Bama Game Thread: A-Day Game Thread ( ESPN @ 3PM CT)

[Ledsteplin]

Some got steak, some got beans.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1780020295962685768

 

[AlexanderFan]

I feel bad for the defense. They handcuffed those guys to a 21 point deficit before they let them start playing.

 

[81usaf92]

Just me reading between the lines but I think he's hinting at how our Trevor Lawrence could be on the bench while the incumbent who hasn't gotten better at his weak spots from the year before is starting.

Kelly Bryant got Clemson to the playoffs with numerous hype leading into the next season saying how he had improved his decision making skills and what not to give his non believers hope. But the truth was that 2017 Clemson team was probably more loaded than that Alabama team that beat them that night in NOLA. But Kelly Bryant just wasn’t enough to give them the offensive consistency that they needed to win a game between two extremely flawed quarterbacks.

Idk if we have a Trevor Lawrence on the sideline or not. I just sense after two straight Saturdays of seeing Milroe run the offense that the improvement is being overblown a bit.

In the NFL it is possible to just be on the wrong team at the wrong time and be delegated to career backup QB. Could have been talent, but also could have been timing. We will never know. Consider guys like Kurt Warner and Doug Flutie. If not for a second bite at the apple and great luck when they got that second chance, both would have been considered "just not good enough for the NFL", and both were sensational NFL QBs.

AJ’s problem was that he was behind a starter that changed the expectations of the organization and really did nothing to lose the job.

However I think one of his biggest mistakes was fighting to get out of the organization a year early in probably the biggest qb free agency offseason in decades. Going to the Bills was a death sentence for his career. He would have been better off either staying with the Bungles one more year or accepting NE’s offer to backup Brady for one year.

It’s a mixture of bad luck and bad timing for a quarterback that really wasn’t a “wow” guy

 

[81usaf92]

I feel bad for the defense. They handcuffed those guys to a 21 point deficit before they let them start playing.

They were a lot more intense the other Saturday. Like I’ve always said… “A Day is usually a show for the fans to feel good about”.

 

[81usaf92]

The race card or whatever didn't come from me. My issue is the criticism of Jalen is relentless and non-stop. We can't discuss the offense or quarterbacks without the non-stop "Milroe bad" comments. Jalen did really well A-Day, but all some can do is be negative, and look for any tiny thing to complain about. Non-stop. TideFans is the only place I see this level of anti-Milroe nonsense.

We have had two posters get suspended for polluting every thread with “Milroe is the greatest quarterback ever” and “Y’all need to apologize for the billionth time about doubting Milroe” nonsense until the administration got tired of it. So let’s stop pretending that it’s only the anti Milroe crowd with ridiculous nonsense being constantly spewed on here.

As for his A-day performance… I don’t know how anyone can take anything highly positive or negative away from it. He hardly threw the ball. I will however say that two weeks ago he stunk up the field with reads and his internal clock.

Personally I’m tired of both Milroe and Simpson because neither of them seem to want to end the conversation after 3 years. But then again it’s a weird situation in which neither will leave.

 

[81usaf92]

That was my exact though BUT it might not be as "obvious" as some think if you only frequent this board.

From what little experience I've had on other boards, this board is far and away the best in terms of knowledgeable and connected posters who seem to have some self control and common sense.

I think the "anti-JM" narrative is non-existent unless you consider "fair, objective criticism" to be "anti JM."

It's not apples to apples obviously, but if I work somewhere and my boss sees some weakness in my job performance, he's actually helping me to point those things out.

I'm not Jalen's boss, but as a fan, if I see some areas he's weak in and point them out (discuss them in a reasonable way) I'm not being "anti JM;" I'm just being reasonable (and hopefully a good poster)!

Well to level with Steplin… there are some that take it way too far with their criticism and won’t stop. But then again there are still the sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns group that feels he can do no wrong either.

 

[JDCrimson]

The A-Day game, imo, was structured to maximize portal marketing.

Offense transfers likely thought... "Wow, Alabama may not have a drop off this season and that's an offense i would like to play in."

Defense transfers likely thought... "Wow, the Alabama defense can't stop crap through a goose, if they had my help, they may be in the hunt for a NC."

The biggest thing going against JM is he is following Hurts, Tua, Mac, and Bryce. We have seen elite QB play over the last 8 years and are likely spoiled by it.

 

[rolltide_21]

Anyone know when the replay is on? I completely screwed up and didn’t set my DVR

I also didn't record and haven't watched it. The first I could find was Friday @ 12 on the SECN.

 

[bamaga]

That was my exact though BUT it might not be as "obvious" as some think if you only frequent this board.

From what little experience I've had on other boards, this board is far and away the best in terms of knowledgeable and connected posters who seem to have some self control and common sense.

I think the "anti-JM" narrative is non-existent unless you consider "fair, objective criticism" to be "anti JM."

It's not apples to apples obviously, but if I work somewhere and my boss sees some weakness in my job performance, he's actually helping me to point those things out.

I'm not Jalen's boss, but as a fan, if I see some areas he's weak in and point them out (discuss them in a reasonable way) I'm not being "anti JM;" I'm just being reasonable (and hopefully a good poster)!

My feelings exactly, we are not anti- anyone except bad QB play.

 

[mlh]

Personally I’m tired of both Milroe and Simpson because neither of them seem to want to end the conversation after 3 years. But then again it’s a weird situation in which neither will leave.

This is what baffles me, as well. I do think Milroe is doing everything he can (off the field) to get face time and promote himself. He's throwing out first pitches at baseball games, front-and-center with CKD at basketball games, and of course, getting recognition as a permanent captain with his hand and cleats in the cement at Denny Chimes. He's like a politician campaigning for the job. I'd like to see more improvement on the field and less campaigning.

Simpson, on the other hand, isn't playing the PR game. He is showing improvement on the field, but it's been slow in coming, and there's still a long way to go. It's like he lacks self-confidence. He almost seems to be holding himself back. Maybe the new coaches can help with this but he just doesn't seem to know how to step up and be a leader for the offense.

Am I wrong? If so, what am I missing?

 

[BamaMoon]

This is the last thing I'm going to say on this subject until fall.

Right now, my opinion on this team is EXACTLY the same as it was at the beginning of last season:

This team will go as far as the defense and the threat of Jalen's legs will take us. I'm hoping that we'll see marked improvement in Jalen's ability to make reads but, until we see that, nothing else has really changed...

I'd agree if CNS was still the coach, but he's not.

And, IMO, our success this year will be tied more to the offense and less to the defense and that success will only come thru significant QB play. If JM is QB and it's the same level of play we saw last year, we'll lose 2 or 3 games.

I believe if JM is QB it's because he's improved significantly. If he doesn't, I believe TS is close enough and showing enough improvement we can have a good season with him.

This is what baffles me, as well. I do think Milroe is doing everything he can (off the field) to get face time and promote himself. He's throwing out first pitches at baseball games, front-and-center with CKD at basketball games, and of course, getting recognition as a permanent captain with his hand and cleats in the cement at Denny Chimes. He's like a politician campaigning for the job. I'd like to see more improvement on the field and less campaigning.

Simpson, on the other hand, isn't playing the PR game. He is showing improvement on the field, but it's been slow in coming, and there's still a long way to go. It's like he lacks self-confidence. He almost seems to be holding himself back. Maybe the new coaches can help with this but he just doesn't seem to know how to step up and be a leader for the offense.

Am I wrong? If so, what am I missing?

You are NOT wrong.

Not that what JM is doing is "wrong" but, as I said a few weeks ago, getting to the facility the earliest may be viewed as "leadership" but as a fan of Alabama football, what I'm most interesting in seeing is "improvement on the field." Admittedly, both can be true, but until we see him take the next step on the field in live action, none of the other stuff matters.

I will say in JM's defense, he's NOT the one writing the articles; it's the media. So until his game improves the media is setting him up to look like a failure if he doesn't win the job this fall.

As for Simpson, it's almost right the opposite. The media is allowing him to work on his game in privacy and obscurity. And from the results/improvements we've seen he's chipping away at the starting job.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

I'd agree if CNS was still the coach, but he's not.

And, IMO, our success this year will be tied more to the offense and less to the defense and that success will only come thru significant QB play. If JM is QB and it's the same level of play we saw last year, we'll lose 2 or 3 games.

I believe if JM is QB it's because he's improved significantly. If he doesn't, I believe TS is close enough and showing enough improvement we can have a good season with him.



You are NOT wrong.

Not that what JM is doing is "wrong" but, as I said a few weeks ago, getting to the facility the earliest may be viewed as "leadership" but as a fan of Alabama football, what I'm most interesting in seeing is "improvement on the field." Admittedly, both can be true, but until we see him take the next step on the field in live action, none of the other stuff matters.

I will say in JM's defense, he's NOT the one writing the articles; it's the media. So until his game improves the media is setting him up to look like a failure if he doesn't win the job this fall.

As for Simpson, it's almost right the opposite. The media is allowing him to work on his game in privacy and obscurity. And from the results/improvements we've seen he's chipping away at the starting job.

True. I wonder if PR is part of some NIL deals? Also PR may be part of a "Heisman" pitch if there are any groups that are supporting that for the upcoming year.

 

[BamaMoon]

True. I wonder if PR is part of some NIL deals?

I have no idea. I figure a lot of the local Bama media stuff is all about getting the "hits" sense it's almost entirely web-based now. I figure JM media-related stuff is "hit" worthy so they do it. As I said, it could backfire on JM though.

On the national level, what Greg McElroy said on the A-Day broadcast is just comical (and I'm a big fan of GMac as a former player and play-by-play guy). But has he actually watched JM play very much? Considering his job, I can guarantee you we've watched JM play more than GMac because he's working other games on most Saturdays. Comparing him to Lamar Jackson is just silly. It must be a ESPN talking point he got fed. Just like the narrative that JM improved significantly after struggling against UT in game two and sitting in game 3! No he didn't! The part about the whole offense getting overhauled to hide his weaknesses of reading the RPO and going thru passing progressions? Did ESPN/GMac mention that? NOT A PEEP.

 

[Coach D]

I have no idea. I figure a lot of the local Bama media stuff is all about getting the "hits" sense it's almost entirely web-based now. I figure JM media-related stuff is "hit" worthy so they do it. As I said, it could backfire on JM though.

On the national level, what Greg McElroy said on the A-Day broadcast is just comical (and I'm a big fan of GMac as a former player and play-by-play guy). But has he actually watched JM play very much? Considering his job, I can guarantee you we've watched JM play more than GMac because he's working other games on most Saturdays. Comparing him to Lamar Jackson is just silly. It must be a ESPN talking point he got fed. Just like the narrative that JM improved significantly after struggling against UT in game two and sitting in game 3! No he didn't! The part about the whole offense getting overhauled to hide his weaknesses of reading the RPO and going thru passing progressions? Did ESPN/GMac mention that? NOT A PEEP.

They should honestly be ashamed of the broadcast. It was awful but I also just dislike Gmac since he became a broadcast guy, he just hasn’t been very good. Although most of them have been bad pushing what ever narrative vs analyzing themselves.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

The A-Day game, imo, was structured to maximize portal marketing.

Offense transfers likely thought... "Wow, Alabama may not have a drop off this season and that's an offense i would like to play in."

Defense transfers likely thought... "Wow, the Alabama defense can't stop crap through a goose, if they had my help, they may be in the hunt for a NC."

The biggest thing going against JM is he is following Hurts, Tua, Mac, and Bryce. We have seen elite QB play over the last 8 years and are likely spoiled by it.

And here's the unfortunate reality for any quarterback including Milroe. In today's college football and how it is played, it takes elite quarterback play to "win". So these standards and expectations aren't unique just for him. It is for anyone wanting to be on a championship-caliber team.

 

[BhamToTexas]

I also didn't record and haven't watched it. The first I could find was Friday @ 12 on the SECN.

Just log into the ESPN app and watch it.

 

[The Ols]

In the NFL it is possible to just be on the wrong team at the wrong time and be delegated to career backup QB. Could have been talent, but also could have been timing. We will never know. Consider guys like Kurt Warner and Doug Flutie. If not for a second bite at the apple and great luck when they got that second chance, both would have been considered "just not good enough for the NFL", and both were sensational NFL QBs.

Love ya B1G…Doug Flutie was NOT a sensational NFL QB….

 

[colbysullivan]

Only addressing this part but some of this could depend on context and definition.

I remember a coach telling me once that you're not a real quarterback until you understand enough to start calling the plays.

If you can't even make all the reads required for the position - by that definition - an argument could be made that you aren't a quarterback...

Exactly

 

[TiderJack]

I will say in JM's defense, he's NOT the one writing the articles; it's the media. So until his game improves the media is setting him up to look like a failure if he doesn't win the job this fall.

As for Simpson, it's almost right the opposite. The media is allowing him to work on his game in privacy and obscurity. And from the results/improvements we've seen he's chipping away at the starting job.

Saban was very proactive saying creating your brand was important for quite a few years and this is what all of our players should be and are doing.

JM is viewed differently nationally and is a top 5 pre-season Heisman trophy candidate so he is going to get media hype right now. Simpson is the back-up for now and the back-up does not float the media's boat. It will all change if he beats out Milore.

 

[CrimsonBloodn62]

Love ya B1G…Doug Flutie was NOT a sensational NFL QB….

Doug Flutie got a lot of mileage and money off of that one Hail Mary pass against the Hurricanes when he was in college.