News Article: AJ Continues to Develop On and Off the Field

[DrollTide]

Watching the NC again this weekend, he played at a very high level. Other than one sideline bomb that went just beyond the guy's fingers, it was a study in how you play the game to win. He threw many times at whoever Matthieu was covering, but he was not given the defender an angle on the ball at all. He scampered just enough to keep them honest, in particular he had a very athletic sideline run. His "game management" included zero offensive penalties.

That performance in a big game should translate into a very good, fully-at-ease season for AJ this year.

 

[crmsntd91]

AJ's only real problem I have noticed is locking in on one guy. Last year he did it at least once a game, even the BCSNG he did it once on a little out route to Smelley that was luckily thrown so hard no one could catch it. He has everything else you could possibly want in a starting QB.

People will say he doesn't have much accuracy on the deep ball, but at least he is overthrowing them. A lot of that comes from his footwork being sloppy alot of the times on his drop backs though, which the new OC should tidy up right away.

 

[RTR91]

AJ McCarron isn't NFL ready or won't be high on draft boards? Yet, Ryan Tannehill went in the Top 10 of this year's draft. Or what about Jake Locker? Blaine Gabbert? Christian Ponder? Those 4 all went in the first round of the 2011 or 2012 NFL Drafts. They were all more prepared and NFL ready than AJ McCarron? Sorry, but I don't see it.

 

[crmsntd91]

I agree with most of what you said, but Jake Locker had more potential than just about anyone outside of Cam. He showed it last year in the NFL that he has the tools to be a very successful QB in the NFL the way the Titans are bringing him along.

AJ McCarron isn't NFL ready or won't be high on draft boards? Yet, Ryan Tannehill went in the Top 10 of this year's draft. Or what about Jake Locker? Blaine Gabbert? Christian Ponder? Those 4 all went in the first round of the 2011 or 2012 NFL Drafts. They were all more prepared and NFL ready than AJ McCarron? Sorry, but I don't see it.

 

[RTR91]

I agree with most of what you said, but Jake Locker had more potential than just about anyone outside of Cam. He showed it last year in the NFL that he has the tools to be a very successful QB in the NFL the way the Titans are bringing him along.

Another positive for AJ is who put Locker in the position he is in now - Coach Nuss.

 

[marcusroby]

I'm hoping opposing defenses view AJ as a "game manager " and defend that way. It will help the line and AJ.

 

[TiderJack]

I can't wait for the season to begin to show the naysayers around the nation (and on our board) that AJ is NFL ready. He torched TN when they put 9 in the box and we (staff) has to put the game in AJ's hands. He torched the Barn in the first half and Coach Saban grinded it out in the 2nd half with a big league. We all know what he did against LSWho in the NC game. For those who say he threw one particular pass into double coverage it happens sometimes. I've seen Brady, Manning and Rodgers do it but somehow they made it in the NFL and are still playing. He has prototye size (could add a few pounds) and can make all the throws and has real good arm strength so I don't know why there are some people saying he won't be a high draft pick or make it in the NFL. I must be seeing something incredibly different.

 

[Bob Minton]

Just tossing out there, if the prevailing opinion is AJ will go pro after he graduates this December wouldn't Sims have stuck around? He'd have been the heir apparent with 2 years of eligibiltiy left.

I hope he stays, but sure can't fault him if he goes.

Is it football season yet!

 

[RTR91]

Just tossing out there, if the prevailing opinion is AJ will go pro after he graduates this December wouldn't Sims have stuck around? He'd have been the heir apparent with 2 years of eligibiltiy left.

Not sure it mattered what AJ said/did. Phillip was going back to Virginia no matter what. He is stepping into the same situation he just left.

 

[CapstoneTider]

I honestly think he will be the best in the SEC this year. RTR

I have been a skeptic since his stock doubled after one game, but it was the NC game. AJ is like the Eli Manning of college ball. Winning the championship turned both from game managers with good arms respectively, to leader and champion.

I still believe that AJ won't move up into the top 2 rounds of the draft this year and will play another year. But I am entertaining the idea as legitimately possible now, although it would be in the 2nd round as I see no way he moves into the 1st due to the massive increase in stock in 1 year is too great. 2nd round is realistic to me with our reputation with QB's over the past 25 years, not the past 3 or 4 which is improving. AJ could be the stepping stone to an eventual 1st round QB. Maybe Bateman

Coach Saban might have different ideas about graduated QB's that could go in the 2nd round with a year left. I believe he might encourage it.

Thanks for the link!

 

[CrimsonProf]

I have been a skeptic since his stock doubled after one game, but it was the NC game. AJ is like the Eli Manning of college ball. Winning the championship turned both from game managers with good arms respectively, to leader and champion.

I still believe that AJ won't move up into the top 2 rounds of the draft this year and will play another year. But I am entertaining the idea as legitimately possible now, although it would be in the 2nd round as I see no way he moves into the 1st due to the massive increase in stock in 1 year is too great. 2nd round is realistic to me with our reputation with QB's over the past 25 years, not the past 3 or 4 which is improving. AJ could be the stepping stone to an eventual 1st round QB. Maybe Bateman

Coach Saban might have different ideas about graduated QB's that could go in the 2nd round with a year left. I believe he might encourage it.

Thanks for the link!

Regarding Eli - you're talking about him as a game manager in the NFL, right? Because he was a stud at Ole Miss. They wouldn't have had a first down without him - dude should have won the Heisman in 2003.

I've been around this point with you before, but I don't know what in the hell our reputation from twenty years ago has to do with AJ going in the 1st round or the 7th.

 

[RTR91]

I've been around this point with you before, but I don't know what in the hell our reputation from twenty years ago has to do with AJ going in the 1st round or the 7th.

You know at Alabama we only win because of defense and running the ball, right? That's our reputation. Plus we don't pass enough to get a high draft pick.

 

[CapstoneTider]

Regarding Eli - you're talking about him as a game manager in the NFL, right? Because he was a stud at Ole Miss. They wouldn't have had a first down without him - dude should have won the Heisman in 2003.

I've been around this point with you before, but I don't know what in the hell our reputation from twenty years ago has to do with AJ going in the 1st round or the 7th.

Of course. When I said; "AJ is like the Eli Manning of college ball" should have said like the NFL Eli of college ball.

To your point that the past has nothing to do with AJ in the eyes of scouts. Why do you think AJ is having to battle with the "Game Manager" tag? Something he did? Or a preconceived media stereotype of Alabama's quarterbacks?

A university's past success with quarterbacks in the NFL effects current quarterback's chances of success to a degree, but there are variables and we are making huge progress. The 25 something years is the amount of time we have gone without a solid starter in the NFL, and yes it does effect our recruits and the degree our current QB's are scouted. The NFL is not 100% fair? Some players get much more attention than other players due to circumstances beyond skills.

We are making huge strides in the QB area, and it's going to continue to ramp itself up I believe seriously starting with AJ in the NFL. He is the only player from Croyle through GMAC that has a legitimate chance at being a starter imo. But our past few QB's just getting a chance, which is a new phenomenon in the past couple of decades, is now enabling coach Saban and co. to bring in out of state blue chip quarterbacks that quarterback U's are also going after.

We are not going to have a 1st rounder in the next few years but continue to upgrade to producing potential NFL starters rather than backups. We don't really need that type of quarterback to win anyway. AJ is the perfect QB in my opinion. I am not sure that I want the tension and gamble that Notre Dame seems to go through with their all everything #1 quarterbacks.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Just having a discussion on this level regarding our QB brings warm feelings to my heart. We're sitting here debating if our qb is an NFL quality qb. WOW! We've come a long way since 2007 haven't we boys........and girls? LOL!