Poll: Who is your starting and Back-up QB for the 2025 season?

[colbysullivan]

Over the years, I've heard a lot of conversation on that trait -- not a good practice player, but an outstanding gamer. Sounds like great material for a psychological study.

I mean, it's not really uncommon to be honest. A ton of players look at practice exactly for what it is. I'll put it this way: practice matters, but games COUNT.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

IMO Ty showed enough against USF in 2023 to earn the start against Ole Miss the next week. We were in danger of losing that game, and Ty WON it for us. Would we have beaten Ole Miss with Ty? Again, we'll never know.

And I can't argue with that. I think Milroe soiled his pants enough last season to give Ty a shot regardless of what Ty did in practice. A message should have been sent to the starting QB and the team that, that type of play isn't going to be tolerated at Alabama.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Over the years, I've heard a lot of conversation on that trait -- not a good practice player, but an outstanding gamer. Sounds like great material for a psychological study.

It's nuts and would be a great study. It's "common" but not the norm, if that makes sense. LOL! You see it but you see more of the instances of what a player does in practice normally will be what he does in a game. Again, I've had players in baseball who just looked mediocre in practice and the guy in front of them just played better in practice. So I started and played the guy who outperformed the others in practice. Which is the common sense thing to do. Only to realize the guy behind him was actually the better in game player and just (for whatever reason) didn't play well in practice. It's not an exact science that's for sure.

 

[BamaMoon]

The thing with Ty was that from statements made by coaches early on it was not talent that was holding him back but rather his ability to manage the up and down emotions of the game. That's certainly not uncommon with many players when they are young but if the years have added maturity, which they usually do then this may be his time. But... if you want to play for a consistent top 10 team ** you're always going to have to beat out some really good players to play QB.

** Alabama was not a top 10 team during the transition year but I believe will return to that level in 2025 and remain at that level.

I couple of years ago in the midst of the Milroe mess I remember looking up some of TS's HS recruiting vids and I couldn't believe how many of those "highlights" were of him having to evade the pocket and make circus throws on the run. He must've played behind a terrible OL in HS!

It makes me wonder if part of what was holding him back was his distrust to stand in the pocket and make the throws his arm was capable of making. And then, in his efforts to "match Milroe" he felt more compelled to scramble (which he's not bad at doing) and then I wonder if he was trying to make circus throws on the run and it kept backfiring in practice.

It was pretty obvious to me in the limited throws he's gotten the last couple of years as a backup that WHEN HE STANDS IN THE POCKET he can throw accurately and move the chains.

This is what CKD's offense calls for. It involves the kind of throws JM struggled with the most (short, quick, accurate throws to WRS in space).

If/when TS learns that's all he needs to do to be a star in this offense, he'll become a very stable, dependable QB and maybe even a first round draft choice!

 

[mlh]

One thing I heard about TS was that he was too hard on himself and would get upset when he made a mistake. And he had trouble shaking it off and moving on to the next play. Is that a lack of confidence? Lack of maturity? Simply trying too hard to be perfect? IDK. But that all affects your ability to lead the team. Hopefully he's matured a little and is more confident this year.

I also heard he tried too hard to outshine JM in practice, throwing long balls and scrambling, rather than just doing what he does well which is short, accurate throws and getting the ball out quickly.

I have no doubt he has the ability to read the defense, make the short-to-medium throws, and run CKD's offense. I just hope he doesn't get down on himself too much when he does make a mistake because he will make mistakes due to his lack of experience.

 

[HearMeOut]

I couple of years ago in the midst of the Milroe mess I remember looking up some of TS's HS recruiting vids and I couldn't believe how many of those "highlights" were of him having to evade the pocket and make circus throws on the run. He must've played behind a terrible OL in HS!

It makes me wonder if part of what was holding him back was his distrust to stand in the pocket and make the throws his arm was capable of making. And then, in his efforts to "match Milroe" he felt more compelled to scramble (which he's not bad at doing) and then I wonder if he was trying to make circus throws on the run and it kept backfiring in practice.

It was pretty obvious to me in the limited throws he's gotten the last couple of years as a backup that WHEN HE STANDS IN THE POCKET he can throw accurately and move the chains.

This is what CKD's offense calls for. It involves the kind of throws JM struggled with the most (short, quick, accurate throws to WRS in space).

If/when TS learns that's all he needs to do to be a star in this offense, he'll become a very stable, dependable QB and maybe even a first round draft choice!

Now that he’s not chasing JM, I really believe Simpson is going to surprise a lot of people in a really good way. He has the size, arm and background to be what we all want. Plus he’s got pretty decent wheels. I’m going to name several past QB’s we had that once everything came together for them, they turned out to be pretty darn good at leading our offense.

 

[HearMeOut]

Now that he’s not chasing JM, I really believe Simpson is going to surprise a lot of people in a really good way. He has the size, arm and background to be what we all want. Plus he’s got pretty decent wheels. I’m going to name several past QB’s we had that once everything came together for them, they turned out to be pretty darn good at leading our offense.

Hollingsworth, Barker, Croyle, McElroy, McCarron, Coker. I’d take either of these guys right now.

 

[The Ols]

Hollingsworth, Barker, Croyle, McElroy, McCarron, Coker. I’d take either of these guys right now.

Mac Jones is jumping up and down and screaming hello!!!

 

[Ledsteplin]

I might also add that without question I would have benched Milro last year when his play started nose diving, thus giving Ty a chance. Getting benched was in my humble opinion the best thing that happened to Jaylen Hurts and it reset something in him, when he came back in he was different and that arc continued until we saw him scull drag the Chiefs defense in the superbowl. I can say the same about Andrew Zow and Tyler Watts as both were benched for the other at times and they both came back better afterwards. Having personal setbacks is not a bad thing if you use the experience to become a better person or player.

I think Dan Enos did Hurts some good.

 

[BamaMoon]

Hollingsworth, Barker, Croyle, McElroy, McCarron, Coker. I’d take either of these guys right now.

Hmmm...it remains to be seen, but I think TS may have more QB talent than everybody on that list other than Croyle and AJ.

If TS will stay within his talent wheelhouse, he'll become a star IMO.

 

[BamaMoon]

I HOPE TS is another Mac Jones story!!!

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I think Dan Enos did Hurts some good.

Yes, Enos was a very good QB's coach. It was how he left that wasn't cool. I don't think Saban appreciated it very much.

 

[Ledsteplin]

Yes, Enos was a very good QB's coach. It was how he left that wasn't cool. I don't think Saban appreciated it very much.

No, he didn't like it at all. I didn't understand why he did it that way. It wasn't necessary.

 

[colbysullivan]

No, he didn't like it at all. I didn't understand why he did it that way. It wasn't necessary.

Agreed. Saban, of all people, is the last person that would be upset by a coach taking another job. All Enos had to do was talk to him.

 

[cdub55]

It's nuts and would be a great study. It's "common" but not the norm, if that makes sense. LOL! You see it but you see more of the instances of what a player does in practice normally will be what he does in a game. Again, I've had players in baseball who just looked mediocre in practice and the guy in front of them just played better in practice. So I started and played the guy who outperformed the others in practice. Which is the common sense thing to do. Only to realize the guy behind him was actually the better in game player and just (for whatever reason) didn't play well in practice. It's not an exact science that's for sure.

Agreed. Generationally will you see a player who "shine's when the lights are brightest". 99% of guys are what we thought they were...at practice anyways.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

Interesting article:

" Mack was considered a 4-star passer and did not play a single game for the Huskies and only one for Bama where he completed 2 of 3 passes for 39 yards and a TD. And he knows how Kalen operates. Addition of the new OC Ryan Grubb only fans the flames that might catch up to Ty. And all of this was not enough, he is also showing up and showing out in Alabama’s ongoing spring practices. So, will Austin’s rise push Simpson to finally check out another program? " - article

Austin Mack’s Rise Puts 5-Star Alabama QB on Potential Transfer Watch as Kalen DeBoer’s Plan Nearly Confirmed

Alabama insider addresses the ugly byproduct of Kalen DeBoer's QB conundrum, which seems to be trending towards Austin Mack as the solution.

www.essentiallysports.com

 

[CrimsonTitles]

I think it will be Ty Simpson. The media likes to speculate it will be someone else but my interpretation of DeBoer's remarks about the QB's during spring camp lead me to believe it will be Simpson.

The media is already trying to send him packing. They followed up the Mack having a good day news with speculation about Ty Simpson entering the transfer portal because of it. It's clear they have no clue. They're just stirring up stuff for clicks. This dude has continued to stay, in spite of everything that has happened. Even though many people felt like he got the short end of the stick the last two years, he's still here. He didn't stay through all that just to leave when the competition heated up.

 

[CrimsonTitles]

The thing with Ty was that from statements made by coaches early on it was not talent that was holding him back but rather his ability to manage the up and down emotions of the game. That's certainly not uncommon with many players when they are young but if the years have added maturity, which they usually do then this may be his time. But... if you want to play for a consistent top 10 team ** you're always going to have to beat out some really good players to play QB.

** Alabama was not a top 10 team during the transition year but I believe will return to that level in 2025 and remain at that level.

I think what they probably mean is that confidence was his main issue. Without rehashing it all, the other guy did not manage the up and down emotions of the game very well either, so there must be more to it. When things got bad, they almost always escalated into a complete downward spiral. If it's confidence, that would fit with a lot of the things we've seen from him. Against Mercer this.past season, the biggest knock on him was they were saying he was trying to play hero ball. That can be tied back to confidence, especially if he knows that the only way he can get a shot at QB1 is if he just plays so well that the coach has no other choice. That would make a lot of sense given everything we know. I think if he wins the job, he will get over that (if he hasn't already) once he gets a little experience under his belt.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

The media is already trying to send him packing. They followed up the Mack having a good day news with speculation about Ty Simpson entering the transfer portal because of it. It's clear they have no clue. They're just stirring up stuff for clicks. This dude has continued to stay, in spite of everything that has happened. Even though many people felt like he got the short end of the stick the last two years, he's still here. He didn't stay through all that just to leave when the competition heated up.

It's the offseason and pieces like that just tell me they have zero information coming out of Tuscaloosa. So they create speculative articles to have people click and read something that is nothing more than blind speculation.

 

[gtgilbert]

I think what they probably mean is that confidence was his main issue. Without rehashing it all, the other guy did not manage the up and down emotions of the game very well either, so there must be more to it. When things got bad, they almost always escalated into a complete downward spiral. If it's confidence, that would fit with a lot of the things we've seen from him. Against Mercer this.past season, the biggest knock on him was they were saying he was trying to play hero ball. That can be tied back to confidence, especially if he knows that the only way he can get a shot at QB1 is if he just plays so well that the coach has no other choice. That would make a lot of sense given everything we know. I think if he wins the job, he will get over that (if he hasn't already) once he gets a little experience under his belt.

Saban essentially told him that going into the 23 season. He had to be order of magnitude better so that Saban basically had no choice but to play him.

All due to locker room/NIL/LANK dynamics, TS couldn't just be better. That's a ton of extra pressure...