🏈 2017 Passing Game

[UAgrad93]

With the 2017 spring football season set to begin next week (Tuesday, March 21), BamaOnLine breaks down Alabama’s current roster of players heading into the start of its spring practices.

PASSING GAME (1/5)
Players returning: QB Jalen Hurts, WR Calvin Ridley, WR Cam Sims, WR Trevon Diggs, WR Robert Foster, WR Derek Kief, WR Xavian Marks, WR T.J. Simmons, TE Miller Forristall, TE Hale Hentges, TE Irvin Smith

New players: QB Tua Tagovailoa, QB Mac Jones, WR Jerry Jeudy, WR Tyrell Shavers, TE Major Tennison

(Keep up with all things Alabama by signing up for FREE email newsletter!)

WHAT TO EXPECT

The passing game will be a point of emphasis this spring and offseason after a season of some inconsistencies with a true freshman behind center. Alabama ranked 87th nationally with 210.3 passing yards per game -- its lowest total since 2009 (187.9). To be fair, Alabama also averaged 245.0 rushing yards per game, which was the highest total of the Nick Saban era in Tuscaloosa.

And that’s why the offense likely won’t flip to a pro-style attack under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. With so many offensive-minded coaches joining the program (Daboll, Mike Locksley, Chris Weinke), the focus will center on improving Hurts’ passing while accentuating his strengths. So the offense will still primarily feature spread and run-pass option concepts.

(Photo: Streeter Lecka, Getty)
Replacing the production of ArDarius Stewart, O.J. Howard and even Gehrig Dieter will be at the top of the to-do list, too. But with the talent Alabama has returning and coming in at both the receiver and tight end positions, Hurts will have plenty of playmaking options at his disposal. It will just be up to him to accurately distribute the ball to the Tide’s reloaded stable of targets.

Expect to see -- or at least hear -- that be emphasized almost ad nauseum. The annual A-Day Spring Game is usually as stale as the popcorn leftover from last year’s Iron Bowl from a play-calling standpoint, but the ball should be tossed around quite a bit April 22.

DON’T BE SURPRISED IF...

Some of the younger players push the veterans at all three positions.

Alabama signed two quarterbacks this cycle, and while it’s unlikely that either Tagovailoa or Jones will do enough to pass Hurts and win over the team like the rising sophomore did a year ago, they will push him and in turn help him improve through the air.

The pair of freshmen wide receivers have enormous potential and could surpass some of their older teammates that are battling for playing time with strong showings this spring. Jeudy, another top prospect out of south Florida, and his talent will be difficult to keep off the field, as will the 6-foot-6 Shavers.

But one receiver that will come out with something to prove will be Foster. Known as one of the fastest players on the enter roster, the former five-star recruit is entering his final year on campus and will look to round into the starting form he flashed at the beginning of the 2015 season. If he has the right approach to this spring, summer and fall, he could re-enter the rotation.

Another young player with a chance to make a significant contribution is Tennison. With Howard poised to set the NFL on fire, Alabama will try to replace him on the field. While that’s no small task, Tennison is a similar height (6-foot-5) and will wear No. 88. Forristall and Hentges should absorb most of Howard’s snaps, but don’t count out the newcomer -- or Smith, for that matter.

PROJECTED DEPTH CHART

QB -- Jalen HurtsTua Tagovailoa OR Mac Jones

WR-X -- Calvin RidleyRobert Foster

WR-Z -- Cam SimsDerek Kief OR Tyrell Shavers

WR-H -- Trevon DiggsJerry Jeudy

TE -- Hale HentgesMajor Tennison

TE-H -- Miller ForristallIrvin Smith

 

[TUSKtimes]

It's gonna be a crazy good freshman class, so who really knows? I do know it's going to be fun to watch. Never was a doubt what our offense will morph into. The QB decides a lot. That will trump what the OC is, deep down inside. Our receivers, with Foster and Diggs are going to provide plenty of firepower to replace Stewart and Dieter and Jeudy and Ruggs promises lots of fireworks at the position for next season. Spring football is going to be extra fun with all these guys already on campus.

 

[BamaFan334]

I don't feel a lot of people are giving Diggs his due after he got a good bit of playing time last Fall. He did very well for us as a true Freshman with a wealth of talent in front of him before he arrived on campus. He's going to be a ballplayer for us, and I cannot wait to see Ridley, Juedy, Diggs, Ruggs, Shavers, Sims, and Foster when our boy under center starts hitting more of his passes. Our offense is going to be amazing this Fall.

 

[alagator]

And that’s why the offense likely won’t flip to a pro-style attack under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. With so many offensive-minded coaches joining the program (Daboll, Mike Locksley, Chris Weinke), the focus will center on improving Hurts’ passing while accentuating his strengths. So the offense will still primarily feature spread and run-pass option concepts.

That's almost the exact opposite of what Saban said during Bama's Pro-Day. It also goes against what the majority of the people I read, and trust, have said.

 

[UAgrad93]

@alagator , don't shoot the messenger. That came straight from 247, courtesy of Charlie Potter.

 

[TUSKtimes]

It's being reported that Jalen Hurts ran a 4.48 forty. That explains why he ran away from so many defenders even though he just doesn't look that fast to me. I think it's really hard to stay patient in the pocket when you have that type of weapon.

Jalen Hurts 40 time among notable numbers from Alabama spring workouts

 

[alagator]

@alagator , don't shoot the messenger. That came straight from 247, courtesy of Charlie Potter.

'twasn't directed at you, grad. It just shocks me that Potter would write something differently than what Saban was recorded saying less than a week ago. How hard is it to understand "we went too much spread" and then turn around and say "they are going to do the same thing this year" even though Saban feels (and said) it was the wrong direction for the offensive scheme.

Of course, BOL has been known for their beat writers expressing more opinion versus what they can report, factually.

There are some good sources, articles, etc., on their site. Their site is almost impossible to navigate now with all the "extras."

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

'twasn't directed at you, grad. It just shocks me that Potter would write something differently than what Saban was recorded saying less than a week ago. How hard is it to understand "we went too much spread" and then turn around and say "they are going to do the same thing this year" even though Saban feels (and said) it was the wrong direction for the offensive scheme.

Of course, BOL has been known for their beat writers expressing more opinion versus what they can report, factually.

There are some good sources, articles, etc., on their site. Their site is almost impossible to navigate now with all the "extras."

We were about 80/20 spread to pro last year.

Saban said "we got a little too far to the right" relative to a little too much spread.

But, Saban ALSO said Daboll is "learning the spread we've run".

So, those hopeful for a conservative pro-style are only hearing "we're going wholesale pro!"

But, what Saban is actually saying is that he just wants more balance with the pro. I'd say somewhere around 60/40 spread to pro.

He essentially just wants to be able to cram it down people's throat when we WANT to (taking the air out late in games).

We didn't do that a whole lot last year.

But, we're not going to throw out what Jalen does best for the sake of being conservative.

 

[Tidestalker]

We were about 80/20 spread to pro last year.

Saban said "we got a little too far to the right" relative to a little too much spread.

But, Saban ALSO said Daboll is "learning the spread we've run".

So, those hopeful for a conservative pro-style are only hearing "we're going wholesale pro!"

But, what Saban is actually saying is that he just wants more balance with the pro. I'd say somewhere around 60/40 spread to pro.

He essentially just wants to be able to cram it down people's throat when we WANT to (taking the air out late in games).

We didn't do that a whole lot last year.

But, we're not going to throw out what Jalen does best for the sake of being conservative.

As long as we run the good old under center "run up the middle" plays more, I'll be pumped.

 

[TerryP]

There are some good sources, articles, etc., on their site. Their site is almost impossible to navigate now with all the "extras."

Hijack this for a second.

I don't know what browser you're using but if you'd switch to FireFox or Chrome ... then use their read only options you'll eliminate all that extra crap they've added over the last few years. With Chrome, it's an extension. It's built in to Firefox.

 

[TerryP]

We were about 80/20 spread to pro last year.

Saban said "we got a little too far to the right" relative to a little too much spread.

But, Saban ALSO said Daboll is "learning the spread we've run".

So, those hopeful for a conservative pro-style are only hearing "we're going wholesale pro!"

But, what Saban is actually saying is that he just wants more balance with the pro. I'd say somewhere around 60/40 spread to pro.

He essentially just wants to be able to cram it down people's throat when we WANT to (taking the air out late in games).

We didn't do that a whole lot last year.

But, we're not going to throw out what Jalen does best for the sake of being conservative.

Here's where I think a lot of confusion comes into play. "Learning the spread we've run" isn't necessarily a return, or continuation, of a lot of RPO. There are so many variations, and misinterpretations, of the word "spread" now-a-day if we were to ask 10 people what it was I'd bet the majority will have a different definition. People call Kingsbury's offense at TTU a spread and they call Malzahn's offense a spread as well--couldn't be farther apart from each other in their philosophies.

I've heard these words at least a dozen times from at least a dozen different people--a conservative, pro-style attack.

You want to murky up the picture more? How many ways can we describe what a "conservative offense" means? The bottom line, in my opinion, is this. With Key, Locksley, Daboll, et. al., ...they've all been an integral part of a power running type of offense. Bama did not have that last year.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

As long as we run the good old under center "run up the middle" plays more, I'll be pumped.

Lordy...please not to much "under center and up the middle" ......

 

[alagator]

Lordy...please not to much "under center and up the middle" ......

Let's assume they go under center a third of the game, or even half of the game. Why not?

There was a thread started by Terry the other day about today's defenses not being able to defend power running attacks. In my opinion, a QB under C is as ideal in that scheme as any set.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

As long as we run the good old under center "run Darby up the middle" plays more, I'll be pumped.

FTFY

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Here's where I think a lot of confusion comes into play. "Learning the spread we've run" isn't necessarily a return, or continuation, of a lot of RPO. There are so many variations, and misinterpretations, of the word "spread" now-a-day if we were to ask 10 people what it was I'd bet the majority will have a different definition. People call Kingsbury's offense at TTU a spread and they call Malzahn's offense a spread as well--couldn't be farther apart from each other in their philosophies.

I've heard these words at least a dozen times from at least a dozen different people--a conservative, pro-style attack.

You want to murky up the picture more? How many ways can we describe what a "conservative offense" means? The bottom line, in my opinion, is this. With Key, Locksley, Daboll, et. al., ...they've all been an integral part of a power running type of offense. Bama did not have that last year.

Oh, no doubt. There are multiple perceived definitions of "the spread".

Its base definition is formation in nature. You can still "spread" the defense out with 4 wides in the gun and still man block up front for power, hat-on-hat blocking and running.

What you'll notice though is that a great deal of our most successful rushing seasons still utilized a lot of zone blocking. On a lot of outside runs, we've run zone (outside zone). Burton Burns' huge mantra when drilling RBs is "press the hole, one-step cut". Which means that we run zone-heavy, press while blocking develops, stick your foot in the ground and get north/south (one step cut).

A vast majority (70-75%) of HTWMI's Heisman campaign employed zone runs.

In fact, the only time we really see hat-on-hat man blocking is in short yardage/goal line situations.

What Saban is referring to with the "Daboll learning our spread" is more from a philosophical/scheme standpoint with the zone reads and RPOs incorporated.

Yes, we've had basic RPOs built in to our pro sets with guys like AJ. But those are more pre-snap checks to run or pass based on alignment of a Safety, corner, or mike within the same set without having to audible and motion.

RPOs in the "spread" sense deal more with the QB's position and choice to run or pass within the same play, initially based on pre-snap reads, but the option is employed after the snap, based on the reaction of the defense during the play.