QB Competition 2018

BamaMoon

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I thought this was great to hear from Jalen:

“Just being able to learn from the two losses. Those are not losses to me, they are learning experiences. I have a lot of players around me that are capable of making big plays and it’s essential to give those guys opportunities to make plays.”
Here's what CNS said:

“We’ve had the same goal with the passing game as always. We want to have great balance in our offense, we have really good skill guys, we want to make explosive plays with those guys and we have to be able to execute all phases of the passing game better,” Said Saban.
“Whether that is the quarterback's presence in the pocket in terms of reading, getting to the second read at times, executing the plays as they are designed, and the same thing with pass protection, and pass routes. Just the overall efficiency is everyone’s responsibility and I think that is something we need to improve on. We need to make it easier in some ways so that we can get better at execution.”
Here's the whole article (https://alabama.rivals.com/news/jalen-hurts-has-another-opportunity-to-silence-critics)

It addresses some of the concerns we have discussed. I think the team is at work addressing them! Good news!
 

TIDE-HSV

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It's interesting you mention the "one read" idea. I must have missed you mentioning it at other times. But I've been thinking about this some recently.

I disagree that this has been the plan all year with Hurts, but I really believe for him to be successful in the playoffs this probably needs to be the plan for passing downs. Of course, the first part of this involves using our running backs more effectively, but on passing downs having a game plan that creates matchups that are winnable and not always directed at Ridley. Lots more one read slants, curls. drags across the middle...plays like that. Even creating space for Jalen to run if the first read isn't available by clearing out the other receivers on one side of the field to give Jalen a better chance to scramble successfully.

I do think this specific plan would probably best utilize what seems to be Jalen overall strengths. I don't necessarily like it for the long range as for as future offensive philosophy, but unless the staff undergoes wholesale change and just plays Tua, I feel like this is the type of game plan that will be most successful. Running the ball and getting in short, manageable 3rd downs and Jalen having one read (which is basically no read) and getting the ball out fast (and hopefully accurately).
Personally, I liked B1G's idea of placing Ridley to the left as a decoy, where Jalen doesn't throw well anyway, and let them double him while distributing to the receivers to the right and center...
 

BamaMoon

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Personally, I liked B1G's idea of placing Ridley to the left as a decoy, where Jalen doesn't throw well anyway, and let them double him while distributing to the receivers to the right and center...
That would probably work too, especially if Ridley is running a deeper route and getting those defenders out of that space. Jalen's bail out could be to that empty space....kinda the way a qb throws a hot route into the space vacated by a corner blitz, except Jalen runs into a space cleared out by a receivers route.
 

PA Tide Fan

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Here's what CNS said:
"Whether that is the quarterback's presence in the pocket in terms of reading, getting to the second read at times, executing the plays as they are designed, and the same thing with pass protection, and pass routes. Just the overall efficiency is everyone’s responsibility and I think that is something we need to improve on. We need to make it easier in some ways so that we can get better at execution.”
It seems to me that this statement settles the debate about whether the one-read plays were by design or not. "Getting to the second read at times" seems to suggest that they were not.
 

mlh

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It seems to me that this statement settles the debate about whether the one-read plays were by design or not. "Getting to the second read at times" seems to suggest that they were not.
The fact that he says at times supports the idea that some of the plays are indeed designed as one-read plays. That's not a problem as long as they aren't all one-read plays.
 

PA Tide Fan

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The fact that he says at times supports the idea that some of the plays are indeed designed as one-read plays. That's not a problem as long as they aren't all one-read plays.
Maybe, but "at times" could also be a Coach Saban balancing act of not being too critical of Jalen publicly.
 

RollTide_HTTR

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One major aspect of Tua's game that I think is well above Jalen's is ball placement. Tua (in limited showing) seems to be really good at both leading WRs and putting the ball where only his guy can catch it.
 

BamaMoon

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Yep. One can interpret the statement to mean whatever one wants it to mean.
Agreed! The main point is they know it's been an issue sometimes and it means they are working to address it!

It's been said that Jalen is very "coachable" and his comments suggest they are coaching him to use and allow the players around him to help win the game.
 

PA Tide Fan

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It's funny listening to some of the ESPN pundits acting like they know exactly what Bama's game plan is against Clemson. Today on Finebaum Laura Rutledge addressed the Bama fans calling for Tua. She chuckled and said "Forget it, Tua's not playing!" Last night David Pollack said Bama is going to run the ball a lot using Jalen on many runs and won't attempt more than a dozen passes.
 

Intl.Aperture

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It's funny listening to some of the ESPN pundits acting like they know exactly what Bama's game plan is against Clemson. Today on Finebaum Laura Rutledge addressed the Bama fans calling for Tua. She chuckled and said "Forget it, Tua's not playing!" Last night David Pollack said Bama is going to run the ball a lot using Jalen on many runs and won't attempt more than a dozen passes.
David Pollack can't even accurately predict how much hair gel he'll use in the morning much less what Bama's offensive game plan will be against Clemson. I wouldn't sweat it.
 

UAH

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Agreed! The main point is they know it's been an issue sometimes and it means they are working to address it!
It's been said that Jalen is very "coachable" and his comments suggest they are coaching him to use and allow the players around him to help win the game.
I am confident that everyone on the staff and team including JH has a driving desire to compete and play well. With all due respect to JHs athleticism my comment is that he needs many hours work on his passing with a coach capable of breaking it down and working on the entire set of skills involved in throwing the football successfully. That can't be done during the season for obvious reasons. He will require that IMO to be drafted. Without that level of work again IMO the coaching staff has to deal with the fact that opposing defenses will not feel threatened by Bama throwing the football. It goes without saying how difficult it is to game plan against Clemson with an inconsistent passing attack. Again I simply do not feel that Tua will be given any series since he has never faced a front seven like Clemson. I would be very pleased to be proven wrong on all of the above.
 

JTBama

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It's funny listening to some of the ESPN pundits acting like they know exactly what Bama's game plan is against Clemson. Today on Finebaum Laura Rutledge addressed the Bama fans calling for Tua. She chuckled and said "Forget it, Tua's not playing!" Last night David Pollack said Bama is going to run the ball a lot using Jalen on many runs and won't attempt more than a dozen passes.
Well it sounds like Pollack's not counting on us making any adjustments, let's hope Clemson has that same line of thinking because I would be shocked if that's remotely close