Spring Practice Thread/News/Predictions

[rolltide7854]

I remember those days...RP was described as a man who if he thought someone liked him he would go across the state to tick them off." I've never met a successful coach/person with more deficient people skills.

CKD has all of the skills it seems to me from this distance...

Joke I remember from back in those days.
Perkins was coming back to Alabama because he heard there was a person in Alabama he had ticked off and he was coming back just to tick him off.

 

[BamaMoon]

Someone asks what if JM wins the starter role ?

I'm fine with that because he will have done it under a whole new set of coaches' eyes and CKD is an offensive innovator and develops QBs.

But I don't think he'll win it sitting still and without improvement. If they all push each other and improve and Jalen still beats everyone out, I think it means he's going to be a lot better next year than this past year.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

Someone asks what if JM wins the starter role ?

I'm fine with that because he will have done it under a whole new set of coaches' eyes and CKD is an offensive innovator and develops QBs.

But I don't think he'll win it sitting still and without improvement. If they all push each other and improve and Jalen still beats everyone out, I think it means he's going to be a lot better next year than this past year.

I think the more interesting question is what if Mack or Ty wins the QB1 job?

Right now it feels like a vocal melt will happen because some have emotionally dug their heels in for the other option.

One way or the other I hope we know who is QB1 after A-Day because I’m not really looking forward to another QB comp dragging on all the way into the season.

 

[BamaMoon]

I think the more interesting question is what if Mack or Ty wins the QB1 job?

Right now it feels like a vocal melt will happen because some have emotionally dug their heels in for the other option.

One way or the other I hope we know who is QB1 after A-Day because I’m not really looking forward to another QB comp dragging on all the way into the season.

I've said it many times, BUT I JUST WANT THE QB WHO CAN RUN THE CKD OFFENSE THE BEST TO WIN IT.

Period.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I've said it many times, BUT I JUST WANT THE QB WHO CAN RUN THE CKD OFFENSE THE BEST TO WIN IT.

Period.

I agree.

Right now I think that means we’ll have a new QB1 and if I’m wrong that’s fine…I’ve been wrong before.

I just hope others are fine with being wrong too… because they might be.

 

[mlh]

I think the more interesting question is what if Mack or Ty wins the QB1 job?

Right now it feels like a vocal melt will happen because some have emotionally dug their heels in for the other option.

One way or the other I hope we know who is QB1 after A-Day because I’m not really looking forward to another QB comp dragging on all the way into the season.

I'm not sure we'll have a definite QB1 at the end of spring practices. But we will have a definite QB1 by the end of fall practices. I don't see CKD going into game 1 of the season with the QB position still in question.

 

[some_al_fan]

I think the more interesting question is what if Mack or Ty wins the QB1 job?

Don’t forget about Lonergan. He looked like the best QB during A-game last year and I am looking fwd to see him in A-game this year.

 

[Saban4Ever]

Someone asks what if JM wins the starter role ?

I'm fine with that because he will have done it under a whole new set of coaches' eyes and CKD is an offensive innovator and develops QBs.

But I don't think he'll win it sitting still and without improvement. If they all push each other and improve and Jalen still beats everyone out, I think it means he's going to be a lot better next year than this past year.

I think the more interesting question is what if Mack or Ty wins the QB1 job?

Right now it feels like a vocal melt will happen because some have emotionally dug their heels in for the other option.

One way or the other I hope we know who is QB1 after A-Day because I’m not really looking forward to another QB comp dragging on all the way into the season.

If the QB competition goes into Fall, then at least all 4 QB's will be on the roster until the season is over. We need at least 2 of them ready to play at any moment in case of an injury to someone.

I hope they all improve, and it doesn't matter to me who the starter is. I do think, however, if there is clear separation between whomever gets 1st team reps and others, that someone will transfer after A-Day. It is a new offense, so all of them except Austin Mack will need more time than just now until A-Day to learn the offense, I'd imagine. Obviously, Austin Mack won't transfer, so that leaves Jalen, Ty, and Dylan. I think Deboer will encourage all of them to stay until season is over and that the competition will go into August camp.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

If the QB competition goes into Fall, then at least all 4 QB's will be on the roster until the season is over. We need at least 2 of them ready to play at any moment in case of an injury to someone.

I hope they all improve, and it doesn't matter to me who the starter is. I do think, however, if there is clear separation between whomever gets 1st team reps and others, that someone will transfer after A-Day. It is a new offense, so all of them except Austin Mack will need more time than just now until A-Day to learn the offense, I'd imagine. Obviously, Austin Mack won't transfer, so that leaves Jalen, Ty, and Dylan. I think Deboer will encourage all of them to stay until season is over and that the competition will go into August camp.

At this point I’m completely over the whole Will they won’t they transfer crap and manipulations to try and keep somebody.

If anybody wants to leave because they aren’t QB1 after spring then you know what… Bye.

I extend that to every other position as well.

I’m past ready to get the softness and politics out the program.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

I think if was Ryan Fowler that tweeted he was told there was more energy at practice yesterday than some had observed in years.

More energy is a good thing.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

IIRC, the year after $cam we went down there and totally destroyed them. Seems like we had 42 on them at halftime and then CNS called off the dogs...

I want us to play with 'Fire In Our Eyes' for 60 minutes.
Let some other team call off the Dogs.
It's our job to beat them, and it's their job to stop us.
It's not running up the score if our 3-4th team players play hard and score.
I would like to see the attitude that 'If you can't stop us, be prepared to be embarrassed'.

 

[CajunCrimson]

IF Milroe wins the starting job, it will be interesting to see how the "Milroe isn't a QB" crowd reacts.

I wouldn’t choose him over any of the last 4 QBs we have had. Maybe not any starter we’ve ever had. Including Sims, McElroy or Coker. Because he isn’t a point guard. He wants to be the focal point of every play. That won’t consistently win championships

 

[davefrat]

I think the more interesting question is what if Mack or Ty wins the QB1 job?

Right now it feels like a vocal melt will happen because some have emotionally dug their heels in for the other option.

One way or the other I hope we know who is QB1 after A-Day because I’m not really looking forward to another QB comp dragging on all the way into the season.

I trust the coaches to pick who they think is the best fit to win the most games.

I'm not emotionally invested in any one player and I don't know enough to question what the coaches decide.

 

[davefrat]

I wouldn’t choose him over any of the last 4 QBs we have had. Maybe not any starter we’ve ever had. Including Sims, McElroy or Coker. Because he isn’t a point guard. He wants to be the focal point of every play. That won’t consistently win championships

I can't disagree. I would probably place Milroe behind all of them, including McElroy even with his limited physical tools.

Really makes you wonder what on earth happened over the last 3-4 years that we find ourselves in this QB wasteland relative to what we've had in the past.

Clearly we have done a poor job in recruiting and/or development.

What happened?

 

[colbysullivan]

What will be interesting is if people are focused on results on the field rather than agendas.

I can't speak for anyone else, but my criticism of Milroe is absolutely based on results on the field. I have no agenda. If he improves, great!

 

[Ledsteplin]

I can't disagree. I would probably place Milroe behind all of them, including McElroy even with his limited physical tools.

Really makes you wonder what on earth happened over the last 3-4 years that we find ourselves in this QB wasteland relative to what we've had in the past.

Clearly we have done a poor job in recruiting and/or development.

What happened?

The last 3 or 4 years? Mac Jones, Bryce Young, and Jalen Milroe. One National Championship, three SEC Championships. Three trips to the playoffs. But, yeah, it was a QB wasteland.

 

[davefrat]

The last 3 or 4 years? Mac Jones, Bryce Young, and Jalen Milroe. One National Championship, three SEC Championships. Three trips to the playoffs. But, yeah, it was a QB wasteland.

Bryce was with us during that time, but he was recruited before that 3-4 year window I'm referring to.

Mack was gone after the 2020 season.

Aside from Bryce who apparently thrived despite coaching, we've really done a poor job in setting the position up after his departure.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I can't disagree. I would probably place Milroe behind all of them, including McElroy even with his limited physical tools.

Really makes you wonder what on earth happened over the last 3-4 years that we find ourselves in this QB wasteland relative to what we've had in the past.

Clearly we have done a poor job in recruiting and/or development.

What happened?

QB is a hard position to project from HS to college, especially if the college is in the SEC. So some of the current issue isn't a function of recruiting -- Ty Simpson was a 5-star recruit. Milroe was a 4. I'm not 100% sure, but I think Tyler Buchner was also a 5. I know that several posters have said that we wanted him coming out of high school.

Simpson has struggled with just letting the game flow. Milroe has struggled with decision-making and short to medium passing accuracy. Buchner just didn't have it.

Development has definitely been an issue, pointing a finger directly at O'Brien. I don't think we had any QB get better under him. Bryce Young might have regressed from his Heisman sophomore season to his junior year.

I'd also not overlook the OL. It's hard for any QB to go through his reads if there's a DL in his grill before he gets his feet set.

OL is also hard to project from HS to college. But we had 5 and high 4 stars all over the place, and after 2020 (under Landon Dickerson's leadership) haven't put together anything approaching coherence. Some bad luck recruiting, but Marrone had a lot to do with the lack of development. Even with the difficulty in projecting performance, we should have been better than we were.

Short answer: I think the core cause of our QB problems is lack of development of both QBs and OL, resting with O'Brien and Marrone. Some misses in recruiting aggravated the issue, but they weren't the primary cause.

 

[jthomas666]

IIRC, the year after $cam we went down there and totally destroyed them. Seems like we had 42 on them at halftime and then CNS called off the dogs...

I was screaming "HANG A HUNDRED ON 'EM" in the second half. Deeply disappointing...

 

[davefrat]

QB is a hard position to project from HS to college, especially if the college is in the SEC. So some of the current issue isn't a function of recruiting -- Ty Simpson was a 5-star recruit. Milroe was a 4. I'm not 100% sure, but I think Tyler Buchner was also a 5. I know that several posters have said that we wanted him coming out of high school.

Simpson has struggled with just letting the game flow. Milroe has struggled with decision-making and short to medium passing accuracy. Buchner just didn't have it.

Development has definitely been an issue, pointing a finger directly at O'Brien. I don't think we had any QB get better under him. Bryce Young might have regressed from his Heisman sophomore season to his junior year.

I'd also not overlook the OL. It's hard for any QB to go through his reads if he has a DL in his grill before he gets his feet set.

OL is also hard to project from HS to college. But we had 5 and high 4 stars all over the place, and after 2020 (under Landon Dickerson's leadership) haven't put together anything approaching coherence. Some bad luck recruiting, but Marrone had a lot to do with the lack of development. Even with the difficulty in projecting performance, we should have been better than we were.

Short answer: I think the core cause of our QB problems is lack of development, both of QBs and OL, resting with O'Brien and Marrone.

Combine that with the amount of talent we wasted on Defense over the same time period with Zach Galifiniakas running the show and it's pretty amazing we were as successful as we were during that stretch.