Georgia Football: 2012 Will Be Aaron Murray's Best Season

Playing quarterback at the University of Georgia is not an easy thing.

You have to be smart, athletic and a natural born leader. Guys such as David Greene, Eric Zier and Fran Tarkenton fit those qualities and they won a lot of games because if it.

In two years at the helm, Aaron Murray has become a good quarterback for the Bulldogs, but the question remains: Will he take the next step in his maturation process?

The answer to that question is yes. Since he started his first game in 2010, Murray has gotten better, and based on the work he puts in during the offseason, he has nowhere to go but up.

One could make the argument that he’s the best quarterback in the SEC. ESPN.com named Murray to the All-SEC First Team, and Phil Steele named him to the All-SEC Second Team last year. Murray threw for over 3,100 yards and a school record 35 touchdowns. He also led the Bulldogs to their first 10-win season in three years.

So how can he have a better season than the 2011 campaign? It’s easy, because if you look at his numbers closely, he did turn the ball over more than he would have liked. Murray threw 14 interceptions last year and six of those picks came in the last four games.

He also had trouble holding onto the football when he had costly fumbles against South Carolina and LSU.

Murray also wants to lead the Bulldogs to a SEC title and possibly a national title. He was able to get the Bulldogs to the conference title game last year, but LSU was too much for the Bulldogs and they could not bounce back against Michigan State in the Outback Bowl a month later.

So how will Murray be able to reach his goals for himself and for the Bulldogs?

Most of it will depend on him but it will also depend on his teammates. The offensive line for the Bulldogs has been inconsistent the last few years, but OL coach Will Friend will look to find the five best players that will give Murray time to throw and make plays. With new players like John Theus and Mark Beard in the fold and Dallas Lee coming back from an injury, the offensive line should be as strong as it has ever been.

And with the offensive line better, the running game will be more consistent, which will be huge for Murray to have his best year to date. Mark Richt is anxious to see what Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley bring to the table. If those two along with Isaiah Crowell can mesh together, then Murray will have one less thing to worry about.

But I think the emergence of the young receivers last season is key for Murray to have a successful 2012. Tavarres King is back and will provide leadership for a talented unit. But Malcolm Mitchell, Chris Conley and Michael Bennett showed they can handle the pressure and make plays when their numbers are called. Their numbers will be called more because Murray’s security blanket, Orson Charles, has moved on to the NFL.

Everything is set up nicely for Murray to have his best year yet. He should have a better offensive line, the running game should be improved and his receivers are still in place. Plus the schedule sets up nicely for the Bulldogs, so Murray will have a chance to get off to a hot start and carry that momentum into games against such teams as Florida, Auburn and South Carolina.

Will Murray win the Heisman if he has his best year as a Dawg? That’s a tough call. But if he plays better than he has the last two years, the Bulldogs will be back in the Georgia Dome in December.