🏈 Hurts, Bateman, Barnett and the QB competition

@rollsaban , the only way he plays is IF he passes Barnett and Cornwell on the depth chart. I and most on here would agree that it goes against Saban's MO. You can dig deep into his time at all of the other schools and a true FROSH isn't going to play.

It seems as if the past couple of years he has done some things that haven't always been the case when looking at Saban as a whole. We've started some young guys on the defensive line, defensive backfield, at running back, receiver, and on the offensive line. Now, I completely understand that quarterback is a different beast. BUT, we have had two new starters at quarterback, albeit they were veteran in terms of practice and around the program, but it was still a new offense they had to learn from the one they were in the last number of years. I have said since after bowl practice to watch after Hurts and that I thought he could jump the others, and I feel it could be something Saban gets behind as he continues to trust Kiffin more, all while keeping his thumb on the overall offense. Just my thoughts though. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Bateman start out against USC, but I also would not be surprised to see Hurts against Ole Miss to give us that extra threat.
 
It seems as if the past couple of years he has done some things that haven't always been the case when looking at Saban as a whole. We've started some young guys on the defensive line, defensive backfield, at running back, receiver, and on the offensive line. Now, I completely understand that quarterback is a different beast. BUT, we have had two new starters at quarterback, albeit they were veteran in terms of practice and around the program, but it was still a new offense they had to learn from the one they were in the last number of years. I have said since after bowl practice to watch after Hurts and that I thought he could jump the others, and I feel it could be something Saban gets behind as he continues to trust Kiffin more, all while keeping his thumb on the overall offense. Just my thoughts though. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Bateman start out against USC, but I also would not be surprised to see Hurts against Ole Miss to give us that extra threat.


It seems as if the past couple of years he has done some things that haven't always been the case when looking at Saban as a whole. We've started some young guys on the defensive line, defensive backfield, at running back, receiver, and on the offensive line.
Saban has always played a young guy if he can contribute immediately!! This hasn't been the last couple of years either. QB is entirely a different animal.


it was still a new offense they had to learn from the one they were in the last number of years
Not true! This is Saban's offense with a few tweaks!! ALWAYS HAS ALWAYS WILL! All new OCs have had to make the adjustment. Only real adjustment Saban made with the offense was allowing for more tempo.
 
There wasn't any "reward" in spring camp this season. It was all "high risk." Hence, the reason he's looking at starting today with the 3's.

So we may not have that game manager you speak of. There is no 1st year starting senior to get us to the promise land. If Bateman is not that guy at least in terms of seniority and field time we will be breaking new ground at QB.
 
it was still a new offense they had to learn from the one they were in the last number of years
Not true! This is Saban's offense with a few tweaks!! ALWAYS HAS ALWAYS WILL! All new OCs have had to make the adjustment. Only real adjustment Saban made with the offense was allowing for more tempo.

Ok, but changes have been made and will continue to be made. We are seeing changes everywhere on the team, and in college football in general, so these adjustments are allowing for younger guys to come in and play. I also can't recall us having a true freshman threat for the quarterback race recently either. We've had big names and recruits, but no one that truly stood out as a threat to take the position over. I am not saying any freshman can step in and go, it will take a special guy, and I think Hurts could be that guy. I'm not trying to say he's the best we have to offer or anything along those lines, just stating why I don't think it's as far fetched to see him start as some think.
 
but this guy has the wheels...
No more so than Cooper. People keep talking about his wheels (and his time with the scout team) but in that regard there is no difference between Coop and Jalen.

Now, play action passing plays and who's more accurate on the run? Jalen has that. But, it's not a necessity for the QB position.
 
just stating why I don't think it's as far fetched to see him start as some think.

With me, it's his track record. He's never done so.

We've seen him coach in college football for almost two decades and now we're going to see him make a move to start a true frosh? History doesn't support that.

I'm certainly not saying it can't, or won't, happen. I am saying history tends to repeat itself.
 
No more so than Cooper. People keep talking about his wheels (and his time with the scout team) but in that regard there is no difference between Coop and Jalen.

Now, play action passing plays and who's more accurate on the run? Jalen has that. But, it's not a necessity for the QB position.

I like Cooper Bateman, but I just don't see him as an elusive guy. A lot of guys have speed, but being able to turn that speed into elusiveness and yardage gains are different. All in all, I think we have a few decent choices at quarterback and I think with the team we have that any one of them can work us into a Championship. Hell, it took Coker many weeks to get going, but the guys around him kept the train rolling, and in the end, we were Champions.
 
Now, play action passing plays and who's more accurate on the run? Jalen has that. But, it's not a necessity for the QB position.

Be honest, doesn't your instincts tell you that is precisely what Kiffin wants out of his spread concepts? And we went with Coker in a more traditional pro set because Bateman flamed out in early reviews? Could be better another year out. But with his arm strength, he most certainly has to execute the short and intermediate throws. QBs running for space has been a staple of Kiffin's offense the last 2 seasons. So throwing off the run would be good for whoever's starting to execute, in a hurry. And how important the last two years has the play action and the deep pass been to breaking games open? Arkansas, Georgia, Auburn, Florida, Michigan St., to name a few important games this season off the top of my head.
 
No more so than Cooper. People keep talking about his wheels (and his time with the scout team) but in that regard there is no difference between Coop and Jalen.

Now, play action passing plays and who's more accurate on the run? Jalen has that. But, it's not a necessity for the QB position.

Jalen Hurts and Cooper Bateman are totally different quarterbacks. Bateman isn't as elusive as Jalen...at all.
 
No more so than Cooper. People keep talking about his wheels (and his time with the scout team) but in that regard there is no difference between Coop and Jalen.

Now, play action passing plays and who's more accurate on the run? Jalen has that. But, it's not a necessity for the QB position.

Difference between 40 times and getting chased around the field by athletic DE's. Quickness in tight spaces is important also. Gimme Hurts all day on the run
 
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''How is Jalen's long ball? this is what worries me about Coop. all of the reports out of the various camps (ie Manning Passing Academy) that Coop's balls over 2o-25 yards fall apart... If we dont have someone to get the ball deep to the Very Talented WR's we might as well field 3 additional TE's and cramp it down everyone's throats...
 
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