Toggle sidebar

Is Tua playing scared? Is he playing emotionally hurt?

CajunCrimson

CajunCrimson

Moderator (FB,BB) and Vinyl Enthusiast
Staff member
Mar 13, 2001
29,652
27,503
537
Breaux Bridge, La
We all started noticing the change in play after the first time his knee was hurt. It just happened to come at a time when the defenses started ramping up. Passes high, scared to run.... but then once the game got going you could see him relax, and zone in

But yesterday, he wasn’t smiling. Didn’t look happy. I saw it early in the first half. No celebrating really after the TDs. Very serious during the game.

That (to me) says....it’s one of three things

1. Physical pain
2. Feels let down by the team (maybe a lack of concern re injury)
3. Fear that he is letting the team down.

Jalen not being there may be playing a role in this. Not sure.

But his face told a different story yesterday.
 
Its kinda hard to be a confident passer when you have defensive tackles and linebackers bursting through the line. Just ask Brady in SB 42.
 
CajunCrimson said:
We all started noticing the change in play after the first time his knee was hurt. It just happened to come at a time when the defenses started ramping up. Passes high, scared to run.... but then once the game got going you could see him relax, and zone in

But yesterday, he wasn’t smiling. Didn’t look happy. I saw it early in the first half. No celebrating really after the TDs. Very serious during the game.

That (to me) says....it’s one of three things

1. Physical pain
2. Feels let down by the team (maybe a lack of concern re injury)
3. Fear that he is letting the team down.
The
Jalen not being there may be playing a role in this. Not sure.

But his face told a different story yesterday.
Click to expand...


I agree, It’s not just the stats, he looks different on the field. I believe it is a combination of several things. Moving around in the pocket , running was part of his game when he was at his best. Also , his plant foot. His follow through has been affected. He seems to not have the same confidence , especially on the downfield throws and that has a lot to do with the plant leg. The defense has been better of late, but his accuracy isn’t the same, even with a clean pocket. When he throws deep, he loads up , then throws. By comparison, against Georgia, he threw that 46 yard frozen rope by turning and slinging it.
 
Last edited:
I think that he forgot that football is hard. He had it so easy for so much of the season that he simply faced no adversity. He has faced some the last 2 weeks. He is still winning. He'll be fine.
 
I believe Tua is certainly frustrated. That knee injury is limiting him significantly. But Tua at 60-70% is better than most at full speed. I believe that is what Saban, Locksley and Enos need to get into his head.
MSU’s d-line and our o line play had a role in that frustration last night. But Tua in some situations held onto the ball far too long instead of take a check down or throwing it away. You can’t always hit the home run. Sometimes you have to take the single or even bunt.
 
B1GTide said:
I think that he forgot that football is hard. He had it so easy for so much of the season that he simply faced no adversity. He has faced some the last 2 weeks. He is still winning. He'll be fine.
Click to expand...

Adversity might be what the Dr. ordered for him...............goes along with the old saying "The strongest steel is forged in the hottest fire". I think he and his family both know about the adversity facing him, and look for him to redouble his efforts. And I agree with CB4..............take the single if its there..............then the homer when it comes
 
I am beginning to not buy into "the knee's fine" answer to the question at every press conference. I'm now believing it's something like we've seen in the past: some sort of injury that will be revealed after the season is over, but is being dealt with and attempting to play through it for the rest of the season.
 
I think he's fine mentally other than being frustrated with the brace in general.

He was just super focused last night trying to get the Offense back on track. Unfortunately the O-Line and RB's didn't block very well and he took way too many hits.

So that probably also led to frustration that he didn't have a clean pocket very much..... his mobility is limited as it is and he's having to still try and spin and run around to get passes off.....

He's probably seeing ghosts a bit too after the amount of hits he's taken the last two weeks..... and especially those dirty pieces of garbage taking cheap shots at him trying to end his career.

I thought under the circumstances he played about as well as possible...... he was taking the underneath stuff and finished 14 of 21 (66%) for 164 yards in 3 qtrs. despite having almost no protection.

I know he's not 'scared'. He's a freaking warrior. He's been playing with an injured knee for 4+ games now. His particular injury will only fully heal with weeks of rest that he's not going to be fortunate enough to have until the season's over.

Long story short he's not physically fine..... but he's gutting it out.

He is fine mentally/emotionally imo.
 
tusks_n_raider said:
I think he's fine mentally other than being frustrated with the brace in general.

He was just super focused last night trying to get the Offense back on track. Unfortunately the O-Line and RB's didn't block very well and he took way too many hits.

So that probably also led to frustration that he didn't have a clean pocket very much..... his mobility is limited as it is and he's having to still try and spin and run around to get passes off.....

He's probably seeing ghosts a bit too after the amount of hits he's taken the last two weeks..... and especially those dirty pieces of garbage taking cheap shots at him trying to end his career.

I thought under the circumstances he played about as well as possible...... he was taking the underneath stuff and finished 14 of 21 (66%) for 164 yards in 3 qtrs. despite having almost no protection.

I know he's not 'scared'. He's a freaking warrior. He's been playing with an injured knee for 4+ games now. His particular injury will only fully heal with weeks of rest that he's not going to be fortunate enough to have until the season's over.

Long story short he's not physically fine..... but he's gutting it out.

He is fine mentally/emotionally imo.
Click to expand...

I agree with your post. He is a warrior physically, mentally. He is also a prayer warrior. I love that about him and his family. I pray for his protection and all the players every game.

It is just so frustrating to see other teams trying to hurt him on purpose. Bama has the best offense and best QB in many years, and yet the injury bug keeps lingering (this time at QB and offense instead of defense). It would be nice to have a season with no major injuries on either side of the ball. I really don't think Bama can beat UGA, Clemson or Michigan without Tua.
 
bamaltc said:
I am beginning to not buy into "the knee's fine" answer to the question at every press conference. I'm now believing it's something like we've seen in the past: some sort of injury that will be revealed after the season is over, but is being dealt with and attempting to play through it for the rest of the season.
Click to expand...

That knee isn't "fine". However I don't believe the medical staff (nor the coaching staff) would be putting him in a situation of risking long term, permanent damage by playing him. My guess is that Tua probably has some cartilage damage (meniscus) and will need to be scoped and cleaned up at some point. Assuming we make it to the CFP, then a decision would need to be made if they could get it done and get him ready after the SECCG and before first playoff game.
 
Last edited:
Personally I think the knee is worse than what is being let on by Saban and Tua. As Danielson said, CNS keeps saying each week it's fine yet the first time a play occurs that his knee is stressed he begins wincing in pain and many times goes into the tent. I'm beginning to question whether he will be able to actually make it through the playoffs if we get in. There's no doubt it's having an impact on his accuracy. I also saw an offense playing like it had clinched yesterday as well. Yeah, I'll get Miss St some credit, but I saw a very scaled down version of our offense and I also saw a lack of intensity and urgency in the offense as well. The defense on the other hand showed up and showed out because they had a personal goal of another shutout and they got it.
 
People who seemed to know posted that it was a torn meniscus last month. That makes sense.
He's dealing with the pain and bad hits. Wish he'd learn to throw the ball away.
 
There is no question that the knee has something to do with his performance. Also, not having Jalen right now is hurting us as well. I’m hoping we can limit Tua next week if not all together. Also, Brown needs to be rested so we can get through two tough games (Auburn and Georgia)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
The problem yesterday was obvious. Tua can't handle cold weather. I mean, after all, he's from Hawaii. When the temperature gets below 70, he's just not effective.
 
Tide&True said:
There is no question that the knee has something to do with his performance. Also, not having Jalen right now is hurting us as well. I’m hoping we can limit Tua next week if not all together. Also, Brown needs to be rested so we can get through two tough games (Auburn and Georgia)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

If we don't have Jalen back next Saturday we should have 50-75 rushing attempts and call it good. I don't care if we only win 12-0. Tua doesn't need anymore stress on his knee than need be.
 
CB4 said:
But Tua in some situations held onto the ball far too long instead of take a check down or throwing it away. You can’t always hit the home run. Sometimes you have to take the single or even bunt.
Click to expand...

I agree. There were plays when Tua should have just chucked it out of bounds and lived to play anotherh down. When d-linemen are all around him and he is trying to duck and juke to keep the play alive and ended up getting hit is awkward ways by three linement who outweighed him by 400 pounds. I wish he would learn that, sometimes, the defense just wins. We are going to need him on the next play, and in the next quarter and in the next game.
 
Chechem said:
People who seemed to know posted that it was a torn meniscus last month. That makes sense.
He's dealing with the pain and bad hits. Wish he'd learn to throw the ball away.
Click to expand...

That's not true. He doesn't have... nor did he have have a tear. He's dealing with a 'Strain'.

He just needs rest. From everything I've heard he can finish the season the way things are but the closest he will be to 80-90% will be after the break between the SECCG and the Semi-final.
 
tusks_n_raider said:
That's not true. He doesn't have... nor did he have have a tear. He's dealing with a 'Strain'.

He just needs rest. From everything I've heard he can finish the season the way things are but the closest he will be to 80-90% will be after the break between the SECCG and the Semi-final.
Click to expand...

This is correct. Only way it will heal is with 3 to 4 weeks of rest, which bodes well for the playoff assuming we handle Boogs and Puppies while Tua's still gimpy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Posts

Advertisement

Trending content

Advertisement

Latest threads

Top Bottom
Back