Thoughts on QB situation after Game 5?

[RammerJammer14]

Milroe is a redshirt sophomore in his first year as a starter. So yes, the tracks are similar if not exactly the same.

And we don't have anything near another Tua on the bench behind him. I think Coach Saban benched Milroe for the USF game to show the fans and maybe some of the team just that.

“A redshirt sophomore” is simply another word for Junior dude. He has been on the team for 3 years. He just gets an extra year of eligibility. And there is no way in hell Saban benched him as a message to fans to say “see he is the best one.” That is just conspiracy theory copium stuff. Jalen Milroe is simply not Jalen Hurts, and no tangential similarities are going to make it so.

 

[GrayTide]

barring a national championship I don’t see any of our current 3 being on the roster after the year.

I think this post is spot on. The die is cast for 2023's QB, and barring some miraculous improvement in the QB and OL we could likely lose to TAMU, Kentucky and possibly AU. I find it interesting that Milroe and Beck from UGA have nearly the same experience heading into this season. It appears that one program developed its current QB and one did not. I have for several years questioned player evaluations and I think it has finally shown up across the board, more so on offense though.

 

[BamaMoon]

It’s too late for that. Simpson needed reps early, but it didn’t happen.

Yeah, the problem is going to be if/when Jalen has a bad game and we need to go to the bench Simpson hasn't been given any life game reps.

People say, "He had his chance against USF." No, he didn't. He didn't get starter reps and he didn't have a game plan designed for his strengths. He came in to clean up a mess of a game after TB failed and led an effort to win a game that a lot of the guys didn't really look like they cared if we won or not.

So what happens if there a need to go to #2? Just how ready can he be? Simpson should have played about the last 1.5 quarters Sat. night, but CNS did his norm and when he brought him in he we ran the ball twice and then Simpson passed on 3rd and long. That's when I went to bed. Yeah, that's getting your #2 ready! NOT!

I hope Milroe does well. I'm rooting for him. We've made our bed with him. But I fear @TAMU may get ugly. Then what? Simpson? Unless he's getting about 50% of the practice reps he's not going to be ready either.

How do I feel about the QB situation after 5 games? My confidence level right now for QB play is about 4 out of 10.

 

[BamaMoon]

BTW, it was pointed out last night during the complaint thread that MSU's passing defense is one of the worst in the country. You know when we actually threw our 1st pass of the night? At about 13 minutes left in the second quarter!!!

I bet you'd have to go back to the Ken Darby years to find a game we didn't throw a pass in during the 1st quarter!

Why would we NOT be passing MSU to death if that's their weakness especially if we have a QB that needs passing reps??? Why? I think it's pretty obvious.

How do you beat decent SEC teams with that kind of deficiency at the most important position on the team?

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Yeah, the problem is going to be if/when Jalen has a bad game and we need to go to the bench Simpson hasn't been given any life game reps.

People say, "He had his chance against USF." No, he didn't. He didn't get starter reps and he didn't have a game plan designed for his strengths. He came in to clean up a mess of a game after TB failed and led an effort to win a game that a lot of the guys didn't really look like they cared if we won or not.

So what happens if there a need to go to #2? Just how ready can he be? Simpson should have played about the last 1.5 quarters Sat. night, but CNS did his norm and when he brought him in he we ran the ball twice and then Simpson passed on 3rd and long. That's when I went to bed. Yeah, that's getting your #2 ready! NOT!

I hope Milroe does well. I'm rooting for him. We've made our bed with him. But I fear @TAMU may get ugly. Then what? Simpson? Unless he's getting about 50% of the practice reps he's not going to be ready either.

How do I feel about the QB situation after 5 games? My confidence level right now for QB play is about 4 out of 10.

I concur

 

[Scobaman]

Yeah, the problem is going to be if/when Jalen has a bad game and we need to go to the bench Simpson hasn't been given any life game reps.

People say, "He had his chance against USF." No, he didn't. He didn't get starter reps and he didn't have a game plan designed for his strengths. He came in to clean up a mess of a game after TB failed and led an effort to win a game that a lot of the guys didn't really look like they cared if we won or not.

So what happens if there a need to go to #2? Just how ready can he be? Simpson should have played about the last 1.5 quarters Sat. night, but CNS did his norm and when he brought him in he we ran the ball twice and then Simpson passed on 3rd and long. That's when I went to bed. Yeah, that's getting your #2 ready! NOT!

I hope Milroe does well. I'm rooting for him. We've made our bed with him. But I fear @TAMU may get ugly. Then what? Simpson? Unless he's getting about 50% of the practice reps he's not going to be ready either.

How do I feel about the QB situation after 5 games? My confidence level right now for QB play is about 4 out of 10.

This is not only about when Milroe has a bad game but also when he is not able to get up after a hit. But that was also the case last year and it happened against Arkansas. Milroe was not ready, but still Bama won those two games, although the TAM game was uncomfortable. Very few programs have a guy who is ready to step in and play if their starter is injured and most programs do not have the luxury of having big leads in enough games to give the backup the experience they need.

 

[BamaMoon]

This is not only about when Milroe has a bad game but also when he is not able to get up after a hit. But that was also the case last year and it happened against Arkansas. Milroe was not ready, but still Bama won those two games, although the TAM game was uncomfortable. Very few programs have a guy who is ready to step in and play if their starter is injured and most programs do not have the luxury of having big leads in enough games to give the backup the experience they need.

Yeah, but the difference is most of the time your #1 has your full confidence. Maybe JM has CNS's full confidence. But I just don't see it!

But the entire offense is like an old rattly truck that works OK one day and sputters the nest.

 

[CB4]

At this point, we are “dancing with what brought you”. And that is Milroe. Good, bad or indifferent. Doesn’t matter at this point.

This can be a good team with with Milroe. Can we win the West? Maybe. With some good fortune. SEC championship and CFP type caliber? I don’t see it.

I would love to eat crow, however.

 

[Joefus]

If he could just start registering when blitzes are coming and where they are coming from we could keep our heads above water for the most part. Holding the ball too long can be fixed especially when the game slows for him. I’m totally fine with him never getting more than 20 attempts a game. I just want more qb runs. Whether they work or not it sets other things up and makes them respect it. If I were the oc id run the wheels off that kid. At the very least I’d run a Bama version of the 2016 Clemson offense

 

[tideindc]

I think this post is spot on. The die is cast for 2023's QB, and barring some miraculous improvement in the QB and OL we could likely lose to TAMU, Kentucky and possibly AU. I find it interesting that Milroe and Beck from UGA have nearly the same experience heading into this season. It appears that one program developed its current QB and one did not. I have for several years questioned player evaluations and I think it has finally shown up across the board, more so on offense though.

This is not a defense of Milroe. But Georgia has played a bunch of cupcakes and squeaked by a weak Auburn team. So how good or bad Beck is remains to be seen.

 

[Scobaman]

Yeah, but the difference is most of the time your #1 has your full confidence. Maybe JM has CNS's full confidence. But I just don't see it!

But the entire offense is like an old rattly truck that works OK one day and sputters the nest.

JM is certainly not on the level of BY, but he has shown real growth recently. His passing the past two weeks has exceeded my expectations. CNS believes he gives us the best chance to be successful and that is why he is the starter. It does make the games more exciting while at the same time it also scares the opposing coaches to death knowing that any play could go the distance thru the air or on the ground.

 

[deltatider]

To my untrained eye there are 4 areas that need improvement around Milroe/the QB position: 1) Milroe's accuracy, specifically in the short/intermediate throws, 2) Milroe properly reading a defense/knowing where to go with the ball, 3) The indecisiveness from Milroe when the pocket breaks down, and 4) the staff figuring out how to properly use Milroe...which I don't think has happened yet.

I think #2, #3, and #4 can improve as the season progresses...the question is will there be enough improvement to really make a difference. I'll have to defer to someone with a more technical understanding of the QB position for input on #1....I'm just not informed enough to know exactly what can be done to improve accuracy other than perhaps working on mechanics/footwork.

I think my biggest concern is #4...I'm worried that the staff is going to try to force a square peg into a circle with Milroe. I really hope we see more designed runs and rollouts against A&M to really take advantage of Milroe's athleticism to really put more pressure on the defense. A&M will have enough talent up front to hold their on, so we will really need to find ways to loosen that front 7 up so that they cannot load the box all night.

One thing to keep in mind though....Milroe did beat this A&M team last year in his only start..it wasn't pretty but it was a win.

 

[GrayTide]

Keep in mine it was at BDS last year, major difference from this coming Saturday. I am under no illusions other than he will continue to struggle this season.

 

[Cruloc]

To my untrained eye there are 4 areas that need improvement around Milroe/the QB position: 1) Milroe's accuracy, specifically in the short/intermediate throws, 2) Milroe properly reading a defense/knowing where to go with the ball, 3) The indecisiveness from Milroe when the pocket breaks down, and 4) the staff figuring out how to properly use Milroe...which I don't think has happened yet.

I think #2, #3, and #4 can improve as the season progresses...the question is will there be enough improvement to really make a difference. I'll have to defer to someone with a more technical understanding of the QB position for input on #1....I'm just not informed enough to know exactly what can be done to improve accuracy other than perhaps working on mechanics/footwork.

I think my biggest concern is #4...I'm worried that the staff is going to try to force a square peg into a circle with Milroe. I really hope we see more designed runs and rollouts against A&M to really take advantage of Milroe's athleticism to really put more pressure on the defense. A&M will have enough talent up front to hold their on, so we will really need to find ways to loosen that front 7 up so that they cannot load the box all night.

One thing to keep in mind though....Milroe did beat this A&M team last year in his only start..it wasn't pretty but it was a win.

Milroes mechanics are rough to watch, his feet are never set to throw. He's in his 3rd year and his mechanics being as bad as they are doesn't give me hope that it will change. It took Hurts sitting a year behind Tua to learn to be a QB.

 

[deltatider]

Milroes mechanics are rough to watch, his feet are never set to throw. He's in his 3rd year and his mechanics being as bad as they are doesn't give me hope that it will change. It took Hurts sitting a year behind Tua to learn to be a QB.

Is it his mechanics that cause his issues with accuracy?

 

[JDCrimson]

I just wished that Milroe and Simpson were playing, not just one. I think it would fix a lot of issues both with the operation of the offense and the locker room. We will need them both to realize any of our post season goals, imo.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

The situation is not optimal and I would still say it’s bad.

Jalen is mainly a 1 read QB, sometimes 2 read but absolutely never beyond that.

We will eventually meet another team that can straight shut down what he does well and force him to go past 2 reads and it’s going to be ugly.

He also takes BAD sacks and lost yardage because he WILL NOT throw the ball away.

Yeah 80% comp rate look great when he’s not throwing dead plays away and eating negative yardage because he’s having a mental breakdown.

Then we have done absolutely nothing to get Ty ready to come in a big game.

He is set up for failure and if he comes in and does well now it will be a surprise and a kudos to him for overcoming a bad situation.

I’m also still pretty dang salty about the politics on this team that had lead to the problem we are in with this QB situation.

We aren’t going to accomplish anything meaningful with a 1-2 read QB/RB that takes Bad sacks and throws horrific INT’s.

We also aren’t going to accomplish anything with a FR Backup that we’ve done Jack squat with in getting him ready for SEC play.

Bad… the situation is BAD.

Thank god for Steele and his Defense and Will Reichard. We will go where they take us.

 

[KrAzY3]

I will point out one thing that's worth noting.

According to Sagarin Alabama has faced the #7 SoS thus far.

If you are a team like Georgia, or Ohio State breaking in a new quarterback it sure is easier when your SoS is 98 or 63 respectively. So, some of what we're seeing should smooth itself out naturally.

The same goes for playing the backup by the way, if Alabama was playing an easier schedule then it would be easier to get them in as well, but they're not.

Just to give a point of reference, according to Sagarin no other top 10 team (he has Alabama #1 actually) has even played a top 20 schedule, except Texas (15) which of course played Alabama.

So yeah, things do look shaky but keep in mind this has very much been a trial by fire.

 

[Tidelines]

I just keep waiting for a WR mutiny situation to happen. They all came to Bama to be Devonta Smith. Charles Barkley called all of us Bama fans “ ungrateful brats. “ No Charles, we just don’t settle for mediocrity like your team does. When things aren’t right we speak our peace. Charles can go gloat Auburn almost beat UG.

 

[Cruloc]

Is it his mechanics that cause his issues with accuracy?

This is an old quote from Mike Leach, I'll leave right here.

"The biggest, which is hard to pinpoint, because it's kind of a collection (of things) is how good they do as far as elevating the players around them. But you start with are they accurate and do they make good decisions. If they can't do that, then you can't get past square one. They've got to be able to do that."