1: This might be a little controversial, but when discussing the situation at quarterback I'd have to use plural when assigning blame. That the problem wasn't just a player, but players. When you use words like "revolt", it is an issue. I'm ok with how things played out in the end, but that was Saban's choice to make. Players can't possibly grasp the implications like Saban can. Even if they were right this time, what if they're wrong the next time? You can have an opinion without being insubordinate, if anyone should learn the difference it would be me.
Replying to some....
First and foremost I agree wholeheartedly with your last comment - you can disagree with out being insubordinate. I hope it was never actually close to any sort of real "revolt", and this was simply Hagan making a point.
But - and I say this knowing it will be controversial....
I’ve been a fan of Jalen Hurts, and will continue to be so – because (A) he’s a great person, and (B) I’m a fan of EVERY young man who wears the Crimson jersey! And (C) he's played extremely well for UA at times.
But frankly, I’ve said for two years that the decision to pick Jalen over Blake Barnett (and exclusively so) was a mistake from the get go. IMO, it was likely based on our coaches (Saban and probably Kiffin as well) being “Snake Charmed” by Watson in the 2015 NC game, and Saban having been Snake BITTEN by $Cam KNEWton in 2010 and Nick Marshal in 2013.
That, and the fact that BB was a cocky west coast kid and not well liked, whereas Jalen was and is a very well liked by his teammates. Still, the potential was there. Had BB gotten the PT and the undivided attention of the coaches, he had the potential to be a better, more effective version of AJ McCarron. Flame away.
2: "It's not about what Hurts can't do as much as what Tua can do"
I'd tend to agree with that. Tua can run Daboll's offense well. I wasn't a big fan of Daboll's offense, I'm still not sure I am, but that sort of stuff plays into what Tua can do. Hurts is better for a different style offense, I still think he can win a lot of games at QB, and the guy managed 2,780 yards passing as a true freshman. He either needs more time to develop or a different style offense.
Agree completely. Jalen is an IMMENSELY talented young man, and a great human being! It is not indictment of Jalen's character that he hasn't (yet) been able to master a skill that perhaps fewer than 100 people on this planet possess, and that's reading defenses and making accurate throws to second or third routes in a split second while under intense pressure from a strong rush.
Jalen has become a very good QB - when he has a clean pocket AND time. He's very effective in those situations. Unfortunately, aub and UGa both figured out that he can't function as a passer when pressured IF you also contain his scrambling. That scheme would be the blueprint for every defense Jalen will (or would have) face(d) the rest of his time as our QB.
And not to be ugly about it, but a big part of those 2016 passing yards were jet sweeps, which are recorded as Passes in the stats. Just sayin' .....
3: Not a fan of Smart
With the way the transfer stuff played out, I was already done with Smart. The recruiting board thing just solidified that. There's a right way to do things and a wrong way. Smart did it the wrong way and I wonder how long he can get by on that sort of behavior.
Agree completely.
All I can say is, Karma's a funny thing sometimes. Who ever thought Jim "the Senator" Tressel (with his phony "Mr. Clean" public persona) would ever be caught? And yet - he was.....