Playing in a pro-style offense at Georgia, that is.
Having a good pro day may be a double-edged sword for Mason. The workout may have actually moved him into the late rounds of the draft because he is one of the few quarterbacks coming out this year that ran a true pro-style offense.
We hear the same thing every year before the draft. I expect recruits do, too.
Get The Picture 
So you’re saying Richt wasted his talent by starting that other bum in front of him for 4 years?
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Sarcasm, for the win!
Although you could have added something about QBR, man. 😉
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Wow, I’m impressed he ran a 4.7. I mean, I think we all knew he was more athletic than he was generally given credit for, but I wouldn’t have guessed his 40 would be that low. If I remember right, Murray didn’t run the 40 bc of his injury, but I can’t imagine his would have been lower than that, and I had always assumed Murray was faster than Mason.
It’s interesting, the discussion about whether it’s best to be drafted late or to go as an unsigned free agent. The FA route definitely gives you more options, and I’m guessing the money isn’t THAT different from a 6th/7th rounder, though I don’t know that to be true for sure.
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The money isn’t much different (used to be about $10 to $15K in Signing Bonus)…but there’s benefit to being drafted in that you’re squarely on a GM and Coach’s resume. There’s some incentive to give you a better shot.
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Those NFL scouts have absolutely no clue what they’re talking about. Our system prepares QB’s for the NFL just as much as theirs.
–Gus Malzahn
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” Our system prepares CB’s for the NFL just as much as theirs.”
Fixed that for you. 😉
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Da Noodle…al dente?
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I appreciate Mason’s play and dedication to the Dawgs, but he doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of being an nfl QB.
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Interesting.
There was a time that Kurt Warner, Warren Moon, and Doug Flutie might have read the same thing by a well meaning fan, The only person that sets how high their bar will be set is that person himself.
just sayin’
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If Richt was wrong about Mettenberger, perhaps he was also wrong about Mason.
Mason has a way better chance of starting in the NFL than Murray.
Fuinny, looking back, all the fans who thought Mett and Mason were better than Murray turned out to be right.
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The mistake you make is thinking that most of us give a shit about anyone’s pro career.
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Isn’t the purpose of the blog post to show that QBs from Georgia allegedly have a better chance at a pro career than QBs from schools that employ spread attacks?
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Nope. It’s to show that NFL draft interest in Georgia QBs because of the system Richt runs is a good sales point on the recruiting trail.
I don’t care what former Georgia QBs actually do on the next level, because I don’t follow the NFL.
Obviously, YMMV. I deliberately wasn’t speaking for all here. But most don’t care.
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Definately wasn’t just the system that made Mettenberger great, he did great at Butler Comm College, LSU, and at Tenn Titans. Anyone who saw the Spring game where Mett threw those bombs for td’s knew it was really no contest from a skill perspective. Murray was a nicer guy who drunk a little less.
Several Qb’s starters under Richt have been drafted: DJ, Greene, Stafford, Murray, and now Mason. I don’t think Mett ever was a starter at Georgia, so I don’t include him.
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I saw the spring game you mention… and the one before. And the LSU game in Athens in 2013. To describe Mett vs. AM as “no contest” would not be accurate.
And if you think Mett was dismissed because he drank a little, that just shows you know even less about the program than I already thought you did.
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Wait…are we still having this discussion?
Aaron Murray is the all-time leader in the SEC history for passing yards and holds just a couple of other records.
-I’m just going to leave that there-
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Great? Mett came in and didn’t even start for LSU. Zack got better sure, but Murray set records. Zack threw 12 TDs in 2012 while Aaron threw for 36 and almost 4000 yrds. AM Never threw for less than 3000 yards. 121 passing TDs. 16 rushing. If we had an average defense during this time this would have been a short dynasty.
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Why do you think CMR was wrong about Mettenberger? The kid had some issues and was let go.
I think Murray’s stats speak for themselves in regards to the “right” choice.
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Good question. The NFL cares little about how nice you are, look at the dlineman who just landed a $114 mill contract even though he is thought of as one of the NFL’s dirtiest players, Suh. In college, coaches like Richt prefer nice guys who stay out of trouble like Murray, in the NFL they care about results. That’s why Mettenberger will crush Murray’s NFL stats, because it’s about results, not how nice you are and Mettenberger’s arm and clutch performance on 3rd down is more what the NFL values. Mason’s 4-1 No 1in the nation ranked record vs ranked teams is reason alone to draft him, much less the way he exceeds where Brady was at this point on both careers in accuracy, td’s, less int’s, etc. As you know, Murray really struggled in wins vs ranked teams, posting basically a 25% win % vs ranked teams, and I think in Bowl games as well and Murray was as accurate as Mason, and Murray’s offense never scored as much in a season as Mason’s did. In looking at Brady as a Senior, what indicated future greatness was how his team won the big games, 5-1 vs ranked teams his Sr season was his key stat, much like Mason’s 4-1 his Sr season.
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I don’t think the Pats predicted Brady’s greatness at all. He was drafted in the 6th round I believe. He was drafted to be a backup and was on the bench until Bledsoe got injured. If that had never happened, do you think Brady would have gotten the starts? I don’t.
A ton of NFL success is being lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.
Murray is a third string QB and probably won’t make much impact in the NFL. Mett was drafted high and TN is forced to play him even if they don’t want to. Lots of talk about TN drafting another QB this year b/c they aren’t happy with Mett. NFL play is about much more than skills.
I wish HM much luck in the draft and if he ends up like Brady. Wow.
(Remember the Falcons drafted Farve, had him on the bench for two years and traded him away. IMHO Pro teams have no special talent evaluating powers.)
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Mettenberger was drafted after Aaron if I remember correctly. They were both around the same point in the draft. Crybaby McCarron went after both of them.
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I think you need to go find an NFL team that will hire you as a director of player personnel. Mett sexually assaulted a girl and then lied about it. I got no problem with CMR letting him go. Murray would have lit people up this year like he did last year with the running game at his disposal and a healthy set of receivers. You people who have AMDS – Aaron Murray Derangement Syndrome – need to move on.
Mason is a DGD and I hope he gets a chance in the NFL. I also hope Murray gets a chance to be a starter so he can make all of the haters eat their words.
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Spears, McElroy, and Mason’s Qb coach, all were hearing great things form NFL scouts, so I think I’ll go with their opinion over yours.
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In case you need anymore evidence about who is the better pro prospect, which is crazy…let’s see where Mason get’s drafted and compare that to where AM was.
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Mason’s mark he left is already good enough for me:
1- offense led by him set the all time school record for offensive points scored in 1 season
2- Finished 4-1 vs ranked teams
3- Set all time school record for accuracy
4- Led SEC in long ball accuracy with 51% completion rate
Brady wasn’t drafted high, but turned out ok, maybe the way we judge him ultimately is by rings.
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Mason’s senior season was awesome. Not AM awesome, IMO…but awesome. On that we agree.
But if you think HM ’14 > AM ’13 solely on the basis that the team scored more points and he had a higher completion percentage, you’re crazy. You have to take in account injuries, schedules, Chubb & Gurley vs. Gurley and a 1/2 year from Marshall, actually having a return game in ’14, the ’14 defense doing a better job of creating a short field via turnovers, etc.
My point was that just because some people are raving about him now doesn’t mean the scouts are higher on him than they were on Murray. Come draft time, we’ll find out how they feel now. That being said, I agree it’s not inconceivable that HM has a better pro career. We’ll have to see how they develop and what opportunities they get, if any, to start.
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Ask those guys whether they think Mason is a better pro-prospect than Murray…they’d all say ‘nope.’ But I feel like this argument is dumbified before I got here.
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Moral victories!
How many heads will explode around here if Nick Marshall takes a snap in the NFL before Hutson Mason or (GASP!), Aaron Murray?
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Well since Nick Marshall is looking to get drafted at Cornerback and not QB I’d be a little surprised if he made it in a game before Murrary.
Although I still wouldn’t really give a damn. Just because Nick Marshall got in a NFL game as a QB before Aaron Murray doesn’t mean he’s the better quarterback. Nick Marshall is athletic and really good at running Gus Malzahn’s system, but he is not Aaron Murray. And if he did get into a game first I can say, with 99% certainty, it’s because that team is in a QB crisis not because he’s developed better or something.
Now as far as getting in before Hutson is concerned, that would not surprise me. Huston is a great guy and a better athlete than I gave him credit for, but I’ve never expected him to become a starter or chief backup in the NFL. I could definitely see where someone gives Nick Marshall a try based off his perceived and ESPN hyped athleticism whereas Hutson Mason will end up having a much harder road to the top because he isn’t seen as athletic or as capable as Nick (even if the truth is very different).
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At QB?
I don’t know that my head would explode, but it would definitely come as a surprise.
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Tim Tebow saw this hypothetical and shed a tear.
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Then wiped his rear with a hundo and didn’t even make a dent in the $8M fortune he received from playing QB in the NFL.
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This isn’t a moral victory. It’s an advantage to bring up with QBs on the recruiting trail. We’d be fools not to make a huge deal out of it.
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Signing the #1 QB in the nation is a ‘moral victory’? Richt has a chance to do that a second time in 2016.
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Can any of us honestly say we would be surprised if Mason and Marshall both ultimately started some NFL games? It doesn’t seem to matter how good or bad folks predict QBs to be but more about attrition and desperation. I still think Romo is no good.
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Mason’s QBR was good enough to get him ranked in the Top 10 QBs by ESPN. That’s high enough cotton for this class.
You bet, Scorp. “Da Noodle, al dente” Dawg. Loved watching him live an impossible dream while he never got fan’s accolades. That’s an indictment of fans and their ability to project themselves into his shoes.
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Hutson will be the steal of the draft whichever team picks him. I always look for a Qb that that could be the next Tom Brady, no one has ever matched the Tom Brady profile better than Hutson Mason.
If you compare their Sr seasons:
Yards: Edge Mason
Accuracy: Edge Mason
Pass rating: Edge Mason
Fewest INT’s: Edge Mason
Yards: Edge Brady
Won Bowl Game: Even
Led Nation in wins vs ranked teams: Even, Brady went 5-1, Mason 4-1, both finished No 1.
Led Team to top 10 finishes: Even
Height: Edge Brady
Arm Strength: Even
40 Time: Edge Mason
Set All-Time School records for scoring and pass accuracy: Edge Mason
Chip on Shoulder: Edge Mason, was snubbed as starter for 3 years
Starts: Edge Brady
Total Points:
7 for Mason, 3 for Brady
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has noticed, I’m sure a few scouts have compared Mason to Brady in their evaluations. Brady has 3 things better than Mason: he’s 1 inch taller, he threw for 40 more yards his Sr season, and he has more starts. I frggin love Mason’s upside.
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1st category should have been td’s, didn’t mean to list yards 2 times. Edge Mason on td’s.
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This is good research you’ve done here, but comparing ANYONE to arguably the greatest QB of our time is a bit over the top, don’t you think?
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Must be contagious. I’ve already compared Park to Staubach. lol! And by the way Joe Montana is the greatest quarterback.
Just sayin’ But Brady would be my second choice and then Johnny U.
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Brady can’t hold Johnny U’s jock! Unitas could play in today’s game, Brady would be dead by the 3rd game if he’d played when Staubach or Unitas played. Game was much more physical & the rules weren’t tilted towards the offense.
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I’m only comparing where they were during their Sr seasons and Mason handily beats Brady. Brady also had a big chip on his shoulder, which helped him, Mason’s is probably bigger due to being overlooked for 3 years by Richt.
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I saw both of them play their senior year in person. Brady was an excellent QB. Hutson had a great year…but Brady’s 1999 campaign was arguably better.
The 34 completions and 4 TDs he put on Alabama in the Orange Bowl was a better performance than any Mason had all season. Brady’s senior year included several Michigan records (completions and passing yards per game). He was named the MVP of a team that went 10-2 and finished in the top 5. You start comparing ‘totals’ and it is just a different game now.
And to say that Mason’s chip is bigger when Brady was roundly criticized his entire career at Michigan, was 7th on the depth chart when he got there, and, in fact, had to share QB duties with Drew Henson, even in his senior year, not because of talent, but because Steinbrenner, an OSU fan, was willing to give Henson $3M to leave Michigan and come play for the Yankees, seems out of touch with reality.
Get real. I love the Brady/Mason comparison, too. Heck, I thought DJ had a real chance at being a starter in the NFL until his injury. But trying to prop up Mason by tearing down Brady’s college career is silly.
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No he doesn’t handily beat Brady. No, the chip isn’t bigger.
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You sure their arm strength is even?
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I actually feel Mason’s arm is stronger, since mason completed over 50% of his long passes, No 1 in the SEC.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/hutson-mason?id=2552372
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I take it you didn’t bother to read past that sentence about his completion percentage.
From the next paragraph: “Weak arm. Doesn’t generate zip from lower body. Floats perimeter throws. Eyeballs targets in tight quarters and brings coverage. Had issues throwing behind post routes on play-action.”
From the summary: “A game-managing pocket passer with arm strength that is below the desired NFL level… Must prove his intangibles can overcome his lack of arm.”
I’d laugh about this, except calling you on your bullshit puts me in the position of slagging a DGD, which should not be the point here and definitely isn’t why I wrote the post.
You’ve trolled enough on the subject. Move on.
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Sorry, I am a big Hutson Mason fan, back to your point, I agree with you, because of the experience running a Pro Style offense in the SEC, generally Qb starters at Georgia do get drafted in the NFL.
Greene, Shockley, Stafford, Murray, and now Mason.
Only 1 that I remember under Richt that didn’t get drafted was starter Joe Terishinski Jr.
83% success rate at getting starters into the NFL. That is outstanding.
And leveraging the Pro Style system which Richt runs, and doing against the best defense, the SEC, gives these Qb’s a real edge at getting drafted.
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That’s fine. I don’t have a problem with you being a big HM fan.
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I think HM is going to surprise you and a whole lot of other people, Senator. With the defensive team and the running game Georgia has now if Mason were coming back at QB Georgia would be the likely SEC Champion and contender for the 4 team playoff. (Might be anyway….but definitely would be with Mason back).
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Mayor, he’s not going to surprise me because I won’t be paying attention. 😉
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Tom Brady was drafted out of high school in baseball with arm strength a key factor.
http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2013/11/26/64226668/tom-brady-teaches-kids-how-to-play-baseball
His stats and time at Michigan need to be viewed in the Drew Henson hype at QB during that time.
http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/michigan-alabama-flashback-teammates-reflect-tom-brady-drew-henson-battle-david-terrell%E2%80%99s-ris
HM was a gutsy leader but him and Brady are a different skills set, especially in arm strength.
No knock on HM.
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Baseball? That’s your best? Seriously? Come on man, now I’m pulling out the big guns.
Tom Brady completes @40% of his long passes (2007-2013), where Hutson Mason completed 51%+ (51%+ is something Brady has never come close to averaging over his career, closer to 40%).
That’s football specific arm strength. That’s what I meant. 51%+ > 40%. It’s really not even close.
http://nesn.com/2014/10/scout-tom-brady-has-worst-deep-ball-in-nfl-best-short-yardage-qb/
Tom Brady had the worst deep ball accuracy in the NFL in 2014, but best short yardage.
The Senator’s point here was Pro Style scheme = NFL draft worthy for UGA season long starting Qb’s. Nearly ALL of the guys who started at Georgia for a season, ALL OF THEM except Joe Cox got drafted in the NFL. Does seem to suggest something in the offensive system or scheme because the talent has to have varied at Qb since 2001, but ALL season long Qb starters except Cox under Richt got drafted.
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I have no interest in looking it up but a few years ago when Brady set the TD record, it seemed like he completed 3-4 bombs to Randy Moss per game. I think a big reason for his 2014 stats were the lack of receivers the Patriots had. Thus all the short passing they used.
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You wan to play what if? Ok. Without the likes of future NFL guys like Tavarres King, AJ Green, Marlon Brown, Kris Durham, and Orson Charles, Hutson still completed 51%+ on long passes, tops in the SEC, unreal.
Imagine what Hutson would have done with those kind of NFL receivers. Keith Marshall, J S Wesley (missed most of the season), Mitchell, and Bennett all had ACL’s or were recovering from them in 2014, that was all Hutson had to work with.
Over Brady’s career, he has averaged 40% on long balls. Hutson is 51%+.
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All recent “what if” Georgia seasons pale in comparison to 2013.
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I think comparing one year of Mason’s stats to Brady’s NFL stats is the ultimate ‘what if’, no?
yeesh
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