Aaron Murray’s Knee Recovering Nicely
February 23rd, 2014
Joe thinks Georgia QB Aaron Murray will be a very good value pick on the third day.
Joe is on record saying a team is going to get a steal in the NFL draft with Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray. SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Pat Kirwan, the former Bucs scout, raved madly to Joe yesterday about Murray as a Russell Wilson-type of player for some lucky club.
The Tampa native — he was quarterback at Plant High School with James Wilder, Jr. in his backfield — was seen as a third round pick as his senior season was in its final weeks. Then, like some cruel joke, Murray blew out a knee and needed surgery.
That pretty much guaranteed Murray wouldn’t be picked before the fourth round. Murray showed up at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis mainly for the team interviews and medical testing. In his media session with the fourth estate, Murray spoke of his rehabilitation.
“I see Dr. [James] Andrews pretty much about every week,” Murray said. “Right now the knee is feeling awesome and fully expect come April 16, our Pro Day, I’ll be full-go doing everything out there for our Pro Day.
“If I want to be able to participate in Pro Day, I’ve got to grind. There’s no feeling sorry for myself. There’s no taking days off. It’s a challenge. But I always like a new challenge and I’ll face it head on. Like I said, we’re grinding every single day, no days off and right now we’re way ahead of schedule and it’s feeling great.
“I wish I could go out there and compete [at the combine]. Wish I could have played in the Senior Bowl, wish I could have done everything out here this week, but like I said, it’s a process. The recovery, I’ve got to trust in my doctors and know that I’m getting better, I’m getting stronger, and I’ll have to go out there and have an awesome Pro Day. And like I said earlier, I just try to take advantage of these meetings, these opportunities to meet with these teams and just show them that mentally I’m capable of handling this next level.”
When asked if his knee injury dropped his stock, Murray hoped out loud that his game tape against SEC defenses each and every week will reinforce to teams he can play quarterback — and keep them from being spooked too much about his knee.
Again, Joe thinks Murray, a four-year starter for the Bulldogs who finished with the most passing yards (13,166) in SEC history, is going to be a total steal. Since Bucs general manager Jason Licht has hinted he wants to stockpile quarterbacks, this is about as good of a low-risk/high-reward gamble as one can get.
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:15 pm
Murray, A.J McCarron and Logan Thomas look like interesting QB’s to draft and work with.
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:16 pm
Joe….. I never agree with you on JF, but I will certainly agree with you here
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:17 pm
If he is available in the 4th or 5th round why not give him a strong consideration provided we do not get a QB earlier. I do not see drafting more than one QB. We should also bring in another veteran. I have noticed in the past that QB Cousins from Washington has looked pretty good when I have seen him play allthough I have not seen a ton of film of him and I am not sure if he will be a free agent. Anyone know much about his situation or if he could be some competition? I do not have a ton of free time to research this stuff.
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:17 pm
Stay away. Stay far away.
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:29 pm
We will regret it if we don’t take aj macron
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:39 pm
McCarron? No way, no how. That guy has Greg McElroy written all over him. No thank you.
I wouldn’t complain if we drafted Murray in the 4th or 5th. Just don’t expect too much from the guy and you won’t be disappointed.
I’m warming to Manziel slightly (after being sub-zero Arctic towards the idea) after hearing more from actual scouts and seeing his 40 time today, but he simply won’t be there at #7 so we can scratch that idea.
If you guys really want a QB early it’s likely between Bortles in the 1st or Garropolo in the 2nd.
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:40 pm
Mccarron
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:43 pm
Guy does it all- leader- reads defense – goes through progressions and is the most accurate qb in the draft- plus he is from mobile the city of champions
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:44 pm
McCarron or Murray?
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:45 pm
I just want to know who has the hottest girlfriend between those two and Johnny Football.
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:47 pm
I was asking you about him a month ago.he would be a great late round pick ! he’s a winner
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:50 pm
rayjay…according to Washington they want to keep Cousins on the roster as a back up and supposedly have no interest in trading him.
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:50 pm
Murray’s girlfriend is the hottest IMO
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:04 pm
Thank you Buc1987.
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:05 pm
THAT is who the Bucs should take in the draft at QB. We have too many needs at other positions to worry about a QB at 7.
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:06 pm
Murray probably the most NFL ready qb in this Draft he broke a lot of SEC records plus half of his weapons were hurt and he still played like a true qb would love the bucs to pick him up late he will be this year’s Jem if he gets healthy
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:13 pm
With a full recovery he would be great competition for Glennon. He’s smart with the ball, a pocket passer who can run, and pretty accurate too. I believe he also had the most TD’s in SEC History. If he were on a team like Alabama or Auburn he would’ve done much better than McCarron or Nick Marshall. Plus his stats were not inflated by lobbing the ball to A.J Green or handing it off to Knowshon Moreno like Stafford had the luxury of.
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:16 pm
Walkdaplank
Most of his weapons were hurt last year and still managed to have a great year and break the record good add on the stafford stuff
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:26 pm
Trust me i know. His three best recievers (Malcolm Mitchell, Michael Bennett, Chris Conley) couldnt stay healthy. His top two RB’s (Todd Gurley, Keith Marshall) also went down with injuries though Gurley came back eventually. Gurleybis a good RB too keep an eye out for himm. And despite all the injuries, Murray was still able to lead the Bulldogs to wins againstLSU and South Carolina. He also led one of the best 4th quarter comebacks iI’ve ever seen from a college QB that should’ve resulted in a win against Auburn, of not for the selfish play of Tray Matthews.
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Please no Gomer Pyle McCarron. Not a fan of Murray either, but McCarron has little developmental potential.
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:50 pm
The SEC is way overrated defensively. I actually did watch a few Georgia games and was not that impressed with Aaron.
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:52 pm
Watched every snap aj has played -‘best in the draft at seeing the field and accuracy.’arm could be better but it’s good enough.
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Meh to Murray. I’d be shocked if he was ever more than a spot starter in the NFL.
February 23rd, 2014 at 5:20 pm
I’d like to see the Bucs pick up Schaub after he’s released and add a guy like Murray in later rounds.
There are too many holes to fill in the early rounds.
February 23rd, 2014 at 6:19 pm
@Sammy Watkins Mob Says:
“…Murray’s girlfriend is the hottest IMO…”
Hotter than Bortles gf? Wow, yes, she is pretty hot. Thanks for the heads up on that one!
February 23rd, 2014 at 6:25 pm
@Cobraboy Says:
“…I’d like to see the Bucs pick up Schaub after he’s released…”
I watched a little bit of Schaub play after he was demoted, then moved back into the starting spot. IMO, I think he has lost his confidence; kind of “Freemaned” his brain. Cassell, McCown I like. Vick maybe if he is a deal (he is going to be expensive, is always injury prone and how much can he really have left?)
February 23rd, 2014 at 8:16 pm
I’m okay with us taking him in the fourth or fifth, but I’ve seen him play in a handful of games and have never been impressed. Perhaps I just saw some bad games, but he sure didn’t look like a NFL starter to me.
February 23rd, 2014 at 10:02 pm
I think this kid is a player. Plus Georgia runs a pro style offense.
Very nearly or is the most prolific passer in SEC history. Very much worth a shot.
February 24th, 2014 at 1:48 am
Murray hurt is better than Glennon!
February 24th, 2014 at 8:55 am
Best Murray will ever be is a backup and that’s a stretch.
February 24th, 2014 at 10:00 am
Murray reads a defense better than any other QB in this draft. I watched him a ton in college. He also anticipates his throws better than any other QB in this draft. If he were 2 inches taller everyone would have him in the mix as a 1st rounder even with the injury. If the Bucs drafted him in the 4th I would be very happy with that…the only QB I would rather have than Murray is Bortels.
February 24th, 2014 at 11:10 am
I’ve been saying this very same thing all offseason and people called me a fool.