1st, 2012
8:07 am
JB, you put Murray behind center for the Tide and he would ring circles around McCarron.. He is twice the athlete….
dap01
November 1st, 2012
8:08 am
I like Murray but he has fear in his eyes. He plays like a computer games player. Grow up or you will hurt a great UGA team.
On Saturday, UGA has a GREAT defense, a very good running game and a scared qb.
NCDawg
November 1st, 2012
8:09 am
Aaron has to make it to the point where every game is the same. QB is one of the positions in football where emotion has to take a back seat. He tries too hard and it’s like a bar of soap, the harder you squeeze the further away it slips. He might want to look into meditation before games to calm down. I’ve been watching this for 3 years now and he definitely needs to work harder on his emotional control. He needs to step away and stop thinking it is all on his shoulders. He needs to trust his teammates to make plays as well.
As for everyone saying Jordan Jenkins needed to be starting all along… jeez, the guy had to learn his assignments. Yes, his talent would have overcome some deficiencies but not to where it was wiser to play him over somebody else.
BobDawg
November 1st, 2012
8:09 am
….. we did get Stafford right??!! Who has the Tide put in the pros successfully lately… JPW… give me a break… and if you think McCarron plays pro ball… give me a freakin break… He is the reincarnation of David Greene…. He manages the offense well and that is all….
Jeffro Bodeen
November 1st, 2012
8:09 am
“I don’t know,” quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo said……WOW…Truer words he never spoke….at least he finally admits it!
bwolves
November 1st, 2012
8:10 am
Murray looks good against bad teams. Against FL he made poor decisions in addition to some poor passes. He may hold the passing record but he isn’t a David Greene who played his best in big time games.
Lonnie
November 1st, 2012
8:12 am
we are 7-1 just wanted to remind everyone! If you blame him for the interceptions then give credit for the touchdown!!!!!!! He passed the ball all the way down the field on that drive. one run I think! He is not an elite QB he is prob. 3-5 in SEC. But we are 7-1!!!! By the way tide Roll you said no way we win!!! 7-1!!!!
Billy Mumphries
November 1st, 2012
8:14 am
His first half interception against FL where no Georgia player was in sight, well, he came to the sidelines with a deer-in-the-headlight look. Looked like he didn’t know what happened or what to do. He doesn’t seem to have very good ‘quick decision making’ ability. Most of us don’t, but we’re not playing QB for top-tier D1 football programs either.
D. amn Yankee
November 1st, 2012
8:15 am
I see the “glass is completely empty” folks are back at it. If it’s not Richt, it’s Bobo. If not Bobo, its’ Murray or Grantham. Geesh, you people must be a thrill to work with. UGA is 7-1, just coming off a win against Florida (don’t care how ugly) and control their destiny. Playing meaningful games in November……that’s what it’s all about Enjoy.
JB
November 1st, 2012
8:16 am
BobDog….who’s fault is it we don’t have a great OL….. And who’s fault we are 12-15 under the legal scholarship limit in year 12. Our #2 Qb is a walk on in year 12. Look, I like Richt, but these are glaring deficiencies to have in year 12.
NCDawg
November 1st, 2012
8:19 am
Jim… suit up buddy and get your rear end over to Athens! We need you! Just be sure to ask for the playbook so you can spend every waking moment learning the offense…for the next year.
Why aren’t you coaching? I’m sure there’d be tons of teams that want you to run the offense or coach their QB. I mean you know everything there is to know don’t you?
Monday morning QB’s are bad enough…but Thursday morning? Get real…
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 1st, 2012
8:20 am
Murray needs to calm down. His fundamentals are fine. He wins every QB competition he ever attends.
He needs to stop trying to make the spectacular play and get 3 or 4 yards or throw it away and live to see the next play.
Just be thankful we don’t have Driskell
Tony BarnFart
November 1st, 2012
8:21 am
Murry won the Kentucky game
JB
November 1st, 2012
8:22 am
BobDawg… you and I as Dawg fans will have to just disagree. If Murray was at Bama, he would be wearing a ball cap signaling in the plays to McCarran. Have you watched this kid play this year. Look on yahoo sports today. They are touting this kid for Heisman. Winning and playing at Bama helps, sure, but the kid is steady and consistent, always.
NC_Dawg
November 1st, 2012
8:22 am
Bunch of bologna! Murray is a 3rd year starter! He’s never looked good in big games and neve lived up to the hype. You’d think after starting more than 30 games in the SEC, he might have a little more grasp of his fundamentals and footwork.
I think Murray does get nervous or over-excited in big games. To start the year, he was overthrowing all his recievers. He always goes for the big, downfield throw instead of checking down to another reciever. His accuracy on bid downfield throws is about 10%.
Now when he does get settled in and in a rhythm, running a no-huddle, he looks very sharp.
Will this transfer to the NFL? Probably not. He’s too short, has good arm strength, but not great. He puts the ball on target, where only his recievers can catch it. However, he would get eaten alive by an NFL defense. If he’s rattled by Florida & SC, just think what Baltimore & Pittsburgh would do to him.
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 1st, 2012
8:24 am
turdroll still can’t get used to the idea that our center is playing extremely well at 6′) 298 pounds.
turdroll says he is 5′9″ and 270 pounds yet that’s not what the coaches or the kid says.
So we are left to beleive a TECHMITE hiding behind an Alabama sign on or believe the coaches and Andrews.
Also turdroll will not be pleased that Andrews is white. Also Dallas Lee is white and he had to replace Mark Beard, who turdroll has been pining for because Beard got 2 straight penalties at left tackle.
You see turdroll is a black racist Techmite who hates UGA and hides behind the one school he thinks can beat us
Tide Roll's Tutor
November 1st, 2012
8:26 am
Do your homework before posting.
You said Georgia “had Nick Marshall on campus.” Any idea why Nick is no longer on campus?
I think LeMay needs to beat out Parker Welch before challenging Murray.
Research Bama’s QB commits for 2013 and tell me if you think they are better than Anthony Jennings. If not, your ire needs to be directed at Nick Saban.
Your posts set you up for a blog beatdown regularly, yet you still come on here repeating the same old stuff. This is no way to go through life, my man.
JB
November 1st, 2012
8:27 am
Murray got the kiss of death for the NFL by ex Steeler’s coach Bill Cower on Sunday after the SC loss. Bill said ” I would not waste a draft choice on Murray. He disappears in big games and can’t take care of the football”…….
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 1st, 2012
8:28 am
turdroll talks about Nick Marshall. Yet turdroll forgets that Nick Marshall was booted off the team and out of UGA for stealing.
You see turdroll is all about protectin’ the brotha’ and overlooking little things like theft or Crowell riding with a gun with a serial number filed off.
Yeah, let’s just keep those scholar athlete/wholesome individuals around regardless of what they do.