Aaron Murray!
I read where a local radio talk show host predicted that Georgia would stink once again next season, perhaps winning just seven games in 2011, but I must disagree for ONE MAIN REASON: Aaron Murray.
The redshirt freshman quarterback has, through the first twelve games of the season, thrown for 24 touchdowns, just one back of Matthew Stafford's single-season Georgia record for scoring tosses, and he is tied with DJ Shockley with 28 overall scores, also a record for the Red & Black. He also has racked up some big-time passing yardage as a freshman, as in the most in the school's history for a freshman signal-caller. He passed David Greene, aka the once all-time winningest QB in NCAA history during the Georgia Tech game, and according to the AJC, he has 2851 yards for the year, behind only Kentucky's Jared Lorenzen (2000) in the SEC. Murray has a chance to pad his yardage numbers and overtake Stafford, you may remember him as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, with two scores in the bowl game.
And let's not forget that Murray has started EVERY game this year (something that Stafford didn't do his freshman year), and this spring will be his third spring practice in Athens. Take a look at how two of Richt's previous multiple-year starters fared in their second seasons: David Greene led Georgia to the SEC title, a Sugar Bowl win and a final ranking of No. 2 or No. 3, depending on your poll preference; Matt Stafford led Georgia to a share of the SEC East title, a Sugar Bowl victory and the No. 2 or No. 3 final ranking, depending on your poll preference. Both entered the season with a low starting ranking (like Georgia likely will start the year in 2011) and both players had the help of a defensive freak and a running back that finally broke out that season. David Pollack and Musa Smith helped Greene while Marcus Howard and Knowshon Moreno helped Stafford. Justin Houston (if he sticks around) and Washaun Ealey (or perhaps a true freshman whose name rhymes with Fisiah Trowell) could be those guys next year.
Now you are going to say, "But he'll lose AJ Green and Kris Durham!" Well let's just say that Durham is certainly gone due to graduation, but Green could come back. OK, fine, he's gone too. But you're telling me that Georgia doesn't have other players capable of stepping up? Tavarres King was a FREAK in high school. Same with Marlon Brown. Don't forget Wooten and perhaps the Champ Bailey-esque Branden Smith. Are any of those guys AJ Green? No, not yet. But you are telling me Kenneth Harris, Sean Bailey and Mohamed Massaquoi were AJ Green either? You are telling me that Terrence Edwards, Fred Gibson and Damien Gary were better than what Murray could be trotting out next season? And don't sleep on Michael Bennett, a freshman currently redshirting that could be a Durham-clone: sneaky speed and great height.
I now that something happens between the freshman and sophomore seasons with Mark Richt watching over you. I don't know what it is, but he has the magic touch. He won Chris Weinke a Heisman at FSU and he won Charlie Ward one as well. Richt knows how to tailor an offense to a quarterback (see: 2005 with Shockley), and he'll have Murray as the center of the 2011 offense, much like Green was supposed to be the center of the 2010 offense. Seven wins is selling Richt short. He hasn't forgotten how to coach, especially coach up a quarterback. Should Houston stay (not a stretch that he would stick around) and one of those talented receivers plays the role of Bailey/Massaquoi/Gibson, Murray could easily take this team on his back all the way to a BCS bowl.
2 comments:
Yeah, but who is going to block for him?
Is this FINALLY the year Stacey Searles lives up to his reputation??
Coach SS always seems to do the MOST with the least and PS, the line will return Cordy Glenn, KGates and Ben Jones with Austin Long, Watts Dantzler, Zach DeBell, Chris Burnette and Brent Benedict (who could have started this year if not for that freak injury while in HS). He'll have some talent with which to work. And he'll work it out. (Assuming Dantzler and DeBell actually do sign with Georgia)
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