We should find a way to keep both Tua and Jalen engaged and involved

[theballguy]

You can never have too many winners on your team.

Jalen helped get us there offensively and Tua helped us close it out (even this for Tua may be an understatement).

Why is it in other sports like baseball, you can have a starter who comes in, pitches well for five/six innings and then the relief is brought in when he falters and if they win out, no one thinks that the starter was a bad player and is going to leave for free agency? Role definitions and expectations dictate this, I get it. And I've never gotten the idea that Jalen would do that but it seems that kind of mentality is prevelant throughout football and life these days.

Surely even with Tua getting much more involved next season -- he has to, there can be no denying that -- there has to be a way to keep Jalen involved. If he was to leave, it would be understandable but I get the feeling due to his character that he won't. I hope I'm right but won't begrudge him if I'm wrong.

Anyways, major props to Jalen. Most of us mortals with our egos would probably have pouted just a little bit and maybe understandably so, but I did not see one iota of that from Jalen on Monday night. That takes serious character and moral courage.

 

[techster79]

Best case scenario is we now have a two headed monster ala Leak/Tebow. I don't think it makes sense for Jalen to switch to RB/TE/WR as we are stacked there unless he wants to go pro. We could definitely use Jalen in short yardage/goal line situations but the problem is you know the run is coming, so he needs to be able to thread the needle if the run isn't there. I'm not sure how much zone read Daboll wants to run.

 

[bamapuppy]

They are both great young men, and Jalen has shown a ton of maturity. I am not sure if we could have two QB's with more character than these two kids. I would love to see both of them stay @ BAMA.
I wonder if Jalen might play @ running back?? There is no denying his running ability, and his knowledge of the system. I believe that Jalen needs to discuss the situation with CNS, and find a nitch that would prepare him for the NFL. The young man has a great character, and is a great athlete.
I have always felt that if Tebow had went the tight end route that he would still be playing in the NFL right now.

 

[Bazza]

Just my opinion but I think they both compete for the starting QB position for next season and nothing is a given at this point as to who will start next season.

Jalen is the one who got Bama to the national championship game.

Let's let things play out.....

 

[Elefantman]

I have no idea how JH will respond to the prospect of being 2nd string next year. If he stays, I hope he will be open minded and accept advice from the coaches. They want the same things he wants, to be a contributor on this team and reach the next level. Even if it means a change in position.

 

[PA Tide Fan]

I don't what Jalen will end up doing but I think if we were to go to a 2 QB system it would be a disaster. When you try to please two guys you end up pleasing neither. Tua felt all season that he was a better QB than Jalen and proved it on the biggest stage. I think Tua would be very upset if he had to share the QB duties with Jalen and to be perfectly honest I would agree with Tua.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

If Jalen decides to stay (and not change positions) then they should compete for their positions just like everyone else will be require to do. But as I stated after the Vanderbilt game and had it confirmed in the NC title game. You can't keep talent like Tua on the bench. You simply can't. But let's be real here, what would Jalen have to do to show enough in practice to beat Tua out? Because obviously Jalen was executing in practice last spring "better" than Tua. Performing in practice is one thing, the real evaluation is what they do in games. When there's no black mesh shirt protecting you and the intensity is ratcheted up 1000 times more.

Personally I do not want a two quarterback system. Not after seeing what Tua can do with this offense. There's no need for one with him.

 

[Elefantman]

Two QB system is an answer to a problem we don't have. We have a top talent QB in Tua and an incredible athlete in JH. I don't see JH surpassing Tau in spring training, so I believe he would better serve the team at another position. Even if it's on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[B1GTide]

I would hate to have to defend against Jalen, so I hope that he stays at Alabama.

 

[uaintn]

There should definitely be competition. Candidly, I do not think Hurts has a future in the NFL at quarterback. He might if he changed positions to, say, H back or safety. His real future might be in coaching, where I think he has tremendous potential. I hope he stays with the team if he is not the #1 QB coming out of spring practice. If he were to choose to transfer to a school where he could start at QB, I would be sad, but he would go with my thanks and admiration.

 

[Relayer]

I hope there is a real QB competition this spring and may the best QB win. That's the way life usually (and generally must) work. However, from what little bit I've heard about practices, and certainly from what we saw Monday night, I think the genie is out of the bottle

 

[theballguy]

I hope there is a real QB competition this spring and may the best QB win. That's the way life usually (and generally must) work.

Very well said.

Is it foolish though to think both can't be used? I know it would require some imagination but I think it could be done.

 

[Saban4Ever]

I hope they both stay and compete for the job. May the best win. I would love to see Tua win the job but would also love to see Jalen improve.

I would hate for one to transfer, and then the starter gets hurt and is out for the year. We don't have a good 3rd stringer and so far have not signed a QB for this recruiting cycle. I am not sure how good Matt Jones is since he has not played yet.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I hope there is a real QB competition this spring and may the best QB win. That's the way life usually (and generally must) work. However, from what little bit I've heard about practices, and certainly from what we saw Monday night, I think the genie is out of the bottle

Yeah, that's what Greg McElroy was saying last night on an interview with Finebaum. He said during the season Tua started winning over the players on offense during practices. He was simply out performing Jalen and running the offense better. Then during the bowl practices it seemed a "light came on" with Tua and he took his understanding of the offense and performance in practices to another level. It was impossible not to take notice. Basically what Greg was describing is what Nick Saban refers to as "Win over the team". Tua has "won over the team" and I'm not sure (after performing like he did on the biggest stage in college football) what Jalen could do in a limited number of spring practices to change that. I really don't.

 

[CrimsonTheory]

Hurts is such a dynamic play maker with the ball in his hands, but has a limited ceiling as a QB. With his play making abilities and athleticism, I would love for him to play a similar role to another famous #2 in Bama history.

I think Hurts' future in the NFL is as a "satellite" player. Those kind of players still get paid.

 

[BamaMoon]

Everyone makes fair points but some are better than others IMO. Here's how I would "handicap" the situation in what I feel are likely scenarios:

Scenario 1: There's a new pecking order and Tua is the #1 based on "results." I think this is the most obvious view from the fans and I don't really see how this isn't the conclusion the coaches make. How coaches comunicate that to the players will be important. I think the "team" responded better with Tua's presense on the field and it was fairly obvious (as CNS would say "Tua has won the team").

Scenario 2: Tua and Jalen will be told there is an open competition for QB in the spring (perhaps continuing until the fall). I think this keeps Jalen more engaged and inspired to get better, but I'm not really sure what he can do to overcome Tua's talents to the point he might be considered the better option going forward. I think Tua would simply have to avoid getting hit by a train during the off season for him to keep his huge edge.

Scenario 3: They are told we plan to try to use a 2 QB system next year. I seriously doubt this will happen for a number of reasons.

I'd say the odds on these is about 70% - 25% - 5% - JMO

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Everyone makes fair points but some are better than others IMO. Here's how I would "handicap" the situation in what I feel are likely scenarios:

Scenario 1: There's a new pecking order and Tua is the #1 based on "results." I think this is the most obvious view from the fans and I don't really see how this isn't the conclusion the coaches make. How coaches comunicate that to the players will be important. I think the "team" responded better with Tua's presense on the field and it was fairly obvious (as CNS would say "Tua has won the team").

Scenario 2: Tua and Jalen will be told there is an open competition for QB in the spring (perhaps continuing until the fall). I think this keeps Jalen more engaged and inspired to get better, but I'm not really sure what he can do to overcome Tua's talents to the point he might be considered the better option going forward.

Scenario 3: They are told we plan to try to use a 2 QB system next year. I seriously doubt this will happen for a number of reasons.

I'd say the odds on these is about 70% - 25% - 5% - JMO

There's no need for a two quarterback system. A two quarterback system is normally done because one quarterback can do something the other quarterback cannot. There's nothing Jalen can do that Tua can't do. If the answer is "running", I think that got debunk Monday night. Tua is actually quicker and more elusive than Jalen. He may not have the power Jalen does but he runs with enough power to get what we would need from him in that department. Jalen has better top end speed. But I'd rather have quickness and elusiveness over top end speed. Top end speed only matters in when you're already in the open. Quickness and elusiveness gets you open.

I think attempting a two quarterback system would be tragic.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

My personal thought on this: I don't think Jalen should give up just yet. I want Tua and Jalen battle it out this spring, summer and fall and whatever happens, it happens. I want the guys to truly say they tried and gave their best. If Jalen lose, He can go Juco Route and play somewhere next year. Tua is very good.. but he also has lot of things he needs to work on:
Tua keeps taking sacks... keep throwing ill advised passes, doesn't always make the best decisions. ( Jalen are the same way.)

 

[JustNeedMe81]

And what happens if Tua struggles next year? Second year is always tough for any QBs...

 

[BamaDMD]

Hurts is such a dynamic play maker with the ball in his hands, but has a limited ceiling as a QB. With his play making abilities and athleticism, I would love for him to play a similar role to another famous #2 in Bama history.

I think Hurts' future in the NFL is as a "satellite" player. Those kind of players still get paid.

Excuse my ignorance, but could you explain "satellite" player to me.