Skeptical Aaron Murray raises interesting question about Jamie Newman's opt-out announcement
As Jamie Newman’s decision to opt out of the 2020 season becomes more settled for Georgia fans and college football analysts, speculation will ramp up. That includes former Georgia QB Aaron Murray, who weighed in on the news and raised an interesting point about Newman’s announcement.
“The timing is a little iffy,” Murray told Mark Packer on SiriusXM. “If it would have been said 3 weeks ago, hey this world’s too crazy, I don’t want to risk it, then fine, I understand it. If it really is about the COVID, then I understand, I’m never going to get mad at someone who is worried about their health or maybe someone that’s around them, a loved one about getting them sick. So if that’s really is the case, I support your decision.”
Then Murray wonders if fellow QB JT Daniels was playing better, or if something else was going on with the offense. But Murray thought Todd Monken as the offensive coordinator made it the perfect situation for Newman. Murray thought Newman was ready to take the next step to be a top-three round quarterback in the NFL Draft. But when he watches Newman at Wake Forest before his transfer to Georgia, Murray doesn’t see it.
“I thought there was a lot of things in Jamie Newman’s game this year that he would have had the opportunity to showcase that he could do, because you have plenty of talent around him,” Murray said. “… To me, I don’t know if it was an agent telling him he needs to stay, I don’t know who it was, but I think he lost out on an opportunity to be a better quarterback. To win possibly an SEC, to make it in the playoffs, to be a Heisman contender and I think he pissed away millions of dollars in my opinion.”
After Georgia QB Jamie Newman announced that he will opt out of the 2020 season, @aaronmurray11 questioned the timing when he joined @MarkPacker. pic.twitter.com/HmxWgQlfYm
— College Sports on SiriusXM (@SXMCollege) September 2, 2020
I don’t think it hurts his draft stock…he has months to work on the things the nfl thinks he needs to work on and he’ll get workouts pre draft to show he can do it. The benefits of passing on the season (lower risk of injury, no risk of bad tape throwing to receivers you don’t know, lower risk of getting a virus we don’t know the long term effects of) out weigh any gains. Dude a likely first round pick he could only go in one direction.
Game tape against 10 weeks of SEC competition is a lot more impactful than tape of you running around in shorts throwing against ghost defenders at a garage facility in Florida.
^^^
Worked out real well for Jake Fromm.
Fromm was exposed. He ended up being drafted about where he should have. If a player is worried about getting exposed, then he is hiding something or simply lacks confidence. Neither is a good thing.
Or maybe game tape against 10 weeks of SEC competition would expose the fact that he was a 3 star coming out of high school for a reason.
^^^
@KirbySmart………I just thought of something. I know that Newman and Justin Fields are really close friends. They work out together when able. Makes me wonder. Did Justin Fields possibly tell him or the coaches. That maybe he is seriously thinking about coming back to UGA? That might be a good reason to opt out!!!
Honestly I’m more than happy with what we have at UGA right now! But it would have been nice to have even more depth. Fields might be just a dream. We’re fine as we are.
PS. Still nobody at UGA would cry if Field’s came home. Except the competition maybe. Just a thought. What do I know? LOL
King Negan
Yeah, I’m sure Fields could use the whole “The culture at OSU is a bit more racist than the one at UGA” argument to get immediate eligibility. Let me break this down for you, Fields is from GA has friends at UGA, he was there watching a game he loves with friends and family. Hes not coming back to play for UGA. You guys wanna blame someone blame yourselves, Newman played your school and fan base. Outside of PFF noone was talking about Newman till he used UGA as a platform to garner attention and hype. He got a first hand look at an elite level SEC defense and knew he wasn’t gonna cut it. Next time, pump the brakes on the preseason Heisman campaigns because you ended up with a worse version of Jeremy Johnson. At least he played the game.
I think the 1st round buzz was if he had a good year at Georgia. I would be shocked if he goes in the first two rounds. NFL teams don’t draft guys that haven’t played in over year with stats like his. Look at his good games…they were against teams like Rice, Elon, and Utah State.
Drew Lock? Similar but he did get drafted in the second round. Then he had special training with one Denver coaches or specialist. He then took over for the injured starting quarterback last year in those 5 games he went 4-1. Then Denver announces that Drew Lock will be the starter next year(this fall). Plus with the draft picks of two wide receivers and a tight end(From Missouri) Drew favorite target. Also OL and I think a running back too. All pretty good grades from the draft. Denver wanted to compete with KC on the offense. Anything can happened. Lock went to the right team that he would be successful. Not many quarterback get that chance. It also depends on the team and the HC and the OC.
@truevol………. The millions he might have thrown away upon signing is the point here. If he was going to do this. He should have stayed at wake forest! As is it just looks like he couldn’t play with the big boys or handle competition. Maybe he can. But no proof of it. And if he gets drafted now. He will be a late draft pick.
I for one am NOT SURPRISED! We have 3 other QBs that were higher ranked in high school. And I think better overall QBS!!!! I’ve been saying JT Daniels or Carson Beck!!! I think JT Daniels is by far the better QB. I was going to give Newman a chance. And honestly I thought he might start. Just based on his ONE SEASON! But not because he was better. And I never believed he would keep the job!!! NEWMAN IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO JT DANIELS IN THE PASSING GAME. AND WHY PEOPLE THINK DANIELS CAN’T THROW LONG IS BEYOND ME!!! IN HIGH SCHOOL AS A JUNIOR. DANIELS WAS ROUTINELY THROWING THE BALL MORE THAN 50 YARDS DEAD ON THE MONEY!!! IT LOOKED EFFORTLESS!!!
PS. It’s not covid that brought this about. I believe it had something to do with either being outplayed in practice. Then again maybe it could be Justin Fields watching practice. Who knows? But I think this speaks volumes about our QB room!!! In a good way.
King Negan
LMAO…
” all our other QBs were higher ranked in high school”
” Did Justin Fields possibly tell him or the coaches. That maybe he is seriously thinking about coming back to UGA?”
Poor lost puppy.
Fields ain’t coming.
If all you can brag about your starting QB is his star ranking coming out of high school you are in for a long season
He is having another meltdown … He is posting on 2 day old article to himself trying to convince everyone that Daniels is now savior… LMAO
He was losing the qb battle. Maybe he can coach hs football.
I’d feel better about our chances this year if Newman’s decision isn’t really due to COVID. To me, it would mean he wasn’t necessarily going to start anyway.
@BC……….You must know nothing about JT Daniels. JT Daniels has ALWAYS BEEN the most talented of those two!!! In fact I believe both Carson Beck and D’wan Mathis are better, as far as pure talent. Newman was a 3 star who worked hard to improve. And he never faced SEC type defense, Until now at UGA!!!
JT Daniels was one of the best ALL TIME high school QBs! He put up historic numbers vs the best of the best!!!! Daniels started in the 8TH GRADE on the #1 team in the country!!! They had lots of elite QBs. And they were much older than the freshman. Daniels did basically the same thing in 3 seasons. That it took both Trevor Lawrence and Bryce Young 4 full seasons to do!!! And Daniels reclassified and came out as a junior!!! Started at USC as a true freshman on a horrible team. Then won the QB job again. And got hurt the first half of the first game. Allowing another QB to come in who really lit it up!!! But it’s important to remember. NOBODY BEAT JT DANIELS OUT!!! HE HAD WON THE QB COMPETITION. AND WAS THE STARTER BEFORE THE INJURY!!!
He can also run but I don’t want him to. In high school he made long runs for TDS! College is not much different than high school. When you play at the level he played. The SEC could be different. But other QBs that didn’t do half as much in high school. Became stars in the SEC. So why not him? Also Carson Beck Mr Florida football is another Fromm with a better arm and taller! D’wan Mathis has a heck of a tape and all world arm strength!!!
UGA still has maybe as talented of a QB room as anyone. JT Daniels is far better in Monkens offense than Newman. Newman had experience and yes some talent. BUT I NEVER PENCILED HIM IN AS THE HANDS DOWN STARTER!!! I only thought because of his experience he might start.
PS. But I always said. The most talented QBs were the others!!! And I think he thinks so to!!!
KN
Part of me wonders if Newman didn’t have what it takes between the ears to run Monken’s offense.
That would explain the timing. Scrimmaging for the first time in a complex offense against an elite SEC defense may not be his cup of tea.
I wish him the best but we gotta hurry up and put this thing in the rear view.
Go Dawgs!
Go Dwan Mathis!!
Yeah, it’d be great to see Mathis thrive.
Class of 94. Newman played in a sophisticated offense at Wake Forest. Actually, the new air-raid offense at UGA is far less complicated than the one WF ran when Newman played there. And why would you think Newman does not have it better his ears…??? Hummmm…
Dear God, the obsession with skin color never stops. Grow up.
Throwing the race card does not make you right, Kirby, and I am throwing a flag on you. Where did you see race as an issue from a poster because it sure wasn’t Nature Gator?
“And why would you think Newman does not have it [between] his ears…??? Hummmm…”
I don’t know what else he could be insinuating about Class of 94’s post.
Dude, Ryan Leaf didn’t have it between his ears. It goes all ways.
Exactly, so I don’t know why he was insinuating that Class of 94’s post was hiniting at anything else.
I am saying…Newman never played a down at Georgia and this guy is indicating maybe he did not have it between the ears. Exactly how did he conclude that. He supposedly had it between the ears at Wake Forest, which happens to have high academic standards? Let him say why he posted that. Hummmm…
Ryan Leaf had a drug problem, not a brain problem.
Kirby Smart. I was insinuating that he had NO basis whatsoever to post that about Newman. What evidence of that at UGA or WF?
It’s a pretty stupid opinion, yes, but you can’t just assume that he was basing his opinion on race. That’s a pretty outlandish accusation.
SOS, nature brought it up.
Exactly, Classy94. In fact, I don’t recall Kirby specifically rotating more than the 1 and 2 at QB for past preseason scrimmages. Seemed odd to me at the time that he did it, AND went out of his way to discuss it with the media. Heck, now is the time a coach limits reps 90/10 between his top 2 QB’s Maybe, despite all the physical tools, Jamie wasn’t learning the playbook or leading the O unit so well. Then, he figured having a close fight for the starting role would be worse for his draft stock than bowing out now.
That sounds like a recycling of the lame argument that Justin Fields couldn’t beat out Jake Fromm because he wasn’t able to comprehend Georgia’s (supposedly) complex offense.
Based upon Fields’ performance in his first year at Ohio State, I’d say that argument was hogwash then. And it’s hogwash now.
Its hilarious, the same clowns are using the same excuses over and over like noone will remember.
He probably thought he was going to sit on the bench so he opted out. I wish him luck.
@CLASS……Anything is possible. But I heard reports that the younger QBs Daniels, Beck and Mathis already knew the playbook. I heard Daniels learned it very quickly. But he is an above average student hence graduating a year early. He also has a super football IQ like Fromm had. As well as Beck.
Personally I think all the off season distraction like the riots and protest. May have distracted him. Got his mind off football. I honestly believe that he thought the starting job. Was just going to be handed to him. Without having to work much. Then when Daniels came. He knew he wasn’t going to hold the job long. Even if he got it. But he didn’t want to say I opt out that quickly. He wanted to at least give it a whirl. Then he found out that A. UGA is not wake forest!!! Much tougher practices. And B. Our QB room was a whole lot better than he expected.
And with the quote SLOPPY SCRIMMAGE. Maybe he got yelled at by the coaches. Possibly got his feelings hurt? Maybe with all his experience in the ACC. He just wasn’t ready. Maybe even had a chip on his shoulder?
But I remember Kirby praising his work ethic. And I’ve always heard that he was a great teammate. Even back at wake. Honestly, I think he knew he wasn’t going to start after all that build-up. And he opted out to save face. That’s what I think!!!!
PS. I guess it’s better to opt out than get benched. Because that way the NFL ONLY HAS YOUR LAST GRADE! That was the 3rd QB behind Lawrence and Fields.
King Negan
I totally agree with Aaron Murray. The timing is very suspect.
Looking at several things that happened and the timing of those things starts to paint a picture.
First Newman transfers in. The media anoints him the savior and it seems he has the job locked up.
Then it seemed somewhat shocking that J T Daniels would also transfer to Georgia when they seemingly already had their starting QB in place. Daniels could have easily picked from a number of good programs who seemingly had less competition at the position.
Then two weeks ago it’s reported that Aaron Murray sees Newman struggling with intermediate passes, something that’s a big part of Monken’s offense.
It makes no sense for Newman to pass up a golden opportunity to be the starting QB for Georgia, something that could’ve vastly enhanced his draft stock. Not unless he either thought he wouldn’t win the job, or wouldn’t be able to hold onto the starting job.
I’m not trying to downplay the loss of Newman as much as make sense of it. Make no mistake, losing the only Senior QB on the roster who does have talent is a loss to the program.
I’m just not so sure Georgia really lost their starting QB when they lost Newman…
Of course they didn’t. If he thinks he’s starting, he’s staying.
What did it cost UGA to get Newman to transfer to UGA? A roster spot!
Aaron Murray knows the Quarterback position…played it well in Athens. I agree with every word he spoke. and yes…Jamie had better start looking for job outside of football, as his NFL dream just ended. He was probably #2 on the depth chart & Quit.
I find it funny how people think he lost millions by opting out. Why? Where was the proof this guy was anywhere close to the top ten QB’s in the nation? You can pat stats throwing at air defenses all day won’t make you a star in a harder conference.I think it was a combo of all things combined. Risk covers it all.Risk of being benched over JT, injuries the list goes on. He already got the hype he needed to get a draft but a first round draft of this guy is laughable. Good yes, elite.. not at this juncture.
I think most people in the Media had hyped him up to have a championship caliber year at UGA. That was the only way he was going to work his way into the 1st round. Now, no chance.
I just wonder if Daniel-son will start. He still hasn’t been medically cleared and ACLs aren’t the easiest to come back 100%.
Don’t be surprised to see a true freshman starting, especially if Daniel-son is not fully recovered from ACL.
For us, and them, when we play in week 3.
I guess Newman is not going to win the Heisman Trophy this year.
Trust me, he was never going to anyway..
Class of 94. Newman played in a sophisticated offense at Wake Forest. Actually, the new air-raid offense at UGA is far less complicated than the one WF ran when Newman played there.
I had to look it up. It sounds exactly like what Gus ran his first couple of years at Auburn with Nick Marshall.
Nature…But is was a brand-new offense to Jamie. He had 3 yrs. to learn the playbook at Wake Forest.
Study the air raid offense. It is a simple offense and easy to run. Easy reads and a lot of quick slant throws to set up the bomb. Not a lot to it and the terminology is simple.
But Newman was not that accurate at WF with the type of throws he would be making a lot in Monkens offense. Daniels will execute that offense a lot better. Watch.
I agree with Murray he blew a great opportunity.
I don’t think he pissed away millions but maybe. It’s why you never stop recruiting. Who knows who may opt out. If we have season.
Kirby to Newman, I take back what you were promised when you came here.
Newman to Kirby, Ok Coach, see you later.
Looks like Fields 2.0.
Wow, very bad take.
Kirby to Newman…..here is opportunity
Newman to Kirby…….too hard I bail.
Unless you thought your success might be less this year in the SEC, than you might opt out.
covid has nothing to do with it. his agent scared him and you have JT on his heels. it is what it is…from what I’ve heard JT is the real deal….
defense wins championships. ..Georgia will win
Is that how LSU won championships last year? Defense? And I do not remember UGA’s defense beating LSU the last two seasons, and LSU blew out UGA’s great defense with their great offense last season. So, no, not any more. Used to be that way. No more. You have to have a dynamic offense to win the national title and have a good defense as LSU did last season. It cannot be the reverse, as Georgia proved last season.
Exactly. Dynamic offense & good defense. Clemson did it twice. Tua did it. LSU was extremely dynamic last year. That’s the new model. Looks like Clemson is the most dynamic on offense again this year.
Nothing wrong with celebrating a title on the 40 year anniversary. No one would have expected that they would still be looking for their next one.
Weird. I wasn’t even on this article when I posted.
I did that once. It is weird.
So what about the 40 years. I still pull for them the same as if it was last year.
I agree with Aaron on all he said. It doesn’t make sense, but the truth with come out eventually, doesn’t matter now either way!