Who’s leading QB1 race in Spring practice?

[CajunCrimson]

Trying to remember the last team to win the NC without an elite QB.

2014 OSU with Cardale Jones?

2011 Bama with AJ? (I believe AJ was elite the next year).

2009 Bama with McElroy?

It’s pretty much impossible anymore to win the NC without an elite QB because the game now requires a top level passer.

Are you saying Bennett was elite ? I’d take AJ over him in a heartbeat. He is far from elite.

 

[gtgilbert]

Trying to remember the last team to win the NC without an elite QB.

2014 OSU with Cardale Jones?

2011 Bama with AJ? (I believe AJ was elite the next year).

2009 Bama with McElroy?

It’s pretty much impossible anymore to win the NC without an elite QB because the game now requires a top level passer.

Jake Coker, 2015, Alabama. He was very good, but not elite. Same for grandpa at uga

 

[twofbyc]

I personally don’t care who starts - I’m pretty sure it will be the one who practices the best in the fall (unless the comp is so tight JM gets the nod with experience and seniority.
For those who haven’t been watching JP (and I just caught it,SIAP) - the last five (six?)SEC championships Bama has won have been with a first year starter at QB. I didn’t know that.

 

[crimsonaudio]

With all a due respect, Bennett was far more than a game manager.

He was nothing short of spectacular in all 4 playoff games.

I believe he was the MVP in all of them.

Was he surrounded by tremendous talent? For sure.

Have any of the QBs we’ve had who won a NC not been surrounded by spectacular talent?

And who among them did we solely rely upon? I honestly don’t remember that ever being the case.

I don’t understand the resistance to simply admitting that the guy was a top drawer college QB.

He played very well, based on what was asked of him. The coaches put him in a position to be successful, that's what good coaches do. And Bennett did the work needed to improve and answer the call. Kudos for that.

But if you were starting a new CFB team and lined the 'top10' QBs up, if Bennett was among them he'd be one of the last taken. He's very good within the confines of what he can do, but he simply doesn't have the physical abilities to be an 'elite' QB.

 

[Tidelines]

Well get the pennant ready.lol

 

[CoolBreeze]

Nick Saban Sends Mixed Message About Alabama Quarterbacks

Nick Saban sent mixed messages about his Alabama quarterbacks after the Crimson Tide's second spring scrimmage.

heavy.com

 

[AlexanderFan]

With all a due respect, Bennett was far more than a game manager.

He was nothing short of spectacular in all 4 playoff games.

I believe he was the MVP in all of them.

Was he surrounded by tremendous talent? For sure.

Have any of the QBs we’ve had who won a NC not been surrounded by spectacular talent?

And who among them did we solely rely upon? I honestly don’t remember that ever being the case.

I don’t understand the resistance to simply admitting that the guy was a top drawer college QB.

Only he’s not college aged, that has to factor into his performance.

 

[AlexanderFan]

Nick Saban Sends Mixed Message About Alabama Quarterbacks

Nick Saban sent mixed messages about his Alabama quarterbacks after the Crimson Tide's second spring scrimmage.

heavy.com

“We really try to emphasize two hands on the ball,” Saban said. “I didn’t think his pocket awareness was bad last year. I think his ball security was not what it needs to be. Sometimes he starts moving around, you’ve got to have two hands on the ball so you can’t knock the ball out of your hands. That’s something we’ve worked really hard so far this spring.”

Says all I need to know, team Simpson all the way. If he’s still having to work on it this Spring then he might not be as coachable as we think.

 

[Tidelines]

Spring is when things are worked on. Coach Bryant once said a good coach will teach his team to be prepare for a 1000 things. A great coach will teach his team to be prepared for one thing a 1000 times. I imagine Milroe will do ball security drills a 1000 times before next season, at least a 1000 times.

 

[BearFoot]

He played very well, based on what was asked of him. The coaches put him in a position to be successful, that's what good coaches do. And Bennett did the work needed to improve and answer the call. Kudos for that.

But if you were starting a new CFB team and lined the 'top10' QBs up, if Bennett was among them he'd be one of the last taken. He's very good within the confines of what he can do, but he simply doesn't have the physical abilities to be an 'elite' QB.

Well said…
…honest and diplomatic.

 

[BearFoot]

Only he’s not college aged, that has to factor into his performance.

This is very true…
…but based on the current ncaa rules, he could be any age and still qualify…advantage or not.
This is especially beneficial at the QB position, where mental maturity is as important as physical maturity.

 

[Tidewater]

“We really try to emphasize two hands on the ball,” Saban said. “I didn’t think his pocket awareness was bad last year. I think his ball security was not what it needs to be. Sometimes he starts moving around, you’ve got to have two hands on the ball so you can’t knock the ball out of your hands. That’s something we’ve worked really hard so far this spring.”

Says all I need to know, team Simpson all the way. If he’s still having to work on it this Spring then he might not be as coachable as we think.

I will not read too much into that, but my assessment of Coach Saban is that he really does not want his QB to put the team into a bad situation by turning the ball over. Ceteris paribus, the QB who has the greater tendency to put the ball at risk will ride the pine.
Coach Saban's QB does not have to win the game, but he does have to not lose the game.

 

[bamaga]

“We really try to emphasize two hands on the ball,” Saban said. “I didn’t think his pocket awareness was bad last year. I think his ball security was not what it needs to be. Sometimes he starts moving around, you’ve got to have two hands on the ball so you can’t knock the ball out of your hands. That’s something we’ve worked really hard so far this spring.”

Says all I need to know, team Simpson all the way. If he’s still having to work on it this Spring then he might not be as coachable as we think.

Tremendous athletic ability is a gift, and also can be a curse. If you know guys can get close to you and still get away from them , it puts the ball at risk because it’s easier to swat / strip the ball . That is coachable, and JM is coachable. That’s what spring ball is for. Maybe JM didn’t work on that as much last year because mentally he knew he was the backup. Hopefully he comes back in the fall taking all that spring coaching , and puts it all together. Nick also said in that same presser that TS has good running ability when things break down, but JM is special.

Me? I’m team Eli. If Eli breaks through as the starter that will mean he is very, very special!

 

[Padreruf]

Tremendous athletic ability is a gift, and also can be a curse. If you know guys can get close to you and still get away from them , it puts the ball at risk because it’s easier to swat / strip the ball . That is coachable, and JM is coachable. That’s what spring ball is for. Maybe JM didn’t work on that as much last year because mentally he knew he was the backup. Hopefully he comes back in the fall taking all that spring coaching , and puts it all together. Nick also said in that same presser that TS has good running ability when things break down, but JM is special.

Me? I’m team Eli. If Eli breaks through as the starter that will mean he is very, very special!

This situation raises a lot of questions: How many reps did JM get last spring, in the summer, and during the season? Did BOB or someone not stay on his case about this "killer" habit? Or did it just appear when he was thrust into the lineup? I am stunned that CNS has to mention this in a press conference; obviously he is trying to get JM's attention. IMHO, this is a habit that goes back to HS -- and needed to be addressed before now.

I'm on whomever's team that can effectively lead the team and minimize mistakes.

 

[BamaMoon]

“We really try to emphasize two hands on the ball,” Saban said. “I didn’t think his pocket awareness was bad last year. I think his ball security was not what it needs to be. Sometimes he starts moving around, you’ve got to have two hands on the ball so you can’t knock the ball out of your hands. That’s something we’ve worked really hard so far this spring.”

Says all I need to know, team Simpson all the way. If he’s still having to work on it this Spring then he might not be as coachable as we think.

It is concerning to me that in the spring of JM's 3rd year in the program CNS has to give commentary on his ball security.

From what I saw last year, JM's time *REALLY* needs to be spent on his passing technique and chemistry with receivers...but instead "ball security" needs to be a major focus. That's troubling at this point.

Concerning TS, you can watch some of his HS film and know he can be erratic on his scrambling, but I think he had an OL that didn't protect very well either at at times he was running for his life.

But at the end of the day, I want the QB who can pass the ball the best to our receivers because unless we can unleash that part of the offense, a running QB can easily be contained by a decent defense. Sure if JM can protect the ball, stress the defense with his feet AND be a good passer he could be dynamic, but if he's putting the ball on the ground this really opens the door for TS IMO.

 

[AlexanderFan]

This situation raises a lot of questions: How many reps did JM get last spring, in the summer, and during the season? Did BOB or someone not stay on his case about this "killer" habit? Or did it just appear when he was thrust into the lineup? I am stunned that CNS has to mention this in a press conference; obviously he is trying to get JM's attention. IMHO, this is a habit that goes back to HS -- and needed to be addressed before now.

I'm on whomever's team that can effectively lead the team and minimize mistakes.

Exactly. Third spring on campus and he’s having to focus on back security along with all the other differences in the new offensive scheme.
Potentially troublesome

 

[BamaMoon]

Exactly. Third spring on campus and he’s having to focus on back security along with all the other differences in the new offensive scheme.
Potentially troublesome

The one thing about CNS that has NEVER changed is his intolerance of turnovers and that starts with the QB who touches the ball on every play. CNS hates TOs like he hates toothaches!

And if we are "going back to the basics" this year, we can't have a starting QB who is turnover prone!

 

[davefrat]

Are you saying Bennett was elite ? I’d take AJ over him in a heartbeat. He is far from elite.

Yes, I am.

I believe he was the MVP of all 4 playoff games he played in, wasn't he?

He was a Heisman trophy finalist.

I think that counts as elite for a college QB.

I would also say AJ was elite his senior year...didn't he have something like a 10-1 TD to INT ratio?

Back to back NCs and Heisman finalist his senior year...if that's not elite it's pretty close to it.

 

[davefrat]

He played very well, based on what was asked of him. The coaches put him in a position to be successful, that's what good coaches do. And Bennett did the work needed to improve and answer the call. Kudos for that.

But if you were starting a new CFB team and lined the 'top10' QBs up, if Bennett was among them he'd be one of the last taken. He's very good within the confines of what he can do, but he simply doesn't have the physical abilities to be an 'elite' QB.

He had the physical ability to be a 4 time playoff MVP with stats that were pretty incredible in those games.

Physical ability or not, his performance in the playoffs was certainly elite.

The only big game that he didn't play well in was the SEC championship a couple years ago, which he more than made up for in the playoffs that season.

I guess I just have a different view of what elite means in college for a QB.

I'd consider any QB who was a 4 time playoff MVP with back to back national titles elite at the college level.

 

[AlexanderFan]

He had the physical ability to be a 4 time playoff MVP with stats that were pretty incredible in those games.

Physical ability or not, his performance in the playoffs was certainly elite.

The only big game that he didn't play well in was the SEC championship a couple years ago, which he more than made up for in the playoffs that season.

I guess I just have a different view of what elite means in college for a QB.

I'd consider any QB who was a 4 time playoff MVP with back to back national titles elite at the college level.

He’s not a college quarterback. While he may be a drunkard, he still has 2-4 years of mental and physical development on the guys he’s playing against. Not to mention the college football experience of playing and practicing football.