Alabama QB competition article

[B1GTide]

I was under the impression this was about wanted to put a QB under center for that play and Tua had not been used to that near as much as Jalen. CNS hedging his bet that Jalen would be safer to handle the exchange than Tua.

I think that was said afterward, but it doesn't pass the smell test. Tua was in for the play until he clearly lost track of the time left on the clock and Saban had to call time out (and Saban was very upset with Tua at that point for losing track of the time left on the clock). When they came out of the huddle on the sidelines after the time out, Jalen was in at QB.

 

[TiderJack]

I think that was said afterward, but it doesn't pass the smell test. Tua was in for the play until he clearly lost track of the time left on the clock and Saban had to call time out (and Saban was very upset with Tua at that point for losing track of the time left on the clock). When they came out of the huddle on the sidelines after the time out, Jalen was in at QB.

I saw it this way also. Tua is an intelligent player and I don't foresee mental lapses like we saw a couple of times in the 2nd half and these type of lapses will be eliminated.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

The mistakes Tua made last year (when he was in the game) were mostly from youth and lack of game experience. Unfortunately, the mistakes Jalen made were more developmental (or lack thereof) in nature. Unfortunately, part of developmental is coaching, which isn't completely his fault. It's not a knock on Jalen. It's just a reality. One of the questions Saban may have to ultimately ask himself and his coaches (when deciding on a QB) is, "Whose mistakes are more fixable?"

I go back to a discussion we had shortly after the season. Can Jalen realistically fix not being able to process defenses/information at the speed they are coming at him? Because the speed of the defense doesn't hardly make Tua flinch. He reads the defense and seemingly in a millisecond the ball is out, and out to the right receiver. Can Jalen realistically improve his field vision? Because as we've seen, Tua's field vision is nothing short of remarkable. He sees the entire field. All WR's are in play, no matter where he's looking at the time.

As of right now, IMO, any deficiencies in Tua's game are very, very fixable. They will correct themselves through more reps and experience. Jalen's areas of weakness are more complex in nature and I'm not sure are as easily fixable as Tua's.

 

[BamaMoon]

The mistakes Tua made last year (when he was in the game) were mostly from youth and lack of game experience. Unfortunately, the mistakes Jalen made were more developmental (or lack thereof) in nature. Which part of developmental is coaching, which isn't completely his fault. It's not a knock on Jalen. It's just a reality. One of the questions Saban may have to ultimately ask himself and his coaches (when deciding on a QB) is, "Whose mistakes are more fixable?"

I go back to a discussion we had shortly after the season. Can Jalen realistically fix not being able to process defenses/information at the speed they are coming at him? Because the speed of the defense doesn't hardly make Tua flinch. He reads the defense and seemingly in a millisecond the ball is out, and out to the right receiver. Can Jalen realistically improve his field vision? Because as we've seen, Tua's field vision is nothing short of remarkable. He sees the entire field. All WR's are in play, no matter where he's looking at the time.

As of right now, IMO, any deficiencies in Tua's game are very, very fixable. They will correct themselves through more reps and experience. Jalen's areas of weakness are more complex in nature and I'm not sure are as easily fixable as Tua's.

Nail meet hammer. Well said and right on target.

 

[Crimson White]

Then I hope that Mac Jones has progressed as much as some reports suggest, because Saban doesn't respond well to pressure for playing time by players.

Saban has never had to deal with a situation like this. When being recruited, Tua was told that the best player would play. That wasn't really the case by the end of the year and even the offensive coordinator wanted to play Tua. Saban stuck with Hurts until he absolutely had to make a change in the title game and now he's saying again that no decision is imperative. It may just be the coach biding time, but imo that isn't being totally fair with the qbs. It isn't what I think, anyway, or what anybody else thinks. It's Saban's team.

I've said at least since December that the 2 qbs will have a good idea who is expected to be the starter in the fall, and that if Saban inexplicably intends to go with Hurts, Tua will transfer. I would note that I expect Tagovailoa will be the starter in the fall. I think Hurts would be more likely to stick around, graduate, and transfer before the next season.

edit: I suppose Tagovailoa's injury could change his perspective about knowing for sure before the fall camp.

 

[Crimson White]

IMO, the only reason that either would transfer this year would be ego. Saban is not going to name a starter until at least the fall - and maybe not until the season begins. That in mind, they are both far better off staying at Alabama in 2018, whether they be named starter or backup. Neither is likely to start at another school in 2018 if they transfer. 2019 is the year in which you lose one or the other, IMO.

Unless the ncaa changes the rule before the season starts, a player would not be eligible to play for another team this year unless stepping down to another divisional level so that's a moot point. I have said it many times now but I don't see any way in the world that Jalen Hurts can reasonably beat Tua Tagovailoa, but Saban seems to really like the guy for whatever reason, and if he went with Hurts this year, you'd pretty much expect him to start his senior season too. No way that Tua Tagovailoa will sit on the bench to play one year. It isn't about ego as much as he has a career to consider but besides that, every player wants to play, and great players reasonably expect to play now, especially when they're better than the guy on the field.

 

[B1GTide]

Unless the ncaa changes the rule before the season starts, a player would not be eligible to play for another team this year unless stepping down to another divisional level so that's a moot point. I have said it many times now but I don't see any way in the world that Jalen Hurts can reasonably beat Tua Tagovailoa, but Saban seems to really like the guy for whatever reason, and if he went with Hurts this year, you'd pretty much expect him to start his senior season too. No way that Tua Tagovailoa will sit on the bench to play one year. He has a career to consider and besides that, every player wants to play, and great players reasonably expect to play now, especially when they're better than the guy on the field.

To your second point, and the one made by so many Alabama fans - AJ was far, far better than GMac. Everyone (other than GMac) knew it. Saban still had him sit in 2010. AJ didn't leave, and he was very frustrated and had NFL aspirations. So why is it a given that Tua would transfer if he was forced to sit another year (like AJ)?

 

[UAH]

Saban has never had to deal with a situation like this. When being recruited, Tua was told that the best player would play. That wasn't really the case by the end of the year and even the offensive coordinator wanted to play Tua. Saban stuck with Hurts until he absolutely had to make a change in the title game and now he's saying again that no decision is imperative. It may just be the coach biding time, but imo that isn't being totally fair with the qbs. It isn't what I think, anyway, or what anybody else thinks. It's Saban's team.
I've said at least since December that the 2 qbs will have a good idea who is expected to be the starter in the fall, and that if Saban inexplicably intends to go with Hurts, Tua will transfer. I would note that I expect Tagovailoa will be the starter in the fall. I think Hurts would be more likely to stick around, graduate, and transfer before the next season.

I agree. The unknowns for me are the financial situation of Tua's family in Alabama? What is their commitment and time frame for Taulia to complete school here and how does that impact their decision? I believe absolutely it would be a family decision to stay or go.

In the end if their expectation is for Tua to be an early round draft pick in the NFL they will attempt to make the best possible decision they can based on all the information they have available to them. In the end it could be a $100 mil. type decision.

I believe JH will be much improved and as others have said he definitely could start in a lot of situations with his athleticism.

I agree this is a unique issue for CNS to migrate through. He certainly must know that Tua could expect to start at a number of highly visible programs.

 

[Crimson White]

To your second point, and the one made by so many Alabama fans - AJ was far, far better than GMac. Everyone (other than GMac) knew it. Saban still had him sit in 2010. AJ didn't leave, and he was very frustrated and had NFL aspirations. So why is it a given that Tua would transfer if he was forced to sit another year (like AJ)?

AJ McCarron was a true freshman who redshirted in McElroy's final year. He did start, after a competition with Philip Sims (who was a year ahead of McCarron), in his 2nd year. McCarron, as good a college qb as he was, probably still doesn't have the potential that Tua Tagovailoa does.

It isn't a "given" that anybody will ever transfer, but if you're a very good qb, with a very likely career in the NFL, why would you sit on the bench for 3 years to play one, behind a guy that you're clearly better than?

You seem to be pulling for Jalen Hurts. I realize you kind of sort of like Alabama, but as an Ohio State fan, I'm not sure you look at the situation from the perspective of most Alabama fans.

 

[Crimson White]

Right. But I think it's pretty much all academic. I think Tua is the future qb at Alabama. I think that though Saban really likes a conservative offense, the fact that Tua is far more better than Hurts, and Tua has the support of most of the team, that it will be a done deal.

 

[B1GTide]

AJ McCarron was a true freshman in McElroy's final year.

AJ was a redshirt freshman in 2010.

 

[B1GTide]

Right. But I think it's pretty much all academic. I think Tua is the future qb at Alabama. I think that though Saban really likes a conservative offense, the fact that Tua is far more better than Hurts, and Tua has the support of most of the team, that it will be a done deal.

I agree. I am just surprised that so many believe that Tua would jump ship if not named starter out of the gates.

 

[CrimsonProf]

I agree. I am just surprised that so many believe that Tua would jump ship if not named starter out of the gates.

He was prepared to leave last year.


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[Crimson White]

AJ was a redshirt freshman in 2010.

Exactly right, and that was Greg McElroy's senior season. McElroy was the starting qb for the national champions that year. Jalen Hurts, though he was the starting qb vs UGA, has never won for Alabama a national title. In fact, he has played horribly in his two chances. I have seen enough roll out of the pocket and throw away the ball to last me a lifetime. Jalen Hurts has lost only 2 games at Alabama because he was surrounded by great players on offense and defense.

 

[B1GTide]

He was prepared to leave last year.

I haven't read that anywhere.

 

[RTR91]

I agree. I am just surprised that so many believe that Tua would jump ship if not named starter out of the gates.

There was plenty of speculation last season he and his family were willing to transfer. Radio host in Montgomery recently said he was told by a very reliable source a high school out West already had Taulia's transcripts in preparation for him to transfer. Now, I'm not sure if that was because of Tua or Taulia wanting to be closer to home.

 

[RTR91]

Exactly right, and that was Greg McElroy's senior season. McElroy was the starting qb for the national champions that year. Jalen Hurts, though he was the starting qb vs UGA, has never won for Alabama a national title. In fact, he has played horribly in his two chances. I have seen enough roll out of the pocket and throw away the ball to last me a lifetime.

First, you originally said AJ was a true freshman Greg's last season. Now, you're agreeing AJ was a redshirt freshman in 2010, which was Greg's last year?

Second and most importantly, McElroy did not QB the 2010 national champions because he didn't play for Auburn.

 

[B1GTide]

Exactly right, and that was Greg McElroy's senior season. He was the starting qb for the national champions that year. Jalen Hurts, though he was the starting qb vs UGA, has never won for Alabama a national title. In fact, he has played horribly in his two chances. I have seen enough roll out of the pocket and throw away the ball to last me a lifetime.

Jalen played a lot better against Clemson in 2016 that GMac played in any game in his career - certainly better than GMac played against Texas. Alabama doesn't sniff the playoffs the last 2 years with GMac as the starting QB.

You are not giving Jalen enough credit. He is not Tua, but he has been a GREAT QB for Alabama.

 

[Crimson White]

First, you originally said AJ was a true freshman Greg's last season. Now, you're agreeing AJ was a redshirt freshman in 2010, which was Greg's last year?

Second and most importantly, McElroy did not QB the 2010 national champions because he didn't play for Auburn.

McCarron's first year was McElroy's last year. Right? He was a true freshman in that it was his first year, but he redshirted that year. Isn't that correct?

Buy yeah, McElroy won the national title in 2009. I have no recollection of Auburn winning in 2010. In my world, it didn't happen.

 

[UAH]

There was plenty of speculation last season he and his family were willing to transfer. Radio host in Montgomery recently said he was told by a very reliable source a high school out West already had Taulia's transcripts in preparation for him to transfer. Now, I'm not sure if that was because of Tua or Taulia wanting to be closer to home.

IMO Taulia isn't going anywhere without the family and you would likely agree with that. To say that the family has not been contacted by UCLA and others would be stretching credulity I believe.