re: Playoff and a few thoughts

Let's not go down that road... Barnett quit on his team too

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You have been calling for it all year

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You guys need to get it right about what I do or don't think or do or don't say. What I have said is that Tagovailoa deserves a chance to prove himself in live games and come in when or if Hurts struggles. In fact, I said just last week, when asked, that I thought that Hurts should start the Auburn game and I hoped he played well but if he struggled, I would hope Tua gets a chance and plays great. I'm not even so inclined to look it up but if it's important to you, it's there.

That said, in the bowl game I would give Tua a lot of playing time and he'd be my first string qb going into the spring because I think he's a better all around qb.

I disagree, if Tua gave us a better chance to win he would have started this year.

I'm not sure putting Tua in against a hostile auburn environment would have been the answer either the way the game played out. If we were down three score going into the half or something that may have been a good adjustment but going up early in the third quarter and then throwing in a cold qb to try and bring us back in the 4th is a tough call.

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I don't know about doing Hurts wrong, but it would have been a tough call to pull Hurts this year for an unproven true freshman. I think few coaches would have. Next year, though, is a whole nother matter.

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Agree, Huddie

If Tua doesn’t start next year it can only be because he just isn’t good enough (which I don’t think is true)

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They jumped on me as well when I said their was no chemistry between the QB and WRs that something was off.

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Idk it seemed like the chemistry was just fine the two sec games before yesterday. Everyone was just off yesterday.

What’s better

8-12. 103 yards. No tds no int

Or

19-26. 349 yards. 4 tds 2 ints

That’s probably what Saban will have to choose between

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I disagree, if Tua gave us a better chance to win he would have started this year.

I'm not sure putting Tua in against a hostile auburn environment would have been the answer either the way the game played out. If we were down three score going into the half or something that may have been a good adjustment but going up early in the third quarter and then throwing in a cold qb to try and bring us back in the 4th is a tough call.

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Putting Tua in yesterday, IMO, would have been a bad idea.

However, I have often pointed out that ever since Richard Todd was a sophomore, Bear Bryant played his second string QB just about every 3rd series of every game, come hell or high water. And he had a little success from 1973 on doing it. We had a veteran QB returning to lead us to an undefeated NC in 1979...the only undefeated season of the seventies...yet he was a veteran QB who had never started a college game in his career. And no, there was never a QB controversy or any question who Bryant's starting QB was...but he damn sure had his back up QB seasoned and ready to play in any situation.

Anyone remember who scored the go ahead TD in 4th quarter in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame? It wasn't Gary Rutledge.

Whenever I mention this, someone is always quick to make the point that somehow the wishbone offense made things different. bullshite. Regardless of the offense, the QB had to be able to lead his teammates, read the defenses, audible, and execute, on the road, in hostile environments, in pressure packed games. There's no one right or wrong way to coach a team. But yeah, I wish Saban shared Bryant's philosophy on this. I would hate for Tua's first meaningful snap in a big game to be when we're down in the second half in the Iron Bowl next year because Jalen has gone down with an injury.

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I would hate for Tua's first meaningful snap in a big game to be when we're down in the second half in the Iron Bowl next year because Jalen has gone down with an injury.

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I don't think you'll have to worry about that because I am pretty sure that Tagovailoa would already have transferred long before then.

I suppose after spring practice, Tua and Saban will have at least one good sit down, and discuss it as to where Tua stands. You have to figure that Saban will be honest with the kid, and if Hurts will be the starter going into the first game, I figure Tagovailoa will transfer before the season. Heck, for that matter, Barnett transferred after the 3rd or 4th game last year, and he was granted eligibility for the entire 2017 season. That's the way things are trending anyway.

For the record, I don't think that's going to happen. As I have already said, I think Tua will be the starter next season.

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By yanking a proven player, it shows signs of desparation.

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In what way does that show desperation? I don't think many of them see it in terms of "yanking" one player in favor of another, but it isn't uncommon for one player to replace another.

You think just because it's the quarterback position? Evidently the team is divided about that already. As noted earlier in the season, it's a pretty good bet that Ridley wasn't the only player frustrated and unhappy about things. He was just about the only guy with enough rep to get away with exhibiting it.

The players aren't stupid or blind either and it's a pretty good bet they came to Alabama to win things like national titles. If Tagovailoa is a better qb to lead them, they will follow.

In what way, though, is it a sign of desperation to replace one player with another guy that might improve the team?