Started By
Message
re: Let's rank the starting QBs of the Saban Era...
Posted on 8/1/21 at 5:48 pm to RollTide1987
Posted on 8/1/21 at 5:48 pm to RollTide1987
Mac Jones (2019-2020) - Undefeated season, wire to wire, and was immaculate and instrumental in the offense.
AJ McCarron (2011-2013) - Won 2 and almost played for a third. He may deserve first but Mac was otherworldly.
Tua Tagovailoa (2018-2019) - gave us the single greatest moment in Alabama history, and probably the greatest half. His subsequent years were spectacular and full of hopes and promise, but ultimately disappointing given the expectations.
Jacob Coker (2015) - Won a 'ship. The rollout TD pass over Auburn was as good as it gets. Tough son of a bitch and I would take him any day.
Jalen Hurts (2016-2017) - I could slot Sims and GMAC above Hurts, but the story is just too good. He was tough as hell and early on tough to rattle. He just didn't develop fast enough and that caught up to us against Clemson and against UGA, two years in a row. Still, him coming in to relieve Tua was bad arse.
Blake Sims (2014)- waited his turn and lit it up. Probably should have won it all. Hard to put him ahead of other championship winners, but I'd pick him off the bench over any of the rest.
Greg McElroy (2009-2010) - won the ship, had a great moment in the SECCG, ultimately was a bit of a liability in the championship (I know, we were being conservative and he had cracked ribs). There was something a little off about the leadership in 2010, though--that team shouldn't have fell off like it did, getting embarrassed at USC and at home with Auburn.
John Parker Wilson (2007-2008) - last, but not hate. Just doesn't have the resume. 2008 remains one of my favorite teams. We snapped a lot of losing streaks that year. This was the "make his arse quit" year. So close with Florida...otherwise, what might have been?
AJ McCarron (2011-2013) - Won 2 and almost played for a third. He may deserve first but Mac was otherworldly.
Tua Tagovailoa (2018-2019) - gave us the single greatest moment in Alabama history, and probably the greatest half. His subsequent years were spectacular and full of hopes and promise, but ultimately disappointing given the expectations.
Jacob Coker (2015) - Won a 'ship. The rollout TD pass over Auburn was as good as it gets. Tough son of a bitch and I would take him any day.
Jalen Hurts (2016-2017) - I could slot Sims and GMAC above Hurts, but the story is just too good. He was tough as hell and early on tough to rattle. He just didn't develop fast enough and that caught up to us against Clemson and against UGA, two years in a row. Still, him coming in to relieve Tua was bad arse.
Blake Sims (2014)- waited his turn and lit it up. Probably should have won it all. Hard to put him ahead of other championship winners, but I'd pick him off the bench over any of the rest.
Greg McElroy (2009-2010) - won the ship, had a great moment in the SECCG, ultimately was a bit of a liability in the championship (I know, we were being conservative and he had cracked ribs). There was something a little off about the leadership in 2010, though--that team shouldn't have fell off like it did, getting embarrassed at USC and at home with Auburn.
John Parker Wilson (2007-2008) - last, but not hate. Just doesn't have the resume. 2008 remains one of my favorite teams. We snapped a lot of losing streaks that year. This was the "make his arse quit" year. So close with Florida...otherwise, what might have been?
1
Posted on 8/1/21 at 6:58 pm to Grievous Angel
I like it, but would change the Hurts-Sims-Gmac order to GMAC-Hurts-Sims.
It is literally splitting hairs in that group, but GMAC got the job done and did what he needed to not lose games and make things happen.
Hurts may be my fave of the whole group from a personal respect and admiration standpoint. But, his one-sided game at the time limited UA. He seemed to either develop more at OU (experience and reps also helped as he was a true fresh and true So starter at Bama) and/or been given broader playback. He is a tremendous talent and great example of a teammate. Love everything about him.
Sims was awesome. So much energy, passion, talent, and team focused effort. He was a pure athlete. His year at QB was very special. He outperformed all expectations and nearly got Bama to another title.
People can say what they want, but Bama has been blessed at QB position to get the right talent/leader for what the team needed at the time.
It's been a tremendous time under Saban. I can't wait to see what Young and Milroe will do.
It is literally splitting hairs in that group, but GMAC got the job done and did what he needed to not lose games and make things happen.
Hurts may be my fave of the whole group from a personal respect and admiration standpoint. But, his one-sided game at the time limited UA. He seemed to either develop more at OU (experience and reps also helped as he was a true fresh and true So starter at Bama) and/or been given broader playback. He is a tremendous talent and great example of a teammate. Love everything about him.
Sims was awesome. So much energy, passion, talent, and team focused effort. He was a pure athlete. His year at QB was very special. He outperformed all expectations and nearly got Bama to another title.
People can say what they want, but Bama has been blessed at QB position to get the right talent/leader for what the team needed at the time.
It's been a tremendous time under Saban. I can't wait to see what Young and Milroe will do.
Posted on 8/1/21 at 7:20 pm to Che Boludo
I would like to are McCarron get an actual chance in the NFL. I think he would have been better than people expected.
Posted on 8/1/21 at 7:36 pm to Remiden
quote:
would like to are McCarron get an actual chance in the NFL. I think he would have been better than people expected.
There is a lot of luck, timing, and circumstance tied up in NFL QB opportunities and success. It just never really came together for him at any stop.
That said, getting near a decade drawing NFL QB pay checks as a backup isn't a bad way to make a living. Making money and staying healthy.
Posted on 8/1/21 at 8:54 pm to RollTide1987
1. Mac
2. Tua
3. AJ
4. Coker
5. Blake
6. John Parker
7. Jalen
8. Greg
9. Bateman
10. Barnett
2. Tua
3. AJ
4. Coker
5. Blake
6. John Parker
7. Jalen
8. Greg
9. Bateman
10. Barnett
Posted on 8/1/21 at 9:06 pm to SummerOfGeorge
Posted on 8/1/21 at 9:33 pm to Bama Bird
quote:
Edit: lots of downvotes with no comments. I'm more than happy to defend this
How can you defend that which is indefensible?
Posted on 8/1/21 at 9:46 pm to RollTide1987
Not gonna make a list. Just gonna State that Jake Coker will always be my favorite qb of the Saban era
Posted on 8/1/21 at 11:44 pm to harmonics
Once a play broke down Ol Coker would get to bucking around like a fricken angry bull... opposing LBs and safeties found out the hard way they better bring it or Jake would gore that arse. Haha. Saw plenty of chinstraps get adjusted after tackling ol Coker. Always made me laugh... there was something kinda clumsy about it, but he damn sure would meet defenders in the hole and punish'em.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 12:16 am to PowHound
I just loved his progression as the year went on. Early in the season he was very inconsistent and seemed to not be able to hit the deep ball on PA passes. By the end he was out dueling Deshaun Watson for a national title. Didn't hurt that he had Derrick Henry in the holster haha. I just love that 2015 team in general I guess.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 12:34 am to RollTide1987
Gmac & Hurts near the bottom
Posted on 8/2/21 at 1:50 am to Eli Goldfinger
Aight. I have a hot take.
Spencer fricking Pennington over ALL these scrubs.
Spencer fricking Pennington over ALL these scrubs.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 6:49 am to FleshEatingSalsa
Okay, okay.... I'll move Star Jackson to #21. Put down the pitchforks
Posted on 8/2/21 at 7:32 am to UASports23
quote:
Spencer fricking Pennington over ALL these scrubs.
Lol. I wonder what his ceiling could have been in a Saban run structure with top flight coaching,facilities, trainers, and talent all around him.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 7:36 am to RollTide1987
Instead of ranking them, I'll put them into tiers, because honestly, it's hard to separate the top 3.
Tier 1 - Tua, Mac, and McCarron. An argument can be made for all 3 being the best ever for Bama. Tua is easily the most talented but his injuries and gunslinger mentality held him back a little, IMO.
Tier 2 - Coker, Sims, Hurts, McElroy. All had pretty significant deficiencies in one area or another, but all were mentally tough gamers that could get a big play when one was needed.
Tier 3 - Wilson. A servicable QB, but hampered by a subpar roster his one season as QB in the Saban era. Had he played at a different time, possible a tier 2 QB.
Tier 4 - Barnett and Bateman. Really just an incomplete grade. Neither played enough significant minutes to really grade.
Tier 1 - Tua, Mac, and McCarron. An argument can be made for all 3 being the best ever for Bama. Tua is easily the most talented but his injuries and gunslinger mentality held him back a little, IMO.
Tier 2 - Coker, Sims, Hurts, McElroy. All had pretty significant deficiencies in one area or another, but all were mentally tough gamers that could get a big play when one was needed.
Tier 3 - Wilson. A servicable QB, but hampered by a subpar roster his one season as QB in the Saban era. Had he played at a different time, possible a tier 2 QB.
Tier 4 - Barnett and Bateman. Really just an incomplete grade. Neither played enough significant minutes to really grade.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 7:44 am to Che Boludo
quote:
Spencer fricking Pennington over ALL these scrubs.
Lol. I wonder what his ceiling could have been in a Saban run structure with top flight coaching,facilities, trainers, and talent all around him.
As bad as, if not worse than, Cooper Bateman. Probably worse to be honest. He was significantly worse than JPW, and JPW is the worst full time starter Saban has had.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 8:13 am to harmonics
quote:
I just loved his progression as the year went on. Early in the season he was very inconsistent and seemed to not be able to hit the deep ball on PA passes. By the end he was out dueling Deshaun Watson for a national title. Didn't hurt that he had Derrick Henry in the holster haha. I just love that 2015 team in general I guess.
Agree with all of this. Outside of the Originals (08/09) that 2015 team will always be my favorite.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 8:55 am to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
5. Blake
6. John Parker
7. Jalen
8. Greg
Bro.. wut?
Posted on 8/2/21 at 9:03 am to CrimsonClover
quote:
Bro.. wut?
If John Parker plays in 2009/2010 he puts up the exact same numbers. Similar NFL career to Greg. Greg just got to play with a deeper offensive roster in 2009 and especially 2010. John Parker was playing with Glen Coffee, Roy Upchurch, Mike McCoy, Nick Walker, Marquis Maze, Earl Alexander and freshmen Ingram/Julio (and that's JPWs last season, take a look at his supporting cast in 2006 and 2007). Greg's last season he was playing with junior Mark Ingram, sophomore Trent Richardson, junior Julio Jones along with James Carpenter, DJ Fluker, Barrett Jones and Chance Warmack.
JPW 2008 in our 6 biggest games (Clemson, UGA, UT, LSU, AU, FLA)
89/144 (61.8%)
8.0 YPA
5 TD
2 INT
G-Mac 2009 in our 7 biggest games (VT, OM, VOLS, LSU, AUB, FLA, Texas)
106/187 (56.7%)
6.9 YPA
6 TD
2 INT
I love Jalen but if FR/SO Jalen had been forced to be the starting QB in 2014 it would have been ugly. Same with 2008. Jalen of 2018 and 2019 at Oklahoma would be higher on this list, but he wasn't the starter at Alabama those years.
This post was edited on 8/2/21 at 9:19 am
Posted on 8/2/21 at 9:29 am to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
I love Jalen but if FR/SO Jalen had been forced to be the starting QB in 2014 it would have been ugly. Same with 2008. Jalen of 2018 and 2019 at Oklahoma would be higher on this list, but he wasn't the starter at Alabama those years.
Disagree on 2014. Freshman Jalen and senior Blake's production under Kiffin was about the same. ~3800 total yards and ~35 TDs. They just accomplished it in different ways. Kiffin adapts his playcalling to what his guys do well better than any coach in the country. Daboll's unwillingness or inability to do so was a big reason why Jalen took such a huge step back as a sophomore.
Not really sure about 2008 either. We leaned hard on the run game and underneath passing when McElwain was the OC. It wasn't a QB friendly scheme, but it could also mask a lot of deficiencies at that position. I do think JPW and McElroy were the right kind of QBs for that system though, because they knew their limitations and never really tried to do too much.
Page 2 of 7
Latest Alabama News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News