Spring Practice Predictions

[BamaMoon]

I just hope BY is one the winning team.
That boy needs all the steak he can get

I appreciate the sarcasm, but I saw a tweet a month or two ago that said BY gained 10 pounds in his first month of school this year. They'll put some weight on him.

The problem (if there is a problem) is his frame can only take so much before it changes his ability to move. He's a better scrambler than Tua so we don't want him to lose that ability.

It'd be nice if he had a growth spurt and grew about 2 or 3 inches...that's not out of the question, but probably unlikely. I quit growing when I was 16 in 10th grade but some still grow into college.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Really more of a prediction for the 2020 season, but that season starts with spring practice.

My main prediction is that Mac proves why highly talented third year juniors almost always beat out extremely highly talented true freshmen. He wins the job, and keeps it all year.

Note: I know many will cite the Jalen Hurts / Tua Tagoviola (sp?) dynamic in 2018. Jalen lost the job because he wasn't good enough as a passer to force the opposition, especially good teams, to respect the threat of the pass. Jones is a good passer (he's no Tua, but nobody who ever wore crimson was), and the offense is moving away form RPO to more dropback. Plus, he's said to have better wheels than one would expect.

Second to that, the front 7 re-asserts itself and becomes relevant again.

Finally, due to returning talent and a returning coach, the OL becomes second best in Alabama history, behind only 2012 (which will in all likelihood never be seriously challenged).

 

[BamaMoon]

Really more of a prediction for the 2020 season, but that season starts with spring practice.

My main prediction is that Mac proves why highly talented third year juniors almost always beat out extremely highly talented true freshmen. He wins the job, and keeps it all year.

Note: I know many will cite the Jalen Hurts / Tua Tagoviola (sp?) dynamic in 2018. Jalen lost the job because he wasn't good enough as a passer to force the opposition, especially good teams, to respect the threat of the pass. Jones is a good passer (he's no Tua, but nobody who ever wore crimson was), and the offense is moving away form RPO to more dropback. Plus, he's said to have better wheels than one would expect.

Second to that, the front 7 re-asserts itself and becomes relevant again.

Finally, due to returning talent and a returning coach, the OL becomes second best in Alabama history, behind only 2012 (which will in all likelihood never be seriously challenged).

There's just one thing that gives me pause about MJ and it's the Auburn game and the two INTs. I'm not being a negative Nellie about him. But it happened and it happened at the worst opportune time.

 

[Con]

There's just one thing that gives me pause about MJ and it's the Auburn game and the two INTs. I'm not being a negative Nellie about him. But it happened and it happened at the worst opportune time.

This point has to be mentioned. He has to protect the ball without being too conservative or scared to throw. Reps should help him a lot.

 

[BamaMoon]

This point has to be mentioned. He has to protect the ball without being too conservative or scared to throw. Reps should help him a lot.

To be totally fair...MJ had the terrible misfortune to be the guy to replace the most accurate passer the college game has seen (maybe ever). And what makes his job even tougher is the guy that likely will be nipping at his heels shows some of the very same tendencies to be not only accurate but to understand the nuances of the passing game.

So on the QB competition, I'm going to be watching the clips of practices and obviously the A-day game to compare the QBs accuracy, touch and ability to throw a man open. One of the first real differences we were noticing in Tua compared to Jalen was just in the passing drills Jalen's ball was hit or miss, high or low, and often behind/late and Tua was hitting guys in stride between the #'s in perfect timing. That'll be something to pay attention to this spring and next fall. Remember, much of our passing success with Tua was exploiting small windows, especially on slants and seam throws that require timing and pinpoint accuracy.

I'd say that even if BY proves to be more accurate that may not be the deciding factor because MJ's experience is HUGE and his great advantage right now IMO.

 

[gtgilbert]

There's just one thing that gives me pause about MJ and it's the Auburn game and the two INTs. I'm not being a negative Nellie about him. But it happened and it happened at the worst opportune time.

That's an understandable concern and one I think many of us will be keeping an eye on, but in context, that was his third total start, and really his first against a decent defense. In Tua's fist major game action under pressure, not even starting against UGA, Tua threw a pick and took two sacks. Not that it makes the two equal, just that inexperience can cause some mistakes.

 

[DogPatch]

This point has to be mentioned. He has to protect the ball without being too conservative or scared to throw. Reps should help him a lot.

And, one of those INTs was a bad bounce different and it hits the ground and we win the game.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Offensively I expect continued stability with most of the drama being among the receivers fighting for the open slots. I don't expect them to push Trey Sanders yet on his repaired foot.

Trey Sanders should be at 100% by now...

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

I appreciate the sarcasm, but I saw a tweet a month or two ago that said BY gained 10 pounds in his first month of school this year. They'll put some weight on him.

The problem (if there is a problem) is his frame can only take so much before it changes his ability to move. He's a better scrambler than Tua so we don't want him to lose that ability.

It'd be nice if he had a growth spurt and grew about 2 or 3 inches...that's not out of the question, but probably unlikely. I quit growing when I was 16 in 10th grade but some still grow into college.

I still do... 😉

 

[4Q Basket Case]

There's just one thing that gives me pause about MJ and it's the Auburn game and the two INTs. I'm not being a negative Nellie about him. But it happened and it happened at the worst opportune time.

No question, that's part of his body of work. The first one was just a bad throw. No excuses whatsoever. I'm sure Mac himself would agree.

The second one was the Jordan-Hare weirdness. An unfortunate bounce off the receiver's butt, hitting the LB in stride heading the other way. I don't really fault Mac for that interception, but agree that in that situation, he could have been more conservative.

And, one of those INTs was a bad bounce different and it hits the ground and we win the game.

And 99% of the time, that's exactly what would have happened. Mac made what should have been a minor mis-judgment in risk management, and the flying fickle finger of fate poked him (and us) in the eye.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I think Jones runs away with the starting QB role during spring. I think the real battle will be Taulia and Young battling it out for the #2 spot. That battle will all depend on how much development Taulia has made from last season to this Spring. If Taulia has made a significant leap in development then it is going to be hard for BY to beat out Taulia.

 

[DogPatch]

I think Jones runs away with the starting QB role during spring. I think the real battle will be Taulia and Young battling it out for the #2 spot. That battle will all depend on how much development Taulia has made from last season to this Spring. If Taulia has made a significant leap in development then it is going to be hard for BY to beat out Taulia.

I'm not convinced Taulia is here in the fall.

 

[The Ols]

I'm not convinced Taulia is here in the fall.

Not happy about it, but I agree...still think he follows Tua...

 

[The Ols]

I'm not convinced Taulia is here in the fall.

How wild if he flipped to USCw and was in uniform week one...on the other side...

 

[Bamabuzzard]

There's just one thing that gives me pause about MJ and it's the Auburn game and the two INTs. I'm not being a negative Nellie about him. But it happened and it happened at the worst opportune time.

Third start
The Iron Bowl in Auburn.
His first Iron Bowl as a starter
It was only one game.
He didn't do anything like that in a bowl game against a top 15 defense (pre bowl game).

Not enough to put that much stock into two picks, which one was just pure fluke.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I'm not convinced Taulia is here in the fall.

Very possible. But until it actually happens he's still assumed to be a part of the team in 2020. But I do agree. It is VERY possible.

 

[TiderJack]

Third start
The Iron Bowl in Auburn.
His first Iron Bowl as a starter
It was only one game.
He didn't do anything like that in a bowl game against a top 15 defense (pre bowl game).

Not enough to put that much stock into two picks, which one was just pure fluke.

'
Agreed. He will never play in a louder, more stressful enviroment and that includes Baton Rouge. We are going to have a very good QB under center this year if not great no matter who it is IMO.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Third start
The Iron Bowl in Auburn.
His first Iron Bowl as a starter
It was only one game.
He didn't do anything like that in a bowl game against a top 15 defense (pre bowl game).

Not enough to put that much stock into two picks, which one was just pure fluke.

IIRC He almost threw a pick 6 early on vs Michigan it was just dropped. Played well outside of that though.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

Care to expand what that might look like? Do you think sentence #1 is true regardless of who wins the QB race?

I expect if Brice wins the starting position he will be NCAA dominant. I expect if Taulia wins the race he will be that good also.
I expect Mac to start the season as QB.
I expect if Mac defeats Brice and Talia he will be one of the top QB in the country.
All of these guys may be that good, but for Brice to overcome the starting Freshman at QB thing.. He would have to be that much better than Mac and Taulia. There's not a lot of guys with that kind of ability. Brice might have it, but I'll bet it's gonna take more than Spring Practice to win that job. We will see. OR NOT...
From what I hear our Spring Game may not be broadcast like it has for years. Some kind of jumbled up showing of bits of several different SEC teams. I hope I'm wrong about that.
Maybe I can Stream the game.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

I appreciate the sarcasm, but I saw a tweet a month or two ago that said BY gained 10 pounds in his first month of school this year. They'll put some weight on him.

The problem (if there is a problem) is his frame can only take so much before it changes his ability to move. He's a better scrambler than Tua so we don't want him to lose that ability.

It'd be nice if he had a growth spurt and grew about 2 or 3 inches...that's not out of the question, but probably unlikely. I quit growing when I was 16 in 10th grade but some still grow into college.

You grew in High School, I was a late bloomer, and grew like a weed in college.
I went from 5'11" 140 to 6'3" 205.
(Now I'd give anything to weigh 205 again)