I really think we will see Jalen start vs Louisville. I think Tua comes in on third possession and that they rotate often the first 3-4 games. I think he lets them duel on the field and winner takes all
I think he doesn't use Jalen as another RB or WR. We have plenty of each.
My guess Tua wins out. Jalen bales at some point and Mac gets cleanup duty the second half of the year.
Coach knows better than me. But in my mind, going this route would be counterproductive if we are trying to move forward, keep our momentum going in recruiting, etc. What if Jalen goes out and has a good couple of series against a weak Louisville defense(which I suspect he would)? The controversy would go on until we faced the first good defense we play all year. I don't know. I think the answer is clear, barring injury. Why muddy things up and create a mess in the team's minds if you are pretty sure what the answer is going to be?
I think
CajunCrimson may be right - that's what Coach did in 2016, we "Started" a guy in the opener, even though the staff had already decided they were not going to stick with as the starter, for whatever reasons only Coach Saban will ever know.
But my concern is what
RedWave says - because the fact is, Jalen IS a
Very Good QB when he's not facing a particularly good Defense - and Louisville is NOT Likely to have a good defense this year. Of course, that's just the problem, isn't it? - he FAR TOO GOOD a QB (against weak defenses) to just bench out of hand - but we KNOW that he's never going to be able to cut it against the level of defenses we'll see IF we want to win another NC.
If Jalen goes 6 for 7 passing and runs for another 50 yards, and we score TD's on each of our first three series, THEN what do you do?
As they say in business - "the Good is the enemy of the Great".
(Responding to
CajunCrimson's post above:
I agree, but for Jalen personally I still believe it would be in his best interest to go ahead and transfer before fall camp. It would give him time off and a chance to play his final two years starting in the fall of 2019. The hard part would be finding the right program for his skill set.
Honestly, this is sort of what I expect to see happen - but probably not until 2-4 games into the season.
BUT - I think it's going to be a huge mistake for Jalen,
IF his goal is still to play in the NFL. IF his life goal has changed to simply being a great
COLLEGE QB, then he can still 100% accomplish this, some place like UNC, Texas Tech, Washington State, or maybe some place like ULM, MTSU, Memphis, .... or FAU.....
TWO PROBLEMS: First - the problem for the team - FWIW, I'm not completely sure that
TUA doesn't transfer 4 games into the season if he's NOT named the #1 QB
AND taking MOST of the snaps. And honestly, I'd hate it, but
I wouldn't blame him - if he's still sharing the job with Jalen at that point. Tua would be the ONLY starter, hands down, at most other college programs in the nation. It would be a very LOW risk for him to leave Alabama. Can you imagine what Tua would do at Ohio State? Or Clemson?
Second - the problem for Jalen. I think it's beyond rational debate that Jalen is a great guy and a great teammate, but he's Never going to be an NFL QB. I hope SOMEONE he trusts can sit him down and show him some film of Blake Sims in 2014 - a guy who was EVERY BIT as good a RB as Jalen is, And - let's be honest - TWICE AS GOOD A PASSER when under pressure.
Where is Blake Sims today?
Where is Braxton Miller today? Playing in the NFL - that's where......
