Because it is very, very rare that an athlete stays at the exact same place for half a season, given a lot of practices and game experience (which Tua had). They either get better or they get worse. Jalen regressed and it didn't happen over one game. It was a progression that we saw taking place as each game passed and more teams had tape on him. It's like sitting in a boat and deciding not to paddle anymore. Simply because you decide to stop rowing doesn't mean you stop moving. You are constantly in motion. Rarely and I mean rarely do you sit perfectly still. The same thing applies in sports. Rarely do you stay in the exact same place for very long.I am right there with you but I do have issue with this part? Why is it absurd to think Tua might not have made any progress during all those practices, when it is pretty clear than Jalen has made no progress, even regressed, over the last two years' worth of practice?
But the main point that I am trying to make is, it is not a given (like some are seemingly thinking) that Tua was in the exact same place in his development at midseason as he was in the NCG. It's purely speculation. Is it possible he was at the same developmental level? Certainly, but it isn't an absolute as some are trying to make it. No one really knows. Given the two (Daboll and Saban), whose opinion and judgement would you trust more? A coach whose won (at the time) 5 national titles and is considered to be THE best college coach to ever coach. Or a guy who couldn't consistently hold down an OC job in the NFL in his 18 years? It is so easy to take how the NCG ended and project the same level of play retroactively back into the regular season. I'm not saying it wouldn't have happened. I'm just saying it's not an absolute and people need to pump the breaks on how dogmatic they are about that viewpoint.