🏈 I will get flamed for this ......

[ericd]

The QB competition this spring will be interesting.

 

[kbama15]

especially if emory jones comes in.

 

[BamaMD]

I could not agree more with a vast majority of postings in this thread. I will reiterate that Daboll's offensive scheme will not work in college football. Even the New England Patriots have mostly moved on from play action passes. Its too slow for today's defenses, especially with a below average offensive line. I think everyone hear agrees that Hurts is a great kid. He's poised, athletic and has been a role model for our program, but the truth remains that he is an athlete playing QB. Kiffin got every ounce of productivity out of Hurts by maximizing the players around Jalen. A lot of this was his offensive scheme and creating mismatches. Daboll did very little scheming for teams and rarely created mismatches. Heck, he didn't really utilize the TE's as a whole. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PLAYS THAT WORKED FOR BAMA IN KIFFIN'S SYSTEM WERE NOT IMPLEMENTED INTO THE PLAYBOOK. Daboll ran the same plays time and time again with very little success. Why not go I-Formation or bring in an additional lineman and run power plays. Establish the run game, make the defense respect your strength and then open up things.

BAMA was once the BULLY that teams feared. I saw it in Notre Dame's eye even before they played us in the national championship game several years ago. Teams don't fear BAMA anymore. From Colorado ST trying to win late, to Miss ST going toe-to-toe with us. The respect is gone. Saban once stated "Go out there and dominate the guy your playing against and MAKE HIS ASS QUIT!" Where is that mentality? Because we sure in H3ll ain't dominating teams today. Its time for some changes and it starts with several of the coaching staff. Werner is sitting on the staff. The guy is brilliant at play calling. There is no rule saying you can't run the split backfield, Single back, I-formation, Spread or even the option all in one game. Build your offense around one that is effective and use the others as a changeup. A few plays to keep the defense honest and create panic at something they didn't game plan for during the week.

Finally, Weinke is a Heisman trophy winner. Let him tutor and coach our QBs. Bring back Bo Davis to fix the D-line. Bring back our O-line coach. Stop playing so much man defense and go to zone in obvious passing downs. Blitz from the wide side of the field to force throwing lanes and use the sideline as an extra player. And please teach our DBs to wrap up when they tackle.

 

[#80]

Hurts is not a NFL QB if he wants to play in the league they need to find another position for him maybe H-back.

 

[ericd]

The criticism of Hurts is fair. He's just been given a pass because he has been able to pull off plays to make up for his deficiencies.

As far as the game itself, we were outplayed, out coached, and out classed in every aspect.

Hurts deserves a portion of the blame, but the defense looked lost most of the night.

 

[bamachine]

In all honesty, Tua should start next year, for two reasons. He is a much better QB, talent wise and Jalen needs to start working on his position for the next level. Jalen has the talent to be a NFL player but not at QB. Move him to slot WR and start getting him some tape for the next level. Jalen can start using his elusiveness down the field, instead of behind the LOS. Also, Tua is good enough at being mobile, so can still use him some in zone reads, if they choose to use that.

 

[T&B]

Agree on tackle situation but who is BB at center next year?

I was saying that should have been the OLine this season. When there are several OL playing as poorly as our OL, keeping Leatherwood and Wills on the bench is crazy. Or Hass, or Lashley, or etc., etc., etc.,

I feel as though the OL could not have been more mismanaged this season. The horses are there they simply are out of position, or not playing at all IMO.

Wills has been a monster every time he has stepped foot on the field this season. How Womack or Cotton either one play in front of him has to be a seniority thing. Seniority has to be the only way Hootie Jones has been allowed to start all season as well. Hootie has easily been the softest safety of the Saban era. Always out of position. If all the DB's behind Hootie are no better than that....

Leatherwood, RP, BB, Wills, JW <-- Give this group all the reps starting back in fall camp. Maybe we lose to FSU, (even though I dont see how they could play any worse than our OL did vs FSU so probably not) but we kick the barns teeth in, and we are set to have the most dominant OL since 2012 next season.

 

[PhillyGirl]

I don't think the blame Hurts has been getting is fair, especially if you blame the entire loss on his shoulders. This was a TEAM loss. Coaching sucked, game plan sucked, offense and defense sucked, etc. Auburn wanted it more. It showed. They were (are?) the better team.

I also don't understand the "Hurts isn't an NFL QB" argument. Last time I checked, Hurts plays for the University of Alabama, not an NFL team. Also, last time I checked, no Bama QB is starting in the NFL right now. Who cares if he doesn't play like an NFL QB?

Was Jalen disappointing on Saturday? You bet your ass he was, and he is not off the hook for that. But to single him out amidst a sea of disappointing players is unfair.

To say he should be benched next year is unfair. Let the eventual QB battle play out. I trust Saban to start the better player. Why worry about it now? We've seen great stuff from Tua, but who has he been playing? Gassed defenses in the 4th quarters of meaningless games? That's great, he needs the experience, and I am really excited about the kid .. but what moron would have benched Hurts in that game on Saturday to put in Tua?

We may still make the playoffs. It's slim and I don't think we deserve to be in them anyway, but the season is not officially over yet. Pump the brakes on this whining, and have some faith.

 

[jdpas29]

As much as Hurts didn't have his best game and there were plenty of miscues, I think the scheme issue and offensive play calling was the biggest issue.

I thought the real turning point of the game (after the first 30 minutes of chess game domination by auburn's coaching staff who anticipated Pruitt's incessant blitzing and picked them all up perfectly) was Robert Foster's mental error of running his route short of the first down marker. That isn't on Jalen. THat is on Foster. A seasoned receiver must be responsible to put his body across that line before making the catch. That was silly and potentially cost the team a shot at winning. It was a microcosm of Alabama's offensive effort on the day.

--- I'm still baffled as to why we got away from the run game that was gashing auburn at the start of the 3rd Q. They were obviously winded... Hurry-up offense with extra tight end would have hurt them badly. That is on daboll.

 

[bamachine]

I agree that it was a combo of play calling, scheme and a little bit on Hurts, at least on the offensive side.

I am not laying all this on Hurts but why not play the best player, at their best position. Hence why next year, if things don't drastically change, move Hurts to starting slot WR and Tua to starting QB.

 

[TheChief]

Who would have the guts to go big boy, two tight ends, run some ISO and option, let the chips fall where they may? If we can't average 3.5 a play running, we lose. We came out on the short end last Saturday anyway. Why not?

 

[Tidestalker]

Who would have the guts to go big boy, two tight ends, run some ISO and option, let the chips fall where they may? If we can't average 3.5 a play running, we lose. We came out on the short end last Saturday anyway. Why not?

I can't believe that we've completely gone away from ANYTHING under center. I used to think it was just Kiffin but now that Daboll refuses to do it, Saban must be obsessed with shotgun.

 

[pignjig17]

Jalen will never flourish under Daboll, his play calling require's a Qb with a passing skillset, not a running back turned Qb who's field vision is poor and who will only throw it if the receiver has 5 yards of separation. Jalen cannot and never has thrown the ball into windows or whats known as throwing the receiver open.

 

[BamaMD]

Jalen will never flourish under Daboll, his play calling require's a Qb with a passing skillset, not a running back turned Qb who's field vision is poor and who will only throw it if the receiver has 5 yards of separation. Jalen cannot and never has thrown the ball into windows or whats known as throwing the receiver open.

I've been saying this for awhile! It's not a knock on Jalen, just the truth. And Daboll ..... SMH. Give me Kiffin (minus 10 jet sweeps) any day!!!

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Jalen will never flourish under Daboll, his play calling require's a Qb with a passing skillset, not a running back turned Qb who's field vision is poor and who will only throw it if the receiver has 5 yards of separation. Jalen cannot and never has thrown the ball into windows or whats known as throwing the receiver open.

You're a fool.

Utter fool.

I count 2, maybe 3 passes where a WR had maybe 2 yards od separation.

Multiple throws in between 2 or more defenders (that's called THROWING INTO A WINDOW, YOU IDIOT), not counting the laser he threw between FOUR LSWho defenders.

Let's not forget his 1st career TD pass against USC last year, a 45 yard rope BETWEEN 2 bracketed defenders-just over one's head that eas only a step behind the WR....

And these are just "highlights". There are dozens of other throws he's made just this year alone where the target was blanketed by a defender.




Tell me again how you're the expert that knows QBs better than Saban, or hell...even better than ME, and I'm a former DL coach that had nothing to do with coaching QBs.

Get yoir head out of your ass.

 

[Tidestalker]

You're a fool.

Utter fool.

SLO - I know you're one of the few here that really gets into X's and O's... As a guy that pretends to know some football, I'm interested to know why you think Saban refuses to go under center now? And if you think the running game would be better with that in the play book?

I mean, the RB's ran for 7 YPC Saturday. The OL doesn't stink, they're just better at run blocking than pass blocking IMO

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

SLO - I know you're one of the few here that really gets into X's and O's... As a guy that pretends to know some football, I'm interested to know why you think Saban refuses to go under center now? And if you think the running game would be better with that in the play book?

I mean, the RB's ran for 7 YPC Saturday. The OL doesn't stink, they're just better at run blocking than pass blocking IMO

No clue. Maybe because Jalen isn't 6'5" and there are RPO checks built into every play, thereby making it somewhat easier to see the field post-snap?

 

[Tidestalker]

No clue. Maybe because Jalen isn't 6'5" and there are RPO checks built into every play, thereby making it somewhat easier to see the field post-snap?

Seems like a dominant running game would make the game a hell of a lot easier for Jalen.... JMO

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

After the LSU game a poster on SECrant created a video of every pass play for Bama vs LSU. When watching that the route design is troubling. 3 guys run 5 years and turn around while one receiver goes a little deeper. The defensive backs run our patterns better than our receivers. We have 4 wides much of the time and for Jalen I believe that only adds to his problem. Less is best. JMO but if Jalen is to be the guy then I want to get him into more rollout situations....more protecting with TE's and two back's with one being the dump off to guy. Jalen is never going to be a Elite stand in the pocket QB. He lacks confidence in himself to pull the trigger when needed...He is not one bit better today than he was after he lead the team to a great win vs Ole Miss in 2016. I like the kid and he is a winner....but limited.

Saw this posted on the BamaRant....LOL

Quote

Some “insider” on BOL said Hurts approached the coaching staff before the last game and told them he was open to a position change.

Which is probably the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard an insider say.

But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish that it was true.

 

[musso]

Seems like a dominant running game would make the game a hell of a lot easier for Jalen.... JMO

209 rushing yards at 5.6 yds/carry should be sufficient ground support. Jalen continues to depart the pocket laterally into the edge rushers forcing him to run too fast to look downfield. The few times he does have time and/or steps up into the pocket to look downfield, he has too often only considered his first read. I've seen so many replays of wide open receivers this season.