Alabama QB competition article

[BamaMoon]

Well, and the fact he's just better than Jalen Hurts.

Yes, see my post just before yours!

But there's two ways to look at it:

1. CNS had seen the possibility of Tua's talent in prior practices/games. He probably would have admitted his ceiling was higher than Jalen, privately, but...

2. Tua hadn't proven it on a major stage just yet. I don't think we win without the change at the half against Georgia, but it still took some stones to pull that switch not know exactly how it would go.

Now...with the proof in the pudding so to speak, I think it will be much easier to justify playing Tua over Jalen. Even with that, I think there will be an "open competition" and Jalen will have his opportunity to show improvement. The problem Jalen faces is that even if he improves dramatically, I don't think he can pass where Tua is without Tua doing something boneheaded.

 

[BamaMoon]

Saban didn't make the change because Tua was better - he made the change because the TD scored by Georgia at the end of the 1st half had Alabama spiraling out of the game. Saban didn't just need better QB play - he needed something that would give the entire team a spark. He hoped that Tua would provide that spark, and he had nothing to lose.

Alabama still loses that game if the defense doesn't play better in the second half.

I'd argue that the defense and the whole team played better because they had renewed hope that the offense could avoid less 3 and outs, maintain some drives and put points on the board because they believed in Tua because they had seen it in practice.

IOW, it was really the decision of CNS to play Tua that changed everything.

 

[B1GTide]

I'd argue that the defense and the whole team played better because they had renewed hope that the offense could avoid less 3 and outs, maintain some drives and put points on the board because they believed in Tua because they had seen it in practice.

IOW, it was really the decision of CNS to play Tua that changed everything.

Not saying that this isn't all true - just saying that Saban had no idea what he was going to get. He put Tua in because he had no choice, not because he knew Tua was better.

 

[BamaMoon]

Not saying that this isn't all true - just saying that Saban had no idea what he was going to get. He put Tua in because he had no choice, not because he knew Tua was better.

He knew Tua was better in terms of accuracy, footwork, progressions etc. because he's got eyes and he'd seen it in practice and other games. There was little doubt for even the causal observer in these regards.

What he didn't know was if he's better for the moment in that situation.

 

[B1GTide]

He knew Tua was better in terms of accuracy, footwork, progressions etc. because he's got eyes and he'd seen it in practice and other games. There was little doubt for even the causal observer in these regards.

What he didn't know was if he's better for the moment in that situation.

What he didn't know is if he was a better QB.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Tua deserves all the credit in the world for the NCG but what the D did in the 2nd half (apart from the one TD pass) was pretty fantastic and they deserve credit for that not Tua. Take a look at Georgia's 2nd half drives, they had one good play and then a bunch of nothing.

3 plays, -7 yards (punt)

4 plays, 93 yards (TD)(the TD was an 80 yard pass on 3rd and 11)

1 play, 0 yards (INT)

6 plays, 21 yards (punt)

7 plays, 28 yards (punt)

3 plays, 9 yards (punt)

3 plays, 7 yards (punt)

 

[BamaMoon]

What he didn't know is if he was a better QB.

Think we are saying the same things, just with different words. Yes, it was still TBD how Tua would handle the moment. It took a few snaps and mistakes but the calculated gamble payed off when Tua showed he could function in that environment. IMO, the rest is history!

 

[Con]

Tua deserves all the credit in the world for the NCG but what the D did in the 2nd half (apart from the one TD pass) was pretty fantastic and they deserve credit for that not Tua. Take a look at Georgia's 2nd half drives, they had one good play and then a bunch of nothing.

3 plays, -7 yards (punt)

4 plays, 93 yards (TD)(the TD was an 80 yard pass on 3rd and 11)

1 play, 0 yards (INT)

6 plays, 21 yards (punt)

7 plays, 28 yards (punt)

3 plays, 9 yards (punt)

3 plays, 7 yards (punt)

I understand what you are saying and they did play lights out in the second half, but what if their confidence level went sky high when Tua came in because they too believed in him.

 

[BamaMoon]

Tua deserves all the credit in the world for the NCG but what the D did in the 2nd half (apart from the one TD pass) was pretty fantastic and they deserve credit for that not Tua. Take a look at Georgia's 2nd half drives, they had one good play and then a bunch of nothing.

3 plays, -7 yards (punt)

4 plays, 93 yards (TD)(the TD was an 80 yard pass on 3rd and 11)

1 play, 0 yards (INT)

6 plays, 21 yards (punt)

7 plays, 28 yards (punt)

3 plays, 9 yards (punt)

3 plays, 7 yards (punt)

Tua didn't play defense, but his entry into the game explains a lot. Sure there were some halftime adjustments, but I don't think we can separate the two. IOW, I think without the halftime decision to play Tua the defense doesn't play up to that level. JMO.

 

[BamaMoon]

I understand what you are saying and they did play lights out in the second half, but what if their confidence level went sky high when Tua came in because they too believed in him.

Yep. What I think too!

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

I guess I just don't really buy it. Did Tua give the D an emotional boost of some sort? Probably. But it seems far more likely that the bigger difference is that they we made some adjustments at halftime. Our D had just crushed Clemson and was clearly a dominant unit when healthy. So, it's not as though they suddenly started playing better than they had been.

For example, did the D look slow after Tua threw that pick that could have put the game out of reach? No. they got pressure and a pick the next play.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I have no idea how to measure the impact of Tua's presence on the defense in the game. Especially after he started settling in and making plays. I just know (even with the pick Tua threw), the entire team seem to have a renewed sense of hope that they were still in the game. You could "feel" ole "Mo" changing sidelines as the game wore on. The feel of the entire game seemed to change. I remember seeing the body language and expressions of the Georgia fans changing to a concerned look after Tua threw his first TD pass. It was beautiful.

 

[BamaMoon]

Yes, no way to truly measure Tua's impact on the defense. But, I feel safe to say his influence impacted their play to some extent. No way to prove it.

 

[Intl.Aperture]

Yes, no way to truly measure Tua's impact on the defense. But, I feel safe to say his influence impacted their play to some extent. No way to prove it.

Well I'm sure TOP helped.

Someone should compare Alabama's offensive TOP or what the drives looked like in each half. If TOP was greater it gives defense not only more time to breathe but more time to study and plan for the next series with their position coaches.

This IS a team sport - and one side can lift the other and vice-versa.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Well I'm sure TOP helped.

Someone should compare Alabama's offensive TOP or what the drives looked like in each half. If TOP was greater it gives defense not only more time to breathe but more time to study and plan for the next series with their position coaches.

This IS a team sport - and one side can lift the other and vice-versa.

Yep, an offense that chews up clock and scores points makes their defense look like gang busters. It allows them to stay fresh and fast, and it allows more time for the coaching staff to make adjustments.

 

[B1GTide]

Well I'm sure TOP helped.

Someone should compare Alabama's offensive TOP or what the drives looked like in each half. If TOP was greater it gives defense not only more time to breathe but more time to study and plan for the next series with their position coaches.

This IS a team sport - and one side can lift the other and vice-versa.

Alabama had the ball for just over 10 minutes in the first half and over 16 minutes in the second half, so there was a swing. IMO it was more about moving the ball and running a lot of plays than time of possession. Your offense was clicking, and the GA defense was back on its heels. You had no drives that even hit the 4 minute mark, but they couldn't stop you. So this wasn't the 2015 Alabama team, wearing out the opponent and eating up the clock. It was closer to the 2016 Clemson offense - making plays and keeping the opposing defense gasping for breath and grasping for straws.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

I have no idea how to measure the impact of Tua's presence on the defense in the game. Especially after he started settling in and making plays. I just know (even with the pick Tua threw), the entire team seem to have a renewed sense of hope that they were still in the game. You could "feel" ole "Mo" changing sidelines as the game wore on. The feel of the entire game seemed to change. I remember seeing the body language and expressions of the Georgia fans changing to a concerned look after Tua threw his first TD pass. It was beautiful.

I guess that's part of my disconnect here too. I'm not a big believer in momentum. At the very least its overblown.

Well I'm sure TOP helped.

Someone should compare Alabama's offensive TOP or what the drives looked like in each half. If TOP was greater it gives defense not only more time to breathe but more time to study and plan for the next series with their position coaches.

This IS a team sport - and one side can lift the other and vice-versa.

Yea that's fair. I didn't check TOP to compare 1st and 2nd halves yet. However, TOP goes both ways. The D was getting off the field more quickly in the 2nd half than they were in the 1st so its hard to give one side too much credit for TOP.


Also, I'm pretty sure I read an article recently that looked at the impact (on a drive to drive basis not entire games) of TOP and "running out the clock" on defensive performance and it turned out there wasn't much of a difference. The bigger impact was from field position. I did look at field position of Georgia from the 1st to 2nd half but this game is kinda weird because of the back to back INTs. That said, IIRC Georgia did have bad field position more often in the 2nd half but I think it was kinda close.

I don't deny that the 2 sides impact each other. Its more of how much Tua really impacted the defensive performance in this case and Idk that I believe it was significant compared to half time adjustments and just our D being an Alabama Defense. I may just have to agree to disagree with you all.

 

[AlexanderFan]

I understand what you are saying and they did play lights out in the second half, but what if their confidence level went sky high when Tua came in because they too believed in him.

Or they were rested and able to receive coaching during some offensive drives that were longer than three plays.


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[Crimson White]

Not saying that this isn't all true - just saying that Saban had no idea what he was going to get.

That's not right. Tua played well all year long. He was 49 for 77 with 11 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. A td every 7 attempted passes is pretty darn good. His rating for the year was 175 according to this site https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tua-tagovailoa-1.html

You can say that he didn't know how Tagovailoa would play being put in such a tenuous spot in such a big game, but he knew Tagovailoa was a good qb.

 

[UAH]

That's not right. Tua played well all year long. He was 49 for 77 with 11 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. A td every 7 attempted passes is pretty darn good. His rating for the year was 175 according to this site https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tua-tagovailoa-1.html

You can say that he didn't know how Tagovailoa would play being put in such a tenuous spot in such a big game, but he knew Tagovailoa was a good qb.

If Tua was an unknown at all it was principally due to the fact that he did not receive meaningful snaps over a twelve game regular season schedule! A bit of a puzzler to me!