Georgia Bulldogs: Aaron Murray Is The Starting QB—No Question

Photo Credit: BRANT SANDERLIN/AJC

There will always be naysayers where Aaron Murray is concerned, but those people obviously didn't see how well Murray played in 2010. The redshirt freshman showed poise beyond his years and showcased a bevy of skills that even the coaching staff could not have expected.

So, when this article was published, questioning whether or not Georgia should "sit or start" Murray in 2011, I found myself intrigued as to what a non-Bulldog fan had to say on the subject. Below are the only two reasons this writer has for sitting the tough, young man from Tampa.

#1. Lack of Size

Murray measures in at 6'1" and 209 pounds. He needs to add a little weight to help endure some of the sacks he takes. Murray was sacked 24 times and suffered a number of hits during the 2010 season. Until the Georgia Bulldogs' offensive line improves, Murray should expect to have pass-rushers in his face at times.

His lack of height also occasionally leads to passes batted down at the line of scrimmage.

Okay, it's true that Murray is not the prototypical height and size of a pro-style quarterback, but that is not the only characteristic that goes into a quality starter.

There are plenty of 6'3", 225 lb, signal-callers that don't have the poise, pocket presence, or leadership ability that Murray displays on the football field and those are the intangibles that matter—every bit as much as the physical attributes.

Oh and, FYI, the nation's leading passer last season was shorter than Murray—Bryan Moniz. It also seems safe to assume that Boise State wouldn't trade their quarterback for  all the tea in China either. Kellen Moore clocks in at 6'0".

The point is, size doesn't always matter.

Furthermore, his lack of body weight is less important, where sacks are concerned, than Georgia's need to get their offensive line in order.

Murray didn't miss one game last season, despite being knocked on his backside better than 20 times. Even more, the anemic running game, the absence of playmakers in the receiving game (particularly in A.J. Green's absence), and the inability of the coaches to loosen the reigns as the season progressed, all played a hefty roll in Murray's inability to succeed in the win-loss column.

#2. Record

Murray was only able to produce a 6-7 record on the year and 3-5 record in Southeastern Conference play. While Murray's performances were decent, he wasn't able to lead the team to a winning record.

The fact that Murray was unable to "lead the team to a winning record" wasn't all on him. Poor playcalling, unfortunate turnovers, and defensive lapses in the secondary played key roles in losses at South Carolina, at Mississippi State, at Colorado, at Florida, and versus Arkansas—only one of those losses could, arguably, be attributed to Murray's play—he threw an ill-advised interception against Florida that led to the game-winning play in overtime.

If Georgia had taken care of business, on both sides of the ball in every one of those games, that 6-7 record might easily have been 10-3 or 11-2 (7-1 or 6-2 in the SEC).

Murray's lack of a winning record isn't all on him and there is no question that 2011 should be better for the Georgia Bulldogs—if Mark Richt and his staff can right the ship on both sides of the football field.

ESPN's Bob Griese: "I Would Not Vote For Cam Newton"

Bob Griese was asked—today during ESPN's broadcast of the Northwestern/Iowa game— if he would feel comfortable giving Cam Newton his Heisman vote—given the circumstances. He had this to say:

"Yeah, you know, as a voter, I'm a little bit concerned with what I'm hearing, especially on top of all this with the Reggie Bush situation and all that. My feeling right now is, there's just too much going on, and then, especially with the Auburn people coming out and saying, well we have "no comment"—where they have been commenting before. I would not vote right now and, if I had to vote, I would not vote for Cam Newton."

The controversy with the Auburn star took an interesting turn last night when, yet, another unnamed "source" came forth and confirmed that Cecil Newton did indeed solicit his son to Mississippi State in exchange for signing a letter of intent.

The story has not been confirmed or denied by any of the involved parties but, according to a story published by Mark Winne (an admitted Auburn alum) of WSB-TV, Cecil Newton admitted that he asked Mississippi State for money—without his son's or his wife's knowledge. Furthermore, Newton, allegedly, claimed that his son is clean of any wrongdoing.

All of this has led to doubts about Newton's eligibility to play in today's game.

Auburn has issued a firm "no comment" about the matter and has said nothing since the report on yesterday.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Mark Richt Under Fire After Loss to Mississippi State

That game in Starkville, what can you say that hasn't already been said? It was a travesty, an
embarrassment, a flaming pile of horse manure, and whatever other colorful adjectives you wish to use at this point.

Mark Richt, and the rest of his coaching staff, have gone from being a group with potential to a potential group without jobs—if you believe the interwebs.

Well, if you came here to see Mark Richt or Todd Grantham get thrown under the bus, leave now. That's not going to happen here—not today.

Despite the hideous display of undisciplined football that was played in the first half of the Mississippi State game, Georgia wasn't demolished by those other Bulldogs. On the contrary, as they have done all season, Georgia shot themselves in the collective foot by making foolish mistakes and continually forgetting that every down matters.

That is the reason why most rational fans are unhappy this morning. That is why they are scratching their heads and wondering what the hell is going on in Athens. The fact is, by the end of the first half, the Bulldogs should have, at worst, been sitting on a 14-7 lead.

Washaun Ealey's ill-timed fumble (again) and Marlon Brown's inability to play with proper fundamentals, erased eight points from the board. In both cases, the mistakes were avoidable and the poor execution of those plays was the reason the momentum of the first half ended in Mississippi State's favor.

Moving on to the defense, the one question that has to be asked is: what was the problem on third downs? Time and again, the defense placed the Bulldogs in situations where they should have been playing back on their heels, yet they let them off the hook by allowing them to convert for the big gain.

It was like they gave all they could give on first and second down, then let their foot off the gas on third downs—hoping Mississippi State would do the same.

Even more, where's the pass rush? Chris Relf had too much time to sit back and scan the field. Give any quarterback that kind of time and he will beat you. It also didn't help that the guys up front were continually dominated by the Bulldogs' offensive line—a frightening trend that began in week two at South Carolina.

People say there's nothing wrong with the strength and conditioning program at Georgia, well, all signs to the contrary because what I've seen is a front seven that can't muster a fraction of the pressure that they should under this new "attacking" style of play.

Admittedly, some of that is personnel. Grantham doesn't have the players to fit what he would like to do, but there are still plenty of good athletes at Georgia, and they should not continually get whipped by every offensive line they come up against in Division I football—that's embarrassing. 

One of the lone bright spots is Aaron Murray. He continues to shine despite standing behind an under-achieving offensive line. Bless him for being the play maker that he is, but he's going to get killed at some point this season because his line has no heart—that's right—NO HEART!

Last night, it became more and more difficult to count the sheer number of times the pocket broke down, particularly on the right side, and defender after defender was able to break through and flush Murray from the pocket. He was able to scramble his way to the first down more than once, but is that really what you want him doing all season—running for his life?

At one point, either Chris Burnette or Chris Davis just got outright flattened by a defensive player who managed to break through the line—sad. Did Stacy Searles (Georgia's offensive line coach) go on a long vacation because he's obviously not showing up to coach these "so-called" veterans who were supposed to be the rock for Georgia this season.

As for the offense, where do you possibly begin? Mike Bobo is atrocious at play-calling. There is no other way to say it. Georgia had one-on-one coverage all night against the Bulldogs, yet he decides to let Carlton Thomas have a go, or he calls some crappy draw play that loses yards—just no imagination whatsoever.

The only thing Bobo did right last night was accept responsibility for being such a hack. A welcome change from the idiocy that was last week when he, essentially, blamed the lack of offensive success on Aaron Murray's inability to get rid of the football—such class that guy.

Special teams is another conversation altogether. Did Georgia ever start outside of the shadow of their own 20? Seriously, where is the protection on special teams during kick/punt returns? The blocking was horrible and, aside from one very nice run by Brandon Boykin, there was nothing spectacular about the way Georgia played on returns last night.

All of this leads to one conclusion: Georgia is young and undisciplined in most areas. There is no leadership on the field and no player seems willing to step up and be the guy. The arrests and suspensions that plagued the team in the spring and summer were a harbinger of just how young and undisciplined this team would be on the field this season—hate to admit it, but it's true.

A.J. Green can't fix what ails Georgia. If you still believe he can, stop fooling yourself, it's simply not true. Even more, if you think firing Mark Richt right now is the way to go, answer this question: then what? Who do you think should take his place? Rodney Garner? Mike Bobo? Todd Grantham? Some other, currently unemployed, has-been, who got fired for doing the same thing Richt is right now?

Forgive the license, but continue to take your chances with Richt the rest of this season and in 2011 too—he's done enough to earn that much. Firing Mark Richt today is not the answer. He's still a good coach and this one season, as catastrophic as it has been thus far, could just as easily have been one that started 4-0.

Last night was painful. No doubt about it, but with 5:32 left to play in the game, it was still a 10-6 contest that Georgia had every opportunity to win—it's the same opportunity they had against both Arkansas and South Carolina.

This team has questions to answer about their heart, but the talent is there—they just need to start figuring out if they're man enough to use it.

The comment section is open to whatever you want to say, even if it's in total disagreement with my take—I assure you, your points are every bit as valid as mine.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 10 Things You Need To Know About Mississippi State

It was another night spent at the Heartbreak Hotel after the Georgia Bulldogs lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks in the waning seconds of Saturday's match-up in Athens.

The team fell to a worrisome 0-2 record in the SEC (1-2 overall) and the chorus of "Mark Richt Must Go" saw a sudden surge amongst opinionated bloggers and online media types looking for a surge in site traffic.

If you are a Georgia Bulldog die-hard, the win over the Louisiana Cajuns, on September 4th, has long since dissipated, and the truth you are left with is this: Georgia still has some growing up to do.

That said, it's time to shake off the heavy coat of disappointment and put on your best red and black face as the Bulldogs head to Starkville to face that other SEC Bulldog team from the west. They too are still seeking their first big time conference win and Georgia has to look ripe for the picking to a team that has played better than the final scores of their last two games would suggest.

So, what do Georgia fans need to know about the Mississippi State Bulldogs?

1. They still haven't truly settled on a quarterback. 

Tyler Russell has solid potential, but he's not ready to carry the team. He struggles with the pass rush and he isn't nearly as mobile Chris Relf. That said, Georgia still hasn't shown a propensity for getting to the quarterback on a consistent basis so it would not surprise to see Russell getting a few more snaps this week.

2. Chris Relf can be dangerous.

Relf may not dazzle you with his arm, but he is more than capable of picking up key yards with his feet. He is the most dangerous to a defense once the play begins break down. His ability to use his legs to buy time for his receivers to get open has served him well, for the most part, this season. He's a lot more instinctual and focused on the run than simply standing in the pocket—that's something to take note of. 

3. Vick Ballard is one to watch. 

The Bulldogs are still searching for their run game this season, but they hope to see Vick Ballard become the man who can offer them their most legitimate compliment to the passing game. He hasn't been able to bust out of his shell just yet, but he has been dangerous at home (averaging 6.08 ypc) where he's already scored three touchdowns.

4. They have a couple of talented receivers in Chad Bumphis and Brandon Heavens.

If the quarterback play is able to find its groove, there is definitely room to be encouraged about the Bulldogs ability to move the football vertically. Chad Bumphis' skills aren't a mystery. He's every bit the physical, talented, and speedy receiver you remember him to be, and he's only in his sophomore year. Heavens offers a nice No. 2 option—he is every bit as capable of stretching the field and challenging the secondary.

 5.  The offensive line is better this season than the last.

If you consider the fact that Chris Relf has scrambled a bit more than Dan Mullen might like, it's  impressive that, through three games, the offensive line has only allowed five sacks. By contrast, Georgia's line has allowed nine.  Derek Sherrod continues to shine at the left tackle position—giving coach Mullen hope that better days are on the horizon for both the passing and the running game once everything really starts clicking.

6. They have a solid group of linebackers. 

Starting with senior linebacker, and leader, K.J. Wright, the Bulldogs boast an impressive set of linebackers who are more than capable of making the life of the quarterback, and the accompanying running game, quite miserable. Wright is an all-around beast—both on the field as a playmaker and off the field as a leader—and Chris White doesn't get nearly enough credit for being the athletic, smart, and instinctive player he's been over the last year or so.

7. Beware of Charles Mitchell.

The secondary of Mississippi State is an opportunistic one. There are a lot of guys playing a very aggressive brand of football in this unit, and Charles Mitchell sets the tone for their approach. He's tough, he's hard to fool, and he brings the heat on every play. His veteran presence has been a steady, influential, force on a very underrated unit.

The Bulldogs are currently fourth in the SEC in pass defense.

8. They are more dangerous on third down than they are on first and second. 

The offense, as mentioned earlier, is still attempting to find an identity—both at the quarterback and the running back spots. That said, the Bulldogs have still proved to be adept at pulling out the big third down play when necessary. So far this season, they are converting 45 percent of their third downs—fifth in the conference (by way of comparison, the Crimson Tide convert close to 47 percent of their third downs).

9. They convert in the redzone. 

The Bulldogs haven't made many trips to the redzone this season (five), but they have made every one count—scoring a touchdown each time.

10. Kickoffs have been a sore spot.

Special teams coverage on kickoffs has been a problem for Mississippi State. They rank nearly dead last in the conference in kickoff coverage, allowing close to 27 yards per return.

Ole Miss To Finish Last in The SEC West, Is Mississippi State Really That Good?

To the surprise of absolutely no one, both Alabama and Florida were picked to win their respective divisions and meet up in Atlanta for the SEC Championship—again. That said, what was more surprising was those who would finish behind them in their quest for the same goal.

Here is the predicted order of finish as dictated by the media in attendance at SEC Media Days in Hoover, AL:

Eastern Division (First Place Votes)
1. Florida (153) 1030
2. Georgia (15) 791
3. South Carolina (8) 790
4. Kentucky 462
5. Tennessee 450
6. Vanderbilt (1) 194

Western Division (First Place Votes)
1. Alabama (157) 1034
2. Arkansas (6) 726
3. Auburn (10) 691
4. LSU (1) 653
5. Mississippi State 320
6. Ole Miss (3) 293

Two things jump out when looking at this list, 1) Mississippi State has been picked to finish ahead of Ole Miss, and 2) Someone actually gave Vanderbilt a first place vote—the hell?

That first point is both a hat tip to what Dan Mullen has been able to accomplish in Starkville over the last three-years and a kick in the stomach to where some people believe Houston Nutt is heading with  his program over in Oxford.

The pick is only mildly surprising given the momentum the Bulldogs have coming into this season. They are deep sleepers in the SEC West this season and though no one is looking for them to challenge for the title, they are expected to steal a win or two more than last season—earning a bowl bid in the process.

Even still, they will face the Rebels in Oxford this year and the Bulldogs haven't won a contest there there since 1996 (College Football Warehouse). Can Dan Mullen live up to the expectations of being picked to finish above his teams fiercest rival?

It's a tall task given the holes he needs to fill on both sides of the ball—moat glaringly at the running back position. Anthony Dixon is gone and there are legitimate questions about just how capable his replacement will be this season. Throw in some hefty questions about the consistency of quarterback Chris Reif and it's just as easy to see Mississippi State having another down year in 2010.

As for Houston Nutt, he lost Jevan Snead (if you consider that a big deal given his poor performance in big games last season) but he did have two talented, yet, inexperienced quarterbacks battling it out at the start of spring. However, now he may face a quandry of his own as Raymond Cotton could be seeking a transfer.

If does happen, Nutt would be left with a whole lot of Nutt-hin' as I don't know that many are sold on Nathan Stanley.

Add to that, what players will be able to replace the production of both Dexter McCluster and Shay Hodge on offense? Stanley may be better than Cotton but is he that much better—really? Especially if he has no one to hand it off to in the backfield or pass it out to down the sidelines?

There is certainly just as much room to worry if you are an Ole Miss fan but I don't know that those finely dressed students who congregate in The Grove need to be worried enough to consider hiding from what Mississippi State will have to offer.

Dan Mullen may be a fine coach but the players have to play the game and his team is definitely not without its weaknesses—I'd call the two even at worst.

Now, about that lone first place vote for Vanderbilt. My guess is the one media representative who did so was really giving his opinion on interim coach, Robbie Caldwell. He (Caldwell) certainly was the most refreshingly entertaining coach to appear at the event this year—I give him an A++ for the "turkey insemination" story alone.

That said, if that lone media vote was actually serious, well...honestly...I just don't know what to say.

A full transcript of Houston Nutt's Media Day session can be found here.
A full transcript of Dan Mullen's Media Day session can be found here.

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