Let's Talk Bama QBs - '25 Season

[gtgilbert]

Matt Wyatt out this morning with a film on Ewer's TD pass in OT against Arizona State.

It clearly shows the need of a QB to read defenses, set blocking assignments and get the ball out to the right receiver. The play wasn't perfect but it went for a TD.

We talk about DeBoer's system but it begins with a QB who can get the ball out to the open receiver.

and also, key to any QB being successful, CKD system or not, is getting the ball out on time. Like MW said, if QR doesn't get that ball out right as the WR freezes the DB, even though the WR doesn't look open yet, it's probably not going to get the result you want cause you give the DB time to recover and make the space back up.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I get what you are saying, but the reality is that Bryce is trapped in a 13 year old body. Just like we can't take the fact that JM is a physical specimen and separate that from the fact he lacks a lot of other capabilities that limit him, we can't separate the fact that BY is limited by his frame - like you said - it keeps him from doing some things that are required.

Bryce was better at the stuff between the ears and everything you do at the LOS

I say he’s not as good as Tua or Mac at Bama because Bryce is missing their Deep Ball talent.

Bryce is amazing at the Short and Intermediate stuff but compared to those two his Deep Ball is lacking.

Tua and Mac were both lethally accurate at all levels of the field.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

I got to watch part of the all-star game he played in, and KR played very, very well there. Great touch, used some velocity when needed, threw guys open and placed the ball over defenders. Very good stuff.

I do think he needs weight to withstand an SEC season. I get the Daniels comp, but Daniels was 210 at LSU, and Russel is listed now as 180 and that is a HUGE difference.

Again, I don't think it's fair (yet) to judge Sheridan on his abilities to call plays and adjust because he was so handcuffed this season by QB limitations.

All of this. I get the Daniels comp too but he makes Daniels look like Milroe with how tiny he is.

 

[Power Eye]

I’m cautiously optimistic about the QB position heading into next year. We really don’t know anything beyond Simpson and Russell were highly recruited, and Mack was highly regarded by the current staff. We also know Simpson was in a tight battle for the starting job this time two years ago through the start of the 23 season, and that’s about it.

We have talent at the position, we have coaches that know how to develop that talent, we have talented pieces around them, and we no longer have any real or imaginary handcuffs as to who the starter is.

I would assume Simpson is the leader heading into the spring, but I feel like the others will get every opportunity to take the job.

My hope is that Simpson is like a Carson Beck who that had to patiently wait his turn and whose learning curve was not nearly as great due to being in the system for several years. Mack is obviously the wild card in all of this.

I hope it’s not Russell that wins the job, because, if so, it’s probably a bad sign for 2025. I can only think of Hurts and Lawrence who came in as true freshmen and led their teams to the playoffs. I don’t care how talented he is, he’ll be a true freshman.

I do think there is a bright side to Lonergans leaving before the spring, and that’s that he knew he probably wasn’t going to beat out Simpson. Which leads me to believe Simpson is ready.

 

[oskie]

All of this. I get the Daniels comp too but he makes Daniels look like Milroe with how tiny he is.

Russell is not the size of Austin Mack or Jake Coker, but he's an inch taller than Mac Jones, and the same weight as Mac, when Mac came to BAMA.

Calling him tiny might be a stretch.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Russell is not the size of Austin Mack or Jake Coker, but he's an inch taller than Mac Jones, and the same weight as Mac, when Mac came to BAMA.

Calling him tiny might be a stretch.

View attachment 48323

Idk man. Have you seen him? He looks like a stick. Also Mac didn't start until years later. Mac is now listed at 214

 

[oskie]

Idk man. Have you seen him? He looks like a stick. ...

Yes, totally agree on the stick part, but I call that skinny, not tiny. Semantics, I suppose.

... Also Mac didn't start until years later. Mac is now listed at 214

Russell hasn't started yet, either. Fully expect him to be "SEC game weight" by the time he does start.


BTW, I do remember that your original point was that the comparison with him and Daniels was not good one. Sorry if I chased a rabbit.

 

[UAH]

I get what you are saying, but the reality is that Bryce is trapped in a 13 year old body. Just like we can't take the fact that JM is a physical specimen and separate that from the fact he lacks a lot of other capabilities that limit him, we can't separate the fact that BY is limited by his frame - like you said - it keeps him from doing some things that are required.

Bryce is becoming accustomed to the close coverage found in the NFL and is beginning to make throws.
Can he make up for his small frame? Perhaps as well as Tua and Mac make up for their physical deficiences.

 

[AlexanderFan]

I think minimum 205 to stay out on the field for consecutive series. He needs some muscle to take some of the punishment.

Unless he’s super de duper special he’s going to be hitting the ground a lot more in the SEC than in high school.

 

[AlexanderFan]

Bryce is becoming accustomed to the close coverage found in the NFL and is beginning to make throws.
Can he make up for his small frame? Perhaps as well as Tua and Mac make up for their physical deficiences.

There was a snap in the Bucs game where the interior three were pushed back into Bryce’s face and it became painfully obvious how small he is. He couldn’t get out of the pocket and I don’t think he could’ve released the ball over the heads of his linemen to keep from getting sacked.

He was an absolute magician at Alabama to navigate around that disadvantage.

 

[JohnD]

We're in for a world of hurt if we have to start a true freshman at QB. He needs about 30 lbs of weight and about 30 pounds of toughness. The guy is really good, but he'll need a break-in period and some development time. He'll probably look good in spring practice with a black jersey on though.

 

[Joefus]

For now I’m gonna hope and wish and pray Russell is so good they can’t keep him off the field

 

[B1GTide]

We're in for a world of hurt if we have to start a true freshman at QB. He needs about 30 lbs of weight and about 30 pounds of toughness. The guy is really good, but he'll need a break-in period and some development time. He'll probably look good in spring practice with a black jersey on though.

You never know. Hurts and Tua were both ready to start as true freshmen.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I would rather Ty be good enough to start next season and let KR sit his first year, add weight, and get acclimated to the playbook and college. But I know everyone today isn't like Arch Manning who I think is setting himself up for great success.

 

[gtgilbert]

You never know. Hurts and Tua were both ready to start as true freshmen.

See, I have mixed feelings about that.

Hurts came in and won the job after a few others faltered, and did pretty well year 1, but I 100% believe that being pushed into action as a true freshman led him to some bad habits, or maybe reinforced some, and that had he been able to learn more early, he could have developed into a more well rounded QB faster. I think a lot of the issues in year 2 were because it was hard for him to stop doing the things that worked well for him his first year.

We kinda had the opposite with Tua. Yes, he was capable as soon as he walked on campus and pushed Hurts hard for the job, but I also think that not having the 'starter' label, and getting to get reps in games that were still when it kinda mattered, but there was not as much pressure, helped him develop better and faster. BY was pretty much the same. He probably was good enough, but sitting behind Mac while still getting a decent amount of reps I think really helped him out.

I think the same is true for a lot of guys going to the NFL. It's often better to be the backup for a year, or even just part of the year so that a guy can get up to speed on playbook stuff, get more in sync with the WRs, see how much faster the game is and all that stuff.

So I guess just because someone is possibly capable, doesn't mean it's the best thing for their development long term.

 

[editder]

If Ty starts, unless he has a stellar season and goes pro, he’ll likely be the starter for two years. Is KR going to hang around that long? If Mack starts, we could be talking three years.

If KR is what he’s expected to be, I hope he’s able to emerge right away. Otherwise, I think he’ll be gone.

 

[CrimsonBloodn62]

Whoever starts, just keep that fire in your eye look, and everything will be alright.

 

[JohnD]

You never know. Hurts and Tua were both ready to start as true freshmen.

We disagree on the percentages. I'd put Hurts at about 80% ready out the gate, and that was mainly because of his freakish strength which Russell does not have. He could hunt for Ardarius Stewart or Ridley, then take off to his right if he could not find them for sure. And he did not turn the ball over. But we had a stout running game that year. Tua on the other hand was maybe 50% ready at the beginning of the year. He had to adjust to the college level a lot and figure out what he could and couldn't do.

You never know, but Russell is not nearly as ready physically as those two were in my opinion. Jury is out if he is mentally.

 

[BamaMoon]

6'3" and 180 is pretty light, but remember he's a real passer and his job IS NOT TO RUN.

We've probably been brainwashed to think we need a heavy QB.

But it wouldn't shock me if the training staff can't get 10-15 lbs on him by next fall.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

We disagree on the percentages. I'd put Hurts at about 80% ready out the gate, and that was mainly because of his freakish strength which Russell does not have. He could hunt for Ardarius Stewart or Ridley, then take off to his right if he could not find them for sure. And he did not turn the ball over. But we had a stout running game that year. Tua on the other hand was maybe 50% ready at the beginning of the year. He had to adjust to the college level a lot and figure out what he could and couldn't do.

You never know, but Russell is not nearly as ready physically as those two were in my opinion. Jury is out if he is mentally.

Jalen Hurts was 120% ready between the ears wrt to being Cool under pressure, but was probably 50% ready with Mechanics and reading Defenses etc.

He had Ice Water in his veins right off the bat and it's not teachable but It probably did stunt his development in the other areas by being rushed into Action.

Tua was 100% ready the second he stepped on campus.

He absolutely Torched our Defense in the off-season going in 2017

You could tell how special he was right off the bat in his 1st real action vs Fresno ST and then Vandy in Sept.

Gary Danielson and Brad Nessler were both blown away during the Vandy game.

Tua came in just ripping the ball. He threw a 35-40 yard TD to Jeudy on a rope over his right shoulder and before it was even caught you could hear Gary "What a Throw!!"

A couple drives later he runs a Zone Keeper just freezing the defenders and takes off on a 20 yard run.

Then a couple plays later is that 30-35 yard TD pass where he does a pirouette in the pocket and rips it to Smitty and hits him square on the 6 for a TD and Ness says he looks like Steve Young.