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Michael Casagrande | mcasagrande@al.com
Tua Tagovailoa has started fast for Alabama in his two starts.
Efficiently explosive.
That's about the best way to describe Tua Tagovailoa's first two starts in an Alabama uniform. At times it seems effortless, others like sandlot football.
If anything, it affirmed the offseason appetite to see what the sophomore can do when handed the keys to this Crimson Tide offense. Consecutive 50-point games are covered in Tagovailoa's fingerprints.
You can measure the effectiveness a few different ways.
Of the 13 possessions Tagovailoa quarterbacked, 10 ended in scores -- nine touchdowns and one field goal.
Looking at those 12 offensive touchdowns scored by Alabama, seven were credited to Tagovailoa. That includes six passing scores and another he ran in against Louisville.
There are 43 FBS programs who haven't scored as many touchdowns as a team.
And Tagovailoa's six passing touchdowns covered an average of 30 yards.
Spreading the wealth was a preseason objective after Calvin Ridley was so disproportionately targeted a year ago. In two games, eight different offensive teammates have been on the other end of Tagovailoa passes.
From the efficiency angle, he's completing 71.4 percent of his passes to rank 17th nationally. His quarterback rating was in the 400s early in the Arkansas State win. And for the season, he's sitting at 237.2 to rank No. 2 in the country.
Average per attempt? 13.0 yards. That's also No. 2 nationally.
A low incompletion rate and a few big plays can help pump that number through two games.
Looking closer at those 10 incompletions also lends insight into Tagovailoa's strong start.
One of the knocks entering the season was the lefty's occasional taste for a risky throw. That hasn't been an issue so far. One pass should have been intercepted -- a first quarter throw against Arkansas State that hit the defender in the hands after reading the quarterback's eyes.
Alabama didn't pay for that since Henry Ruggs III caught a touchdown pass on the very next snap.
That fit the trend.
Alabama scored touchdowns on the same drive as seven of the 10 incomplete passes Tagovailoa's thrown. Two that ended in unsuccessful drives preceded DeVonta Smith's fumble deep in Louisville territory in the opener.
Three of the 10 incompletions came on screen passes. Three others came under heavy pressure from pass rushers.
Running the ball, Tagovailoa's No. 5 on the rushing yardage list for Alabama. He has nine carries for 46 net yards and a touchdown. Two sacks -- one in each game -- cut into the rushing total, though he's avoided a few with his slippery spin moves.
For the most part, he stays in the pocket or at least still looks to throw when feeling heat. There are fewer planned quarterback runs when Tagovailoa's playing compared to the last few years with Hurts, though it's clear he's comfortable tucking when necessary. Ball security has been a concern at times since Tagovailoa sometimes leaves the ball exposed to a punch-out fumble and he nearly lost one in the opener against Louisville.
Overall, however, not a bad start for Tagovailoa as QB1.
A few ways to explain Tua Tagovailoa's effectiveness as Alabama starter
Efficiently explosive.
That's about the best way to describe Tua Tagovailoa's first two starts in an Alabama uniform. At times it seems effortless, others like sandlot football.
If anything, it affirmed the offseason appetite to see what the sophomore can do when handed the keys to this Crimson Tide offense. Consecutive 50-point games are covered in Tagovailoa's fingerprints.
You can measure the effectiveness a few different ways.
Of the 13 possessions Tagovailoa quarterbacked, 10 ended in scores -- nine touchdowns and one field goal.
Looking at those 12 offensive touchdowns scored by Alabama, seven were credited to Tagovailoa. That includes six passing scores and another he ran in against Louisville.
There are 43 FBS programs who haven't scored as many touchdowns as a team.
And Tagovailoa's six passing touchdowns covered an average of 30 yards.
Spreading the wealth was a preseason objective after Calvin Ridley was so disproportionately targeted a year ago. In two games, eight different offensive teammates have been on the other end of Tagovailoa passes.
From the efficiency angle, he's completing 71.4 percent of his passes to rank 17th nationally. His quarterback rating was in the 400s early in the Arkansas State win. And for the season, he's sitting at 237.2 to rank No. 2 in the country.
Average per attempt? 13.0 yards. That's also No. 2 nationally.
A low incompletion rate and a few big plays can help pump that number through two games.
Looking closer at those 10 incompletions also lends insight into Tagovailoa's strong start.
One of the knocks entering the season was the lefty's occasional taste for a risky throw. That hasn't been an issue so far. One pass should have been intercepted -- a first quarter throw against Arkansas State that hit the defender in the hands after reading the quarterback's eyes.
Alabama didn't pay for that since Henry Ruggs III caught a touchdown pass on the very next snap.
That fit the trend.
Alabama scored touchdowns on the same drive as seven of the 10 incomplete passes Tagovailoa's thrown. Two that ended in unsuccessful drives preceded DeVonta Smith's fumble deep in Louisville territory in the opener.
Three of the 10 incompletions came on screen passes. Three others came under heavy pressure from pass rushers.
Running the ball, Tagovailoa's No. 5 on the rushing yardage list for Alabama. He has nine carries for 46 net yards and a touchdown. Two sacks -- one in each game -- cut into the rushing total, though he's avoided a few with his slippery spin moves.
For the most part, he stays in the pocket or at least still looks to throw when feeling heat. There are fewer planned quarterback runs when Tagovailoa's playing compared to the last few years with Hurts, though it's clear he's comfortable tucking when necessary. Ball security has been a concern at times since Tagovailoa sometimes leaves the ball exposed to a punch-out fumble and he nearly lost one in the opener against Louisville.
Overall, however, not a bad start for Tagovailoa as QB1.
A few ways to explain Tua Tagovailoa's effectiveness as Alabama starter
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