Notebook: Tony Dungy’s comments place Georgia QB Aaron Murray into NFL discussion
Slowly and surely, Georgia's Aaron Murray is climbing higher in the record books and into the conscience of the NFL talent scouts. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – It may have been a lighthearted gesture from a personal friend or it could have been the firm conviction for a former NFL coach and pro football analyst. Whatever it was, Tony Dungy got a lot of folks’ attention with his answer via Twitter to a question about whom Kansas City should take as its first pick in the NFL draft.
“I would take Georgia QB Aaron Murray if he comes out,” Dungy wrote on Monday.
It didn’t take long for Dungy’s opinion to make its way to Murray.
“I’ve had everyone ask me about that,” Murray said Tuesday afternoon before the Bulldogs’ practice. “I’m like, ‘I don’t know.’ I’m not worried about that until after the season and then I’ll sit down with my family and make the best decision for myself and my future. I’m having too much fun right now. This season has been awesome. We still have so much ahead of us and so much excitement that I really don’t even have time to think about anything else. I’m just living in the moment.”
Murray’s NFL draft stock is an interesting topic. Though he’s on pace obliterate every quarterback record Georgia has and run down some pretty significant ones in the SEC as well, he’s knocked for his height (listed 6-foot-1) and is not generally talked about as breathlessly as other other college quarterbacks.
Murray is listed as the No. 2 quarterback prospect by NFLscout.com, but that’s for the 2014 draft. As for the one next April, Murray is listed behind at least six other quarterbacks by ESPN’s Scouts Inc.
Perhaps Dungy was just trying to help out a friend. Dungy’s son, Oregon wide receiver Eric Dungy, played with Murray at Tampa’s Plant High School. Murray said he remains in contact the former NFL head coach.
But Murray’s production should stand on its own. After his 330-yard, four-touchdown passing performance this past weekend, he moved into the No. 1 spot in the nation pass efficiency (174.3). This season, he has completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 2,986 yards and 28 TDs with 7 interceptions.
Murray now has 87 career TDs passes, which is fifth in SEC history, and has thrown for 9,184 yards, which is also fifth. He’s not far off from tracking down the players atop those lists which include Danny Wuerffel and Peyton Manning. But he’d probably need another season to do that.
“I’ve never been a guy who worried about records,” Murray said. “The only record I care about is the win-loss column. I came here to win championships and right now we have a team that has the opportunity to do that.”
Whether it’s after this season or next, there are many in Georgia’s camp who believe Murray will eventually be a pro.
“That’s going to be something for us to discuss after the season and him to discuss with his family,” UGA quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “I think his mind is in the right place right now, which is on Georgia Tech this week. But I think he has pro potential because of his intelligence. I think he’s a winner. He’s improved every year and I think he’s going to continue improving. The kid’s the type of guy that, what he sets his sights on, he usually attains those goals. Just look at his life history. Put something out there he wants to do and he gets it done. The No. 1 thing he wants to do right now is win a championship.”
Bobo bristled when asked how Murray’s decision might impact those of Hutson Mason, a junior who is redshirting as Murray’s backup.
“I’m not getting into that until after the season,” Bobo said. “I’m worried about Georgia Tech, really, and Murray better, too.”
Early wake-up call on Saturday
Georgia coach Mark Richt doesn’t mind playing early games, as the Bulldogs will do with Saturday’s noon kickoff versus the Yellow Jackets (ESPN). His only concern is that Georgia’s fans would be late to wake up and slow to arrive for the annual Senior Day festivities. The Bulldogs’ traditional graduation “walk” through the gauntlet of their teammates is scheduled begin at 11:46 a.m.
“I hope we can get the Dog Nation out there a little bit earlier,” Richt said. “The Dawg Walk will be about 15 minutes earlier (10 a.m.) because of the senior festivities and I’m hoping everybody can be in the stands in time to honor those guys. We’re hoping to send them off with a great moment and hopefully they’ll play great during the game.”
Georgia will have approximately 17 seniors going through the short ceremony, which includes their immediate families
A do-over against South Carolina?
To date, Georgia has one blemish on its ledger, and it’s a rather ugly one. The Bulldogs were dominated by South Carolina 35-7 on Oct. 6.
Senior linebacker Christian Robinson, whose father played football for the Gamecocks, if he would like to play them again.
“I would love to,” he said. “I think we kind of walked into a, well, whoever was there knows. My dad said he’d never seen anything like it. I think we walked into something we weren’t mentally prepared for atmosphere wise. Some things happened so quick. We can’t go back and change. They got us when they scheduled the game and they showed up at the right time. But me, a person who’s dad went to South Carolina, I’d like to just so my dad doesn’t have the last laugh. We’ll see.”
Of course, Georgia and South Carolina won’t play again until the second game of next season, and Robinson will be graduated and gone by then. Depending on how these next two weeks go, he could indeed have the last laugh
“We’ve got a lot more at stake right now,” Robinson said of the Bulldogs’ BCS title shot, “so I’ll take that.”
They said it
“I didn’t really think it was over. We had a lot of football left to play. There were six more regular-season games at the time. So I didn’t really think it was over then. Historically, South Carolina’s due to lose a few, so I wasn’t worried about it.”
– Senior flanker Tavarres King, on whether he thought Georgia’s SEC and BCS possibilities were over after losing to South Carolina 35-7 on Oct. 6.
Etc. . . .
The Bulldogs practiced for more than two hours Tuesday in full pads in preparation for Tech. . . . Georgia’s injury situation looks greatly improved. Starting right guard Chris Burnette (shoulder) is practicing without limitations and should start on Saturday. Fullback Merritt Hall (ankle) also practiced full speed. Tailback Keith Marshall practiced in a non-contact capacity due to a shoulder contusion but will play on Saturday. . . . The Bulldogs will be going for their 11th win of the season on Saturday. There have been eight Georgia teams to do that. Among them were Wally Butts‘ 1942 national championship team (11-1), Butt’s 1946 team (11-0), Vince Dooley’s 1971 team (11-1), Dooley’s 1980 national championship team (12-0) and Dooley’s 1982 team (11-1). Richt has coached three: 2002 (13-1), 2003 (11-3) and 2007 (11-2). . . .
Georgia’s defense ranked fourth in the national in forcing three-and-outs with a rate of 59.3 percent. That’s an average of 5.4 per game. Florida leads the way at 6.8 followed by Florida State (6.8) and Wisconsin (5.6). . . . Tech and Georgia did not play from 1917-24 because of a parade float made by UGA students that ridiculed the Yellow Jackets for playing football during World War I. . . . The biggest UGA comeback against Tech came in 1978 when freshman Buck Belue came off the sideline with the Bulldogs trailing 20-0 and rallied them to a 29-28 win.
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221 comments Add your comment
ugab
November 21st, 2012
10:10 am
Mason will have to prove himself. There is a reason Murray is starting instead of Mason. Game time experience is the most important way to prove yourself. If AM does not go pro, Mason can play behing AM next season. Mason will be able to get some game time experience. I hope Mason is preparing himself. Its not going to be just handed to him
JB
November 21st, 2012
10:12 am
I guess if Dawgs win it all, Sprurrier will want the Crystal football to spend some time in the Columbia Wal Mart….LOL
SickandTired
November 21st, 2012
10:15 am
Lets not worry about GT. Alabama will get a beat down from us. notre dame will cower in front of the mighty G. Murray is best QB in nation. Richt is better man and coach than Saban. The Athens CC police are out to arrest football players and Jan Kemp destroyed UGA Football. sec Refs have a vendetta against us. Adams doesn’t give Richt support he needs. Go Dawgs.
Jimmy Crack
November 21st, 2012
10:17 am
On your knees, bees, Murray will turn your secondary into swiss cheese!!
SMEAR THE VEER!!
JB
November 21st, 2012
10:26 am
Dawgs need to get in the spread. Make Tech defend it. Gaps for Gurley will be huge. Wideouts will be open most of every play. Will be fun.
AltamahaDawg
November 21st, 2012
10:27 am
Mason has proven himself. To be a very capable back up QB. At some point he might prove to be the starter, but he has not done that so far, or he would be. He will be in a fight to hold off a RS freshman in 2014, and that will good for him. He might hold on, at least to start the year.
But Anybody wanting him to start in 2013 instead of Murray is simply blinded by whatever agenda they have, and what is best for UGA football, is not it.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 21st, 2012
10:33 am
Lost all respect for DUNGY with this comment….Pad My Stats(against crappy teams) Murray will not play weak teams in the NFL. He is a 4th round pick at best.
My-Guy
November 21st, 2012
10:33 am
Exactly, this is why we still need Aaron Murray another year, we don’t need another quarterback for the next season, lets pray hard to God that UGA will rebuild its defense quickly, Damian Swann & Jordan Jenkins will be back, but Alec Ogletree might be in the 2013 draft pick.
Barack Obama
November 21st, 2012
10:36 am
You know I am a real turn coat, since i got in office I am thinking about making Romney my cheif financial officer, hey he had a great plan fellas…..
Any who….I think if Mark Richt wins a National title he will become the greatest coach in UGA history.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 21st, 2012
10:37 am
I’ve never been a guy who worried about records,” Murray said. “The only record I care about is the win-loss column. I came here to win championships and right now we have a team that has the opportunity to do that.”
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kid is 3-9 against top 25 teams. That is an impressive Win-Loss record against team worth playing.
AltamahaDawg
November 21st, 2012
10:40 am
Based on what I have observed….losing your respect is a net gain for Tony Dungy.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 21st, 2012
10:42 am
slawdawg
November 20th, 2012
11:10 pm
When you look at Murray’s stats, don’t forget about all of the 4th quarters he spent wearing a baseball cap, instead of running up his #’’s & the scoreboard!
===========================================
Please show PROOF of all those 4th quarters that Murray wasn’t playing.
NCDawg
November 21st, 2012
10:43 am
Aaron will have at least 1 marquee game to boost his stock. If he does well in that game then more than likely he will have an even bigger stage to state his case. If he passes those tests he will go in the 1st round. Maybe not #1 but stepping like that and leading his team to victory will put him on the map big time.
That said… if he does not have a good outing, he will stay another year w/o doubt. If he wants to play pro ball he has to step up in big games… this year would be preferable. LOL
JB
November 21st, 2012
10:45 am
Bet the Jets would take him about now.
AltamahaDawg
November 21st, 2012
10:49 am
What is Jarvis Jones record against top 20 teams? Anybody got THAT stat sitting on thier desktop for ease of endless regurgitation?
Discount DoubleDawg
November 21st, 2012
10:49 am
Put in Timeout- Parker Welch and Lemay have both had playing time this year… that is not a secret nor hard to figure out… Although, you won’t see much in the way of passing stats for Georgia in the 4th quarter by any of our QB’s because we were running the ball.
NCDawg
November 21st, 2012
10:55 am
I’m not all that sure that next year will be w down year… sure we might lose a few but then again if the youngsters step up on the defense… well it could be exciting. Our offense will be good… maybe better than this year. The O-line will hopefully have some depth at long last and I don’t see Gurshall doing anything but getting better. It could be quite a year… if the youngsters step up on D.
There might be some shootouts waiting for that but that is the nature of the beast.
Because of all the talent leaving the D side of the ball the expectations will be lower. We might actually sneak up on someone.
ARdawg
November 21st, 2012
10:58 am
NC Dawg
IMO, the table is set for Murray to marquee his talent or lack of it. Beat Tech and the world is watching. It is truly Murray’s opportunity to shine and be a top 10 pick or fall off into oblivion in the 3rd round. Regardless of what these Nerd haters spew on the blogs, Murray’s 3 years at UGA will be summarized in these next 3 games
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 21st, 2012
11:03 am
Discount DoubleDawg
November 21st, 2012
10:49 am
Put in Timeout- Parker Welch and Lemay have both had playing time this year… that is not a secret nor hard to figure out…
===============================
The Poster implied Murray’s stats would be so much better if he didn’t sit out so many 4th quarters during his career. That is not true. Murray didn’t miss many plays in the last 3 years. The games he sat out the 4th quarter I know his 1st year against La-Laf and it was 55-10 or something so he already had his stats. Murray led teams have not put away teams enough times for Murray to sit. Most of the game were close in the 4th quarter and Murray couldn’t stay out.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 21st, 2012
11:05 am
Discount…..I am not sure where to get all the stats but can you see how much playing time any QB at UGa has played since 09 other than Murray?
True Dawg Fan
November 21st, 2012
11:09 am
Look at Murray’s numbers against teams that finished the season ranked! And how many of his td’s in his career were against vandy,kentucky, and all the cupcake teams UGA has played? If you researched it, I gurantee that those games, oh yeah, and the last 2 games against lowsy Auburn teams, will account for between 50-65% of his yards and td’s in his career! And how many INT’s to td’s does he have in the games against ranked teams that finished the season ranked? A good guess would be, a lot more INT’s than TD’s. I hope more than anybody that murray kicks ass in the BAMA game, but history says that he will choke! BAMA is gonna pressure the hell outta murray, and he’s going to doo doo in his pants, and throw a pair of pick 6’s. Man I hope i’m dead wrong! Go Dawgs!
Rick James
November 21st, 2012
11:11 am
@hornblowermg
HUTSON MASON is the best quarterback at Georgia by at least 20%. no question. it will be a dirty deal if he doesn’t get his chance next year, and Georgia should be ashamed, deeply ashamed, if he doesn’t.
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If Mason was the best quarterback he would be starting!! Should Georgia be ashamed for putting the best player on the field? What are you a Georgia fan or one of his relatives?
Rick James
November 21st, 2012
11:16 am
@slawdawg
Is Murray going to the next Falcon game? Otherwise I don’t see him being discussed in a NFL discussion
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How many NFL prospects on that Tech roster? Zero!
docdawg
November 21st, 2012
11:18 am
Good news for Aaron, great kid and a wide open future ahead of him, would make a great coach someday, as Hines also would, they win out and he may move on, why not? Mason also a solid talent who may be equally good.
Jim
November 21st, 2012
11:20 am
I could see someone like Denver drafting Murray. Aaron has attened the Manning football camps and was praised by the Mannings. Denver has a lot of money tied up in P. Manning and could be looking in a solid, low cost, QB to bring on line to replace him. Sounds logical to me but what does an armchair QB know?
Rick James
November 21st, 2012
11:22 am
@GT = 10 time loser to Mark Richt
Murray has 1 TD and 4 INTs in his 2 biggest games this year. He’s going to have to play lights out against Bama. No NFL team wants a player that only lights up bad defenses
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That’s not true..NFL scouts see talent no matter the compittion.
AltamahaDawg
November 21st, 2012
11:23 am
Since you folks have these “ranked teams” stats memorized and love to quote them as naseum. How many of those were actually top TEN teams (or top 5) and not simply “ranked” . And How many of those was Georgia the underdog?
While we are at it, please compile the list of former Georgia QB’s, or in the nation, that do NOT have much better stats against the lessor opponents they play.
gygrooveon
November 21st, 2012
11:27 am
Cam Newton shouldn’t have won the Heisman Trophy? Really
Rick James
November 21st, 2012
11:27 am
@Consequences
Murray may as well stay in Athens another year. In the NFL, the best he can expect is a couple of years picking up splinters in his butt or playing on a practice squad. Then it’s off to a fast food drive-through window to use his psychology degree to persuade customers to supersize their order.
That’s the harsh reality for a player who doesn’t have a lot of talent, and has a worthless diploma.
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Hey Super Size..Practice squad players make $5,500 a week and some of them dont have degrees.Bet you dont make that with your degree..
ARdawg
November 21st, 2012
11:28 am
Altamaha
This padding stats whine is pure BS from the Nerds in an effort to denigrate Murry’s career. It only adds up for those in Bugdom
Aaron Murray
November 21st, 2012
11:28 am
I am not leaving until I am able to hoist a Coaches Trophy in the air.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 21st, 2012
11:31 am
Rick James and after the 3.3 years in the NFL what do those players do without their degree and not making $5,500 for those 16 weeks? Many go broke.
AltamahaDawg
November 21st, 2012
11:37 am
Sounds to me that the facts prove without a doubt that a QB on a team that had struggled to run the ball, breaking in a new defensive strategy, and was recently 6-7 as a team, has not done well against the much better, top teams in the nation, but he did better against opponents who were not.
I find that to be utterly fascinating research.
tell me again
November 21st, 2012
11:47 am
Tavarres King said it best : You can always count on South Carolina to lose a couple down the road. SC has good recruits, something just happens to them after the first few games lol Face it Gamecock stooges, you didn’t take care of business, you got your a## handed to you by Florida, you CHOKED down the stretch. Too bad, how sad!
Skokie Dog
November 21st, 2012
11:48 am
Enter your comments here
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 21st, 2012
11:48 am
WELCH Career Stats
SEASON CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT
2012 3 6 39 50.0 6.50 15 1 0 1 159.6
2011 1 1 20 100.0 20.00 20 0 0 0 268.0
LeMay Career Stats
SEASON CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT
2012 1 2 43 50.0 21.50 43 0 1 0 130.6
Mason Career Stats
SEASON CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT
2011 18 30 254 60.0 8.47 46 2 0 1 153.1
2010 9 17 102 52.9 6.00 26 1 0 1 122.8
I couldn’t find PLAYING TIME in minutes but these guys didn’t play much. Murray didn’t sit many minutes in his career
Skokie Dog
November 21st, 2012
11:48 am
“It may have been a lighthearted gesture from a personal friend or it could have been the firm conviction for a former NFL coach and pro football analyst.”
Chip: I think you have another typo in there. Didn’t you mean to write lightHEADed?
Joey
November 21st, 2012
11:58 am
Dang what a pest.
Maybe backups coming in for mop-up duty tend to hand off the ball a lot.
Why don’t you see if you can look up that stat, clown . . .
Tampa Gator
November 21st, 2012
12:03 pm
“Uf is waaaayyyyyy overrated”
Obviously, Texas A&M, LSU, South Carolina and the BCS voters completely disagree with you.
….and we will soon see if FSU does as well…….and I think the Georgia players and coaches would disagree with you as well.
….and speaking of “owning” someone……that would be Spurrier over Richt…..two years does not constitute owning someone. More like 10 to 20 years of domination is “owning”…….and Spurrier qualitifes for that over Georgia at Florida and South Carolina.
AltamahaDawg
November 21st, 2012
12:03 pm
How are those lists coming along, fellows?
Rick James
November 21st, 2012
12:13 pm
@Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
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Rick James and after the 3.3 years in the NFL what do those players do without their degree and not making $5,500 for those 16 weeks? Many go broke.
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So do and some dont..I’m sure this in this economy a few Tech grads have gone belly up too.$5,500 a week for 16 weeks and 3.3 years is more than you make.If a guy chooses not to manage his money thats on him.People from all walks of life go broke its not exclusive to pro ballers..
Brewmaster
November 21st, 2012
12:29 pm
I’d take Dungy’s opinion any day over the “expert” bloggers. Murray’s line averages 6′ 5″, so he will do fine in the NFL.
bigDawg
November 21st, 2012
12:49 pm
If you think Murray plays poorly against ranked teams
RG3 never beat one, until his Sr season, when RG beat 2 ranked teams.
RG3 was the No 1 NFL draftpick, right?
Murray has already won more games against ranked teams than RG3, beat GT & Aub both ranked at the time in 2011, and beat top 5 ranked Florida in 2012.
KZGuy
November 21st, 2012
12:51 pm
Dungy is too nice of a guy to tell the complete truth. Murray NFL NO way!!
Tampa Gator
November 21st, 2012
12:52 pm
I will be surprised if Murray makes it big in the NFL. But he is probably better than what the KC Chiefs have at QB right now.
Rick James
November 21st, 2012
1:16 pm
@bigDawg
Tech fans like to present the argument that Murry has never won big games because they cant say he’s never beaten them..
hornblowermg
November 21st, 2012
1:18 pm
i have seen both murray and Mason play, and Mason makes his reads more accurately and has much better physical attributes than murray. i do wish that murray were an nfl calibre qb so that he would go on to his reward and give Hutson Mason the opportunity that he deserves and has been deprived of by the politically astute georgia coaching staff.
Rick James
November 21st, 2012
1:20 pm
Tampa Gator
will be surprised if Murray makes it big in the NFL. But he is probably better than what the KC Chiefs have at QB right now.
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If Murry really cared about the NFL he wouldnt be in a grad program trying to earn an avanced degree nor would he have graduated in three years.He would be doing just enough to to stay eligeble..
gt4ever
November 21st, 2012
1:27 pm
He is one HELL of a QB… It’s hard to say if he will be a NFL’r , so many variables…
hornblowermg
November 21st, 2012
1:28 pm
on the contrary, this blog seems to be filled with murray relatives. murray never had to prove himself over Mason; he was handed the job from the start, even though Mason performed better than him in practices and both R&B games. the only reason Georgia needs for murray to come back next season is so that we may have a semi-capable backup for Mason.