Alabama QB competition article

[NationalTitles18]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

There's no better time to play Tua over Jalen than now.

The 2nd half of the last game wasn't a bad time. Just sayin'...

There's always a method to Saban's "madness".

The problem I have with John Doe and those like him is that the well has been poisoned if Jalen starts. We have people talking about how Tua should transfer and his brother should choose another school if it happens. People have turned on Jalen. Jalen can't control others but I question the wisdom of his comments recently. I also see Tua as the better QB. Still, in Saban I trust.

 

[UAH]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

It's a perfect example of the 10,000 hour rule Malcolm Gladwell writes about in Outliers.

The throwing motion is complex because of all of the muscle groups involved and the fact that the speed of the movement is so great it makes it difficult to view without high speed camera work. I have spent a great deal of time on line with Dr. Mike Marshall, formerly of the LA Dodgers and later receiving a PhD in Bio Mechanics. Aside from genetics and fast twitch muscle response which I am not equipped to speak to, my brief comment of Jalen's motion vs Tua's is this... the key in the throwing motion is to position the muscle groups in the shoulder and upper arm to enable the violent acceleration and pronation of the forearm out front of the body. This is what Tua does to perfection repeatedly and since he is effectively driving the ball with his forearm he can appear to flick the ball accurately on the move. I believe that Jalen begins to accelerate his upper arm from behind his ear which causes his arm to drag through and elongate his entire motion. As I watch the other right hand QB's throw side by side with Jalen their arm velocity is greater even to the naked eye. I genuinely regret that for Jalen but that to a large degree why there are only a handful of successful NFL QB's.

Offered FWIW as an opinion after watching hundreds of throwers over many years.

 

[davefrat]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

i freely admit i don't know squat about football compared to people who actually know, but you don't have to be Bill Walsh to see that Tua is light years ahead of Hurts in his overall capacity as a quarterback.

outside of internal team chemistry or something intangible like that, i don't see how there can even be a question in anyone's mind (including Saban's) as to which of the two should start.

if Hurts trots out onto the field for the first snap of the UL game, it would be (in my opinion) one of the dumbest things i've ever seen Saban do.

to be sure, i can't recall him doing much dumb stuff, but starting Hurts would be near the top.

 

[Ratal]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

Someone mentioned the difficulties the moderators might have here if Jalen starts the game but I'm also concerned about crowd reaction at the game if Jalen trots out there for the first series. Jalen certainly didn't endear himself to the fans after complaining to the media about the coaching staff. If we have a quick 3 and out with Jalen after throwing an incomplete pass the crowd could start to become vocal. Things could deteriorate quickly. If Saban chooses to start Tua he won't be second guessed by the media or the fans. Most likely nobody will wonder why he chose Tua to start but there's quite a few that may wonder why he started Jalen.

Also, what happens if there is a predetermined rotation and Tua comes in to loud cheers? I struggle to see a situation where starting Jalen is a positive at this point. If we move the ball well and score a lot of points it is easy for poor play(i.e pulling the ball down and running instead of seeing open receivers) may be glossed over. I can not think of a QB ever being pulled for struggling with the team winning by a comfortable amount.

 

[CrimsonProf]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

My own theory, backed up by whispers I've heard.

Jalens plays, as a nod to his efforts the last two years and in an attempt to impress other schools with a look to a transfer.

Jalen keeps his redshirt.

Tua and Mac are QB1 and QB2 most of the year.

Relax, y'all.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

I think starting Jalen will do nothing more than pro-long and ramp up the QB controversy talk and add to it "Tua transferring" talk. I know CNS likes to say publicly "This is more important to you guys than to us on the inside". But that's just Coach speak, because we now know there was almost a rebellion within the team in the second half of the season because the players thought Tua should be playing. If Jalen strolls out as the starter this situation is going to be like throwing gasoline on an already lit fire.

 

[TheTradition]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

My own theory, backed up by whispers I've heard.

Jalens plays, as a nod to his efforts the last two years and in an attempt to impress other schools with a look to a transfer.

Jalen keeps his redshirt.

Tua and Mac are QB1 and QB2 most of the year.

Relax, y'all.

This is not directed at you at all, but that is just stupid IMO. We don't owe Jalen anything. The best player should play, period.

 

[AlexanderFan]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

The 2nd half of the last game wasn't a bad time. Just sayin'...

There's always a method to Saban's "madness".

The problem I have with John Doe and those like him is that the well has been poisoned if Jalen starts. We have people talking about how Tua should transfer and his brother should choose another school if it happens. People have turned on Jalen. Jalen can't control others but I question the wisdom of his comments recently. I also see Tua as the better QB. Still, in Saban I trust.

Saying Tua is the better quarterback is not turning on Jalen. It's a statement of fact.
Jalen has deficiencies as a passer that Tua doesn't, which enables Tua to be the type of quarterback Alabama needs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TideWatcher]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

Not many people really have confidence in Jalen against the teams you have to beat to win it all. He could start and look good against Louisville. Tua needs the work to develop in game type situations before the hard games, although reading about Louisville scares me a bit. Their D will be better than we expect I suspect. Tua seems the clear choice to be a great offense, but CS is like CPB, he makes the decision his way. They are the best ever, but doesn't mean their decisions were always right. Their leadership and development of players and a team put them above everybody else. The auburn game last year is what is so troubling about seeing Jalen get the start. Having said that, I do not expect him to start. Just cannot see it.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

I'm going to choose to believe that if Jalen does start its because its his last chance to show he can do it. That way he doesn't have to take out Tua if he starts fast. If he starts Tua it could be harder to take him out and give Jalen a chance. That might not be even close to what CNS is thinking but its what I'm going with.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

I think starting Jalen will do nothing more than pro-long and ramp up the QB controversy talk and add to it "Tua transferring" talk. I know CNS likes to say publicly "This is more important to you guys than to us on the inside". But that's just Coach speak, because we now know there was almost a rebellion within the team in the second half of the season because the players thought Tua should be playing. If Jalen strolls out as the starter this situation is going to be like throwing gasoline on an already lit fire.

100%. It's not worth stirring up a bunch of unnecessary drama that brewed up last year just to give a 'Thank You for Your Service' Token start to a player.

Worse.... it's not worth setting the team back years by starting someone for another full season when the better player is on the bench and the entire team knows it and frustrated RB's, WR's, and a QB transfer because of it ....along with losing several current commitments from skill players at the same positions.

This could be the beginning of everything being torn apart if the right decision isn't made.

 

[TheTradition]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

I'm going to choose to believe that if Jalen does start its because its his last chance to show he can do it. That way he doesn't have to take out Tua if he starts fast. If he starts Tua it could be harder to take him out and give Jalen a chance. That might not be even close to what CNS is thinking but its what I'm going with.

But why do we have to give Jalen another chance? Doesn't Tua deserve to start if, like everybody says, he has thoroughly outplayed him. I gave Jalen a pass after his freshman year. I figured he would improve significantly last year, but it didn't happen. He was given chances in the AU, Clemson, and Georgia games after being pretty average most of the year. He then got all of the #1 reps in spring after Tua got hurt and has still been outplayed this fall.

I'm not a Jalen hater at all. I defended him all the way up until the AU game last year. I still like him and will cheer for him to do well. But he's had his fair share of chances. I hear all this talk about "Well is this fair to Jalen?" "What about Jalen?" What about Tua?

EDIT: Not necessarily directed at you. Just thinking out loud here.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

But why do we have to give Jalen another chance? Doesn't Tua deserve to start if, like everybody says, he has thoroughly outplayed him. I gave Jalen a pass after his freshman year. I figured he would improve significantly last year, but it didn't happen. He was given chances in the AU, Clemson, and Georgia games after being pretty average most of the year. He then got all of the #1 reps in spring after Tua got hurt and has still been outplayed this fall.

I'm not a Jalen hater at all. I defended him all the way up until the AU game last year. I still like him and will cheer for him to do well. But he's had his fair share of chances. I hear all this talk about "Well is this fair to Jalen?" "What about Jalen?" What about Tua?

Idk. Not saying it makes complete sense I'm just not going to stress about Tua not starting or whatever until it becomes an issue. Nothing I can do about it.

 

[Intl.Aperture]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

I dont care who takes the first snap at Lville (and I originally thought it would still be Jalen).

Tua will be the full time starter soon enough and we should win all these early games no problem.

Coach has his reasons for whatever decision he makes, but Tua won't be kept off the field.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[UAH]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

Not many people really have confidence in Jalen against the teams you have to beat to win it all. He could start and look good against Louisville. Tua needs the work to develop in game type situations before the hard games, although reading about Louisville scares me a bit. Their D will be better than we expect I suspect. Tua seems the clear choice to be a great offense, but CS is like CPB, he makes the decision his way. They are the best ever, but doesn't mean their decisions were always right. Their leadership and development of players and a team put them above everybody else. The auburn game last year is what is so troubling about seeing Jalen get the start. Having said that, I do not expect him to start. Just cannot see it.

I believe that a Petrino coached team absolutely cannot be taken lightly. I can't imagine that CNS will not dispose of internal questions and prepare his team to focus on the job at hand. To do it any other way is not Saban like and is a good way to have the entire team lose focus and confidence. I for one have not taken the "rat poison" to believe that we can go out and go 10 - 0 without putting the best offense we can can on the field.

 

[BamaMoon]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

The throwing motion is complex because of all of the muscle groups involved and the fact that the speed of the movement is so great it makes it difficult to view without high speed camera work. I have spent a great deal of time on line with Dr. Mike Marshall, formerly of the LA Dodgers and later receiving a PhD in Bio Mechanics. Aside from genetics and fast twitch muscle response which I am not equipped to speak to, my brief comment of Jalen's motion vs Tua's is this... the key in the throwing motion is to position the muscle groups in the shoulder and upper arm to enable the violent acceleration and pronation of the forearm out front of the body. This is what Tua does to perfection repeatedly and since he is effectively driving the ball with his forearm he can appear to flick the ball accurately on the move. I believe that Jalen begins to accelerate his upper arm from behind his ear which causes his arm to drag through and elongate his entire motion. As I watch the other right hand QB's throw side by side with Jalen their arm velocity is greater even to the naked eye. I genuinely regret that for Jalen but that to a large degree why there are only a handful of successful NFL QB's.

Offered FWIW as an opinion after watching hundreds of throwers over many years.

I've studied the golf swing and it sounds like what you are describing is Tua has a full, powerful release like a golfer who has tons of lag built up and he knows when to "release" the stored up energy. With Jalen, it sounds like he's the golfer that's learned how to play without understanding the proper release. In golfing terms he's "holding on" unstead of a natural, full release of all that stored up energy.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

I'm really proud to be part of the Bama football community. We are in middle of something special, that we may not see again in our lifetime. Looking at our roster for this year, we have two different kind of a special players on the team and it's not everyday we get two great Qbs. I really am grateful for what Jalen and Tua did for the team last year, and I'm excited to see what they are able to contribute to this year. No matter who is behind the center against Louisville and any games after that, I will always be Bama fan. If Jalen starts, I'm okay with it. If Tua starts, I'm okay with it as well. I trust the coaching staff to make the decision. If I don't agree with them, I will still support the team and I'm not going to act up and make a claim not to watch the team play this year. That's not a true fan in my opinion. I'm ready to see how much Jalen and Tua has improved since last year and here's hoping to a successful season with them.

 

[Ace14bama]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

You know, after watching this play out and listening to what Saban has said to this point, I think he is doing exactly what he's done in the previous QB competitions we've had. I think he's going to let this get settled in front of the fans. He's going to let it play out over the first 3 or 4 games for all to see, which to me is dangerous. So, if that's the case, it makes a little bit of sense as to why he would think it best to give Jalen the start (seniority?). I think the game plan will include both players this week with Jalen probably getting the start but rotating Tua in and seeing who makes the plays.

The probem I have with this is that this does not appear to the fans (and from many reports, some of the team) as just another QB competition at Alabama. I think most fans believe this competition is not a competition at all anymore. We've seen this play out already in front of our eyes. We all saw the slide towards the end of last season and then the insertion of Tua when we got desperate and the boy willed us to victory on the biggest stage, against the best defense, and under the most pressure. To me, this isn't just another QB competition where we really don't know who the best player is. So believing that, the negative repercussions to playing it out the way I believe it's going to be played out is what scares me. To me, we are dabbling at this point. Why string the inevitable along if you truly believe it to be the inevitable? And if you don't believe it to be the inevitable, then maybe we haven't been watching the same games and players?!?

I just can't see the benefit of making this out like it is still a competition at this point...dragging it into the season and risking time and team chemistry. And look, I'm all about the whole in Saban we trust thing....but this one is really puzzling to me. What happens if we get into the first 3 or 4 games and both QB's because of inferior competition are pretty much neck and neck? What then?

 

[BamaMoon]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

I think the safest bet right now (with no insider knowledge) is to assume both are going to play.

While I think Tua has earned the right to start and play the most, if Jalen starts Tua is going to play.

If Tua starts, Jalen is going to play.

I know this makes us nervous, but their play on the field will separate them. I may not agree with how CNS has handled this going all the way back to last year, but what choice do I (we) have.

It may be wrong (in many people's eyes) to start Jalen over Tua, but he's earned the right to be wrong about a million times over the last 10+ seasons.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

Re: Alabama QB competition article (ALL QB posts here, please)

I think the safest bet right now (with no insider knowledge) is to assume both are going to play.

While I think Tua has earned the right to start and play the most, if Jalen starts Tua is going to play.

If Tua starts, Jalen is going to play.

I know this makes us nervous, but their play on the field will separate them. I may not agree with how CNS has handled this going all the way back to last year, but what choice do I (we) have.

It may be wrong (in many people's eyes) to start Jalen over Tua, but he's earned the right to be wrong about a million times over the last 10+ seasons.

I agree!