🏈 Jalen's dad suggests "biggest free agent in history." Jalen's brother refers to stories as "click bait." What's next for Hurts?

[TerryP]

I'm linking this more for who is talking than the content. More on that later.

Will Alabama's Jalen Hurts Soon Become 'The Biggest Free Agent' in CFB History?

Averion Hurts, a successful head at Channelview High School, doesn't like talking about what-ifs because in his mind, his son is winning the job. But he can also appreciate the optics staring back at Saban.​

​

"Coach Saban's job is to do what's best for his team. I have no problem with that," Averion Hurts said. "My job is to do what's best for Jalen—and make no mistake, Jalen is a quarterback, and he wants to play quarterback. He loves Alabama, loves Coach Saban and everything about that place. But he wants to play, and he will play…"​

​

Averion stops mid-sentence because the idea of his son not playing for Alabama isn't one he takes lightly. What if Jalen doesn't win the job, he is asked?​

​

He shakes his head slowly, answers begrudgingly. "Well, he'd be the biggest free agent in college football history."​

​

Think about that: Jalen Hurts, with two years of eligibility, on the open market.​

 

[TerryP]

. What if Jalen doesn't win the job, he is asked?

A coach first of all.

Secondly, you don't talk about this--about your kid--in public. As a coach he knows about what it takes for a QB to have the team at his back. He knows decisions like this and what's it takes from a coaching staff's standpoint as well.

You don't put yourself in the position, one. And two, damn. It's not the comment for a players parent to make.

This is is going to get some play, folks. It'll be misconstrued to a greater degree.

 

[TUSKtimes]

"He wants to play and will play." Doesn't necessarily mean he will start. Still, doesn't sound like both QBs will survive just on the surface. "Free agency" will still have to take a year off from playing for Jalen.

 

[Tidestalker]

Not a surprise at all... Which is why Tua going down this Spring may be a great thing for Alabama football.

Now Saban can say, without hesitation, the job is open. That will be good enough to keep Jalen and his dad happy. Ultimately they will both play even when both are healthy and that may or may not be good enough to keep them both at UA. I'm guessing Jalen leaves after next season though to be "the man" somewhere else.

And to those who think Jalen is going to play anything other than QB - This should put it to rest. No chance. Personally I don't think he fits in anywhere else anyway, but he's got too much invested at QB to change now.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Not a surprise at all... Which is why Tua going down this Spring may be a great thing for Alabama football.

Now Saban can say, without hesitation, the job is open. That will be good enough to keep Jalen and his dad happy. Ultimately they will both play even when both are healthy and that may or may not be good enough to keep them both at UA. I'm guessing Jalen leaves after next season though to be "the man" somewhere else.

And to those who think Jalen is going to play anything other than QB - This should put it to rest. No chance. Personally I don't think he fits in anywhere else anyway, but he's got too much invested at QB to change now.

If Jalen leaves next season he can go as a graduate transfer and he is back on the field as soon as possible anyway. I think he has to be willing at least to share snaps with Tua to stick it out. Blake Barnett set the pattern of malcontents who just want to leave, even after fall camp and playing in a few games.

 

[bama alum]

And now there's this:

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Me thinks Dad has a much higher appreciation for Hurts QB ability than Lone Waite,Ten Bears, and I do. Jalen has a short in his wiring system when time to make a decision in his passing skills. No OC or QB coach is going to fix that problem however if they can scheme plays so well that the primary receiver is for the most part open then Jalen will get better with his passing skills.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Not a surprise at all... Which is why Tua going down this Spring may be a great thing for Alabama football.

Now Saban can say, without hesitation, the job is open. That will be good enough to keep Jalen and his dad happy. Ultimately they will both play even when both are healthy and that may or may not be good enough to keep them both at UA. I'm guessing Jalen leaves after next season though to be "the man" somewhere else.

And to those who think Jalen is going to play anything other than QB - This should put it to rest. No chance. Personally I don't think he fits in anywhere else anyway, but he's got too much invested at QB to change now.

If Jalen leaves next season he can go as a graduate transfer and he is back on the field as soon as possible anyway. I think he has to be willing at least to share snaps with Tua to stick it out. Blake Barnett set the pattern of malcontents who just want to leave, even after fall camp and playing in a few games.

Bingo.....I thought the plan would be to stick at Bama until he graduated next May and then he would leave. With that said I believe he will transfer after May and take the year off and still have two to play at his new gig. We'll see. This Saturday's featured player for the fans might just be the play of Mack Jones.

 

[UAgrad93]

When you are a coach and a parent, you have to walk a finer line and be A LOT more professional about it. While Jalen's dad should support him as a father, like @TerryP said, you don't put talk like that out there in public and those words have a chance to grow and get misconstrued and twisted 10 different ways. Having been in education for 24+ years and having been a coach, I have had to bite my tongue a few times.

 

[OldPlayer]

The starting QB decision won't be made until prior to the first game. If Jalen wants to pull a BB8 and leave his team, don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out the door.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

From a recruiting angle we MIGHT be better off if Jalen elects to leave after May provided Tua's brother commits to The King. Very possible that Dad has muddied the waters for Bama fans and Jalen.

 

[TerryP]

No OC or QB coach is going to fix that problem however if they can scheme plays so well that the primary receiver is for the most part open then Jalen will get better with his passing skills.

1) Step A. Step B. Run.
2) Step A. Step B. Step C. Run

In the bigger games we didn't see #1 last season. We did see it in conference games; against teams like Vandy. I know Jalen has been spending a lot of time studying film. With a QB coach in place it's logical to assume he'd be in stage #2 this season., right? Where, at least under pressure, he's getting two quick reads and release?

That said, I've mentioned a thought I've had a few times in the past when the subject of Jalen's "stone cold personality" is brought up. The lack of facial expression can have multiple meanings. Maybe what you're seeing as a wire I'm still trying to put a name on.

From a recruiting angle we MIGHT be better off if Jalen elects to leave after May provided Tua's brother commits to The King. Very possible that Dad has muddied the waters for Bama fans and Jalen.

They're going to sign two. No reason to mention the Tyson story. You probably know more about that side of the family than I do. Taulia is in town so much it's almost old hat. He was there consecutive days and through more than one practice recently.

ON a different note: In conversations in the near future we're going to see confusion between Tua and Tau. Transposing letters is just going to happen. When I was considering that a few months ago there's another thought that crossed my mind.

A few years ago we saw acronyms that flew around about players. BB6 was one. CBEL another. MFBATR, I think? @Sgt. Lincoln Osiris you know if that's right.

Anyway, and that time I didn't care for them. I'm from the school where "2" and "to" make a difference in a text message. My wiring, ya know?

BUT, if there may be a time for nicknames and/or acronyms for players ...

**"This opinion brought to you from a guy who eats a bowl of Typ-O's in the morning"**

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

No OC or QB coach is going to fix that problem however if they can scheme plays so well that the primary receiver is for the most part open then Jalen will get better with his passing skills.

1) Step A. Step B. Run.
2) Step A. Step B. Step C. Run

In the bigger games we didn't see #1 last season. We did see it in conference games; against teams like Vandy. I know Jalen has been spending a lot of time studying film. With a QB coach in place it's logical to assume he'd be in stage #2 this season., right? Where, at least under pressure, he's getting two quick reads and release?

That said, I've mentioned a thought I've had a few times in the past when the subject of Jalen's "stone cold personality" is brought up. The lack of facial expression can have multiple meanings. Maybe what you're seeing as a wire I'm still trying to put a name on.

From a recruiting angle we MIGHT be better off if Jalen elects to leave after May provided Tua's brother commits to The King. Very possible that Dad has muddied the waters for Bama fans and Jalen.

They're going to sign two. No reason to mention the Tyson story. You probably know more about that side of the family than I do. Taulia is in town so much it's almost old hat. He was there consecutive days and through more than one practice recently.

ON a different note: In conversations in the near future we're going to see confusion between Tua and Tau. Transposing letters is just going to happen. When I was considering that a few months ago there's another thought that crossed my mind.

A few years ago we saw acronyms that flew around about players. BB6 was one. CBEL another. MFBATR, I think? @Sgt. Lincoln Osiris you know if that's right.

Anyway, and that time I didn't care for them. I'm from the school where "2" and "to" make a difference in a text message. My wiring, ya know?

BUT, if there may be a time for nicknames and/or acronyms for players ...

**"This opinion brought to you from a guy who eats a bowl of Typ-O's in the morning"**

I remember.

Side note, I haven't been able to view embedded tweets lately. Stuck in "loading tweet". I've cleared my cache and cookies, Chrome is up to date. Even just rebooted my phone.. Still no luck.

 

[TerryP]

Side note, I haven't been able to view embedded tweets lately. Stuck in "loading tweet". I've cleared my cache and cookies, Chrome is up to date. Even just rebooted my phone.. Still no luck.

News - Kickoff rule change: CBS: "...killing the sport." CECIL HURT: "NCAA kickoff decision too drastic?"


On that post as well? The one on this thread has been deleted by whomever posted it on Twitter.

 

[ChemE]

Passing on info from an insider, opinion only.

I want to make it clear this is from me & not associated with the staff. In my only mention of the QB situation I worded it in a way that caused my phone to ring relaying about some raised temperatures from the complex.
First, regardless of how this story ends I appreciate what Jalen brought to the program and as I have previously stated, he placed us in a position to win a championship in 2017. BAMA likely would not have won the Ole Miss game with anyone else behind center on our squad. However, let's try to remove the emotions from the situation and just get to the facts such as:
-In no way has Jalen been mis-treated or denied opportunity. It is rare for a
true freshman to have significant playing time in the first game of his career
and become the starter afterward.
-Jalen has not developed as a passer and it has inhibited the offensive
production and potential especially against elite competition and at key
moments.
-Jalen's inability to grow as a passer has limited and in some cases, denied
the talent around him to be utilized especially at wide receiver. Basically,
kids who signed with UA who had the opportunity to go anywhere in America
are taking whatever scraps are left over when the primary WR (Calvin Ridley)
doesn't get the ball.
-The OL has consistently been put in bad situations after the review of game
film because Jalen abandoned what was practiced.
-In UA's biggest regular season test last year, at AU, Jalen received the
lowest grade of any QB in the Nick Saban era after game film review.
I can add more but will just leave it here. The Hurts have to do what's best for themselves but from every eye test and info from last year's practices and even current Spring sessions pre-Tua injury, there is no QB battle.
That fact along with Tua's injury gives every appearance of a power move with this article and does nothing to show leadership.
An opinion with some facts mixed in................

 

[Tidestalker]

Appreciate and agree with the input.

Mommys and daddys always thinking little Timmy is getting the short end of the stick... Even when he clearly was given the benefit of the doubt last season.

I hope he stays and believe a 2 QB system, with Jalen getting far less snaps, is best overall for the team.

We shall see!

RTR

 

[bamachine]

What Hurts lacks is confidence in his throws. He has the arm, even the accuracy, when he throws on time. Problem is that he does not trust himself to throw into even single coverage. Unless the target is wide open or good separation, he will not pull the trigger. Oft times, he waits too long, leading to a pass being late, so the WR has to wait on it and the coverage catches up. So even when they catch it, they are taken down immediately. Even if he learns his progressions, until he has confidence to throw into tight coverage, he will never develop into a great QB.

 

[TUSKtimes]

What Hurts lacks is confidence in his throws. He has the arm, even the accuracy, when he throws on time. Problem is that he does not trust himself to throw into even single coverage. Unless the target is wide open or good separation, he will not pull the trigger. Oft times, he waits too long, leading to a pass being late, so the WR has to wait on it and the coverage catches up. So even when they catch it, they are taken down immediately. Even if he learns his progressions, until he has confidence to throw into tight coverage, he will never develop into a great QB.

But is that a learned behavior? Seems that's kinda like asking Trent Richardson to see and hit the hole like Leveon Bell. I think you can always help yourself with reps but actually seeing the receiver break open, even before he has created separation is more about his anticipation and feel. The best of the best seem to have more than talent. More of an acumen for the position.

 

[footballer]

Side note, I haven't been able to view embedded tweets lately. Stuck in "loading tweet". I've cleared my cache and cookies, Chrome is up to date. Even just rebooted my phone.. Still no luck.

News - Kickoff rule change: CBS: "...killing the sport." CECIL HURT: "NCAA kickoff decision too drastic?"


On that post as well? The one on this thread has been deleted by whomever posted it on Twitter.

I have not been getting twitter feeds either, for about a week now.

Nicknames for Tua and Tau? Lefty and Righty
Father coach Hurts put his best athlete at qb in hs and apparently Jalen never learned the nuances of the passing game. Being a great athlete does not mean you will develop into a good or great passer.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Sad when dad makes such remarks.... jalan is a outstanding college QB....but if there r dreams of being a nfl QB....that we havent seen...so what is dads point?
Makes little sense to me...jalan came to Bama with a 5* and 2 4* in front of him
....knew the competition....