🏈 Hurts, Bateman, Barnett and the QB competition

[TheChief]

Bateman is faster than Hurts.

Just thought I'd throw that in there. Carry on.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Bateman is faster than Hurts.

Just thought I'd throw that in there. Carry on.

Maybe a couple hundredths of a second in straight line speed, sure.

But is he quicker, i.e., more elusive? I think not.

There's a difference between being faster and being quicker. Big time.

 

[uofarolltide]

Bateman is faster than Hurts.

Just thought I'd throw that in there. Carry on.

Which is even sadder on the part of timid Bateman, because we've never seen that from him. He's afraid to run

 

[uofarolltide]

I already know the answer to this but I'll ask anyways. Which defense was Hurts going up against during the first scrimmage?

All of the QBs got equal reps against the 1st team, from what i've read, but they only went ones vs. ones in situational drills

 

[uofarolltide]

Obviously nobody knows who's going to start. The big problem I have is why there's so much backlash against the Hurts hype that's coming from every source.
If he weren't a "true freshman," and the same reports were coming out of practice, it'd be pretty obvious that he's leading right now. We could get excited about the prospect of having an incredible athlete like Hurts for 3 years without the debbie downers coming to rain on our parade.

If Hurts were at Auburn right now, they'd be a scary team contending for a national championship - put it that way.

Honestly that brings up a legit concern: If the job were given to Barnett, there'd be a high chance of a Hurts transfer. He's too talented to ride the pine for 3-4 years, he would absolutely leave. If Saban is as smart as I'm pretty sure he is, he's going to give the job to Jalen Hurts. I really honestly believe that. It's going to shock people, and he might not tell anyone outside of the program in order to surprise USC.

 

[OldPlayer]

Obviously nobody knows who's going to start. The big problem I have is why there's so much backlash against the Hurts hype that's coming from every source.
If he weren't a "true freshman," and the same reports were coming out of practice, it'd be pretty obvious that he's leading right now. We could get excited about the prospect of having an incredible athlete like Hurts for 3 years without the debbie downers coming to rain on our parade.

If Hurts were at Auburn right now, they'd be a scary team contending for a national championship - put it that way.

Honestly that brings up a legit concern: If the job were given to Barnett, there'd be a high chance of a Hurts transfer. He's too talented to ride the pine for 3-4 years, he would absolutely leave. If Saban is as smart as I'm pretty sure he is, he's going to give the job to Jalen Hurts. I really honestly believe that. It's going to shock people, and he might not tell anyone outside of the program in order to surprise USC.

If it plays out as you say (Barnett gets the nod, Hurts transfers), remember that Tua is coming next year. On the other hand, if Hurts gets the nod, does Tua still come?

IMO, the big issue with Hurts is that he's a true freshman. When was the last time Alabama started a freshman (true or redshirt) at QB? A freshman QB is a big unknown. How can a true freshman come in and beat out the other highly recruited QBs that are here?

Whatever direction he goes, I don't think Saban will announce anything until the game. He will still develop multiple QBs (we still need a playable backup) and make USC scheme for multiple talents.

 

[planomateo]

And to think, Hurts isn't getting the national press that Coker or Barnett got. Definitely a good thing in my book.

 

[uofarolltide]

If it plays out as you say (Barnett gets the nod, Hurts transfers), remember that Tua is coming next year. On the other hand, if Hurts gets the nod, does Tua still come?

IMO, the big issue with Hurts is that he's a true freshman. When was the last time Alabama started a freshman (true or redshirt) at QB? A freshman QB is a big unknown. How can a true freshman come in and beat out the other highly recruited QBs that are here?

Whatever direction he goes, I don't think Saban will announce anything until the game. He will still develop multiple QBs (we still need a playable backup) and make USC scheme for multiple talents.

See the interesting thing is, and I just realized this when I posted above, is that I don't think they will start Barnett, because they can't risk Hurts transferring. The coaches aren't gonna let Hurts go, regardless of Tua. So if you take that into consideration, this might well be a Hurts vs. Bateman battle.

On starting a true freshman: there will definitely be some shaky moments, if for no other reason than his young age. But, he would progress week to week with a HUGE upside. The thing about Jalen though, is that he's such a running threat, it negates, in my opinion, some things he might lack due to inexperience. He hasn't shown himself to be prone to turnovers so far; he's throwing fewer than Bateman and Barnett according to the stats. We also know he's really good throwing the football, including on the run - also really poised. I've rarely seen any Alabama QB look so calm in the pocket. He has the poise of a junior, and calmly delivers accurate throws, or makes great runs.

For all of the reasons I just mentioned, I think they have to go with him. The second scrimmage will say a lot, but if the reports are relatively the same, and Jalen stands out above the rest in the second scrimmage, I think the job is his.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Everybody is still hung up on "he's a true freshman", "he's young" etc...

Have you guys not realized that freshmen today are a totally different breed than freshmen 20, 15, even 10 years ago?

He's not mature? He hasn't caught up to the speed of the game? It's not like he just reported in June. He spent 13 practices against the 1st team D for bowl prep, 15 practices in the spring, all off season, 7-on-7's, and is what.. 10 practices deep in fall camp? I think 20-30 practices is plenty enough to get his feet wet.

And, he's a coach's son from a big H.S. program in Texas, and has a savant-level football IQ.

He's the most college-ready freshman we've had here since Julio Jones.

 

[OldPlayer]

I think 20-30 practices is plenty enough to get his feet wet.

No, it's not. How many of those practices were live, full contact, where he couldn't get coaching help immediately? How many were in front of a crowd of 80,000+ and national TV audience? How many of those practices had an outcome that could mean the success or failure of an entire season?

I agree that his understanding of the game should be better, but he hasn't faced the kind of pressure he could face on opening day against a defense that won't pull up because he's wearing a black jersey.

If he's the kind of kid that would transfer after not being named the starter in his first game, then I don't want him. IMO, he's not that kind of kid.

 

[Destiny's Child]

No, it's not. How many of those practices were live, full contact, where he couldn't get coaching help immediately? How many were in front of a crowd of 80,000+ and national TV audience? How many of those practices had an outcome that could mean the success or failure of an entire season?

I agree that his understanding of the game should be better, but he hasn't faced the kind of pressure he could face on opening day against a defense that won't pull up because he's wearing a black jersey.

If he's the kind of kid that would transfer after not being named the starter in his first game, then I don't want him. IMO, he's not that kind of kid.

And what cracks me up is that none of you have seen him play this fall. Just going on what some sources have said about him while he is going against the threes..lol. The only time you have seen him was during a day where he was ok against the 2's.

I like the kid and the fact he is learning fast but let's not make him the next coming until he at least takes more than 5 snaps against the 1's or maybe a snap in a real game.

He is having a good fall and has potential and that is all we truly know about him. Let's not put some crazy expectations on him based on website fodder and because his dad was a coach..lol

I am with whoever wins the job but we haven't been at every practice so let's not act like we know he is superman yet.

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

So many strawmen it's hard to keep track.

Nobody is calling Hurts the second coming. He just has to be a better QB than the other 2 in order to win the QB job. That's it. And considering the one guy with experience is still the most mistake prone, it's not such a high bar to reach.

 

[Destiny's Child]

So many strawmen it's hard to keep track.

Nobody is calling Hurts the second coming. He just has to be a better QB than the other 2 in order to win the QB job. That's it. And considering the one guy with experience is still the most mistake prone, it's not such a high bar to reach.

Maybe, but we don't truly know anything for ourselves. Just hearsay at this point and even my source who was at the scrimmage said Hurts looked awesome but he was running against the 3's when he looked dominant. You are right though, there isn't a clear cut favorite so the bar is low.

I just don't understand how anyone can have such a strong opinion about someone or something that they haven't seen with their own eyes. That is what is funny to me..

Anyway, the main point from me is that there is no reason to put these kind of crazy expectations on this kid. It is very unfair to him to say that if he doesn't win the job as a true freshman he should transfer, or that he is our best chance to win or that because his dad coaches high school football that it makes him a savant of some sort.

Pressure comes from expectations and pressure busts pipes! Let the kid develop.. if he is ready then Saban will play him. Saban, while not starting many freshman QB's, has played freshman who earned the spot at almost every position and I think he would do it at QB if it is obvious. Let's not put outrageous expectations on him before he ever even takes a snap against the 1's more than in a red zone drill.

 

[uofarolltide]

First off, we have seen him. We saw him in ADay and he was smooth as fuck. He's a dangerous running threat and great throwing the football. He was the only QB who had a TD in the game, and it was a phenomenal 20 yard pass on the run to a guy tip-toeing the sideline.
Okay, so we all saw the aday game, and by all accounts, he's continued looking the best throughout fall camp.

Secondly, as far as him transferring, if Barnett gets the nod, he should absolutely transfer. This guy could be a potential heisman candidate in the right offense (like Auburn). Why in the hell would a guy with superstar potential want to sit on the bench for 3-4 years and play just 1?

 

[UAgrad93]

We need to pump the brakes on the Hurts train people!! I keep seeing "we saw him during A Day and he was awesome! He prepared us for Watson before the Natty! He was lighting it up in the scrimmage!"
You must look at the specifics in each case without using our Crimson Glasses. Let's go thru each, one at a time please and see if you get where I am coming from.
1. "He prepared us for Watson before the Natty!" - He did run quarterback along with the others to simulate the speed or pace of Clemson's no huddle offense. The scout team literally had 3 offenses rotating every play to keep hitting the defense to simulate pace.

2. "We saw him during A Day and he was awesome!"- He wasn't a live target. When he tucked the ball and ran, the defense "really didn't go full throttle" to tackle him, just close enough to tag him. Very limited playbook. We probably saw the same 6-8 plays out of 2-3 formations the entire scrimmage. We have no clue what his grasp of the playbook is. The defense was limited in their playbook as well. We have no clue how he will react when a team starts throwing blitzes from the front row, safety blitzes, corner blitzes, inside and other outside stunts and twists, coverage games, etc.

3. " He was lighting it up in the scrimmage!" - Maybe he did, but who did he have the most success against? We have an idea from what "sources" said, "against the 3's. Saban did say that he led a 2 minute drive against the 1's that ended with a pick as time expired.

Right now, there is a ton of speculation as to how good he is. We hear Saban talk about the potential. All of the QBs have it. If they didn't Saban and company wouldn't have offered them a scholly. I don't care which QB gets it. If it is Hurts, fine. If it is Barnett, fine. If it is Bateman, fine. Saban and Kiffin have done a pretty good job of handling our QBs the last few years. Like everyone else in here, I don't want to lose any of these guys, but transfers are going to happen. Lastly, I don't want this hype train to hit Barner proportions like they did with Jeremy Johnson last year! Let's let it play itself out. Shit! We don't get paid to make the decisions.

 

[OldPlayer]

We need to pump the brakes on the Hurts train people!! I keep seeing "we saw him during A Day and he was awesome! He prepared us for Watson before the Natty! He was lighting it up in the scrimmage!"
You must look at the specifics in each case without using our Crimson Glasses. Let's go thru each, one at a time please and see if you get where I am coming from.
1. "He prepared us for Watson before the Natty!" - He did run quarterback along with the others to simulate the speed or pace of Clemson's no huddle offense. The scout team literally had 3 offenses rotating every play to keep hitting the defense to simulate pace.

2. "We saw him during A Day and he was awesome!"- He wasn't a live target. When he tucked the ball and ran, the defense "really didn't go full throttle" to tackle him, just close enough to tag him. Very limited playbook. We probably saw the same 6-8 plays out of 2-3 formations the entire scrimmage. We have no clue what his grasp of the playbook is. The defense was limited in their playbook as well. We have no clue how he will react when a team starts throwing blitzes from the front row, safety blitzes, corner blitzes, inside and other outside stunts and twists, coverage games, etc.

3. " He was lighting it up in the scrimmage!" - Maybe he did, but who did he have the most success against? We have an idea from what "sources" said, "against the 3's. Saban did say that he led a 2 minute drive against the 1's that ended with a pick as time expired.

Right now, there is a ton of speculation as to how good he is. We hear Saban talk about the potential. All of the QBs have it. If they didn't Saban and company wouldn't have offered them a scholly. I don't care which QB gets it. If it is Hurts, fine. If it is Barnett, fine. If it is Bateman, fine. Saban and Kiffin have done a pretty good job of handling our QBs the last few years. Like everyone else in here, I don't want to lose any of these guys, but transfers are going to happen. Lastly, I don't want this hype train to hit Barner proportions like they did with Jeremy Johnson last year! Let's let it play itself out. ****! We don't get paid to make the decisions.

1. Yes he did, along with other QBs. He wasn't running Alabama's offense and didn't have to audible into different plays.
2. Vanilla offense against vanilla defense.
3. He was still wearing the black jersey indicating no contact. I'm sure he played well, but nobody knows exactly what happened. It's all hearsay.

 

[Destiny's Child]

First off, we have seen him. We saw him in ADay and he was smooth as ****. He's a dangerous running threat and great throwing the football. He was the only QB who had a TD in the game, and it was a phenomenal 20 yard pass on the run to a guy tip-toeing the sideline.
Okay, so we all saw the aday game, and by all accounts, he's continued looking the best throughout fall camp.

Secondly, as far as him transferring, if Barnett gets the nod, he should absolutely transfer. This guy could be a potential heisman candidate in the right offense (like Auburn). Why in the hell would a guy with superstar potential want to sit on the bench for 3-4 years and play just 1?

Either you are trying to troll or you are 11 years old.. I am trying to figure out which..lol

 

[Splittine]

I just wanted to be apart of this shit storm...

 

[rueben]

Corch gonna play Barnette first. First hard hit, he will get broken like a raw sketti noodle. Out for season.

In comes Hurts. Becomes da hero, er'body happy up in Braynt Denny.

The endz.

 

[EasyTider]