By the time Aaron Murray had his first incompletion in the 48-3 rout of Vanderbilt, if was way past bedtime for my three-year-old grandson.

That’s because his first incompletion did not come until with about three minutes left in the first half at Sanford Stadium.  And since the game was on ESPN, there’s a good chance it was around midnight.  All kidding aside, Murray was 12-for-12 before his first incompletion.  The 12 straight is third on Georgia’s all time list behind Quincy Carter and Eric Zeier who each completed 15 in a row at one time in their careers.  He also added two more touchdown passes moving him past Zeier into second all time in UGA history with 69 and only four behind the great David Greene.

Murray is the leader of what has become a juggernaut of an offensive unit.  The Dawgs have scored 40 or more points in four straight games.  No UGA team has ever done that.  In addition, to backup the 713 yard performance in the win over FAU last week, the Dawgs offense grinds out 567 against the Commodores. 

Much, if not most of the success this year is because of Murray.  The junior from Tampa has moved on from what were two very inconsistent years as a redshirt freshman and sophomore.  This season he is in charge.

 “Aaron’s making good decisions, not only throwing the ball, but in our running game,” Head Coach Mark Richt said after the game.  “It’s just great to have a guy who prepares like he does and has the confidence and experience to get it done.”

Richt also says Murray’s command of the playbook and the quarterback’s vision on the field have combined for very few wrong plays on offense.  Murray smiled when he heard those comments. “I’ve been here forever, this is my fourth year, so I better know the playbook by now,” he joked.  “But there is a lot of trust with the coaches with them putting a lot on my plate when it comes to check and putting us in the right play.  Our goal this year is to decrease bad plays and wrong plays that’s why they have given me a lot of trust.”

Murray is also the beneficiary of an offense chocked with talent.  Two freshman running back, Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, who have put the bad taste of Isaiah Crowell firmly in the rear view mirror.  And a cadre of receivers that are the deepest a Mark Richt team has ever had in Athens.  As a quarterback, when your choice are Tavarres King, Marlon Brown, Michael Bennett, Rantavious Wooten, Malcolm Mitchell and Rhett McGowan, odds are your going to have a completion or two, or three, or four, or more.  And that’s not even counting the talented tight end duo of Artie Lynch and Jay Rome.

The early season success of the Georgia offense, and thus, the success of Murray, may have surprised some, but according to Murray it was bound to happen.  “It starts with hard work in practice and in the film room and the weight room,” he said after the game.  “Our guys are working hard right now Sunday through Friday, and these are the results that occur when you put in the time.”

These are also the results that occur when you quarterback is a leader like Aaron Murray.