Starters for Bowl Game?

[bamamc1]

What I have seen on KR makes me very optimistic about him for sure. Just a general thing that it seems QBs do a bit better long term when they don't have the pressure of starting as true freshman, at least not at the beginning of the year. Giving them some time to adjust to the greater speed of the game in college seems to create a better long term path for them.

My only concern at all with KR, is that his QB coach is the same guy, Brad Stanfield, who coached JM (since 7th grade apparently). I don't see any of the same issues with KR from a fundamental standpoint as JM had when he showed up and still has frankly (like you said earlier), but some of what we see with JM now wasn't apparent until he was competing against SEC caliber athletes where the margin for error is smaller.

gt, I think you just described DJ Lagway to a T. Played a little early on and got his feet wet and then took over after an injury. I'm with you, let him play behind Simpson and learn and his time will come. I think Ty has earned an opportunity due to his willingness to stick it out and not transfer.

 

[mlh]

At this point, I have no idea who will be QB1 next year. I'm leaning toward TS since he was QB2 this year. But DL and AM are good enough to make it competitive.

I see KR taking a redshirt next year unless he's pressed into action by an injury or really poor play by the other QBs, which I don't expect. If I was CKD, I would try to hold him out next year to give him time to learn the system and adjust to the speed of college ball.

 

[Coach D]

Wouldn’t be surprised if we get an experienced QB from portal.

 

[mlh]

Wouldn’t be surprised if we get an experienced QB from portal.

Assuming JM leaves for the NFL, bringing in a QB from the portal would say a lot about what the staff thinks of our current QBs.

 

[Coach D]

Assuming JM leaves for the NFL, bringing in a QB from the portal would say a lot about what the staff thinks of our current QBs.

Didn’t not playing them say a lot this year.

 

[mlh]

Didn’t not playing them say a lot this year.

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on who you listen to. Lots of contradicting information floating around out there.

 

[gtgilbert]

gt, I think you just described DJ Lagway to a T. Played a little early on and got his feet wet and then took over after an injury. I'm with you, let him play behind Simpson and learn and his time will come. I think Ty has earned an opportunity due to his willingness to stick it out and not transfer.

I think Ty, Lonergan and Mack have all earned the right to really compete for the starting spot.

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

I'd like to see us beat Michigan like UGA did to FSU last year!

We will

 

[BamaInBham]

Alright, let's start focusing on the future. For those close to the program, what changes should we expect to see across starting positions for the bowl game?

Aside from transfers out, will DeBoer focus on winning this game, or will he focus on player development for 2025?

Thoughts?

IMO, he needs to do everything to win this game. Alabama needs to win a bowl game, needs to beat Michigan, needs to send the Srs out on as good of a note as possible, needs to maintain and enhance a winning culture. Alabama has never begun the next year during “this” year. Why start now? We don’t even know who the QB will be.

I know some resent Jalen so much that they don’t ever want to see him again but that is no reason to abandon this year, especially since there are so many reasons not to.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Yeah, not saying he will OR should, but Kyle Henderson, who is pretty plugged into player profiles and recruiting thinks so.

I will say he looks much more polished as a high school SR than JM looked the whole time he's been here. Not talking about "results" but "process." Things like footwork, for instance. You watch the tape and you'd think KR should be JM after 4 years in college if you only focus on footwork. His throwing mechanics/motion also are very advanced. He always has his eyes downfield!

To borrow another poster's words...speaking "tongue in cheek" if you will, Russell looks like "a real QB."

The other thing going in favor of KR is we now have a known QB whisper in CKD and so his development could come faster. We know for a FACT that JM was NOT developed because his OC didn't think he should even be playing QB. There could also be a movement among staff and (especially fans) that we just need to start "fresh."

But, the best case scenario is that Ty Simpson suddenly emerges as the "real deal" and he blossoms into what we hoped he could be with some real playing time in the Deboer system! And when it comes to QBs I don't think we should forget about Austin Mack's possible development!

So far, he has only been exposed to 10% of it...

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

I've said before, Milroe could be a solid TE in the NFL.

Seriously, Clark?

He's afraid of contact...

 

[BamaInBham]

You could look at it that way but those two guys are 2 of the best to ever play their positions and we didn’t lose games because of them.

They both carried that team on their backs and only lost 2 games by a handful of points that year.

Every game we’ve lost the last two years you can pin on Milroe.

It’s not even remotely the same situation.

You can’t pin every loss on Milroe - that’s incorrect and unfair. He and many others, coaches and players, have contributed to both wins and losses.

Come on man - you’re better than this.

 

[B1GTide]

IMO, he needs to do everything to win this game. Alabama needs to win a bowl game, needs to beat Michigan, needs to send the Srs out on as good of a note as possible, needs to maintain and enhance a winning culture. Alabama has never begun the next year during “this” year. Why start now? We don’t even know who the QB will be.

I know some resent Jalen so much that they don’t ever want to see him again but that is no reason to abandon this year, especially since there are so many reasons not to.

Why start now? Because you have not run your offense all year and this is a chance to get that rolling. This year is very different in every possible way. But I appreciate the response.

 

[davefrat]

You can’t pin every loss on Milroe - that’s incorrect and unfair. He and many others, coaches and players, have contributed to both wins and losses.

Come on man - you’re better than this.

I'm certainly ready for Milroe to move on, but some people probably blame him for the attack on Pearl Harbor.

I don't know that I've ever seen so much disdain for one Bama player among the fanbase.

 

[mlh]

Why start now? Because you have not run your offense all year and this is a chance to get that rolling. This year is very different in every possible way. But I appreciate the response.

I'm not sure that's even an option. I don't think the entire offense has been installed. If so, that would mean the starters with JM are practicing a limited version while the backups with TS are running the full offense. That just doesn't make sense to me.

I think it's important to finish on a high note. Win the bowl game. Beat Michigan - that still means something, much more than beating a less-storied program. Wrap up another 10-win season. Those are all good things for this program.

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

I've said before, Milroe could be a solid TE in the NFL.

Wow. Y'all surely had some quick comebacks.

Okay, not an NFL Tight End...! (I can take it.)

Do any of you expect to see him starring as an NFL QB? I don't.

 

[Padreruf]

Wow. Y'all surely had some quick comebacks.

Okay, not an NFL Tight End...! (I can take it.)

Do any of you expect to see him starring as an NFL QB? I don't.

I have ceased speculating on who can play QB in the NFL. My last statement was that Jalen Hurts could be an RB but not a QB...shows how much I know...the best scenario is JM will be someone else's challenge.

 

[BamaInBham]

When a player holds an entire program hostage for multiple years, he is dead to me.

Do you have any proof of that or is that just speculation or conclusions you’ve drawn? That’s a serious charge you’ve made. I’m not saying it didn’t happen but do you know anything? If you know something, while IMO the vitriol directed toward him is still over the top, it’s at least more understandable. If you are just making an educated guess, it’s almost sick.

 

[BamaInBham]

Even when he is having a great game, he is one bad play from having a miserable finish. He sulks when he has a bad play, and it impacts his play going forward.

Does that warrant vitriol and hatred or at best ridicule and resentment?

 

[Ole Man Dan]

I hope Milroe plays and balls out. I’d like to see as much of the current team play as possible and maybe, for once, put a whole game together.

If Milroe hangs around we would have more of the same.
I'm through with Milroe.