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.
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
337 comments Add your comment
ARdawg
November 1st, 2012
12:24 pm
It’s going to be dam tough for Bama to win Sat night. LSU will be ready, weak offense or not
Alphare
November 1st, 2012
12:31 pm
I did say Tech should hire Bobo as the HC replacement.
Joey
November 1st, 2012
12:33 pm
ARdawg, I think AltamahaDawg was taking a poke at certain folks who call for Richt’s firing when UGA loses.
He would probably include me in that group, though I often say I don’t want Richt fired, and that Richt deserves to go on his own terms.
I’m more of a member of the “wishing Richt would retire soon” group.
Montana Dawg
November 1st, 2012
12:35 pm
R Dawg4, I think he has emotion, we all do. His is the,” Afraid To Fail” in really big games.
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
12:48 pm
Well good guess. But in this case, I was making fun directly at THAT particular guy. I don’t recall who it was.
ARdawg
November 1st, 2012
12:49 pm
Joey
Maybe he was but I didn’t read it that way. There are some calling for Miles after the FL loss. It likely will get louder if he loses to Bama but, he ain’t going no where.
I’m not a Richt supporter myself and make no bones about it. I think he has done less with more than any coach in the country. The FL win was big but I don’t roll like that. Not that easy anyway. I don’t call for his firing. I wouldn’t ever do that but, if he was fired, retired or resigned, I wouldn’t shed a tear. The “great guy but” line is applicable. The apologist hang on to the 10 win season crap, “right the ship” crap. I’m done with all of it. I have been since I walked away from the Liberty Bowl in the rain. I support the team and whatever coach we have
ARdawg
November 1st, 2012
12:53 pm
kingdaddy
Trolls are not even fans of other teams. Just lonely dou/chebags that posts negative for nothing but attention and reaction. They banking on the old addage that any attention is better than no attention
Alabama Dog
November 1st, 2012
1:03 pm
ARdawg: Hear! Hear! I, like you, am not a Richt supporter. Unfortunately, he’s the Dawgs coach right now, so he has my support the team, and Richt in that capacity. I agree wholeheartedly with the fact Richt has done less with more than any coach, probably in America! Give any number of SEC coaches the talent Georgia has they win NCs. The problem we face is two fold: first, as long as the Georgia fan base as a whole is satisfied with 9 or 10 wins a season (which I am not a member of that group), Richt will be difficult for them to get rid of. Besides, who would they hire? Kirby Smart is NOT the answer, folks. Georgia needs a PROVEN HC, not another unproven assistant. Second, teams like Alabama, for example, have set higher standards for themselves. MEDIOCRITY won’t cut it & they don’t tolerate it.
Just my two cents worth…..
Go Dawgs!
NCDawg
November 1st, 2012
1:03 pm
Neutral… yes I believe in the power of positive thinking. I’ll give an odd example of the power of the human mind and the things we do to ourselves mentally. George Carlin told a story about driving along the road one day and looking over and seeing a kid riding his bike apparently in mid air. After a moment he realized the kid was riding his bike along a 5 ft tall stone wall that was probably @ 18″ thick. The kid was having a blast and didn’t seem to realize he was doing what most people would think was impossible. Then Carlin said that as he thought about it he realized that someone would F-up and tell the kid about gravity and he would never be able to do it again.
This is absolutely true. The difference is belief. Or rather the difference between “knowing” and just believing. Belief is almost like trying to fool yourself that something is true rather than just knowing it is true. The Dawgs need to stop trying to believe and just know they are as good as anybody.
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
1:08 pm
For record I do NOT think Les is going anywhere, nor do I think any serious LSU fan is calling for it. But I was assured that’s how “elite” fan bases do it.
That conversation I was refering to was the guy had said that (other teams) fire coaches who don’t win NC, and for no other reason……but he listed schools who made changes because they had involuntary vacancies, or thier program was in spiral……….NOT because Only Div titles, 10+ wins required them to make the move.
Lobosolo
November 1st, 2012
1:15 pm
How many of you world-class athletes have ever stood over center in the SEC in front of 90,000 fans…. Really, how many of you? It is the mark of an idiot to decry or criticize those who do what you could never dream of doing…. stick to something more your own speed… God, the state of Georgia is full of the dumbest…
Dawglasville
November 1st, 2012
1:15 pm
High Tide Rolling On – Many fans of many schools thump their chest when things are going well. It’s just that you are on another team’s blog, one that you are not even playing this week, and you are doing it just to be a total douche. Now, if you are fine with being a total douche, just because some UGA fans can be total douches, then by all means, proceed. I just wanted to make you aware of just how douchey you were being.
Montana Dawg
November 1st, 2012
1:16 pm
NC Dawg….Well Said!
reasonable dawg
November 1st, 2012
1:18 pm
Aaron Murray is a fine QB and an asset to the team. He’s a real gamer and pretty damn tough, but I too believe they’ve told him not to run under any circumstance, and that hinders his productivity. He’s not a perfect QB and not the best we’ve ever had, but I believe he’s the best we have now. Like the “other” cell phone company, and the “other” cable provider, the second string QB is always more popular!
SEC Headlines 11/1/2012
November 1st, 2012
1:18 pm
[...] 14. Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray’s numbers this year: Against South Carolina and Florida, 1 touchdown and 4 interceptions. Against everyone else, 16 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. [...]
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
1:20 pm
Alabama tolerated a lot less than mediocre for a long time. No question NOW that Saban has built such a program back, they will not be happy with that. But to think they would fire Nick Saban if he has a few years (and he will) where they are good but not championship caliber, is rediculous.
You guy love to campare apples to oranges with what somebody else did/does and what is the situation of what is going on at Georgia right now. BTW, Georgia would have never done any number of mistakes that various schools have made over the years. So it’s relative to time and place.
And NO way does Alabama or (name your school) fire Mark Richt if they were in our shoes right now. Nothing factual remotely indicates that they would.
ARdawg
November 1st, 2012
1:21 pm
Alabama Dog
I don’t get caught up into the “who do we get” discussions quite because simply, it’s a moot point unless there is an opening. If the current coach has a contract and is on board, there isn’t an opening. Who may or may not be a good choice or is available today, might not be available tomorrow. Kind of like a bottle of wine. It will taste much different today than it did a year ago or that it will taste next year. If we have an opening, we fill it with the best available coach at the time. I’ve never seen a football coach at UGA expectantly fired. Maybe before my time there was and I don’t expect Richt will be either no matter how many whine and call for his head
master of the obvious
November 1st, 2012
1:27 pm
Duh. You guys must have gotten this topic off of the message boards. Dawg fans have been talking about this for two years now. Also, you have the second and the third interceptions switched in your article. Good god, this paper is horrible.
7576DAWG
November 1st, 2012
1:29 pm
Murray would love nothing more than to take off and run when there are no open receivers but just look around at the teams who let their Quarterback run when they don’t have an open receiver and you will see a team on their second, third or fourth Quarterback. As little as Murray is he would have already been hurt for the season if Richt let him run at will. Richt will never have an option Quarterback as long as he is coaching in the SEC. He will always recruit and go with the pocket passer or Pro style offense. You may get away with an option Quarterback in other Conferences but not the SEC unless you have a huge number of reserves when they get hurt.
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
1:33 pm
Here is a question; WHO would Alabama go hire if they were in the market for reason? Do you think they will just go pay now 7 million dollars and hire the next Saban?
Discuss.
kingdaddy
November 1st, 2012
1:39 pm
Alt
They could probably get a real good deal on Spurrier right about now…
dawgfacedboy
November 1st, 2012
1:41 pm
Whether you think he is the guy or not he is our best option at QB. Whether you think he is our guy or not he gives us an exponentially better chance of winning than any other option on that team. Mason? Lemay? Seriously? They are nowhere close to being ready to take the reigns of a top 10 team. Do I believe Murray should be better in his 4th season at UGA and 3rd as the starter? Yes. But he’s still better than any other player on that team at QB right now.
Alabama Dog
November 1st, 2012
1:45 pm
AltamahaDawg: in reference to your question about who Alabama would hire: ANYBODY they want!!!! As a resident of the state of Alabama, I can tell you Alabama is willing to pay out, or pay off ANYBODY they want to hire, or fire.
kingdaddy
November 1st, 2012
1:49 pm
According to T.Roll, Bama is racist too…
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
1:52 pm
Alabama Dog, I get your point. Alabama is willing to do whatever. Good answer if we are just going to go with platitudes. Which I find to be the case most often in here.
Can you name somebody? A real person? And let me ask. Would that new coach be better than Saban. or would they probably take a step back? Or be exactly the same?
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
2:01 pm
Anybody?
Who would Alabama hire now (if they were)?
Joey
November 1st, 2012
2:02 pm
I think Bama will absolutely hire Kirby Smart when Saban moves on if he hasn’t been hired by UGA by then.
Jimmy Crack
November 1st, 2012
2:03 pm
Is anybody going to mention Garrison Smith???????????
EVER?
The guy was called out by the CBS announcers about a half dozen times for making big plays.
Ed
November 1st, 2012
2:03 pm
“Decisive” victory? I wish. I didn’t draw an easy breath until Gurley broke that nice run on 2nd and 15 to ice the game very late. I hope we beat Ole Miss a little more decisively on Saturday, my nerves could use the rest.
kingdaddy
November 1st, 2012
2:03 pm
Spurrier…
Alabama Dog
November 1st, 2012
2:06 pm
AltamahaDawg: it is my belief Kirby Smart will probably turn down offers from other schools, and take over when “St Nick” decides to step down. At this time, it would be difficult to speculate whether, or not Smart would be as good as Saban, or a step back. I would have to believe when Saban decides to hang it up, the cupboard would be fully stocked, based on his recruiting. Again, Smart is an uproven commodity as a HC. With that in mind, let’s take a look at Saban assistants currently serving as HCs: Dooley-mega flop (however, in Dooley’s defense, he was a panic hire-nobody else would take the job), Muschamp-the jury’s still out, Jimbo Fisher-the jury’s still out.
kingdaddy
November 1st, 2012
2:08 pm
Lil stevie would leave SC in a heartbeat. He is a great coach and if he had the talent of a Bama, he would be hard to stop. You asked for one, I gave you a serious choice…
SEC Headlines 11/1/2012 – Arkansas – Razorbacks News
November 1st, 2012
2:08 pm
[...] 14. Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray’s numbers this year: Against South Carolina and Florida, 1 touchdown and 4 interceptions. Against everyone else, 16 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. [...]
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
2:10 pm
Would Kirby Smart be the best coach money can hire?
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
2:12 pm
I don’t see Spurrier making another move at his age, especialy into that type of expectations he would be following.
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
2:12 pm
Nor do I see Alabama making that offer to Spurrier.
B
November 1st, 2012
2:15 pm
Just be the ball, be the ball, be the ball.
Alabama Dog
November 1st, 2012
2:17 pm
I didn’t say that, AltamahaDawg. However, if I’m not mistaken, he is currently the highest paid assistant in the SEC. The fat he coached under Saban, for two NCs, maybe more by the time Saban steps aside. That alone would make him the most attractive hire for Alabama-especially if he turns down other offers to stay.
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
2:18 pm
—Against South Carolina and Florida, 1 touchdown and 4 interceptions. Against everyone else, 16 touchdowns and 3 interceptions—
Looking at the remainer of the schedule , all I see is everyone else.
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
2:26 pm
My point being that even Alabama is not going to go out and hire a coach that is going to be better than Saban right now.
And as you just told me they are willing to pay anything and buy out anybody. Including the NFL, I assume, since they just did that.
kingdaddy
November 1st, 2012
2:30 pm
As much as I detest the ol ball sac, he is a very good coach and better than Smart, hands down. I think he would do it oartly for the money and partly to show SC how important he is to them. His arrogance knows no bounds…
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
2:33 pm
His body does though.
Bad Dawg
November 1st, 2012
2:38 pm
Transcript from this week’s UGA-Ole Miss Game-Planning meeting with CMR, CMB and CTG:
CMR: Today we have a special guest! I’ve invited Shawn Williams to join us because, as we saw, Shawn did a better job motivating the defense in 10 minutes than we have all year. Personally, I prefer gimmicks, but whatever, it’s our first winning streak vs UF in 25 years!
CTG: Speaking of gimmicks, I’m afraid to ask what are those red bracelets for?
CRM: Don’t be afraid Big Boy, these are WWSWD bracelets and we’ll be wearing them the rest of the year. Shawn, would you say a few words please?
SW: Thank you coach. It’s an honor to be here. I believe strongly in shifting the attitudinal paradigm; not just for the defense, not just for the team, but for the entire program! I believe in personal accountability for players and coaches alike! Many players here harbor dreams of playing in the NFL. Let’s embrace, nurture and build on that! Treat us like the men we are becoming. Decide who will play based on merit, not some seniority-based system that may keep our best on the bench.
(CTG and CMB stare unblinking with eyes big as saucers, mouths agape)
CMR: Whoa there Shawn baby. RELAX! Don’t go all Tony Robbins on us. We’re playing Ole Miss not Bama! I was looking for some positive vibes not a manifesto. What the heck are you majoring in anyway? Pretty words?
SW: I just want to add that the team is looking forward to you taking an active role in coaching the kickers. We’ve just got to fix the kicking game!
CMR: Thanks SW. As mentioned in last week’s presser, I’m going to first learn the ABCs of kicking then I’ll coach my tail off. Got a great head-start as Blair Walsh sent me “Ace Ventura-Pet Detective”. It’s a super-awesome instructional video for kickers and a cautionary tale as well. Seems this poor Dolphins kicker, Ray Finkel, missed a Super-Bowl winning chip-shot when Dan Marino botched the hold and naturally, he wound up turning into a woman. Since Ray, Dan, Blair, Marshall and I are all from South Florida, it really hits close to home. Apparently it’s vitally important to have the laces out when holding for a kick. Who knew, right?
CMB: I really don’t think MM will become a wom…oh, forget it. Let’s focus on the Black Bears.
CMR: Gotta tell ya fellas, just love that Hottie Toddy cheer! Had it stuck in my head all week!
CMB: Thinking we keep the good times rolling this week we are going to cancel practice, talk about how great we are, read our press clippings and watch the WLOCP again! We’ll be fine on Saturday-Murray can’t play worse, right?
CTG: (Red-faced, voice rising) I suggest you practice harder than that, your O managed a whopping 10 points on our 6 turnovers. We can’t gift-wrap games for you every week. On D we are going to keep the intensity up through public insults and
CMR: Don’t be such a Gasbag Todd! Let’s use our inside voices. No more sideline meltdowns either, try to be more like Shawn. Gotta run and talk to Vern and Gary.
Enter your comments here
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
2:39 pm
But you do make a good point in that there ARE better proven coaches in the country than Kirby Smart, so why after ALL we hear about Alabama not settling for anything less than #1, they hire somebody FAR less than the best money can ge?
Because isnt that Georgia’s problem? Our fans are so willing to accept not having a coach better than NIck Saban. We need to fire this guy and go hire somebody that can beat Nick Saban? But Even Alabama wouldn’t or couldn’t do that, if it were them. That’s odd.
Joey
November 1st, 2012
2:43 pm
Alabama may have wanted Spurrier at age 50, but not at 70.
Saban showed what he thought of Kirby when UGA offered him the DC job – he basically doubled his salary.
The Bama job will be Kirby Smart’s when Saban leaves. Unless he is coaching UGA. Or maybe Texas.
Superb recruiter, and has learned his craft under the best.
P_The_Ricker
November 1st, 2012
2:54 pm
Can’t argue with you Joey. Texas and Alabama are 2 of the top 5 gigs in all of CFB, while UGA is certainly a top 10. Not another coordinator, or even head coach in the country could lay claim as to having such an influential inside track.
Regarding TX however, it wouldn’t surprise me if they just promoted applewhite….especially if he appeared to have strong relationships already built with several committed recruits. That decision could definitely burn the TX program even further however. Applewhite proved he didn’t have the drive to handle the relentless approach that Saban has when he washed-out as the OC after year 1 at AL.
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
3:03 pm
I think Kirby would be a great hire for Alabama. I think he would do well. Hard to imagine he would beat Saban head to head right now, though. But we have folks who insist UGA can go out and hire a guy who could beat Alabama, even if Alabama themselves can’t.
I also think Smart would be a good fit at Alabama, would run a clean program, and would be popular with the folks that matter, have a very good record, and contend for several SEC titles fairly soon. but I have been told none of that should ever be a consideration. Only National championships.
NCDawg
November 1st, 2012
3:11 pm
AltamahaDawg, I don’t think anyone is catching on. It’s a shame because your case is air tight. Oh well, I guess the Richt detractors will go on and on… and on
CC
November 1st, 2012
3:21 pm
GO DAWGS!!!
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2012
3:25 pm
No, I don’t seem to be scoring any touchdowns with this line of reasoning.