I just have to comment, as if this post hasn't had some repetition.
1. Jalen Hurts is not all we hoped he'd be this year. He hasn't shown that he can carry the team on his shoulders in some big games (Clemson, Auburn). BUT, was he supposed to? Did he miss receivers? Maybe. Did he make a bad pass at the end? Yes. Does he step up in the pocket? Hardly ever, and the tackles are pushing the rushers back behind him and to the sides of him, so he HAS to learn to do that. Does he go thru his progressions well? Apparently not - we see it, and Saban alluded to letting him only read half the field on some plays. Jalen could decide quicker, and it amazes me that, when being rushed, he sometimes throws the ball away, and sometimes sprints out to the side to throw, which doesn't usually work well, and then other times, steps out of bounds instead of throwing the ball away, losing us 7 yards at times. Those are things he CANNOT do. Maybe he is at the top of his ability.
BUT, he's cool under pressure, apparently a good leader, a strong runner, and has a strong arm. He is 19 years and 3 months old. He has lost TWO games. He NEEDS to improve, and there is nothing wrong with expecting, and hoping, for more, based on the above observations, but HOW WELL is he being coached? And are plays being called to his strengths?
2. Concerning Jalen carrying the team on his shoulders, why should he have to? We have recruited AMAZING players at all positions - look at our RBs? And yet, we bitch, when Jalen screws up, or we have 2nd and 9, when the line DOES NOT BLOCK WELL!!! And I mean overall. Piersbacher has not impressed, Jonah Williams has not 'dominated' on the left side, and Cotton has just SUCKED. I may be wrong, the grading of these guys may be good, but I have seen big 'ol Cotton pull MANY times, and SO MANY times he doesn't hit ANYONE!!! That's ridiculous. The line is NOT nasty, NOT consistent, and NOT cohesive. Saban has mentioned it SO many times when reporters question Jalen's performance, mostly passing. And Bozeman, Cotton, and Piersbacher RETURNED from last year, and Jonah played with them. I am not criticizing Jonah, but he hasn't been all-worldly like he was on the right side. And good LORD how many times have I seen Hentges miss his assignment, and not hit ANYONE, in a running play. We have had a good running game not based on a good OL, but on good PLAYERS on the OL who sometimes make blocks for GREAT RBs!!!! And without a good running game, every D can key on Hurts.
3. We played a TERRIBLE game against Auburn from the WR position. Bless Jeudy for coming up with that ball. You can see why Foster was so coveted as a recruit - height and speed, which can't be coached. Sadly, apparently, neither can Foster be coached! All he had to do was turn up - first down! Didn't run the route right, but if he turns up hard and stretches, first down. Couldn't do it. And God bless Ridley, who's great at high pointing but couldn't come up with the catch at our 30 before the half. And Sims is big but doesn't seem to play hard to me in getting open, although he blocks great. How many times did Danielson show all our guys covered? Was it the routes? When the unsportsmanlike happened in the 1st half, we had 2 guys running their routes side by side - easy to defend THAT!
4. WHAT THE HELL, DABOLL?????? Not only not calling plays to Hurts strengths on the pass, but RUN THE DAMN BALL!!!!!!!! The line was actually in a rhythm the second half, and we could start tiring out a good auburn D, and ..... what the hell???!!!!!!
So many are despairing of what could have been with Tua playing - I wish he had played! He makes things happen, and he's good! BUT....
1. If the line blocks for Jalen better, he'd perform better. The blocking wasn't terrible, but it was average - he needed more time.
2. IF the receivers had done a better job - easy for me to say, but I think they could have and should have - the game could have gone differently.
3. IF the line blocked well in the running game we would have changed time of possession, wore the aubie defense down better, and put Hurts in a better situation overall.
4. If we had more runs called, even to Jalen, which I don't like, I think the O would have been more successful.
I don't care who the QB is - I love the Tide and these kids work so hard and I want them to succeed for those reasons. If Tua is best, play him. If playing both works, do it. Am I happy with Jalen's development? No, but he IS improving, just too slow for many of us spoiled fans.
Roll Tide, and let's hope we get another chance at the playoff this year!
