Stephen Garcia vs. Aaron Murray: Who Would You Rather Have on Your Team?

Stephen Garcia and Aaron Murray are probably two of the most different quarterbacks you could ask for.

Stephen Garcia is a gritty, tough, proven winner who has an ugly throwing motion, but enough heart to fill an ocean.

Aaron Murray is the prototypical quarterback with the poise and passing presence of your typical passing quarterback, and some athleticism to boot.

Just based on the description, you would assume the prototype would be the man you would want, right?

In the words of the obnoxious, stupid, Gamecock-hating Lee Corso, "Not so fast, my friend."

2010 Season Statistics

Who won the statistics battle in 2010? It's closer than you would think.

Aaron Murray:

Sixty-one percent completion percentage, 3,049 yards, 24 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 154.5 Rating, 167 yards rushing, four touchdowns. 

Stephen Garcia:

Sixty-four percent completion percentage, 3,059 yards, 20 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 148.7 Rating, 222 yards rushing, six touchdowns.

Stephen Garcia has Aaron Murray beat  in completion percentage, yards and rushing touchdowns.

Murray has Garcia in passing touchdowns, interceptions and passer rating.

This is a tough one, but because Murray has the edge in the three most important quarterback categories, you have to give him the edge.

Winner: Aaron Murray

Record as a Starter

Stephen Garcia is 17-13 as a starter.

Not world-beating numbers for sure, but he obviously wins more than he loses. (18-13 if you include the false start last weekend...or would you consider that Connor Shaw being 1-0? Didn't think so.)

Aaron Murray is 6-8 as a starter. 

Not close here. 

Winner: Garcia

Turnovers

Murray is not nearly the turnover machine that Garcia is, but Garcia isn't as bad as his national opinion seems to be.

With 17 turnovers last year, though, Garcia needs to improve. 

Winner: Murray

Clutch

Honestly? You have to say Garcia here.  He has been as clutch as he has been consistent for South Carolina. He seems to play well when the game is on the line, but he plays poorly in some big games. 

Murray just hasn't had the opportunity to be clutch...and the few chances he has had, he has failed. Plain and simple. 

Winner: Garcia

Accuracy

Well, here is where it gets tricky.

Garcia was very accurate last year and beat Aaron Murray in completion percentage. 

However, Aaron Murray is much more accurate than Garcia on the deep ball. Garcia is excellent in the short to mid-range, and his statistics for his deep pass are skewed a bit by Alshon Jeffery. (Of course, the same could be said about A.J. Green for Murray last season.) 

In Game 1 of this year, neither quarterback showed a great deal of accuracy. 

Garcia gets the edge here, believe it or not. 

Winner: Stephen Garcia

Arm Strength

These two quarterbacks probably have the strongest two arms in the SEC.

However, watching Aaron Murray shows that he has a more controlled deep ball, and that requires more strength than a player that sort of chucks it around. 

Winner: Aaron Murray

Speed

Both quarterbacks have plenty of athleticism, and both can run the ball.

However, Aaron Murray certainly looks faster on tape, and Garcia will admit himself that he isn't the fastest running quarterback there is, though he looked much faster against ECU than he did at any point last year.

Winner: Aaron Murray

Running Ability

Still, Garcia is the better runner. He is powerful, hits the holes like a fullback and just has a nose for the end zone. 

He has had numerous running highlights during the course of his career, and that is just one reason why the phrase "Poor Man's Tim Tebow" has been used before. 

Winner: Stephen Garcia

Leadership

These are the two premier leaders in the SEC, but there is something about Garcia that the players respond to.

No one in the entire league has gone through so much and come back for the sake of his team. No one has shown more grit and determination than Garcia. Garcia is the consummate leader. 

Winner: Stephen Garcia

Overall

Here it is, folks...who would I rather have on my team right now? 

The answer is an easy one. 

Stephen Garcia over Aaron Murray. And here is why: leadership, guts and ability to win. 

Murray is a great quarterback, and in a few years may be the guy that I would want on my team.  However, right now, I want a gritty, proven leader. 

Winner: Stephen Garcia

...plus, I am a bit on the biased side.

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