🏈 Spring Camp - 2017

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

I won't go that far. I see no reason for him to be working with special teams, holding for kicks, if they have the intent of 'shirting him. They've used more than one, but using him tells me nothing has been decided for next season.

Hide and watch, JK will end up being the holder, much like PJ Fitz was in 09 (AJ's RS year)

 

[TerryP]

Hide and watch, JK will end up being the holder, much like PJ Fitz was in 09 (AJ's RS year)

You may be right in the end. Today, far too early to be calling a 'shirt for Tua. I've got to stand by that if for no other reason than the circumstances.

Me, you, anyone here, Saban, Daboll, Jalen, Tua, Mac...you name anyone. You won't find someone that's been in a situation like this before. Hell, any other year the excitement over Mac would have already become tiresome. Three QB's, this close together, of this apparent caliber?

I'm certainly going to watch. There's too many variables running this season.

•Do you think they'll 'shirt both Mac and Tua?
•If it's a no on Mac, are you suggesting he's literally running with the 2's and will have progressed more than Tua?
•I get a sense some think Saban may "sandbag" Tua for the future. To me, that makes no sense at all.
•Play all three? That seems as likely as only playing one.
-----

Not that it matters, but here's my viewpoint. I know it's right. I'm comfortable.

•I've been through quite a few years of Bama football and I don't remember ever seeing this much talent at QB from these three guys.
•I know Jalen has improved. That's good news and expected.
•Tua has a "great mind" for the game. It's that touch, feel, sense thing you want out of quarterbacks. For me, it's an amazing thing to see at his age.
•Jalen has a lot of talent and potential.
•Tua has a lot of talent and potential.
•Mac has "... and potential." (Seriously, think about him on the roster in any other year.)

**I've really enjoyed seeing people argue, and seeing some get angry, over things like this when I'm sitting here watching and thinking it's a pretty good thing. #Bamaproblems

 

[TUSKtimes]

Hahaha.

Folks talking like an incoming greenie with sub-par footwork is gonna take some snaps from the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Year, simply because he throws a tight spiral during routes on air drills.

Barring a Jalen injury, Tua is shirting this year.

If we don't need him, we're not going to play him. Now, he'll get some snaps next year in garbage time, but it ain't happening this year.

Classic short-sighted fan rhetoric. The backup is always better than the starter

Well, this backup got at least 3 more TDs in Friday's second scrimmage. As you no doubt are aware from my previous posts on the subject, I'm a realist and Hurts is a reality, as far as being the starter. But as much as you would wish there was a little more different in their Bama chronology between them, I think a year is all that will separate these two players.

As we are all aware, positions like LB and RB even DL lately, has allowed us to hide players when there are talent and numbers galore and a clear pecking order has been established, but we have none of that. Again, if Barnett had the stomach for it, his talent and 3rd year in the system could have created the luxury of patience and legitimately sold it to the incoming QBs for their freshmen year. Getting Tua some experience and getting him ready to play will continue to be a priority built on necessity, we just don't have the numbers.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Well, this backup got at least 3 more TDs in Friday's second scrimmage. As you no doubt are aware from my previous posts on the subject, I'm a realist and Hurts is a reality, as far as being the starter. But as much as you would wish there was a little more different in their Bama chronology between them, I think a year is all that will separate these two players.

As we are all aware, positions like LB and RB even DL lately, has allowed us to hide players when there are talent and numbers galore and a clear pecking order has been established, but we have none of that. Again, if Barnett had the stomach for it, his talent and 3rd year in the system could have created the luxury of patience and legitimately sold it to the incoming QBs for their freshmen year. Getting Tua some experience and getting him ready to play will continue to be a priority built on necessity, we just don't have the numbers.

He's shirting, and a walk-on will get garbage snaps this year.

Hell, they could put Ronnie Harrison in at QB and let him turn around and hand the ball off.

Why squander a year of eligibility when you have a proven starter and reigning SEC Offensive POY for AT LEAST 2 more years?

 

[TUSKtimes]

He's shirting, and a walk-on will get garbage snaps this year.

Hell, they could put Ronnie Harrison in at QB and let him turn around and hand the ball off.

Why squander a year of eligibility when you have a proven starter and reigning SEC Offensive POY for AT LEAST 2 more years?

Because we are trying to win a national championship now. One pulled hammy, high ankle sprain, concussion, big QB hit, cracked ribs, etc, from having to live with the consequences in the long run. Given the physical nature of our QB position in order to be effective, it seems highly likely that that situation will present itself at some time and somewhere. Hurt's ran the ball more often than most of our running backs and all of them got dinged and missed playing time last season. All of them. Suppose that's right before we play LSU, the barners, the SECCG? Maybe the second quarter of the FSU game, who knows. My belief system stems from necessity, not luxury. Besides, you don't push the starting QB to get better by redshirting the competition. Tua will be as ready as we can make him when we kick off for Atlanta, IMO.

 

[BamaFan334]

Because we are trying to win a national championship now. One pulled hammy, high ankle sprain, concussion, big QB hit, cracked ribs, etc, from having to live with the consequences in the long run. Given the physical nature of our QB position in order to be effective, it seems highly likely that that situation will present itself at some time and somewhere. Hurt's ran the ball more often than most of our running backs and all of them got dinged and missed playing time last season. All of them. Suppose that's right before we play LSU, the barners, the SECCG? Maybe the second quarter of the FSU game, who knows. My belief system stems from necessity, not luxury. Besides, you don't push the starting QB to get better by redshirting the competition. Tua will be as ready as we can make him when we kick off for Atlanta, IMO.

I agree with you. They may intend to redshirt him and let Mac Jones take late game snaps, but if Hurts goes down Tua will be game ready.

 

[TerryP]

If I read this correctly, it's the genuine belief of a few that Tua is further along in his development than Mac Jones. But, they'll take the 'shirt off of a guy (Mac) that needs more development and keep it on a guy that's more prepared for the competition in Tua.

 

[Tidestalker]

He's shirting, and a walk-on will get garbage snaps this year.

Hell, they could put Ronnie Harrison in at QB and let him turn around and hand the ball off.

Why squander a year of eligibility when you have a proven starter and reigning SEC Offensive POY for AT LEAST 2 more years?

I actually hope you're right SLO. Because it could prolong his career at UA, which I'm all for.

However, I have a hard time believing Saban is going to RS the backup. If Mac beats Tua out, then yes he would def red shirt. But with a running QB I have a hard time thinking Saban isn't going to get the backup as ready as possible. If Jalen were to go down 6-7 games in to the season, then he's going to all the sudden take Tua of RS and throw him into the wolves with 0 game snaps? Seems like a stone he's going to turn over early in the year with some blowout snaps.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

I actually hope you're right SLO. Because it could prolong his career at UA, which I'm all for.

However, I have a hard time believing Saban is going to RS the backup. If Mac beats Tua out, then yes he would def red shirt. But with a running QB I have a hard time thinking Saban isn't going to get the backup as ready as possible. If Jalen were to go down 6-7 games in to the season, then he's going to all the sudden take Tua of RS and throw him into the wolves with 0 game snaps? Seems like a stone he's going to turn over early in the year with some blowout snaps.

I guess we'll find out at the first PAT of the season. If it's JK or the walk-on holding, then you know we're shirting Tua AND Mac.

I just find it hard to believe that we'd burn a potential shirt with the likelihood of Jalen being here 4 years. Either Tua starts for his senior year after Jalen graduates, or he transfers after year 2.

 

[Tidestalker]

I guess we'll find out at the first PAT of the season. If it's JK or the walk-on holding, then you know we're shirting Tua AND Mac.

I just find it hard to believe that we'd burn a potential shirt with the likelihood of Jalen being here 4 years. Either Tua starts for his senior year after Jalen graduates, or he transfers after year 2.

I was thinking Jalen leaves after year 3, and Tua starts in his 3rd year.

And I disagree that if Tua isn't holding he is red shirting. Especially if he's never done it before

 

[It Takes Eleven]

He's shirting, and a walk-on will get garbage snaps this year.

Hell, they could put Ronnie Harrison in at QB and let him turn around and hand the ball off.

Why squander a year of eligibility when you have a proven starter and reigning SEC Offensive POY for AT LEAST 2 more years?

So you're stating now that no scholarship QB other than Hurts takes a snap this year? That's some pretty lean brisket...

 

[UAgrad93]

I can't agree with any non-scholarship QB receiving any "garbage time" reps. I see either Tua or Mac holding for PATs/FGs and the 3rd guy getting the redshirt. Some comments on Mac have been, "think AJ as a true frosh, needing weight put on him."

 

[TerryP]

"think AJ as a true frosh, needing weight put on him."

And that's with him putting on 12-15 lbs since arriving in Tuscaloosa. I recall him being told he'd need to add some weight when he was being recruited.

 

[Destiny's Child]

I say we pick up a graduate transfer this summer that is looking to finish his degree and play for a winner. He will hold and take mop up... no inside info but that would allow us to red shirt both barring injury and give us at least an upper classman to hold a clipboard, field goal attenpts and receive snaps to hand it off to finish games. We seem to have picked up a few grad transfers each year for the last several and it just seems logical that is where the staff would look for this year.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

I say we pick up a graduate transfer this summer that is looking to finish his degree and play for a winner. He will hold and take mop up... no inside info but that would allow us to red shirt both barring injury and give us at least an upper classman to hold a clipboard, field goal attenpts and receive snaps to hand it off to finish games. We seem to have picked up a few grad transfers each year for the last several and it just seems logical that is where the staff would look for this year.

There it is.

 

[rammerjammer]

Going back to AJ's RS Freshman year (2009) It was rumored about 1/2 way through the season that AJ was indeed the back up, should GMac get hurt. While we had other QB's that did some mop-up duty, I remember Saban stating that up to and during the Rose Bowl game against Texas that if indeed GMac went down, AJ was the QB that would be starting. I found that amazing that Saban would burn a shirt even during the last game of the season, but Saban always says he will go with best person to give the team the best possible chance of winning. I know that all comes with balance (burning a shirt vs giving his team the best case scenario to win)

 

[TerryP]

Going back to AJ's RS Freshman year (2009) It was rumored about 1/2 way through the season that AJ was indeed the back up, should GMac get hurt. While we had other QB's that did some mop-up duty, I remember Saban stating that up to and during the Rose Bowl game against Texas that if indeed GMac went down, AJ was the QB that would be starting. I found that amazing that Saban would burn a shirt even during the last game of the season, but Saban always says he will go with best person to give the team the best possible chance of winning. I know that all comes with balance (burning a shirt vs giving his team the best case scenario to win)

AJ was signed in Feb. of '09. He was a true frosh that year we played Texas. Bama had signed Star Jackson in '08 who had also played a few games leading into the Texas game. (Closest game he played in that season was FIU if I recall correctly. It was a Bama vs UT type score.)

The discussions happening at that time had to do with Star getting passed on the depth chart that season and a lot didn't believe if Greg was hurt Saban would go to AJ. But, what they continually ignored was the "rep charts" where AJ was taking the majority of the snaps with the 2's over Star. What I considered to be the most telling was the pre-game warm-up drills with AJ following Greg and Star and Darrah bring up the rear.

 

[TerryP]

I say we pick up a graduate transfer this summer that is looking to finish his degree and play for a winner

There it is.

That would work but I'm immediately thinking numbers. The number for the '18 class is sitting at 22 right now which is part of the reason you see the staff being so selective in their committable offers this spring.

As the roster sits today I can't see Saban letting Montana take the holds or the snaps in mop-up duty. I can't see him 'shirting Tua with him being higher on the depth chart than Mac. Neither of those two scenario's fits my logic test.

The year Star was backing up Greg is an anomoly here. Outside of that season, the second string QB has played in eight of the ten openers under Saban. Now, if FSU is as close of a ball game as predicted we may not see many of the back-ups.

 

[Destiny's Child]

That would work but I'm immediately thinking numbers. The number for the '18 class is sitting at 22 right now which is part of the reason you see the staff being so selective in their committable offers this spring.

As the roster sits today I can't see Saban letting Montana take the holds or the snaps in mop-up duty. I can't see him 'shirting Tua with him being higher on the depth chart than Mac. Neither of those two scenario's fits my logic test.

The year Star was backing up Greg is an anomoly here. Outside of that season, the second string QB has played in eight of the ten openers under Saban. Now, if FSU is as close of a ball game as predicted we may not see many of the back-ups.

Terry you know we will have some off field casualties, medical hardships and/or transfers that will happen this summer after the A-day game. Happens almost every year. I think you will see a few happen again and then we could go pick up a grad transfer QB. It would suck for Tua if they didn't redshirt him, that means he will sit for 3 years to play one.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

That would work but I'm immediately thinking numbers. The number for the '18 class is sitting at 22 right now which is part of the reason you see the staff being so selective in their committable offers this spring.

As the roster sits today I can't see Saban letting Montana take the holds or the snaps in mop-up duty. I can't see him 'shirting Tua with him being higher on the depth chart than Mac. Neither of those two scenario's fits my logic test.

The year Star was backing up Greg is an anomoly here. Outside of that season, the second string QB has played in eight of the ten openers under Saban. Now, if FSU is as close of a ball game as predicted we may not see many of the back-ups.

OTOH, since Greg, we've seen "eventual " backups in season openers because of an ongoing QB battle 5 out of 7 years (the exception being AJ's final 2 years, when QB1 was settled).

We hardly saw backups at all in '12 and '13.