ColAngus
Member
🏈 Hurts, Bateman, Barnett and the QB competition
- Thread starter rollsaban
- Start date
Excited to see week two of our brand new QB experiment. I look for a much quicker start. Thought it was interesting this week when Saban said that Hurts would have taken the ball to the house had he not fumbled the handoff on his first play. That would have been a dramatic start to the Jalen Hurts era. Going to be interesting to see if our guys can integrate Foster and Ridley into the mix early.
GAMEDAY IS HERE, ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
GAMEDAY IS HERE, ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
It's my understanding these guys are given a three year plan to graduate when they arrive on campus ... combine that with DC starting classes in Jan of '14 and he's right on track.
That is one of the recruiting points for parents of star athletes. Gives the chance to play 3 yrs at a top program and still leave with a degree.
Also, benefits the Era of grad transfers . especially if they RS. They could transfer with two to play and possibly leave college debt free with a Masters.
We have benefit for this too. Last year and hope this year. UGA has benefit from us this year.
A few weeks ago I ran across a discussion about this very thing but looking at it from another angle. Several were suggesting it would benefit the football program more to change their three year approach ESPECIALLY if the SEC offices are going to be granting inter-conference transfers so readily.
It all depends on depth and opportunity.
It does have some downsides to the schools with less depth, but providing that opportunity may attract more talent. So, certainly pros and cons.
I think graduating more players though gives it the advantage when you really look at the benefits to the school, conference, and student athlete
It does have some downsides to the schools with less depth, but providing that opportunity may attract more talent. So, certainly pros and cons.
I think graduating more players though gives it the advantage when you really look at the benefits to the school, conference, and student athlete
I tend to think that concerns of early transfers after the 3 year graduation process is a bit of a wash anyway. We might have 1-3 guys want to transfer out each year.
But, it's always the guys that don't crack the depth chart that want to transfer out.
Plus, when you factor in the players that are worth their salt and actually produce at a high level by year 3, chances are they'll probably leave early for the draft.
Either way, a good number of 3 and out guys each year. They beauty of that is this: it frees up that many more scholarships the following year. And considering our entire team is 95% 4 stars or greater, there is a dearth of talent waiting in the wings.
So, you're good enough to get drafted early? Great. Not good enough to crack the depth chart so you leave early after getting a BS in 3 years? Also great.
We just plug and play. No worries...
...Not with Saban and his recruiting machine.
But, it's always the guys that don't crack the depth chart that want to transfer out.
Plus, when you factor in the players that are worth their salt and actually produce at a high level by year 3, chances are they'll probably leave early for the draft.
Either way, a good number of 3 and out guys each year. They beauty of that is this: it frees up that many more scholarships the following year. And considering our entire team is 95% 4 stars or greater, there is a dearth of talent waiting in the wings.
So, you're good enough to get drafted early? Great. Not good enough to crack the depth chart so you leave early after getting a BS in 3 years? Also great.
We just plug and play. No worries...
...Not with Saban and his recruiting machine.
I rescind my comment. Back on your knees and hopefully Jalen more relaxed in Oxford. No exaggeration, Hurts could have thrown for 600+ and 5-6 TDs.
Tidestalker
Member
Why?
23/36
286 yards
2 TD
0 INT
19 rush yards
He wasn't unbelievable by any means... But if this isn't a good game, what's that say about where he's headed? If Deiter catches the ball on the first drive of 3d quarter then he's good money.
planomateo
Member
Tidestalker
Member
:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy LOL
planomateo
Member
Agree.
Agree too!!
Tidestalker
Member
What I really like about Hurts is that when he turns into a runner, he's completely avoided taking any big shots. He's smart around the sidelines. And it looks like he's never using that much energy and/or looking fatigued. He's just a naturally smooth athlete... Crazy composure for a freshman.
No doubt though he is a step behind in the passing game. Just sees things a little late. Sometimes I think if he'd just settle for the check down earlier our guys could really break loose. Instead he's a second late and the defense closes in.
No doubt though he is a step behind in the passing game. Just sees things a little late. Sometimes I think if he'd just settle for the check down earlier our guys could really break loose. Instead he's a second late and the defense closes in.
Alabama17Tide
Member
Jalen Hurts growing into starting quarterback role
Tommy Deas | Editor
It's tough watching kids grow up.
Same with quarterbacks.
Jalen Hurts is just a freshman, but on Saturday he became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the University of Alabama since 1984.
Which means he has to grow up pretty quickly.
The rookie from Channelview, Texas, took a step forward in his maturity process in leading the Crimson Tide to a 38-10 victory over Western Kentucky at Bryant-Denny Stadium. He completed 23 of 36 pass attempts for 287 yards and two touchdowns, and didn't turn the ball over.
And while he played the majority of the way, with Blake Barnett getting a couple of series in the first half and a bit of mop-up duty at the end, it doesn't sound like Hurts has yet wowed head coach Nick Saban.
"I thought Jalen did OK, missed a couple of throws. Made some good decisions, had some guys open that we didn't hit," the coach said.
The Hilltoppers challenged Hurts, stacking the box with defenders to take away the run.
"If the quarterback can beat us throwing it, then that's how it's going to be," Saban said, summing up Western Kentucky's approach.
So that's what Hurts did. The 'Toppers even limited his impact in the running game, holding him to 19 yards on 11 carries, sacking him twice, but he showed poise in the pocket – and when escaping it.
He rolled to his left in the first quarter and hit Calvin Ridley for 51 yards. But what may have given the best glimpse into his growth was the way he stood tall to check down on a 9-yard pass to tight end O.J. Howard on the last play of the first quarter, and how he threw a laser-guided missile to Howard for a 20-yard gain to set up a touchdown later in the first half.
Hurts also failed to see a couple of receivers running open, and was victimized by two dropped passes that would have been sure touchdowns and a scoring pass that was called back for a holding penalty.
He also had a disastrous series that ended on a fourth-and-38 punt after a holding call and two sacks.
Through it all, he didn't flinch.
"He's very mature," offensive lineman Bradley Bozeman said. "He stands in the pocket, he takes control. It's his team at that point."
In the second half, Hurts seemed to read the field a little better and look to receivers on shorter routes who were open rather than hoping for a deep pass to develop.
Saban noted that Hurts needs better support. And while the division of playing time seemed to indicate that UA has settled on its quarterback, the coach wasn't ready after the game to make a pronouncement.
"I think we need to watch the film before we made that decision," Saban said. "I think the people around him, whoever's the quarterback, need to play better."
Saban said he's more concerned about the team getting better than he is picking a quarterback.
"Whoever it is, they need to improve," the coach said.That's the way it is with kids.
TideSports.com - Jalen Hurts growing into starting quarterback role
Tommy Deas | Editor
It's tough watching kids grow up.
Same with quarterbacks.
Jalen Hurts is just a freshman, but on Saturday he became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the University of Alabama since 1984.
Which means he has to grow up pretty quickly.
The rookie from Channelview, Texas, took a step forward in his maturity process in leading the Crimson Tide to a 38-10 victory over Western Kentucky at Bryant-Denny Stadium. He completed 23 of 36 pass attempts for 287 yards and two touchdowns, and didn't turn the ball over.
And while he played the majority of the way, with Blake Barnett getting a couple of series in the first half and a bit of mop-up duty at the end, it doesn't sound like Hurts has yet wowed head coach Nick Saban.
"I thought Jalen did OK, missed a couple of throws. Made some good decisions, had some guys open that we didn't hit," the coach said.
The Hilltoppers challenged Hurts, stacking the box with defenders to take away the run.
"If the quarterback can beat us throwing it, then that's how it's going to be," Saban said, summing up Western Kentucky's approach.
So that's what Hurts did. The 'Toppers even limited his impact in the running game, holding him to 19 yards on 11 carries, sacking him twice, but he showed poise in the pocket – and when escaping it.
He rolled to his left in the first quarter and hit Calvin Ridley for 51 yards. But what may have given the best glimpse into his growth was the way he stood tall to check down on a 9-yard pass to tight end O.J. Howard on the last play of the first quarter, and how he threw a laser-guided missile to Howard for a 20-yard gain to set up a touchdown later in the first half.
Hurts also failed to see a couple of receivers running open, and was victimized by two dropped passes that would have been sure touchdowns and a scoring pass that was called back for a holding penalty.
He also had a disastrous series that ended on a fourth-and-38 punt after a holding call and two sacks.
Through it all, he didn't flinch.
"He's very mature," offensive lineman Bradley Bozeman said. "He stands in the pocket, he takes control. It's his team at that point."
In the second half, Hurts seemed to read the field a little better and look to receivers on shorter routes who were open rather than hoping for a deep pass to develop.
Saban noted that Hurts needs better support. And while the division of playing time seemed to indicate that UA has settled on its quarterback, the coach wasn't ready after the game to make a pronouncement.
"I think we need to watch the film before we made that decision," Saban said. "I think the people around him, whoever's the quarterback, need to play better."
Saban said he's more concerned about the team getting better than he is picking a quarterback.
"Whoever it is, they need to improve," the coach said.That's the way it is with kids.
TideSports.com - Jalen Hurts growing into starting quarterback role
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