UGA, Aaron Murray, give fans reason for optimism with 55-7 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in Athens

Georgia Bulldogs A.J. Green and Washaun Ealey were on the bench for the 2010 season opener v. Louisiana-Lafayette, but that did not stop the Dawgs from defeating the Ragin’ Cajuns soundly, 55-7.

Two questions that have been plaguing many Bulldogs fans have been answered—at least, until the challenge of South Carolina next weekend: (1) Yes, Aaron Murray can lead the team and (2) Yes, bringing in Todd Grantham was the right move for the ailing UGA defense.

Redshirt freshman Aaron Murray had not taken a snap in a game since 2008, when he was in high school, but you would not have known it from watching him today. He had four touchdowns, one of them rushing, and played as if he had been playing in Sanford Stadium in front of the cheering crowds his entire time at UGA. True, he had an interception, and he got lucky a few times—particularly on a dropped should-have-been interception in the end zone—but, hey, luck is part of the game, too.

Murray has a lot of room to learn and grow—head coach Mark Richt has a reason to be concerned, for example, that his starting QB is playing a little overzealously with the run, particularly since he doesn’t seem to be familiar with the art of the “quarterback slide”—but he is a leader, and that is exactly what this team needs.

The Georgia defense was a complete 180 from 2009. No matter where the ball went, there was a swarm of UGA defenders on it. Many people have been curious, a few wary, of the 3-4 defense Coach Grantham brought to the Dawgs, but it was hard to criticize the move today. Not only was the coverage excellent, the energy was amazing—no more of the sluggish half-tackles of recent seasons. These Dawgs didn’t quit. They played hard, they went for the ball, they got the ball, and they did it again. And again. And again.

It is true, yes, that the Dawgs were not playing a team that was expected to cause them problems. But, anyone who has been following them for the last few seasons will agree that this team showed something that previous teams have not: Consistency. The Dawgs of 2009, for example, would have found ways to shoot themselves in the foot throughout the game. They may not have lost to the Ragin’ Cajuns, but they would not have beaten them soundly, either. They would have given up at least three touchdowns, and scored at least two less of their own. It would have been an entirely different ballgame from what we saw today.

Next week will give a better overall picture of what we can expect of the Georgia Bulldogs in 2010, but I think they gave fans a reason to be optimistic today.

Georgia v. South Carolina is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11, at South Carolina. Kickoff is set at 12 p.m. (ET). The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN/ESPN2.