Murray's potential starting to emerge;Quarterback has been one of the bright spots for offense this

Published Oct. 16, 2010 10:45 a.m. ET

foxsports

ATHENS --- For all that went wrong in the first half of Georgia's football season --- the arrests, the suspensions, the fumbles, the losses --- the Bulldogs start the second half encouraged about one development:

Their quarterback appears ahead of schedule.

Redshirt freshman Aaron Murray had his best performance of the season in last week's victory over Tennessee --- a four-touchdown (two running, two passing) effort that underscored the breadth of his game and the height of his potential.

"Aaron has come into his own," wide receiver A.J. Green said this week. "It is going to be special the way we end the season, especially with Aaron getting better each game."

You might recall the concern in Bulldog Nation when Murray struggled in the G-Day game. You might recall the summer consensus that Murray, who had not played in a college game, was the biggest question mark on the Georgia offense.

Seems like a long time ago.

As the Bulldogs (2-4, 1-3 SEC) open the season's second half with a homecoming game against Vanderbilt (2-3, 1-1) at Sanford Stadium today, Murray ranks among the SEC's leading quarterbacks.

He is No. 3 in the league in passing yards (228 per game) and No. 3 in touchdown passes (10). He has completed 62 percent of his passes and thrown just three interceptions.

Although he cautions that "I'm not a Denard Robinson or a Michael Vick," his running ability has added a compelling dimension to Georgia's game.

He has scored four of the team's seven rushing touchdowns, and his 35-yard scramble for a TD last week was longer than any run by a Georgia tailback this season.

"I told you from Day 1 that Aaron was going to surprise a lot of people," Green said. "I knew from Day 1 he was going to be a special guy. Just watching him practice and watching the way he prepares, the way he's in the film room getting better every day, it's unbelievable for a freshman."

Murray said he feels more comfortable each week in his understanding of both Georgia's playbook and opposing defenses. "I definitely feel like I'm progressing," he said.

It hasn't been enough, of course, to avoid Georgia's worst start to a season since 1993. That's the last time the Bulldogs were 2-4 after six games.

"You can't go back and say, 'What if, what if, what if,'" Murray said. "We felt like we had opportunities in all four [losses] to win those games, but we didn't play complete games. Last week, we played a complete game --- offensively, defensively and special teams."

When that 41-14 victory over Tennessee broke Georgia's four-game losing streak, coach Mark Richt told his team: "Don't focus on what could have been. Focus on what still can be."

"That is what has to motivate us from this point forward," Richt said this week. "There's still a lot of great things to be fighting for. When you think about how hard you work, how long you work, all the preparation that goes into the season, and that you're only guaranteed 12 games, you really do need to treat them all like they're special and treasure them and take advantage of them."

If Georgia is to take advantage of the next six games and salvage a season, Murray's penchant for playmaking --- epitomized by last week's two TD runs --- figures to be a key factor.

"He gets out there and makes big plays. He plays to win the game," fifth-year senior wide receiver Kris Durham said. "He doesn't play to sit back and not make a mistake."

And yet Murray has made few mistakes, even if the record doesn't reflect it.

"Coach Richt and those guys have done such a good job with the quarterback," Vanderbilt coach Robbie Caldwell said. "He seems to have a tremendous grasp of what they're trying to do. He doesn't make foolish mistakes. Very calm, very collected. I've been very impressed."

Key national games

Arkansas at Auburn, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)

Texas at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Ohio State at Wisconsin, 7 p.m. (ESPN)