Alabama: Fall Practice Reports

[Power Eye]

I have no idea which QB gives us the better chance this season, but in the very limited play we have seen from both, it seems like both QBs have a higher ceiling than Ty Simpson. They both have better arms. As far as the intangibles, I don't know how anyone outside the team would have any opinion or knowledge of that at this point.

I think at times it's easy to get excited about the young player who was the #2 recruit two years ago, but Austin Mack was a top 100 recruit in his own right. In my opinion, once you are on campus, your recruiting ranking doesn't mean anything. I just wonder how much of the Russell starting QB presumption stems from him being the #2 overall recruit, and not just from the Alabama fanbase but from the media as well. I don't doubt that Russell is excellent, I just think Mack might be just as excellent or even more so.

This might age like warm milk given that there is a scrimmage tomorrow, but I am starting to think Mack is going to be the starter.

 

[AWRTR]

I have no idea which QB gives us the better chance this season, but in the very limited play we have seen from both, it seems like both QBs have a higher ceiling than Ty Simpson. They both have better arms. As far as the intangibles, I don't know how anyone outside the team would have any opinion or knowledge of that at this point.

I think at times it's easy to get excited about the young player who was the #2 recruit two years ago, but Austin Mack was a top 100 recruit in his own right. In my opinion, once you are on campus, your recruiting ranking doesn't mean anything. I just wonder how much of the Russell starting QB presumption stems from him being the #2 overall recruit, and not just from the Alabama fanbase but from the media as well. I don't doubt that Russell is excellent, I just think Mack might be just as excellent or even more so.

This might age like warm milk given that there is a scrimmage tomorrow, but I am starting to think Mack is going to be the starter.

I think most of the hype for Russell is from A-Day. He did look the part on quite a few throws and seemed to have pretty good awareness in and outside the pocket. I think most leaning towards him expect him to be even better with another summer and fall camp under his belt. Time will tell.....

 

[CrimsonTitles]

I have zero information just giving my opinion. But the longer we ask Russell to "sit", the more it is going to cost us in NIL money. I could be completely off base, but if the plan is to sit him this season again, I suspect he and his agent approached the staff and said "it's going to cost you". If they didn't, then he doesn't have a very good agent. #whatwouldjimmysextondo

I'm sure it would bc schools are always tampering, but it's gonna cost us more regardless. I don't know what he's making, but I do know it's only a fraction of what he's going to command if he wins the job and balls out. All these QBs are here at a discount over what they'd be making at other schools, so I don't think he's making starter money yet, at least from us. I'm sure he has outside NIL deals too, that make it a lot easier for him to take a discount.

 

[CrimsonTitles]

I have no idea which QB gives us the better chance this season, but in the very limited play we have seen from both, it seems like both QBs have a higher ceiling than Ty Simpson. They both have better arms. As far as the intangibles, I don't know how anyone outside the team would have any opinion or knowledge of that at this point.

I think at times it's easy to get excited about the young player who was the #2 recruit two years ago, but Austin Mack was a top 100 recruit in his own right. In my opinion, once you are on campus, your recruiting ranking doesn't mean anything. I just wonder how much of the Russell starting QB presumption stems from him being the #2 overall recruit, and not just from the Alabama fanbase but from the media as well. I don't doubt that Russell is excellent, I just think Mack might be just as excellent or even more so.

This might age like warm milk given that there is a scrimmage tomorrow, but I am starting to think Mack is going to be the starter.

And to your point, Austin would likely have been a 5* had he not reclassified. I could be wrong, but I wanna say I read that he actually was a 5* in the next year:s class before the reclass.

 

[BamaMoon]

I have zero information just giving my opinion. But the longer we ask Russell to "sit", the more it is going to cost us in NIL money. I could be completely off base, but if the plan is to sit him this season again, I suspect he and his agent approached the staff and said "it's going to cost you". If they didn't, then he doesn't have a very good agent. #whatwouldjimmysextondo

I have no idea which QB gives us the better chance this season, but in the very limited play we have seen from both, it seems like both QBs have a higher ceiling than Ty Simpson. They both have better arms. As far as the intangibles, I don't know how anyone outside the team would have any opinion or knowledge of that at this point.

I think at times it's easy to get excited about the young player who was the #2 recruit two years ago, but Austin Mack was a top 100 recruit in his own right. In my opinion, once you are on campus, your recruiting ranking doesn't mean anything. I just wonder how much of the Russell starting QB presumption stems from him being the #2 overall recruit, and not just from the Alabama fanbase but from the media as well. I don't doubt that Russell is excellent, I just think Mack might be just as excellent or even more so.

This might age like warm milk given that there is a scrimmage tomorrow, but I am starting to think Mack is going to be the starter.

All good points. NIL is a new reality we are all trying to make sense of.

Only disagreement I guess, is with this: "In my opinion, once you are on campus, your recruiting ranking doesn't mean anything." I think NIL does change this some as Buzzard eluded to.

Russell is getting paid a lot of money...how much I don't know, but I'm sure it's at least 1 million. I'm not sure what Mack makes but I can't imagine it's that much sense he came with Deboer from Washington.

I'm not sure how this relates to "when" you play somebody...but my fear with Russell is if he doesn't play this year, I don't think he'll be around next year with the money he could command in transferring in the portal.

As bad as I hate to admit it, money has to be taken into consideration in these decisions now. I don't like it, but it is what it is.

BTW, my comments above only apply if Russell is equally able to run the offense, with the understanding his upside is really, really high. I don't think you ever play a player who is inferior because of NIL agreements.

 

[Cruiser]

this article puts him in the 1.3 million range; and a new Benz for Mom. Bet he got a good deal on the Benz.

$1.3 Million Quarterback Makes Major NIL Move Before Freshman Season at Alabama

Keelon Russell gifts mom Mercedes-Benz using NIL earnings at Alabama.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[CrimsonTitles]

this article puts him in the 1.3 million range; and a new Benz for Mom. Get he got a good deal on the Benz.

$1.3 Million Quarterback Makes Major NIL Move Before Freshman Season at Alabama

Keelon Russell gifts mom Mercedes-Benz using NIL earnings at Alabama.

sports.yahoo.com

I wonder what that number is, because our NIL figures are a closely guarded secret. I've heard only Kalen DeBoer, Courtney Morgan, and maybe 1 or 2 other people maximum, know our actual NIL numbers. That being said, $1.3 million is in the ballpark of what i figured he was probably making, so who knows?

 

[BamaMoon]

I wonder what that number is, because our NIL figures are a closely guarded secret. I've heard only Kalen DeBoer, Courtney Morgan, and maybe 1 or 2 other people maximum, know our actual NIL numbers. That being said, $1.3 million is in the ballpark of what i figured he was probably making, so who knows?

Just saw on another board we are paying the DL from USC 1 million. Again, don't know if it's true.

 

[CrimsonTitles]

Just saw on another board we are paying the DL from USC 1 million. Again, don't know if it's true.

I'd imagine its probably somewhere in the ballpark. Not really sure what the going rate for a defensive lineman is, but I know $1.3 million is an absolute steal for a QB of Russell's caliber. Keelon will probably make at least 3 or 4 if he wins the job and balls out. I heard he was offered like $6 million to transfer, so we're getting a pretty hefty discount regardless of what the number is.

 

[arthurdawg]

With the two freshmen we have in camp and the ones signed... I'd go with Russell and let him play his two years before he heads to the NFL. Then let the best of that 4 take over. Good succession.

Find Austin a place for next year that he can start at and possibly get a shot.

We will see what happens though, we are only on injury away from it all changing...

 

[Bama Lee]

Who here thinks either Mack or Russell can lead us to a 10 win regular season?

I really can’t answer until I see both play. Russell played here in Dallas at duncanville. I went to several of his games. He is special. I need to see Mack play better

 

[mlh]

I'd imagine its probably somewhere in the ballpark. Not really sure what the going rate for a defensive lineman is, but I know $1.3 million is an absolute steal for a QB of Russell's caliber. Keelon will probably make at least 3 or 4 if he wins the job and balls out. I heard he was offered like $6 million to transfer, so we're getting a pretty hefty discount regardless of what the number is.

This is insane. Not your Daddy's college football.

 

[Ledsteplin]

I understand the logic and promise I'm not trying to stump the teacher. And I'm certainly no Milroe apologist. But I truly don't understand how Milroe was responsible for so many low snaps. Low to the point of rolling back.

There's no doubt McLaughlin's year in Columbus was far more successful than his time in Tuscaloosa. But I'd love to know what, specifically, was different for Seth at tOSU. If the answer is no Milroe, what specifically was Milroe was doing to disrupt Seth?

Offensive line coach issues?

 

[bamaga]

With respect to our center being too light is 100% correct. He was often times a couple of yards deep in our backfield on run plays. Cole Cubelic, of the morning drive WJOX program, could do nothing but talk about what a great player Brailsford was but I couldn’t see it. We went into the portal and signed a center that’s pretty much the same size. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t see this monster ground attack that we long for. But with the Air Raid offense, we should have known and been ready to accept it.
PS: I laugh every time I tune in to Mc and Cube and they’re off. The PTO those guys have is UNBELIEVABLE .

Delgatty is 6-3 305. The average size of a starting center in the NFL is 6-3 308. Seth McLaughlin is 6-4, 304. Ryan Kelly, All American, All Pro playing size was 6-3 307.
I don’t see his size as a problem with a good running game.

 

[bamaga]

Offensive line coach issues?

I’ve said this before. We had 3 lineman drafted, 2 signed UDFA contracts, 4 transferred and listed as starters in early camp depth charts at P4 programs (Alinen,Ionata,Debose,Formby) . Coaching, S&C, Nutrition program. Something wasn’t right, and it wasn’t just the talent.

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

Scrimmage Thursday, right?

Interested to see what speculation comes from that!

 

[arthurdawg]

I’ve said this before. We had 3 lineman drafted, 2 signed UDFA contracts, 4 transferred and listed as starters in early camp depth charts at P4 programs (Alinen,Ionata,Debose,Formby) . Coaching, S&C, Nutrition program. Something wasn’t right, and it wasn’t just the talent.

Agreed. Will be interesting to see how those 4 do over the season. It didn’t feel like we pushed hard to keep them.

Brailsford weighed 289 at the combo but didn’t seem that heavy when playing for us.

 

[Ledsteplin]

Nothing against Austin Mack, like many have said, we can win with either one, but if Mack has been in this system for four years and took say 25% first team reps last season, and Grubb says it's even right now, I believe that means Keelon is the guy,just my opinion

CKD said during Spring, that Mack was light years better than last year. I think after following Penix, Milroe, and Simpson, he saw his chance to start. And has worked hard toward that.

 

[CrimsonTitles]

CKD said during Spring, that Mack was light years better than last year. I think after following Penix, Milroe, and Simpson, he saw his chance to start. And has worked hard toward that.

I think we were spoiled with Tua and Bryce Into thinking that all the best QBs are just gonna be ready right away, and that if it takes them a minute, it's never gonna happen. I would say the majority of QBs take several years to develop, sometimes it takes all 4 years. We also gotta remember Mack reclassified is only 8 or 9 months older than Russell. He was also considered more of a raw talent, so it was always gonna take a few years. I expect him to be a thing at some point, whether it be for us this year, or next year for someone else.

 

[CrimsonTitles]

Scrimmage Thursday, right?

Interested to see what speculation comes from that!

We should at least have a speculative favorite, I would think. They probably won't name a starter, but I bet someone has a better game than the other, and becomes the frontrunner in the eyes of the media/fans. Then again, it also wouldn't shock me if Coach Grubb basically names one in the press conference like last year. I don't think that'll happen, but I also wouldn't be surprised if it does.