Some people here, and in general, are in despair that Saban and 'Bama can't find a good QB. To them, it's an absolute mystery why we are in our supposed predicament. While all fans would love for one of our QBs to 'take the bull by the horns' and 'make this team his,' it just hasn't happened yet. What's funny to me is that everyone is so shocked, considering our recruiting classes. However, think about the following:
1. Consider that the VAST majority of high school QBs are not 'future' QBs in ANY division. Sure, in big high schools there is the luxury of finding a 'natural' QB because they have many students, and many athletes to choose from. However, most schools are smaller, and in any case, all high school coaches want to WIN. They will find the best way to win, and so most schools take the best ATHLETE available. They are not usually asked to make great reads and hit the hot receiver, or to complete the deep post. They hit the fast receiver on a deep fly, or they become proficient in the 12 yard slant or hitch, or they have a run/pass option and run a lot because they are great ATHLETES. The 'spread' has taken over high school, and QB development has suffered. These guys become safeties, CBs, RBs, receivers. So the pool of QB recruits for major college football programs is small.
2. In relation to #1 above, look at the NCAA QBR for 2014 ( http://espn.go.com/ncf/qbr/_/year/2014 ). Hutson Mason at #6 is the first 'pro-style' QB on the list. Of course Mariota was good, but he still ran a spread, HUNH. Barrett certainly passed, but he, Marshall, Thomas, and Sims were all more likely to beat you with their feet. As you go on down the top 30, I guess my point would be to ask: "Which of these returning guys would you rather have than Coker, or Cornwell, or Morris?" I would understand Cook or Kessler, and Boykin's ATHLETICISM is superb, but would you really rather have Josh Dobbs, who comes in at #21 last year, and thus is one of the highest ranking QBs returning based on QBR? There just aren't that many GOOD QBs, period.
Think about the SEC... who would you rather have than our guys, if you could trade? Prescott, maybe. Kyle Allen? Not proven, lots of potential. Jeremy Johnson? He's supposed to be God's gift, but don't hold your breath. Maty Mauk, Brandon Allen, Patrick Towles? All three have a lot more experience than any of our guys, but - no thanks for me. In FACT, looking around the Power 5 conferences, Trevor Knight comes to mind, and I think about Gunner Kiel at Cincy, but otherwise, do you guys look around and say, "Wow, I sure wish we'd gotten THAT guy." Maybe I'm just not thinking hard enough about other returning QBs, but, no, I can't say that...
3. True, we haven't DEVELOPED our QBs real well. Some of that is that Saban doesn't play his other QB when we are ahead - they usually go in late, and after a bit he reigns them in and all they do is hand off. Maybe he's trying to get more experience for the starter at times - see Blake Sims last year, he needed all the experience he could get. Maybe he SHOULD change his game plan a bit to plan for the future. Maybe former OCs weren't great at QB development - Coach Mac, Nuss. Kiffin seems to be good at it....
4. BUT, QBs develop later, as a rule. J. Winston was a bit of an exception, as was Manziel. Both redshirted, however, and were special talents. In general, football players mature later than some other sports, such as baseball. How many baseball players START playing in college? Yet how many football players can we cite that played ONE year in college, and then 10 in the NFL? Between the design of most high school offenses, and the late maturity involved, it is VERY difficult to scout, and recruit, good QBs for your college team. Then take into account that some guys like Saban, who would be indefatigable in the spring recruiting and do in-depth evaluations, but have been prevented from doing so- the recruiting process for the QB is further hamstrung. Even if someone like Saban wanted to just have a solid QB who was a good leader, maybe even a coaches' son, like himself, it's hard to find those guys - they don't grow on trees. As I posted before, check the Rivals Composite rankings for QBs for every year since 2009 - we have signed a top 10 QB EVERY year except 2011 - the year we signed Morris; and then, we were in the Bridgewater stakes 'til very late. We are getting what is considered the cream of the crop if you look at the rankings. However, two glaring busts already - P Sims and S Jackson. The others remain to be seen.
This problem even filters up to the NFL. EJ Manuel is starting? Geno Smith was supposed to start for the Jets. There are so many number 1 QB picks, and many more first round QB picks, that have been busts in the last 15 years, just as there have been in Tuscaloosa over the years (remember Perry Cuda?)
Let's be patient, have faith, hope for the best, and quit wringing our hands about how terribly the staff has done in finding a starting QB. If Kiffin can make Blake Sims, and God Bless Blake, a record breaking QB at 'Bama, with the overall number 5 QBR in the NCAA for 2014, then I'm not going to worry!
Roll Tide!
1. Consider that the VAST majority of high school QBs are not 'future' QBs in ANY division. Sure, in big high schools there is the luxury of finding a 'natural' QB because they have many students, and many athletes to choose from. However, most schools are smaller, and in any case, all high school coaches want to WIN. They will find the best way to win, and so most schools take the best ATHLETE available. They are not usually asked to make great reads and hit the hot receiver, or to complete the deep post. They hit the fast receiver on a deep fly, or they become proficient in the 12 yard slant or hitch, or they have a run/pass option and run a lot because they are great ATHLETES. The 'spread' has taken over high school, and QB development has suffered. These guys become safeties, CBs, RBs, receivers. So the pool of QB recruits for major college football programs is small.
2. In relation to #1 above, look at the NCAA QBR for 2014 ( http://espn.go.com/ncf/qbr/_/year/2014 ). Hutson Mason at #6 is the first 'pro-style' QB on the list. Of course Mariota was good, but he still ran a spread, HUNH. Barrett certainly passed, but he, Marshall, Thomas, and Sims were all more likely to beat you with their feet. As you go on down the top 30, I guess my point would be to ask: "Which of these returning guys would you rather have than Coker, or Cornwell, or Morris?" I would understand Cook or Kessler, and Boykin's ATHLETICISM is superb, but would you really rather have Josh Dobbs, who comes in at #21 last year, and thus is one of the highest ranking QBs returning based on QBR? There just aren't that many GOOD QBs, period.
Think about the SEC... who would you rather have than our guys, if you could trade? Prescott, maybe. Kyle Allen? Not proven, lots of potential. Jeremy Johnson? He's supposed to be God's gift, but don't hold your breath. Maty Mauk, Brandon Allen, Patrick Towles? All three have a lot more experience than any of our guys, but - no thanks for me. In FACT, looking around the Power 5 conferences, Trevor Knight comes to mind, and I think about Gunner Kiel at Cincy, but otherwise, do you guys look around and say, "Wow, I sure wish we'd gotten THAT guy." Maybe I'm just not thinking hard enough about other returning QBs, but, no, I can't say that...
3. True, we haven't DEVELOPED our QBs real well. Some of that is that Saban doesn't play his other QB when we are ahead - they usually go in late, and after a bit he reigns them in and all they do is hand off. Maybe he's trying to get more experience for the starter at times - see Blake Sims last year, he needed all the experience he could get. Maybe he SHOULD change his game plan a bit to plan for the future. Maybe former OCs weren't great at QB development - Coach Mac, Nuss. Kiffin seems to be good at it....
4. BUT, QBs develop later, as a rule. J. Winston was a bit of an exception, as was Manziel. Both redshirted, however, and were special talents. In general, football players mature later than some other sports, such as baseball. How many baseball players START playing in college? Yet how many football players can we cite that played ONE year in college, and then 10 in the NFL? Between the design of most high school offenses, and the late maturity involved, it is VERY difficult to scout, and recruit, good QBs for your college team. Then take into account that some guys like Saban, who would be indefatigable in the spring recruiting and do in-depth evaluations, but have been prevented from doing so- the recruiting process for the QB is further hamstrung. Even if someone like Saban wanted to just have a solid QB who was a good leader, maybe even a coaches' son, like himself, it's hard to find those guys - they don't grow on trees. As I posted before, check the Rivals Composite rankings for QBs for every year since 2009 - we have signed a top 10 QB EVERY year except 2011 - the year we signed Morris; and then, we were in the Bridgewater stakes 'til very late. We are getting what is considered the cream of the crop if you look at the rankings. However, two glaring busts already - P Sims and S Jackson. The others remain to be seen.
This problem even filters up to the NFL. EJ Manuel is starting? Geno Smith was supposed to start for the Jets. There are so many number 1 QB picks, and many more first round QB picks, that have been busts in the last 15 years, just as there have been in Tuscaloosa over the years (remember Perry Cuda?)
Let's be patient, have faith, hope for the best, and quit wringing our hands about how terribly the staff has done in finding a starting QB. If Kiffin can make Blake Sims, and God Bless Blake, a record breaking QB at 'Bama, with the overall number 5 QBR in the NCAA for 2014, then I'm not going to worry!
Roll Tide!
