🏈 Jalen or Tua? Bobby Bowden says 'Nick can't go wrong'

[Josh Bean | jbean@al.com]

Legendary coach talks about Alabama's quarterback race involving Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa.

"What a great problem," Bowden said. "One of them has won about 20 games and the other has won one. You know, Nick can't go wrong on it.
"If I got a guy who won 20 ball games and I've got a guy who won one, I'm going with that guy who won 20. I'm going to play the odds."



Jalen or Tua? Bobby Bowden says 'Nick can't go wrong'

 

[BAMAneck]

Imagine if BAMA’s administration had enough forethought to hire Coach Bowden when he showed interest after coach Bryant’s passing. We would have had three of the best coaches ever .

I know it would have saved me a TON of heartache through my teenaged years .

He still manages to be a great ambassador for BAMA .

 

[TUSKtimes]

As long as the ultimate goal is national championships, you can go wrong. Very wrong.

 

[jdpas29]

I still think they split time. But whatever..

 

[Tidestalker]

And in breaking news, Bobby B thinks Drew Bledsoe should be starting in NE.

 

[T&B]

I still think they split time. But whatever..

If they do, Nick has lost his edge, and the end is near. Tua > Mac > Hurts (No, I'm not trolling)

At the end of the season Hurts should transfer to Georgia Tech. Thats the only offense I can think of that he wouldn't completely render inert. I believe he would be of great value in that offense. Would likely put up Heisman type numbers.

However if his goal is to play in the NFL he should move to another position immediately. He will never, ever, ever, play QB at the NFL level.

Can anyone here imagine Hurts playing QB vs a NFL defense ? LMAO ! No seriously,... take a moment, and envision that. :lol:

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Imagine if BAMA’s administration had enough forethought to hire Coach Bowden when he showed interest after coach Bryant’s passing. We would have had three of the best coaches ever .

I know it would have saved me a TON of heartache through my teenaged years .

He still manages to be a great ambassador for BAMA .

If you're reading our post Joab then kiss my azzz sport! We needed a F football coach and not a general manager! The decision to hire Curry over Coach Bowden will have to be in the top 5 mistakes ever made by the U of A. I mean C'Mon Man. I always love the part about "he didn't interview as well as the other guy".....John McEnroe.........."you can't be serious"

 

[planomateo]

Imagine if BAMA’s administration had enough forethought to hire Coach Bowden when he showed interest after coach Bryant’s passing. We would have had three of the best coaches ever .

I'm of the opinion we wouldn't have landed Saban.

He will never, ever, ever, play QB at the NFL level.

Not something I'd put money on let alone take a hard stance on it.

 

[JoshB]

I still think they split time. But whatever..

If they do, Nick has lost his edge, and the end is near. Tua > Mac > Hurts (No, I'm not trolling)

At the end of the season Hurts should transfer to Georgia Tech. Thats the only offense I can think of that he wouldn't completely render inert. I believe he would be of great value in that offense. Would likely put up Heisman type numbers.

However if his goal is to play in the NFL he should move to another position immediately. He will never, ever, ever, play QB at the NFL level.

Can anyone here imagine Hurts playing QB vs a NFL defense ? LMAO ! No seriously,... take a moment, and envision that. :lol:

Hey, look everyone, it's the QB Guru. Remind us all again why you're posting this drivel on an internet message board instead of making big bucks off you're super expertise there. I mean obviously you know more than national championship winning coaches and ACTUAL experts that get paid for their opinions, so I just can't understand why you aren't out there spreading your unbelievable knowledge.

 

[TerryP]

If they do, Nick has lost his edge, and the end is near.

Just for a hypothetical scenario.

Let's say we see Tua for the first half with an offensive scheme that fits his skill set--pro based attack and we see Bama get out to a comfortable lead. Second half we see a Jalen led offense that's more RPO heavy in the calls--one or two read option and we're just eating the clock.

That works. It would.

Now, would we as a group of college football fans sit back and look...all the while saying, "Ol' Saban has lost his edge?"

 

[Tidestalker]

If they do, Nick has lost his edge, and the end is near.

Just for a hypothetical scenario.

Let's say we see Tua for the first half with an offensive scheme that fits his skill set--pro based attack and we see Bama get out to a comfortable lead. Second half we see a Jalen led offense that's more RPO heavy in the calls--one or two read option and we're just eating the clock.

That works. It would.

Now, would we as a group of college football fans sit back and look...all the while saying, "Ol' Saban has lost his edge?"

I'm a believer in using both QB's.... But for the opposite reason.

Saban would use 1 when the other isn't dominating the D. If a QB is kicking the defenses ass, why would you go away from it?

Don't know if that's losing an edge or just poor strategy.

I get the idea Jalen isn't turn over prone... But if Tua is getting out to big leads, then he isn't either. And at that point the biggest "sell" for using Jalen isn't as important. The biggest reason I like Tua to get more snaps is because of the RUN game.... I think the defense's lack of respect for Jalen ultimately impacts the overall run game the most (have to factor in that Jalen does mount up scramble yards though).

 

[planomateo]

I missed Kiffin as our play caller last year. I've wondered several times how Jalen would have progressed working with him a second year.

 

[T&B]

I mean obviously you know more than national championship winning coaches

Well, Saban did start the wrong QB for an entire month, and damn sure started the wrong QB in the playoffs. (seriously, its not debatable so,... please resist the urge to argue otherwise- Hes the GOAT, but he doesn't walk on water; mistakes were made)

It's well documented that plenty of folks with access to the practices thought Tua was far beyond Hurts by seasons end. Everyone tried their best to blame Tua not starting on turnovers during practice, but I dont buy that. You can turn the ball over a time or two if you're scoring thirty points a half. BTW it was also hinted at behind a few paywalls that Daboll wanted to play Tua, and that was causing some friction between he and CNS.

I dont need Coach Saban to tell me Tua is better than Hurts. I feel as though everyone on Earth could see that for themselves the night of the title game, and if they couldn't see that then yeah, maybe I do "know more." Kirk Herbstreit immediately after the game "13 was the difference in the game." Nick Saban directly after game, "I thought we needed to throw the ball better, and I thought Tua gave us a better chance to do that."

and ACTUAL experts that get paid for their opinions

I'll do you one better,... how about ACTUAL experts that are on the team catching passes everyday from both QB's all season ? How about their opinion ? Ridley made no secret he was fed up. Jeudy was directly quoted as saying he never thought he would have gotten the ball so few times, but he was happy they won a title. Tua was going to transfer. The recruiting class fell off. The OC ran for the hills. Tua getting in the second half literally saved the dynasty from imploding.

After the title game Ridley was live posting on a social site... he and the entire WR corp were caught during that live post saying that Tua "had been spinning it like that all season." They were basically saying the offense could have clicked like that all season. Who exactly is more qualified than the WR's to say that Tua was the better distributor ? Did anyone ever see Tua do anything other than demolish defenses anytime he got PT ? The kid was a living breathing highlight machine. Exactly which "experts" are you talking about that think Hurts is better than Tua ? I haven't heard one single "expert" all season claim that.

I just can't understand why you aren't out there spreading your unbelievable knowledge.

I am right here at RollTideBama. What do you want me to do take an add out in the Washington Post ?

Look it is simple... Hurts is a great athlete, teammate, person, and leader, but... a great QB he IS NOT. Stop pounding that square peg into the round hole. It's never going to fit. Dude is a RB, HB, or a DB disguised as a QB.

The parade they had for Tua in Hawaii I think is where Tua said of the title game, "once I got in we started playing together."

How do you interpret that ? I interpret it like so-

Its human nature to pick up your effort when you think you are going to be involved in the game plan. You try a little harder to get open when you think you just might get the ball thrown your way if you beat your man. Once Tua started getting the ball out the WR's had more juice. The passing game started to stretch out that UGA D which is when the ground game went to work, and that is what I think Tua meant by "we started playing together."

Saban knew Tua was the better QB. I know he knew it. The question is why did he ride Hurts to the breaking point ? He literally gambled the teams title hopes right up until the point where it should have been too late. Why ?

 

[Tidestalker]

I mean obviously you know more than national championship winning coaches

Well, Saban did start the wrong QB for an entire month, and damn sure started the wrong QB in the playoffs. (seriously, its not debatable so,... please resist the urge to argue otherwise- Hes the GOAT, but he doesn't walk on water; mistakes were made)

It's well documented that plenty of folks with access to the practices thought Tua was far beyond Hurts by seasons end. Everyone tried their best to blame Tua not starting on turnovers during practice, but I dont buy that. You can turn the ball over a time or two if you're scoring thirty points a half. BTW it was also hinted at behind a few paywalls that Daboll wanted to play Tua, and that was causing some friction between he and CNS.

I dont need Coach Saban to tell me Tua is better than Hurts. I feel as though everyone on Earth could see that for themselves the night of the title game, and if they couldn't see that then yeah, maybe I do "know more." Kirk Herbstreit immediately after the game "13 was the difference in the game." Nick Saban directly after game, "I thought we needed to throw the ball better, and I thought Tua gave us a better chance to do that."

and ACTUAL experts that get paid for their opinions

I'll do you one better,... how about ACTUAL experts that are on the team catching passes everyday from both QB's all season ? How about their opinion ? Ridley made no secret he was fed up. Jeudy was directly quoted as saying he never thought he would have gotten the ball so few times, but he was happy they won a title. Tua was going to transfer. The recruiting class fell off. The OC ran for the hills. Tua getting in the second half literally saved the dynasty from imploding.

After the title game Ridley was live posting on a social site... he and the entire WR corp were caught during that live post saying that Tua "had been spinning it like that all season." They were basically saying the offense could have clicked like that all season. Who exactly is more qualified than the WR's to say that Tua was the better distributor ? Did anyone ever see Tua do anything other than demolish defenses anytime he got PT ? The kid was a living breathing highlight machine. Exactly which "experts" are you talking about that think Hurts is better than Tua ? I haven't heard one single "expert" all season claim that.

I just can't understand why you aren't out there spreading your unbelievable knowledge.

I am right here at RollTideBama. What do you want me to do take an add out in the Washington Post ?

Look it is simple... Hurts is a great athlete, teammate, person, and leader, but... a great QB he IS NOT. Stop pounding that square peg into the round hole. It's never going to fit. Dude is a RB, HB, or a DB disguised as a QB.

The parade they had for Tua in Hawaii I think is where Tua said of the title game, "once I got in we started playing together."

How do you interpret that ? I interpret it like so-

Its human nature to pick up your effort when you think you are going to be involved in the game plan. You try a little harder to get open when you think you just might get the ball thrown your way if you beat your man. Once Tua started getting the ball out the WR's had more juice. The passing game started to stretch out that UGA D which is when the ground game went to work, and that is what I think Tua meant by "we started playing together."

Saban knew Tua was the better QB. I know he knew it. The question is why did he ride Hurts to the breaking point ? He literally gambled the teams title hopes right up until the point where it should have been too late. Why ?

Whoop there it is......

 

[JoshB]

I mean obviously you know more than national championship winning coaches

Well, Saban did start the wrong QB for an entire month, and damn sure started the wrong QB in the playoffs. (seriously, its not debatable so,... please resist the urge to argue otherwise- Hes the GOAT, but he doesn't walk on water; mistakes were made)

It's well documented that plenty of folks with access to the practices thought Tua was far beyond Hurts by seasons end. Everyone tried their best to blame Tua not starting on turnovers during practice, but I dont buy that. You can turn the ball over a time or two if you're scoring thirty points a half. BTW it was also hinted at behind a few paywalls that Daboll wanted to play Tua, and that was causing some friction between he and CNS.

I dont need Coach Saban to tell me Tua is better than Hurts. I feel as though everyone on Earth could see that for themselves the night of the title game, and if they couldn't see that then yeah, maybe I do "know more." Kirk Herbstreit immediately after the game "13 was the difference in the game." Nick Saban directly after game, "I thought we needed to throw the ball better, and I thought Tua gave us a better chance to do that."

and ACTUAL experts that get paid for their opinions

I'll do you one better,... how about ACTUAL experts that are on the team catching passes everyday from both QB's all season ? How about their opinion ? Ridley made no secret he was fed up. Jeudy was directly quoted as saying he never thought he would have gotten the ball so few times, but he was happy they won a title. Tua was going to transfer. The recruiting class fell off. The OC ran for the hills. Tua getting in the second half literally saved the dynasty from imploding.

After the title game Ridley was live posting on a social site... he and the entire WR corp were caught during that live post saying that Tua "had been spinning it like that all season." They were basically saying the offense could have clicked like that all season. Who exactly is more qualified than the WR's to say that Tua was the better distributor ? Did anyone ever see Tua do anything other than demolish defenses anytime he got PT ? The kid was a living breathing highlight machine. Exactly which "experts" are you talking about that think Hurts is better than Tua ? I haven't heard one single "expert" all season claim that.

I just can't understand why you aren't out there spreading your unbelievable knowledge.

I am right here at RollTideBama. What do you want me to do take an add out in the Washington Post ?

Look it is simple... Hurts is a great athlete, teammate, person, and leader, but... a great QB he IS NOT. Stop pounding that square peg into the round hole. It's never going to fit. Dude is a RB, HB, or a DB disguised as a QB.

The parade they had for Tua in Hawaii I think is where Tua said of the title game, "once I got in we started playing together."

How do you interpret that ? I interpret it like so-

Its human nature to pick up your effort when you think you are going to be involved in the game plan. You try a little harder to get open when you think you just might get the ball thrown your way if you beat your man. Once Tua started getting the ball out the WR's had more juice. The passing game started to stretch out that UGA D which is when the ground game went to work, and that is what I think Tua meant by "we started playing together."

Saban knew Tua was the better QB. I know he knew it. The question is why did he ride Hurts to the breaking point ? He literally gambled the teams title hopes right up until the point where it should have been too late. Why ?

Started the "wrong" QB for an entire month yet still got to the championship...

It's good to know you (someone who saw zero percent of those practices) good tell us for a FACT what did and did not happen at practice and that you know better than Nick freaking Saban.

The fact that you can't understand that "he threw the ball better" doesn't necessarily make one QB better than another overall says a lot.

Ridley made no secret that he was "fed up?" Really? You literally just made that up. Even if he was ACTUALLY fed up, he did keep it a secret, at least from the public. So, yet again you're just taking bullshit you hear on the internet and spinning it as fact. I literally laughed out loud when you said that receivers saying "he was spinning it like that all year" was them saying the offense would have "clicked like that all year" with Tua in. Yet again you just make something up. That is not what "he was spinning it like that" means lmao

You "spreading" it here was my point, smart guy. You should be out there making millions spreading your knowledge on QBs by being a QB Guru out there. You clearly know more than Saban, so why aren't you a national championship QB?

No one here, that I've seen, has said that Jalen is a better pure passer than Tua. No one. The problem with the people on this site (and throughout the fan base) that have decided they wanna pick sides (which by the way, has been the case since Tua stepped foot on campus and has been the most annoying aspect of all of this) is the head man hasn't. You guys cant just let this shit play out, you have to make declarations like "Nick Saban is out of touch" if Jalen wins the job, because you want to pretend like you know better than him. Everything you've said, from the most part, is an opinion. That you do NOT know better than Nick Saban is a fact. None of us do, which is why we were having this argument on an internet message board.

I will personally support Tua, just like I have Jalen, if he wins the job but I don't think either one is going to truly "win it" because I believe they'll both be playing. Jalen will be starting on Sept. 1, though.

 

[Tidestalker]

You guys cant just let this shit play out,

Jalen will be starting on Sept. 1, though.

I love it. LMAO

 

[JoshB]

You guys cant just let this shit play out,

Jalen will be starting on Sept. 1, though.

I love it. LMAO

I also said both will play. Jalen starting isn't indicative of him "winning" the competition. I think he'll get the start because of his experience but both will play. Either we won't have a true "winner" until SEC play starts or both will play together all year. Letting it play out is not shitting on the coaching staff or players through this process. I love how you can call me out for saying that Jalen will start the opener but dude says Saban is "out of touch" if Tua isn't the all out starter right off the bat lmao

 

[planomateo]

Letting it play out is not shitting on the coaching staff or players through this process.

This.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I also said both will play. Jalen starting isn't indicative of him "winning" the competition. I think he'll get the start because of his experience but both will play. Either we won't have a true "winner" until SEC play starts or both will play together all year. Letting it play out is not shitting on the coaching staff or players through this process. I love how you can call me out for saying that Jalen will start the opener but dude says Saban is "out of touch" if Tua isn't the all out starter right off the bat lmao

Do you think Mac Jones outplayed Jalen in the spring game?

 

[JoshB]

I also said both will play. Jalen starting isn't indicative of him "winning" the competition. I think he'll get the start because of his experience but both will play. Either we won't have a true "winner" until SEC play starts or both will play together all year. Letting it play out is not shitting on the coaching staff or players through this process. I love how you can call me out for saying that Jalen will start the opener but dude says Saban is "out of touch" if Tua isn't the all out starter right off the bat lmao

Do you think Mac Jones outplayed Jalen in the spring game?

Is this seriously what you're hanging your hat on? Please go back and watch every single A-Day game the last 10 years and tell me how the performance of ANY QB in that game had a barring on what you saw in the ensuing fall...

But to answer your question, Mac had a better game. He also played against the backup defense, while Jalen played against the starters. If you HONESTLY think Mac Jones is the better QB (which you have already said) there is absolutely nothing else ANYONE needs to discuss with you. I don't feel like killing more braincells.