Alabama QB competition article

[Bamabuzzard]

No offense, but do we really want to use Spring camp as an example given how our previouis QBs struggled bad at A-day?

yes, he didn't play well and I think his confidence was an issue at that time.

I would say Nick Saban's comments caught on the "hot mic" indicates to me that he expected a lot more out of Jalen during A-Day than what he saw, even though he was facing the first team defense.

I think if we're looking just at A-Day in a vacuum, then no. We shouldn't put much stock into it. But we're not looking at it in a vacuum. We basically have a two year body of work AND the 2018 A-Day game on Jalen. There are things he has improved on. But then there are things he's still struggling with that he was struggling with in his freshman year. He's not improved on his reads, accuracy, and getting the ball out on time. The most crucial parts of what makes a good quarterback (to fit our system) he hasn't improved on, in two years. The problem isn't that he can't improve on them. The problem is we don't have time to give the kid much more time/opportunity than he's already had to do it.

 

[rgw]

We didn't have a lot of depth or experience at DB. You kinda expect a 3rd year starter to chew up the coverage in that scenario. Hurts just can't execute the passing offense well enough to do that against inexperienced talent.

 

[TRU]

Having thought about it, it seems to me that CNS is being completely consistent with what his stated approach is and what he tells all the recruits. The best player in any given week will the the one that plays. From my years of observation, there is nothing that can get CNS angry more quickly than asking him questions about the depth chart. He says there is no depth chart - the best player that week is the one that plays. With that approach, I would predict that he is going to give Jalen a chance to be the best QB on the team. He is supporting him to the fullest extent possible in this endeavor, sending him to the Manning Camp for example. That way, Jalen cannot feel that he did not have all the support he could possibly have to become the best QB he could be. And if Jalen did improve so dramatically that he passed Tua, would anyone here not be happy to see him get the nod? The best player is the one that gets to play after all. That said, Jalen has to improve a lot in many aspects of the game to surpass Tua. I do not know if it is possible for him to do so. And even if he does outshine Tua in practice in the fall, it is clear that Jalen looks much better in practice than on Saturday. So even if he does surpass Tua in practice and wins the starting job on that basis, look for him to be on a very short leash against Louisville. Recall Cooper Bateman in 2016. One series, he got pulled for Jalen, and we basically never saw him again.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Having thought about it, it seems to me that CNS is being completely consistent with what his stated approach is and what he tells all the recruits. The best player in any given week will the the one that plays. From my years of observation, there is nothing that can get CNS angry more quickly than asking him questions about the depth chart. He says there is no depth chart - the best player that week is the one that plays. With that approach, I would predict that he is going to give Jalen a chance to be the best QB on the team. He is supporting him to the fullest extent possible in this endeavor, sending him to the Manning Camp for example. That way, Jalen cannot feel that he did not have all the support he could possibly have to become the best QB he could be. And if Jalen did improve so dramatically that he passed Tua, would anyone here not be happy to see him get the nod? The best player is the one that gets to play after all. That said, Jalen has to improve a lot in many aspects of the game to surpass Tua. I do not know if it is possible for him to do so. And even if he does outshine Tua in practice in the fall, it is clear that Jalen looks much better in practice than on Saturday. So even if he does surpass Tua in practice and wins the starting job on that basis, look for him to be on a very short leash against Louisville. Recall Cooper Bateman in 2016. One series, he got pulled for Jalen, and we basically never saw him again.

Blake Barnett

 

[BamaMoon]

Blake Barnett

Correct...that was 2016...Speaking of Cooper Bateman....in 2015 and he got yanked for Jake Coker.

 

[BamaMoon]

Having thought about it, it seems to me that CNS is being completely consistent with what his stated approach is and what he tells all the recruits. The best player in any given week will the the one that plays. From my years of observation, there is nothing that can get CNS angry more quickly than asking him questions about the depth chart. He says there is no depth chart - the best player that week is the one that plays. With that approach, I would predict that he is going to give Jalen a chance to be the best QB on the team. He is supporting him to the fullest extent possible in this endeavor, sending him to the Manning Camp for example. That way, Jalen cannot feel that he did not have all the support he could possibly have to become the best QB he could be. And if Jalen did improve so dramatically that he passed Tua, would anyone here not be happy to see him get the nod? The best player is the one that gets to play after all. That said, Jalen has to improve a lot in many aspects of the game to surpass Tua. I do not know if it is possible for him to do so. And even if he does outshine Tua in practice in the fall, it is clear that Jalen looks much better in practice than on Saturday. So even if he does surpass Tua in practice and wins the starting job on that basis, look for him to be on a very short leash against Louisville. Recall Cooper Bateman in 2016. One series, he got pulled for Jalen, and we basically never saw him again.

I don't recall ever hearing CNS say he evaluates players "in any given week" and changes starters based on such. Maybe he has at certain positions where the talent level is real close, but I don't think he probably has been 100 consistent with that. I don't believe for one minute Jalen was better than Tua the week before Georgia. Matter of fact, unless Jalen is a "practice hero" and Tua is right the opposite, I figure Tua passed him in practice about mid-year and that's about the time the unrest evidently started to swell up.

 

[Crimson White]

Having thought about it, it seems to me that CNS is being completely consistent with what his stated approach is and what he tells all the recruits. The best player in any given week will the the one that plays. He says there is no depth chart - the best player that week is the one that plays.

Then why didn't Tua start by the end of the year. The offensive coordinator is on record that he wanted to start Tagovailoa. Ridley wasn't shy about his frustration with Hurts. Word from sources that should know indicate there was a near revolt by the receivers about the qb play. So if the best player plays each week, why didn't Tagovailoa get his chance, after Jalen Hurts has had 2 years worth of chances, struggling against good defenses nearly every time.

 

[RollTide1224]

We didn't have a lot of depth or experience at DB. You kinda expect a 3rd year starter to chew up the coverage in that scenario. Hurts just can't execute the passing offense well enough to do that against inexperienced talent.

Agree, his performance was very unimpressive giving the inexperience at DB and the vanilla gameplan.

I'm firmly in the Tua camp. To me he won the team last year in the championship game. Hurts was losing the team in the games leading up to the switch. Body language was terrible during the Auburn game. The offense and some body language was bad in the Clemson game. Same thing for the 1st half of UGA. When Tua came in there was an instant injection of excitement into the offense. He passed to 9 different receivers in one half...Jalen was totally Ridley or RB centric.

I think the media is creating the idea of this battle for the position when in reality for those inside the progrma it's already known what is going to happen.

Ask yourself this, would you rather play a team lead by Jalen or led by Tua? I know which one I'd rather see go against our defense.

 

[CajunCrimson]

Correct...that was 2016...Speaking of Cooper Bateman....in 2015 and he got yanked for Jake Coker.

No "yanking" on the football board....

 

[BamaInBham]

Not exactly true. If he won over the team, then why hasn't he been named the starter? Saban said whoever win the team over will win the job. why it hasn't happened?

I think Tua has won over the team. I explained why. I understand your question and believe the answer is that CNS is giving Jalen his chance to win it back. It can be a somewhat complex thing. If you ever lose the team, does that mean it is lost forever? No. The point is that Saban is going to give Jalen his chance. IMO, he deserves that chance, even though IMO, he has no realistic chance to win it back because Tua is such a superior player. IMO, even on the RPOs Tua is better because though Jalen is bigger, stronger and faster, Tua makes much better decisions, is quicker and more elusive and has a little power himself. Tua has much better pocket presence. All of this on top of his vastly superior passing skills in every aspect. They are both great kids and teammates and from a personal standpoints their teammates are not just willing but want to follow their lead. But Tua inspires more confidence because of his abilities. No surprise there.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

Not exactly true. If he won over the team, then why hasn't he been named the starter? Saban said whoever win the team over will win the job. why it hasn't happened?

Because publicly he’s not going to show his cards and tell UL who to prepare for in Game 1. If he can create a little mystery then to him it’s a strategic advantage.

Tua will be the QB1 1-2 weeks into fall practice and no one will hear about it. No one will know until the 1st snap of Game 1.

There will be a “competition” but it won’t last long because Tua will blow Jalen away. It’s a competition in name and coach speak only if you want me to be blunt about it.

It’s obvious Tua has won the team over. They played completely different when he came in the NCG.

Oh and it’s not just a coincidence that Tua has been on all the team bonding excursions. He’s being prepped to be THE LEADER.

 

[CrimsonForce]

Jalen was just named the Davey O'Brien watch list which is awarded to the best QB in college football

 

[UAH]

Jalen was just named the Davey O'Brien watch list which is awarded to the best QB in college football

It will be quite an experience to say the least to see Tua win the Heisman at another university! :frown:

 

[B1GTide]

Jalen was just named the Davey O'Brien watch list which is awarded to the best QB in college football

Well, he is a very, very good QB. He just isn't Tua.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Because publicly he’s not going to show his cards and tell UL who to prepare for in Game 1. If he can create a little mystery then to him it’s a strategic advantage.

Tua will be the QB1 1-2 weeks into fall practice and no one will hear about it. No one will know until the 1st snap of Game 1.

There will be a “competition” but it won’t last long because Tua will blow Jalen away. It’s a competition in name and coach speak only if you want me to be blunt about it.

It’s obvious Tua has won the team over. They played completely different when he came in the NCG.

Oh and it’s not just a coincidence that Tua has been on all the team bonding excursions. He’s being prepped to be THE LEADER.

It's gamesmanship. He knows Louisville will at least use up a portion of their practice snaps preparing for both. I think he's also doing everything he can to keep both players on the team for this season. It would be the best insurance policy in college football to have both of them on the roster.

But I think by Jalen's body language during the A-Day game and the comments his dad publicly made. That all the parties involved pretty much knows who the starter is going to be without CNS having to announce it himself. If we are to believe any of the reports that came out after the NCG, Tua "won the team over" around the aTm game and pressure was building internally for him to become the starter. "Winning the team" is a huge thing for Saban and I see no evidence whatsoever that anything has changed from the end of the NCG.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

We really just need football to comeback. At this point no one is changing their mind about the QBs.

In all likelihood Tua is the QB for the next 2 years and hopefully he can live up to the insane expectations that we have all set here. If he can get close to what many/most of us think he can be we are in for a fun ride for at least the next 2 seasons.

 

[TiderJack]

Well, he is a very, very good QB. He just isn't Tua.

Yep. Jalen would start at over 90% of other D1 programs. Like you say, he is not Tua who is special.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

We really just need football to comeback. At this point no one is changing their mind about the QBs.

In all likelihood Tua is the QB for the next 2 years and hopefully he can live up to the insane expectations that we have all set here. If he can get close to what many/most of us think he can be we are in for a fun ride for at least the next 2 seasons.

Here's my "No one saw that coming" pick for 2018. Tue is named the starter, Jalen transfers, Tua re-injures his hand/thumb and Saban has to insert Mac Jones into the lineup. He struggles in his first few starts but we pull out the wins. He ends up getting better as the season wears on and Bama wins another NC. We enter 2019 with another QB controversy. You heard it first here.

 

[BamaMoon]

Here's my "No one saw that coming" pick for 2018. Tue is named the starter, Jalen transfers, Tua re-injures his hand/thumb and Saban has to insert Mac Jones into the lineup. He struggles in his first few starts but we pull out the wins. He ends up getting better as the season wears on and Bama wins another NC. We enter 2019 with another QB controversy. You heard it first here.

NOOOOOOOOO! I don't think we could handle it!:biggrin:

 

[B1GTide]

Here's my "No one saw that coming" pick for 2018. Tue is named the starter, Jalen transfers, Tua re-injures his hand/thumb and Saban has to insert Mac Jones into the lineup. He struggles in his first few starts but we pull out the wins. He ends up getting better as the season wears on and Bama wins another NC. We enter 2019 with another QB controversy. You heard it first here.

I believe that you can win a NC with either Tua or Jones - not sure about Jalen.