Alabama QB competition article

Not if Taulia winds up at the Capstone.

If Saban goes again with Jalen Hurts this year, in spite of the fact Tagovailoa is clearly better, then I'm pretty sure we can forget the brother, who is a 2019 recruit. I would hate for the kid to wind up at Auburn or another SEC school, and it would be especially bad if that happened and he eventually beat us.
 
Last edited:
If Saban goes again with Jalen Hurts this year, in spite of the fact Tagovailoa is clearly better, then I'm pretty sure we can forget the brother, who is a 2019 recruit. I would hate for the kid to wind up at Auburn or another SEC school, and it would be especially bad if that happened and he eventually beat us.

I don't think you have to worry about it because CNS won't go with Jalen if Tua is better.

And if Jalen somehow proves he's improved enough to be better than Tua then he's going to suddenly become a dadgum good QB....significantly better than years 1 and 2 at UA.
 
If Saban goes again with Jalen Hurts this year, in spite of the fact Tagovailoa is clearly better, then I'm pretty sure we can forget the brother, who is a 2019 recruit. I would hate for the kid to wind up at Auburn or another SEC school, and it would be especially bad if that happened and he eventually beat us.
While your interest is genuine, you are clueless regarding your distrust of Saban and disrespectful in the way you express it. It seems to be producing unnecessary anxiety for you as you obsess over the matter. Need it be said - Saban can be trusted to make the right choice. He's done it every time to this point, even when everyone or many thought differently. He does have a vested interest in the matter :smile:, as well as high level experience and a great track record.

Btw, in full disclosure, I've stated multiple times that IMO, Tua has a comprehensive set of skills both tangible and intangible, which Jalen cannot match. Also, Jalen's perceived advantage which is running the ball, IMO, is very small. I also, said that if Tua is not the QB, that Bama coaches, players, fans and the entire football world will be exasperated. But I could be wrong and more importantly, Saban will almost surely make the right choice and even if he doesn't he deserves a pass, in fact, many passes. But there is a process to be followed, and IMO, should be followed, which will likely result in a decision made in the fall, not earlier. And whoever Saban chooses should be supported by the fan base. And if criticism is offered, it should be done with respect against a backdrop of deep appreciation. He's not clueless as you have often implied.
 
Last edited:
Having gone through most of the season I think the offensive narrative can be summarized into three parts: early season hiccups (first three games), mid-season whipping boys (game 4 through bye), and endgame struggles.

The thing I'm noticing is that the playcalling didn't really change much as I go back earlier into the season. The opponent's defensive quality is the indicator for offensive performance. Some media types such as Cubelic were really positive on Daboll but mostly on the line's run block scheming and it seems that Locks and Key may have had a big hand in that at any rate. I'm not really seeing it. Daboll was orderly and the play clock issues disappeared with him calling the plays but we lost the back-pocket gotcha plays Lane had ready to go each week. It may have been a less hectic environment for the players but they'd probably prefer the wide-open touchdowns given the choice. This was a by-the-numbers offense and I think the predictability hurt us against competition with enough athletic ability to hang with us.
 
Having gone through most of the season I think the offensive narrative can be summarized into three parts: early season hiccups (first three games), mid-season whipping boys (game 4 through bye), and endgame struggles.

The thing I'm noticing is that the playcalling didn't really change much as I go back earlier into the season. The opponent's defensive quality is the indicator for offensive performance. Some media types such as Cubelic were really positive on Daboll but mostly on the line's run block scheming and it seems that Locks and Key may have had a big hand in that at any rate. I'm not really seeing it. Daboll was orderly and the play clock issues disappeared with him calling the plays but we lost the back-pocket gotcha plays Lane had ready to go each week. It may have been a less hectic environment for the players but they'd probably prefer the wide-open touchdowns given the choice. This was a by-the-numbers offense and I think the predictability hurt us against competition with enough athletic ability to hang with us.

To be fair, no one we are going to hire will be as good as Kiffin is at that. He is an absolute genius at those gotcha plays. But I think you are probably right in your overall assessment here. I haven't gone through the whole season yet though.
 
Having gone through most of the season I think the offensive narrative can be summarized into three parts: early season hiccups (first three games), mid-season whipping boys (game 4 through bye), and endgame struggles.

The thing I'm noticing is that the playcalling didn't really change much as I go back earlier into the season. The opponent's defensive quality is the indicator for offensive performance. Some media types such as Cubelic were really positive on Daboll but mostly on the line's run block scheming and it seems that Locks and Key may have had a big hand in that at any rate. I'm not really seeing it. Daboll was orderly and the play clock issues disappeared with him calling the plays but we lost the back-pocket gotcha plays Lane had ready to go each week. It may have been a less hectic environment for the players but they'd probably prefer the wide-open touchdowns given the choice. This was a by-the-numbers offense and I think the predictability hurt us against competition with enough athletic ability to hang with us.

The issue with Kiffens back pocket plays is that he'd often knowingly waste a few plays, or even a series, to setup up the homerun play. It really hurt the consistency of the offense and caused more 3-out's than we should have had.

For Daboll - he didn't call magically different plays in the second half against UGA than he did in any other game. the passing concepts were all the same, the IZR/OZR were the same and the RPOs to the RBs were the same. The difference was having a trigger-puller who got past the 1st read before flushing out, and who'd also be more likely to give an RB a chance on the IZR/OZR if it was a 50-50 read instead of keeping it himself.
 
While your interest is genuine, you are clueless regarding your distrust of Saban and disrespectful in the way you express it. It seems to be producing unnecessary anxiety for you as you obsess over the matter. Need it be said - Saban can be trusted to make the right choice. He's done it every time to this point, even when everyone or many thought differently. He does have a vested interest in the matter :smile:, as well as high level experience and a great track record.

Btw, in full disclosure, I've stated multiple times that IMO, Tua has a comprehensive set of skills both tangible and intangible, which Jalen cannot match. Also, Jalen's perceived advantage which is running the ball, IMO, is very small. I also, said that if Tua is not the QB, that Bama coaches, players, fans and the entire football world will be exasperated. But I could be wrong and more importantly, Saban will almost surely make the right choice and even if he doesn't he deserves a pass, in fact, many passes. But there is a process to be followed, and IMO, should be followed, which will likely result in a decision made in the fall, not earlier. And whoever Saban chooses should be supported by the fan base. And if criticism is offered, it should be done with respect against a backdrop of deep appreciation. He's not clueless as you have often implied.


I never did say he was clueless. Never even implied it. I am pretty sure I did say, though, that Daboll wanted to play Tua earlier last year but was over ruled, and that's what I read in news articles. I did also say early last year and even the year before that the wide receivers, especially Ridley, seemed to be frustrated. I was assured, on a couple of other boards, that I was wrong. In due time it was proven to be so. Finally, I think if Tua had started and played the Auburn game, we'd have won it. I don't remember many times the last few years being held to 14 points. With 26 points, Auburn didn't all that much. A good and balanced offense could have beaten that, but we didn't have a good and balanced offense.

Same as you read into my comments that I think Saban is clueless (wrong), you may also think that Saban doesn't mean what he plainly said about having 2 good quarterbacks and it not being imperative that he choose a quarterback right now. Perhaps you think he's being misleading, maybe to string both qbs along. Perhaps, though, you'd be wrong and he means just what he says. And yes, that is disconcerting to me because quite honestly, in case you haven't guessed it yet by my prior comments, I don't really think much of Jalen Hurts ability to produce a proficient passing offense at this level.
 
Without growth spurt, he's gonna be a 6-foot-flat type QB...he's got an arm comparable to his older brother.
 
The issue with Kiffens back pocket plays is that he'd often knowingly waste a few plays, or even a series, to setup up the homerun play. It really hurt the consistency of the offense and caused more 3-out's than we should have had.

For Daboll - he didn't call magically different plays in the second half against UGA than he did in any other game. the passing concepts were all the same, the IZR/OZR were the same and the RPOs to the RBs were the same. The difference was having a trigger-puller who got past the 1st read before flushing out, and who'd also be more likely to give an RB a chance on the IZR/OZR if it was a 50-50 read instead of keeping it himself.

Meant to come back to this...


I'm not trying to put it all on Daboll. The way he sets up an offense require a level of execution you're not going to get out most college quarterbacks. Plus, I don't think he did anything to develop Hurts as a passer. I saw regression in Hurts mechanically but he remained efficient due to being careful with the football. Better hope we sign guys like Tua who comes into college pretty well-developed as a passer mentally and mechanically. Clearly were going to need a guy like Enos on staff whether Daboll stayed or not.

I think you combine Hurts being deficient as a passer who needed developmental coaching yet hasn't really gotten it, Daboll having little QB coach experience, and Daboll calling an offense that required a quarterback who mentally quick and mechanically sound...you end up with the disjointed 2017 Alabama offense. Lets remember, Kiffin has a rep for being a better playcaller and maximizer of a QB's natural skills than a true QB coach. The Dan Enos hire was a recognition that we've had a player development problem at quarterback since McElwain left.
 
Last edited:
Meant to come back to this...


I'm not trying to put it all on Daboll. The way is sets up an offense require a level of execution you're not going to get out most college quarterbacks. Plus, I don't think he did anything to develop Hurts as a passer. I saw regression in Hurts mechanically but he remained efficient due to being careful with the football. Better hope we sign guys like Tua who comes into college pretty well-developed as a passer mentally and mechanically. Clearly were going to need a guy like Enos on staff whether Daboll stayed or not.

I think you combine Hurts being deficient as a passer who needed developmental coaching yet hasn't really gotten it, Daboll having little QB coach experience, and Daboll calling an offense that required a quarterback who mentally quick and mechanically sound...you end up with the disjointed 2017 Alabama offense. Lets remember, Kiffin has a rep for being a better playcaller and maximizer of a QB's natural skills than a true QB coach. The Dan Enos hire was a recognition that we've had a player development problem at quarterback since McElwain left.
Absolutely. Seeing Enos in one day demonstrates Daboll's glaring deficiency as a QB coach. I have little doubt that Enos will have a very positive affect on all of the QB's, particularly JH who understands the feeling of not knowing where to go with the football.
 
One point that has to be made in my opinion, is that while clearly Daboll was capable of calling a good game with someone like Tua in (I suppose he could call a pretty good game with Tom Brady in to, but a good OC shouldn't need an elite QB), the inverse could be argued when he had Hurts in. Those are two different quarterbacks with two different sets of skills. The fact that Daboll's offense actually looked good with Tua in, is not proof that Daboll was doing a good job throughout the season or that Hurts was doing a terrible one. All it really proves is that Daboll's offense was better cut out for Tua. Kiffin put up plenty of points with a less experienced Hurts...

I'm not disputing that Tua is a better QB mind you, but Daboll seemed to realize as well as anyone else that he wasn't cut out to be a college OC.
 
Last edited:
One point that has to be made in my opinion, is that while clearly Daboll was capable of calling a good game with someone like Tua in, the inverse could be argued when he had Hurts in. Those are two different quarterbacks with two different sets of skills. The fact that Daboll's offense actually looked good with Tua in, is not proof that Daboll was doing a good job throughout the season or that Hurts was doing a terrible one. All it really proves is that Daboll's offense was better cut out for Tua. Kiffin put up plenty of points with a less experienced Hurts...

I'm not disputing that Tua is a better QB mind you, but Daboll seemed to realize as well as anyone else that he wasn't cut out to be a college OC.
I've been told that Locksley helped Daboll a lot on the east-west stuff...
 
Absolutely. Seeing Enos in one day demonstrates Daboll's glaring deficiency as a QB coach. I have little doubt that Enos will have a very positive affect on all of the QB's, particularly JH who understands the feeling of not knowing where to go with the football.

You must be at practice a lot to make this kind of assessment.
 
Off topic a bit, but I expect big things from Michigan if they get the Shea Patterson eligibility ruling in his favor because I still have a high regard for McElwain as a quarterbacks coach. I think his problems with QB at Florida had a lot to do with losing Grier mid-way through year 1 and Nussmeier not really impressing me at all going back to his two years in Alabama. If Patterson is eligible for Michigan, I think they could win the Big Ten and make the playoffs...Harbaugh needs that in a bad way too.


Anyway, as I've said I truly don't think we've had a coach on staff who could really lead the QB group since McElwain. That is a dang long time for a program to go without that acumen. He left us with two years of a well-molded product in McCarron. Then we got 3 years of Lane Kiffin basically "playing the sticks" like a videogamer w/ our QBs. It finally came to a head this year when the OC wasn't a playcalling savant and the QB wasn't already developed.
 
Last edited:
Off topic a bit, but I expect big things from Michigan if they get the Shea Patterson eligibility ruling in his favor because I still have a high regard for McElwain as a quarterbacks coach. I think his problems with QB at Florida had a lot to do with losing Grier mid-way through year 1 and Nussmeier not really impressing me at all going back to his two years in Alabama. If Patterson is eligible for Michigan, I think they could win the Big Ten and make the playoffs...Harbaugh needs that in a bad way too.


Anyway, as I've said I truly don't think we've had a coach on staff who could really lead the QB group since McElwain. That is a dang long time for a program to go without that acumen. He left us with two years of a well-molded product in McCarron. Then we got 3 years of Lane Kiffin basically "playing the sticks" like a videogamer w/ our QBs. It finally came to a head this year when the OC wasn't a playcalling savant and the QB wasn't already developed.

Mac is the WR coach at Michigan, which is pretty surprising.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Appears the QB competition is now between right handers.

2_8247746.JPG
 
Advertisement

Trending content

Advertisement

Latest threads