We -- including me -- are starting to beat a dead horse here. I'll summarize my thoughts, and this will be my last post on the subject unless and until some new news surfaces.
Jalen Hurts winning record and passing statistics are highly misleading.
- For all but 2-3 teams a year, virtually any FBS QB could be taking snaps, and our talent level and coaching expertise is so superior, we'd win.
- Jalen's passing stats, expecially in 2016, are built in no small measure on jet sweeps...essentially a running play that is scored as a pass because the ball is in the air for about 12-24 inches.
- All QBs' performance deteriorates against elite defenses. Jalen's nosedives. But the padding generated by performance against the big number of lesser teams artificially masks the poor performance against the small number of good ones.
Highly credible posters here have stated that he has lost the confidence of the other offensive skill players. Neither running backs nor receivers are happy:
- Ignoring inaccuracy for a minute, the fact that he tends to make one read, then take off running, takes catches away from the WRs and TEs.
- Then there's the accuracy thing, repeatedly missing open receivers, or putting the ball in places where, even if the catch is made, the receiver's stride is broken, his rhythm is thrown off, and the completion doesn't yield the yardage it should have.
- Credible posters have repeatedly said that only Mike Locksley's intervention prevented mutiny in the WR ranks, probably followed by mass exodus via transfer.
- RBs aren't happy because he runs so much, even on plays designed to be handoffs, that it diminishes their value.
- We have credible reason to believe his limitations were actually used against us in recruiting.
The defense isn't happy because the repeated 3-and-outs against good teams simultaneously cause them to be on the field incessantly (defending 100 plays agains Clemson? Really?), and create a feeling of futility in their effort.
Even Saban has said that the QBs main job is to put the ball in the hands of the playmakers. Jalen doesn't do a lot of that, unless you count putting the ball in his own hands when he runs it.
His heavy tendencies undermine the effectiveness of what should be a huge strength -- the RPO. Problem is, that's Run / Pass
Option. When you never throw off of it, the absence of a passing threat allows the D to ignore that, and treat the play as a designed QB run. Which, against a top 5-7 defense is death.
Jalen's towering strength is ball security. The guy may go 3-and-out a lot, but he just doesn't turn it over. Fundamentally, I remain old school: Run the ball, stop the run, win special teams, and don't turn the ball over. I detest "basketball on grass" and anything remotely approaching that.
So when I say what I'm about to say, it comes only after long and serious thought: In Jalen Hurts' case, the ball security is just too expensive in terms of lost / foregone opportunities.
Over and out on this topic unless and until something new comes up.
Late Edit: This article, also part of kyallie's Latest News thread, goes over a lot of the above points. The author admits it's brutal, but I believe he is accurate. He also adds something I didn't consider -- the effect of Tua on the OL's performance.
They know he'll stay in the pocket as long as possible, so they know they're pass blocking. Given Jalen's tendency to bail on the play after the first read and take off running, that's a luxury they don't have when he's taking snaps. So for Tua, they fight harder for that extra second or two of protection.
Tua's presence has a positive effect on the whole team.
https://tdalabamamag.com/2018/06/09...275510785&mc_cid=c377b8ee66&mc_eid=f8c59bf4db
